Siani Oliver named NCWSA Female Athlete of the Year
University of Louisiana at Monroe’s Siani Oliver has been named as NCWSA Female Athlete of the Year
Australian Siani Oliver, won the award, ahead of a strong shortlist of nominees including Belarusian and University of Louisiana at Monroe teammate, Hanna Stratslova, and University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Jamiee Bull. In addition to those skiers from collegiate water skiing power houses, Ohio State University’s Clair Hansel, Erin Vespestad (Iowa State), Jean Klochko Bull (Michigan State), and Nikki Weber (Missouri State) completed the list of female nominees for athlete of the year.
The award will be presented on Saturday January 26, 2019 at the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports annual banquet in Lakeland, FLA.
Oliver responded when asked how it feels to be NCWSA Female Athlete of the Year.
“I am absolutely stoked. It means more to me than anything, mainly due to the fact that it is voted upon by my fellow ski pals! I want to personally thank anyone and everyone that took the time to vote, this award is something that I am so grateful for and I wouldn’t have had the opportunity without you all!”
The prestigious events on the collegiate calendar started in May, when Oliver set out to defend her 2017 NCWSA All-Stars Slalom Championship in the 2018 NCWSA All-Stars tournament. Siani finished 2nd in the women’s slalom event on the Bayou. At All-Stars, she also held an integral role through the organization and delivery of the event as a member of the hosting team, University of Louisiana at Monroe.
In the fall season, Oliver continued her stellar skiing, winning the slalom event at the South Central Regional Championships at the Lakes of Katy, TX, where she tied the National Collegiate Women’s Slalom Record with a score of 3 buoys @ 39.5’ off, joining University of Louisiana at Monroe alumna Manon Costard, and Florida Southern College’s Samantha Dumala in the record books.
“Equaling the Women’s Collegiate Slalom Record, and it being approved at the 2018 Collegiate Nationals was special. A lot of hours are put in, and reaching this record was a goal I have had in my mind since I started at ULM in 2016, and makes all of the hours totally worth it.”
Following the impressive outing at the Lakes of Katy, Siani finished 3rd at the Connelly Skis 2018 NCWSA Nationals with 1.5 buoys @ 39.5’ off. She was narrowly beaten by Florida Southern College skier Allie Nicholson (2nd) and University of Louisiana at Lafayette’s Jaimee Bull placed first just a single buoy ahead in tough conditions at the San Marcos River Ranch.
As someone who many skiers look up to, do you look up to any athletes? Where do you get your inspiration from?
“Haha, I appreciate that. I am thankful for the absolute legends that I have been lucky enough to interact with over the years, without people like that Collegiate waterskiing would not be the same. There are many skiers that I think are unbelievable, but honestly, I don’t look up to anybody more than my family members. I know I am biased, but they are the best people I know. I am forever inspired by them and am constantly reminded how fortunate I am to call them family. They are forever encouraging and supporting of me and my waterskiing career, and without them I would never have made it as far as I did. All starting with my first ever slalom ski, to the first day I ran the course, helping buy my first flight to the States, and onwards and upwards from there. Without their support, I wouldn’t have had as amazing opportunities as I have over the years.”
Although Siani is coming towards the end of her collegiate career, she will certainly go on to achieve great things in the future. When asked where she will take things from here she listed a few goals of hers for the upcoming year.
“This is a hard one, because a day doesn’t go by where I do not think of being on the water, but life can definitely get in the way. I really hope that I can keep skiing and see how far I can take it. There’s definitely a few more goals to tick off the list, Moomba 2019 being the first, followed by my first ever Worlds in Malaysia at the end of the year. I have decided to take a few months off before the 2019 season begins to spend with family and my boyfriend, and hopefully it will give me a nice mental break, so I’ll be ready to take on what’s ahead. I’ll figure it out one step at a time and go from there”
Congratulations Siani on all of your fabulous achievements to date and those amazing accomplishments of 2018 that culminate in being named 2018 NCWSA Athlete of the Year. We look forward to seeing you stand on the end of the starting dock very soon!
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- 2018 Award Winner: Athlete of the Year – Siani Oliver - January 24, 2019
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