Former Fairmont State Acrobatics & Tumbling student-athlete Peyton Barnes was named one of nine finalists for the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year award, the association announced on Monday afternoon.

The nine finalists for the Woman of the Year award were narrowed by the selection committee from the Top 30 honorees that were announced back in October, and consist of three student-athletes from each NCAA division. Each finalist was selected for her outstanding achievements in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.

Representing Division I, the finalists are Callie Dickinson, Georgia; Logan Eggleston, Texas; and Ellie Shahbo, Harvard. The finalists from Division II are Peyton Barnes, Fairmont State; Charlotte Richards, Missouri-St. Louis; and Madi Wulfekotter, Central Missouri. Division III finalists are Kristen Palmer, MIT; Sophia Glory Slovenski, Southern Maine; and Anika Washburn, Case Western Reserve.

Barnes, from Waldorf, Md., was a four-year member of the Fairmont State Acrobatics & Tumbling team and was named the MEC Specialist of the Year following her senior season in the spring of 2023. She was also recognized nationally by the National Collegiate Acrobatics & Tumbling Association (NCATA) as the 2023 recipient of the Colleen Kausrud Leadership Award, recognizing the senior Acrobatics & Tumbling student-athlete that exemplifies servant leadership throughout her career.

"To have one of our Falcon student-athletes even nominated for this prestigious NCAA award, is an accomplishment in itself, but to be considered one of the top 9 (out of 619 nominations) women's student-athletes is mind-blowing," said Fairmont State Director of Athletics Greg Bamberger.  "Peyton's commitment to her on, and most importantly, off mat development is what this award is all about. When I first met Peyton, it was obvious to me that she was taking full advantage of the opportunities presented to her to develop as a 'whole' person.
 
"On behalf of the Department of Athletics at Fairmont State University, we congratulate Peyton on this achievement and wish her the best as the overall winner will be announced on January 11 at the annual NCAA Convention in Phoenix," Bamberger added.
 
Barnes was a three-time 450 salto toss, three-time synchronized pyramid and two-time 6 element acro Mountain East Conference individual event champion while at FSU. She was also a member of Fairmont State's MEC regular season and tournament championship teams in 2021 and 2022. The Falcons finished runner-up in 2023.

Barnes also helped Fairmont State to two NCATA National Championship berths in 2022 and 2023. Fairmont State went 29-5 during her four seasons with the Falcons.

"I had the pleasure of coaching Peyton throughout her four years at Fairmont State," said FSU Acrobatics & Tumbling Head Coach Danielle Cutri. "From the beginning, Peyton showed many forms of leadership that projected her to the woman she is today. During Peyton's time here she was a leader both on and off the mat and is currently helping us lead the team to another championship as an assistant coach. Peyton embodies all attributes for the NCAA Woman of the Year award and I couldn't be prouder of the accomplishments she has set thus far."
 
In addition to earning all-conference recognition for her performance on the mat, Barnes was also a triple major at Fairmont State and earned degrees in National Security and Intelligence, Political Science and Criminal Justice. She graduated Summa Cum Laude. She was a three-time member of the NCATA All-Academic Team, was named to the NCATA Academic Honor Roll four times, and was also a member of the MEC All-Academic Team four times during her career.
 
She also earned the 2023 Jasper H. Colebank Award, recognizing the top senior student-athlete at Fairmont State.
 
A four-year member of the campus Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), Barnes served as president from 2020-22 and was a representative to the Mountain East Conference SAAC. She also served as president of the Black Student Union at FSU for three years and was vice president of the Iota Phi chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority for 2022-23.

Of 619 student-athletes nominated for the award, 164 student-athletes were selected as conference-level nominees. That pool of student-athletes was narrowed to the national Top 30 honorees in October (see NCAA Release). 

On Jan. 11, the Top 30 honorees will be celebrated during a ceremony at the NCAA Convention in Phoenix. There, the 2023 NCAA Woman of the Year will be named. 

Read the finalists' biographies, including excerpts from their personal statements, at NCAA.org.