NORTHAMPTON, Mass - Anna Crary, a 2004 graduate of Smith College, has been named the 2004 NCAA Women of the Year for Massachusetts. This prestigious award honors outstanding female athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics, community leadership and have completed their collegiate athletics eligibility. Smith's last recipient of this honor was Gwen Young in 1991. Fifty-two young women have been chosen this year representing their states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. From the 52 state winners, 10 finalists will be named later this month with the NCAA Woman of the Year announced during a reception dinner October 31st in Indianapolis.

Crary, a native of Scottsdale, Arizona, was a member of Smith's crew team that won the silver medal at the 2004 NCAA Division III Championship. An Art History major at Smith, she maintained a cumulative grade point average of 3.72. Crary was named Collegiate Rowing Coaches Association (CRCA) National Scholar Athlete in 2003 and 2004 and a CRCA All American in 2004. She was also named a New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Scholar Athlete 2002-2004, a Smith Scholar Athlete all four years and a Seven Sisters Scholar Athlete in 2004. Crary served her community in various capacities while at Smith including as her resident house vice-president, a member of the Student-Athlete-Athletic-Advisory Committee (SAAC), Athletic Association house representative, student government cabinet and sports editor of the Sophian (college newspaper), and co-captain of the crew team from 2003-04, to name a few.

Colleges and universities nominated 276 student-athletes for this year's award. Those chosen as state winners are truly exceptional young women. Of the 52 finalists, 13 competed on national championship teams. Nearly 45 were selected as athletics All-Americans and more than 40 were named academic All-Americans.