Thiele Named Finalist for SCAC Woman of the Year

SUWANEE, Ga. - Austin College swimmer Sammi Thiele is one of one of seven finalists for the 2023-24 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Woman of the Year Award, the league office has announced.

Thiele, a native of Keller, graduated from Austin College as one of the most accomplished swimmers in program history, breaking numerous program and SCAC records while earning All-America status in three events to cap off her senior campaign. She was also twice named the SCAC Elite 19 winner for women's swimming, given annually to the top student-athlete in her sport across the entire conference. 

Thiele graduated with a 3.93 grade-point-average in English, and was a 10-time All-Conference honoree over the course of her career. She was named the 'Roo women's swim team's Hannah Award winner, given annually to the top performer for the program, three straight years, and was Austin College's Gene Day Award winner, given to the top female student-athlete across all sports, following her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons.

She won three individual SCAC championships, winning back-to-back titles in the 100 backstroke in 2023 and 2024, and the 200 backstroke in 2024. She currently holds the SCAC records in the 100 and 200 backstroke.

Thiele was a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District honoree, as well as earning a spot on the SCAC Academic Honor Roll all four years in Sherman. This past year, she served as the president of Austin College's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and was a two-time captain for the 'Roos. Thiele was also named a SCAC Character and Community Award winner in 2023, and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, Chi Alpha Sigma, Sigma Tau Delta, and Alpha Lambda Delta, and earned Austin College's Lois Jenkins Scholarship for Outstanding Student in English.

To be nominated, student-athletes must have completed intercollegiate eligibility in her primary sport by the end of the 2024 spring season, received her undergraduate degree prior to the conclusion of the summer 2024 term and had a minimum cumulative grade-point average of 2.500 (4.000 scale) with the noted exception due to COVID-19 pandemic. A student-athlete who received an extension waiver or a season of competition/participation waiver in her primary sport due to cancellation of a 2020 and/or 2021 athletics season or championship may be nominated for the 2024 Woman of the Year, provided she otherwise satisfies nomination criteria.

The 2024 Southern Collegiate Athletic Woman of the Year will be announced on August 1.