MELBOURNE, Fla. - Kristina Ortiz of Lynn University has been named the 2018-19 Sunshine State Conference Woman of the Year. The All-American becomes the third Fighting Knight to win the award.
Athletic Directors, Senior Woman Administrators, Athletic Communication Directors, and Faculty Athletic Representatives from each of the league's 11 member institutions chose Ortiz from a pool of nominees. Candidates were scored based on the NCAA's Woman of the Year guidelines.
Ortiz was named a Women's Golf Coaches Association (WGCA) Second Team All-American following WGCA First Team All-Region and SSC Second Team All-Conference honors this season. The Guaynabo, Puerto Rico product recorded a 74.82 stroke average with six top-10 finishes in 2018-19, both personal-bests. She ended her career as Lynn's program record holder for career rounds played and sits fourth in scoring average.
With the play of Ortiz, Lynn won the south region and conference championship this season. The Fighting Knights ended the 2018-19 with a ninth-place finish at the NCAA Division II National Championship, the program's first national title appearance since 2015.
Ortiz graduated from Lynn in Spring 2019 with a 3.93 GPA in international business management. She is a 2019 CoSIDA Third Team Academic All-American, a 2018 & 2019 Google Cloud/CoSIDA Academic First Team All-District selection, and a four-time WGCA All-American Scholar as well as SSC Commissioner's Honor Roll recipient.
A shining star in the administrative scene, Ortiz has been an integral part of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) at the university, conference, and national levels. She served as Lynn's Co-President since 2016, was named the SSC's President in 2017, and represented Lynn and the league as a national representative beginning in 2017. Additionally, she served on Lynn's Athletic Council, the NCAA Committee on Sportsmanship and Ethical Conduct, and the Division II Management Council.
Also off the course and outside the classroom, Ortiz has spent many hours helping those in need, which is highlighted by her work spearheading two Make-A-Wish campaigns. Other organizations impacted by her efforts include Feeding South Florida, 4ocean beach cleanup, and many others around the Boca Raton Community.
SSC Woman of the Year Winners Since 2005-06
2018-19: Kristina Ortiz, Lynn University
2017-18: Emily Santoli, Florida Southern College
2016-17: Marie Coors, Saint Leo University
2015-16: Rebecca Matthews, Lynn University
2014-15: Linda Fritschken, Barry University
2013-14: Ellen Chambers, Lynn University
2012-13: Lauren Boudreau, Nova Southeastern University
2011-12: Grace Collins, Barry University
2010-11: Barbara Pocza, Barry University
2009-10: Maria Garcia-Austt, Nova Southeastern University / Lydee Benoit, Eckerd College
2008-09: Shyla Rider, Barry University
2007-08: Virginia Davenport, Saint Leo University
2006-07: Kelly Morrisroe, Eckerd College
2005-06: Greta Trotman, Barry University