Ladies Ball Too

The best sports story of the year, at least in the greater DMV, is a tossup between the resurgence of the Nats and Redskins or the high school girl’s gold medal ride. Being the women’s sports examiner makes it an easy choice.

The highlight for female athletes probably occurred in August when Bethesda swimmer Katie Ledecky won a gold medal in the 800 meter freestyle at the London Olympics. Her 8:14.64 was more than four seconds better than Spain’s Mireia Belmonte Garcia in second. Ledecky, a high school competitor, only made the Washington Post’s All-Met first team. Why not swimmer of the year?

Maryland junior Katie Schwarzmann took home the Tewaaraton Award, given annually to the top player in women’s lacrosse.

The Sykesville, Md., native is a two-time IWLCA First Team All-American was crowned 2012 ACC Offensive Player of the Year and ACC Championship Most Valuable Player after leading the Terps to their fourth consecutive conference title. Schwarzmann racked up a tournament-record 11 goals in a three-game span during the title run.

Magdalena Rybarikova swept the top seeds at the Citi Open to win the tournament in August. Her only singles win of the season earned Rybarikova $37,000 and 280 WTA points. By the way, the Examiner was the only way to get the lowdown on Rybarikova’s upset.

Ellicott City, Md., native Trice Capra was the Atlantic Coast Conference Women’s Tennis Player of the Year and the ACC Freshman of the Year.

The nation’s second-ranked college player, Capra was 24-3 overall last season, 18-1 in dual matches and a 9-0 in ACC play. In addition, she was 15-3 record against ranked opponents.

Area basketball programs continued to thrive in 2012 as seven schools in the DMV were awarded post season berths. In Div. III, Catholic University earned its first-ever NCAA Tournament behind the play of Jill Woerner, Katarina Owunna, Emily Grabiak and Kelli Josephsen.

Marymount University earned a berth into the Capital Athletic Conference playoffs. MU senior guard Katelyn Fischer was named 2012-2013 Preseason Honorable Mention All-America by D3Hoops.com.

The University of District of Columbia Firebirds received an invitation to the NCAA Division II 2012 East Regional Tournament.

Georgetown, Maryland and Navy were each invited to the big dance. The Terps survived to the final four before Norte Dame ended Maryland’s season.

Alyssa Thomas of the Maryland women’s basketball team earned multiple First Team All-America honors. She led the ACC in scoring with 17.2 points per game, finished the year among the best in the league with 8 rebounds per game, assists (3.2), free throw percentage (80.1).

Georgetown University shooting guard Sugar Rodgers was named Honorable Mention All-American by different groups. She averaged 18.5 ppg, to lead the Big East during the regular season, 5.4 rpg to rank third on the team and had a squad-high 71 steals. Rodgers also shot a team-high 81.9 percent from the free throw line.

Howard played in the NIT. Speaking of the Bison, Howard finished the 2011-12 campaign tied for the most wins in women’s basketball history (24), placed two members on the Boxtorow Division I Women’s HBCU All-America Team.

Saadia Doyle earned a spot on the first team, as she finished the season with 15 double-doubles, averaging 17 points and 8.6 boards. The Atlanta, Ga., native ranks second in the HU women’s basketball all-time scoring list. Tamoria Holmes earned second-team accolades, finishing the season averaging 18.3 points per contest.

Fairfax-based golfer Jenny Suh, a Seoul Sister, missed the cut at the LGPA Qualifying School Stage III by one stroke in December. She shot a 362 (+2).