Sophomore Kiira Riihijarvi Repeats as All-American

CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. – University of Tampa golfer Kiira Riihijarvi was named a second-team All-American as the Women's Golf Coaches Association has announced the 2017-18 student-athlete and coaches awards for Division II Women's Collegiate Golf. For further information regarding these awards including selection criteria, please visit www.wgcagolf.com.

Riihijarvi, a sophomore from Oulu, Finland, turned in another record-setting season as she is the lone All-American in program history, a feat which she has accomplished two times. She is also the first player in program history to earn a spot on the all-Sunshine State Conference team. Playing in 12 tournaments in 2017-18, Riihijarvi finished the season shooting an average of 75.12. She has five top-10 performances, including being the top performer at the Saint Leo Invitational on October 16-17. She has shot a season-best round of 69 on three occasions, coming at the NCAA National Championships, the Saint Leo Invitational and the World Golf Invitational. She also broke her own school record for single-season average and remains atop the career record book with a two-year average of 75.63.

She concluded the season with a pair of top-10 finishes at both the NCAA South Super Regional and the NCAA Division II Championships. At the regional in Germantown, Tenn., she placed third overall with rounds of 70, 77 and 75. In Houston at the national championships, she finished seventh in the nation with a 295, following rounds of 69, 77, 73 and 76.

PING WGCA Division II Player of the Year
Tilda Larsson, Barry University

WGCA Division II Freshman of the Year
Emily Brennan, Midwestern State University

Division II Golf Pride WGCA National Coach of the Year
Brent Nicoson, University of Indianapolis

Division II Golf Pride WGCA Assistant Coach of the Year
Kacey Dalpes, University of Indianapolis

Division II Golf Pride Regional Coaches of the Year
South Region Coach of the Year: Heather Wall, Nova Southeastern University
Central Region Coach of the Year: Abby Weber, Lindenwood University
East Region Coach of the Year: Brent Nicoson, University of Indianapolis
West Region Coach of the Year: Kenny Trapp, Dallas Baptist University

WGCA Division II All-American Teams

First Team
Evelyn Arguelles, Dallas Baptist University
Seher Atwal, Rollins College
Pilar Echeverria, University of Indianapolis
Jamie Freedman, Nova Southeastern University
Amanda Jakobsson, Saint Leo University
Katharina Keilich, University of Indianapolis
Tilda Larsson, Barry University
Sophie Madden, Nova Southeastern University
Michelle Ruiz, Nova Southeastern University
Paloma Vaccaro, University of West Florida 

Second Team
Jenny Ayala, Lynn University
Paxton DeHaven, University of Indianapolis
Josefina Foa Torres, Barry University
Amanda Gartrell, Florida Southern College
Maria Regina Gonzalez, St. Mary's University (Texas)
Hanna Harrison, Dallas Baptist University
Addison Mitchell, Dallas Baptist University
Ann Parmerter, Dallas Baptist University
Kylie Raines, University of Indianapolis
Kiira Riihijarvi, University of Tampa 

Honorable Mention
Emily Brennan, Midwestern State University
Katie Chipman, Grand Valley State University
Kelly Contreras, St. Mary's University (Texas)
Jelina Fernando, West Texas A&M University
Annika Haynes, University of Indianapolis
Jannelle Johnson, Nova Southeastern University
Noemie Pare, Barry University
Peerada Piddon, Arkansas Tech University
Loukyee Songprasert, West Texas A&M University
Emma Thorngren, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Jess Whitting, Rogers State University
Casey Wild, Tarleton State University

The All-Region teams are selected by the WGCA Division II Awards Committee prior to the Division II NCAA Championship, with the winner of each regional tournament receiving an automatic selection. 

WGCA Division II All-Region Teams

Central Region
Gloria Choi, Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Hannah Hankinson, Augustana University
Emily Israelson, Augustana University
Ebba Moberg, Northeastern State University
Pia Nunbhakdi, Arkansas Tech University
Peerada Piddon, Arkansas Tech University
Sydney Roberts, University of Central Oklahoma
Marla Souvannasing, University of Central Oklahoma
Kali Trautman, Augustana University
Elin Wahlin, Southwestern Oklahoma State University 

South Region
Seher Atwal, Rollins College
Jenny Ayala, Lynn University
Jamie Freedman, Nova Southeastern University
Amanda Gartrell, Florida Southern College
Amanda Jakobsson, Saint Leo University
Tilda Larsson, Barry University
Sophie Madden, Nova Southeastern University
Kiira Riihijarvi, University of Tampa
Michelle Ruiz, Nova Southeastern University
Paloma Vaccaro, University of West Florida 

West Region
Evelyn Arguelles, Dallas Baptist University
Emily Brennan, Midwestern State University
Jelina Fernando, West Texas A&M University
Maria Regina Gonzalez, St. Mary's University (Texas)
Kate Goodwin, Oklahoma Christian University
Hanna Harrison, Dallas Baptist University
Addison Mitchell, Dallas Baptist University
Ann Parmerter, Dallas Baptist University
Loukyee Songprasert, West Texas A&M University
Sabrina Virtusio, Sonoma State University
Jess Whitting, Rogers State University
Holly Winter, West Texas A&M University 

East Region
Katie Chipman, Grand Valley State University
Paxton DeHaven, University of Indianapolis
Pilar Echeverria, University of Indianapolis
Annika Haynes, University of Indianapolis
Stefaniya Ivanova, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Katharina Keilich, University of Indianapolis
Samantha Moss, Grand Valley State University
Kylie Raines, University of Indianapolis
Emma Thorngren, University of Missouri-St. Louis
Makenzie Torres, University of Findlay

About the Women's Golf Coaches Association

The Women's Golf Coaches Association, founded in 1983, is a non-profit organization representing women's collegiate golf coaches. The WGCA was formed to encourage the playing of college golf for women in correlation with a general objective of education and in accordance with the highest tradition of intercollegiate competition. Today, the WGCA represents over 600 coaches throughout the U.S. and is dedicated to educating, promoting and recognizing both its members and the student-athletes they represent.