Strong Women

D3Playbook SEPTEMBER 12, 2019 | written by Steve Ulrich your must-read briefing on what's driving the day in NCAA Division III

Welcome to d3Playbook Note: Many of you are receiving the d3Playbook via email because of your role as an influencer in Division III athletics. d3Playbook is available as a subscription email and can also be viewed online here at d3Playbook.com. Our goal is to keep you apprised of what's happening around Division III - the games, polls, news, happenings, awards, calendar of events, and much more. We hope you enjoy d3Playbook and that you'll share this with your friends, colleagues and co-workers. Thanks for reading. Steve >> This morning's word count: 1,010 words or 4 minutes, unless you find something to click on :<)

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Congratulations to the 10 #NCAAD3 2019 NCAA Woman of the Year Top 30 honorees!#NCAAWOTY | https://t.co/lZmksXd6eZ pic.twitter.com/znf0vdu7TE — NCAA Division III (@NCAADIII) September 10, 2019 1. Strong Women The Top 30 honorees for the 2019 NCAA Woman of the Year Award were named by the Woman of the Year selection committee. The Top 30 honorees were selected from an initial pool of 585 school nominees, a program record. From there, the pool was narrowed by conference offices and a selection committee to move forward 151 nominees for consideration. The Top 30 honorees include 10 from each of the three NCAA divisions, and each has demonstrated excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership. The honorees competed in 13 sports — including, for the first time, equestrian and rifle — and studied a broad range of academic majors, including neuroscience, anthropology, economics, chemical engineering, political science and communication. Here are the Division III honorees. Lauren Bondi, Smith College, NEWMAC, Basketball Sabrina Degnan, Occidental, SCIAC, Track and Field/Volleyball Colleen Doolan, Tufts, NESCAC, Swimming and Diving Monica Feeley, Vassar, Liberty League, Field Hockey Anna Kamp, Calvin, MIAA, Volleyball Cassandra Laios, Case Western Reserve, UAA, Track and Field Marin McCoy, Swarthmore, Centennial Conference, Soccer Hannah Orbach-Mandel, Kenyon, NCAC, Swimming and Diving Annie Rodenfels, Centre, SAA, Cross Country/Track and Field Jillian Schulte, Cornell College, Midwest Conference, Volleyball

2. Getting Athletics Off the Bench in Your Marketing (Inside Higher Ed.com) - Tim Jones, the chief communications and integrated marketing officer at Beloit (Wis.) College, writes that DIII athletics programs drive a lot of interest in your college, so embrace and showcase it. >> Why It Matters: "The truth is that athletics drives a lot of attention for any institution. Successful programs can boost enrollment, heighten awareness, engage alumni and cultivate loyalty in ways that few other things can." >> Reality Check: "The true potential of athletics in broad institutional marketing comes through stories, and what those stories say about the institution." >> Be Smart: Athletic communications directors (SIDs) can be invaluable resources, as they often know the stories behind the student-athletes and what defines them both in and out of the classroom. Get to know them and find ways to partner.

3. Hurricane Dorian Relief Sophomore Tyler Russell of the Emory University men's swimming and diving team and native of the Bahamas has teamed up with several other Bahamian students around campus in an effort to raise money for those affected from the recent Hurricane Dorian that hit the northernmost part of the islands this past week, leaving complete devastation in its wake.  All donations received will be given to an organization called Headknowles, a community based organization that’s been beneficial in relief efforts for Matthew and Joaquin. For more information on Headknowles, click here: https://m.facebook.com/groups/headknowlesCLUB/?ref=group_header&view=group. If you would like to help with Tyler's and the other Emory students relief efforts, please visit their GoFundMe page found here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/emory-hurricane-dorian-relief.

4. Top-25 Matchups Today Field Hockey (20) Endicott at (3) Tufts - watch Live Yesterday Soccer (W) (8) Johns Hopkins d. (7) TCNJ, 2-1

5. National Players of the Week Field Hockey Offense - Caroline Brotzge, Centre Defense - Marcella Sabbagh, Christopher Newport Volleyball Sophie Srivastava, Chapman

6.  Comings ...  Sarah Quatela named assistant athletic trainer at Vassar. Paul Nelson named senior director of athletics at Benedictine. Kate Heidkamp named senior associate athletic director at Benedictine. Jenn Talken named director of new media for the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference. Jack Wilson named head men's volleyball coach at Rutgers-Newark. Elise Blaschke named head women's swimming coach at Rowan. Demetrius Poles named interim head women's basketball coach at Rowan. ... and Goings Mark McHorney has transitioned to a new role as chief engagement officer at Benedictine, overseeing student life, auxiliary enterprises and athletics. Larry Kindbom announced his retirement as head football coach at Washington University following the conclusion of the season. Gabby Lisella retires as head women's basketball coach at Rowan. She will continue as associate athletic director for internal operations.

7.  Price Cut (CNN) - "It was once one of the most expensive colleges in the state. But now, Central College in Pella, Iowa, says it will drop its tuition price by $20,000. But sorry, current students -- the changes start next school year. The price will decrease from over $38,000 to $18,600, room and board will stay the same, bringing the grand total to around $28,000, according to the school's website. The change is highlighted in a bright red pop-up when you visit the college's website and takes you to a graphic page where students can to see the new total." >> Quotable: "Central views it as our responsibility to help bring rationality to the price of a high-quality college education," Central College President Mark Putnam said in a statement. "Central's new tuition and financial aid pricing is clearer and easier to understand. It's an important commitment to our students, families, alumni and donors." >> Dare to Compare: How does Central's total cost ($28,880) compare to other colleges in the American Rivers Conference - Wartburg ($53,210), Simpson ($49,486), Nebraska Wesleyan ($45,314). The University of Iowa charges $22,180 for in-state, $44,143 for out-of-state students. >> Situational Awareness: Last year, four DIII institutions - Albright (Pa.), Capital (Ohio), Elizabethtown (Pa.), and Elmira (N.Y.) - reset their prices. This week alone, Central joins Hiram (Ohio) and Randolph (Va.) in announcing significant price resets. All still offer financial aid but at reduced levels. >> Be Smart: Price resets are moving institutions to a more transparent pricing model which brings the published price closer to the actual price a student will pay. >> Go Deeper (Forbes)

8.  1 Taco Thing Texas Monthly is adding a taco editor, the first masthead position of its kind and possibly the best job in America: Dallas-based José Ralat "began writing about tacos professionally a decade ago ... He has written for national and regional media outlets and most recently served as food & drink editor for Cowboys & Indians magazine. He also cofounded and curated the Taco Libre taco and music festival in Dallas." Flashback: Texas Monthly hired Daniel Vaughn in 2013 to become the nation's first BBQ editor. What's next: Chicken fried steak editor, or kolaches editor? - courtesy of Axios AM