SUWANEE, GA – Former Rowan field hockey standout Kristiina Castagnola was recognized as the Division III Commissioner's Association (DIIICA) Region IV Student-Athlete of the Year for women's sports and now advances to the national ballot for the 2022-23 DIIICA Women's Sport Student-Athlete of the Year.
 
A total of 20 student-athletes were recognized as regional winners in the second annual awards, in which conferences submitted the nominations and the voting was conducted by the commissioners.  Selection criteria for the awards included considerations based on academic achievement, athletics excellence, service and leadership and a personal statement submitted by each nominee.
 
Castagnola closed out her celebrated Rowan career being named the NFHCA Division III Player of the Year, making school history as the first female athlete to be named the nation's top player in her sport. She was also chosen as the Honda Division III Field Hockey Player of the Year and is a nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year award.
 
She is one of two players in the program's history to be named a three-time NFHCA All-American and is only the second to earn All-America First Team honors twice, receiving the distinction in 2021 and 2022. A four-time All-NJAC first-team selection, Castagnola was also named the Region IV Player of the Year and the NJAC Midfielder of the Year in the past two seasons. Rowan's all-time leading scorer with 163 points (66 goals, 31 assists), Castagnola was also the recipient of the NJAC Female Athlete of the Year award in back-to-back years.
 
Castagnola, who earned her bachelor's and master's degrees from Rowan, received one of college athletics' highest honors when she was named to the College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-America Team for consecutive years, including a selection to the first team in 2022-23. She was also recognized as the Philadelphia Academic All-Area Overall Performer of the Year in both 2021-22 and 2022-23.
 
With Castagnola leading the way, Rowan went 76-11, won three NJAC Championships and reached the NCAA Tournament all four years with three trips to the NCAA Semifinals, that included consecutive appearances in 2021 and 2022. The 2022 Profs finished the year as the nation's third-ranked team with a 21-2 record.
 
Castagnola is now an assistant coach with the Profs' field hockey program, which opens its season on September 1 at home against Ursinus.