The South Atlantic Conference Announces 2014 Woman of the Year

ROCK HILL, S.C. (TheSAC.com) – Keeley Wood of Wingate University has been named the 2014 South Atlantic Conference Woman of the Year, the League publically announced today.  Wood was a cross country/track and field student-athlete for the Bulldogs and graduated with a 3.84 GPA in communication studies.  She will be the SAC's nominee for the NCAA National Woman of the Year that will be announced at the annual ceremony in Indianapolis, Ind. in October. 

"We are thrilled to have Keeley represent the South Atlantic Conference for the NCAA Woman of the Year honor," said South Atlantic Conference Commissioner Patrick Britz.  "Her academic and athletic accolades speak for themselves, but her commitment to community service and leadership separates her from other student-athletes."

A Sanford, N.C. native, Wood was named the South Atlantic Conference's Runner of the Year on two occasions.  She was a First Team All-Region selection during the 2013 cross country season and the NCAA Division II Southeast Region individual runner-up during her junior season.  A four-time All-SAC First Team member, she earned All-Region honors three times during her career.  She also added a First Team All-SAC selection in the outdoor track 5,000 and 10,000- meter events during her senior season.

In the classroom, Wood was named a Capital One Academic All-America®, as selected by CoSIDA, her senior year.  She earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors in each of her four years at Wingate and was named a CoSIDA Academic All-District III First Team honoree three times.  She earned South Atlantic Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll accolades every season and recieved Wingate University President's List plaudits six times in her career.

She also spent much of her time in the community volunteering at number of events, including Wingate Elementary Girls on the Run and the United Way Day of Caring.  She also spent time helping out with the Wingate University Hunger and Homelessness Chapter.  The communication studies major also served as the Editor-in-Chief for the Wingate University Weekly Triangle for the 2012-14 academic years.

The Woman of the Year award honors graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate careers in academics, athletics, service and leadership. Of the nominees, 205 competed in Division I, 75 competed in Division II and 166 competed in Division III athletics.