Bailee Nunn, a sophomore from Drury University, was named the DII Honda Athlete of the Year nominee for Swimming & Diving as announced by Executive Director Chris Voelz of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.

Nunn is now designated one of 11 finalists for the prestigious DII Honda Woman Athlete of the Year. This will be voted on at the end of the academic year by national balloting among 1,000 NCAA member schools as part of THE CWSA program, now in its 42nd year.

“It’s an honor and privildge to be selected for this award, " said Nunn. “I would like to thank Drury University for providing me the opportunity to swim for such a great school. I would also like to thank my coaches, parents, and my amazing teammates for pushing me to be the best I can be."

Nunn, a sophomore from Marshfield, Mo., was named the 2018 NCAA DII Women’s Swimmer of the Year following her performance at the 2018 DII National Championship where she won four national titles.

At the NCAA Championship, she captured first place in the 200-yard breaststroke, the 200 individual medley, the 100 butterfly and the 100 breaststroke. She was also on two relay teams, the 400 freestyle and the 200 freestyle, that finished in second in the nation. Overall, she has won eight national titles in two seasons.

Her four titles from the weekend came on the heels of missing nearly all the Great Lakes Valley Conference championship meet last month with a back injury. Last year, she was named the GLVC Swimmer of the Year after winning six conference titles.

Nunn has qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials in the 200m IM, the 100m Breast and the 200m Breast.

“We are thrilled Bailee was selected for this award,” stated head coach Brian Reynolds. “I've known her since she was a part of our club program as a young girl and we were excited she decided to attend Drury and has brought with her the skill, dedication and determination she has to the program. Her four national titles at the NCAA championship were a culmination of her effort and training the past two years and we're excited to see what the future holds for her.”

All Honda Sports nominees from DII and DIII become a finalist for the prestigious 2018 Honda Woman Athlete of the Year in their respective divisions, presented in a live telecast on CBS Sports on June 25, 2018, in downtown Los Angeles. The Honda Sports nominees are recognized in 11 DII and DIII NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball, and track & field.

THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for 42 years, recognizing superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.   Since commencing its sponsorship in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.1 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs at the institutions.