Crile Hart, a senior at Kenyon College, was named the DIII Honda Athlete of the Year finalist for Swimming & Diving as announced today by Executive Director Chris Voelz of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) presented by Honda.

Hart is now designated one of 11 finalists for the prestigious DIII Honda 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 46th year.

“I am very honored and humbled to be nominated as a DIII Honda Award finalist for the 2022 season. Congrats to all the other nominees, as well! This year has been, without a doubt, my favorite season at Kenyon. The energy and mindset my teammates and coaches had throughout the year was unmatched. We all believed in each other so much and that momentum carried us all the way to the very end. I could not have imagined a more perfect closing to my swimming career. My heart is so beyond full and thankful for all the opportunities Kenyon, my friends, coaches, teammates, and family have graciously allowed me to experience,” said Hart.

Hailing from Pepper Pike, Ohio, Hart is a three-time Honda Award Finalist for Swimming & Diving after earning the honor as a freshman, junior and now a senior. She is also a three-time CSCAA and North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) Women’s Swimmer of the Year.

One of the most decorated swimmers in school history, she boasts 28 career All-America swims and has captured 14 career national titles. At the 2022 DIII National Championship, she earned six gold medals, while setting records in four separate events and leading the Kenyon team to its NCAA-record 24th Championship title.  

Throughout the 2021-22 season, the senior posted five individual top times for Kenyon including the 200-yard Backstroke, the 50-yard Butterfly, the 100-yard Butterfly, the 100-yard Freestyle and the 200 IM. She’ll graduate as the program record holder in three individual events, as well as four relay events.

“Athletically, Crile’s accomplishments stand at the pinnacle of our sport and program. She is arguably the most versatile and talented swimmer in DIII history. However, and this is the best part, Crile is so much more than an incredible swimmer: she is a beloved teammate, mentor, leader, and human being who delights in making other people better,” stated head coach Jess Book.

The NCAA DIII did not host a NCAA Championship during the 2020 and 2021 pandemic seasons resulting in a two-year hiatus of a DIII Athlete of the Year finalist from Swimming & Diving.

All Honda Sports nominees from DIII and DII become a finalist for the prestigious 2022 Honda Athlete of the Year in their respective divisions, presented in a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 27, 2022, in downtown Los Angeles. The Honda Award finalists are recognized in 11 DIII and DII NCAA-sanctioned sports; cross country, basketball, field hockey, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, swimming & diving, tennis, volleyball, and track & field.

The CWSA, entering its 46th year, has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.  Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs.  

About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility

For more than 60 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. Honda’s mission is to create products and services that improve the lives of people while conducting its business in a sustainable manner and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Accordingly, Honda believes in helping people reach their life’s potential through its focus on the areas of education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety and community. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.