GREENVILLE, S.C. — The Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) announced its 2022 All-America Team selections, headlined by West Florida’s Blair Cowan who was named the Ron Lenz National Player of the Year. 

With the announcement, the Gulf South Conference saw five players recognized. In addition to Cowan, who earned First Team accolades, teammates Maciah Lipsey and Kileigh Whited received Second Team nods, while Lee’s Kate Dirkse and Mississippi College’s Erin Hederman picked up Third Team honors.

Cowan, the D2CCA South Region Player of the Year, finished her exceptional 2022 season with 54 points on 22 goals and 10 assists. The senior scored eight game-winning goals over the course of the season. She also recorded three hat tricks and three two-goal games during the 2022 season and collected points for West Florida in 15 of its 23 games. 

Cowan is the fifth player in GSC-history to be named D2CCA National Player of the Year, and first since North Alabama’s Chloe Richards was honored in 2014. Cowan is also the third UWF women’s player to win, joining Shaneka Gordon (2008) and Shakira Duncan (2009, 2010).

The Ron Lenz National Player of the Year award was named for long-time South Dakota State Sports Information Director Ron Lenz in 2008. Lenz was instrumental in the foundation of the NCAA Division II All-America program, which honors outstanding student-athletes across eight NCAA Division II sports.

Communication professionals from NCAA Division II schools and conferences selected the three D2 CCA All-America teams. The process begins at the regional level with all first-team all-region picks advancing to the national ballot. A total of 39 student-athletes filled out the three teams.

The Division II Conference Commissioners Association encourages and promotes Division II athletics and high standards of sportsmanship as important elements of higher education. The CCA is a key communications link among the conferences as they discuss views, policies and regulations that impact Division II intercollegiate athletics and works closely with the NCAA as a communications channel to NCAA Division II member colleges and universities.