Colorado College's Tomlinson Named Finalist For Jostens Trophy

Colorado College's Tomlinson Named Finalist For Jostens Trophy

SALEM, Va. --- Colorado College women's basketball senior Zoë Tomlinson was named a finalist for the Jostens Trophy, given to the best basketball player in NCAA DIII. Complete Jostens Release

The Jostens Trophy honors - one for men's basketball and one for women's basketball - are national awards created by the Rotary Club of Salem and sponsored by Jostens, Inc., to recognize the most outstanding men's and women's Division III basketball players of the year. The awards focus on three major criteria: basketball ability, academic prowess, and service to one's surrounding communities. The Jostens Trophy models the Rotary International motto of "Service Above Self" by recognizing those who truly fit the ideal of a well-rounded Division III student-athlete. The 2025 season marks the 27th time the Jostens Trophy honors will be awarded.

Tomlinson was named the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Player and Defensive Player of the Year, only the second time a player has won both awards in the same season. 

The New York native posted 23 double-doubles this season, which not only leads the SCAC but is suitable for third-best in the nation. The reigning all-American is shooting a league-best 55.5 percent from the field, and her 60 blocks also lead the conference. She also averaged 1.4 steals per game in league play (tied for 25th in the conference). 
 
Tomlinson also received the SCAC Elite 19 Award, which is given to one student-athlete at every conference championship.

Historically, the SCAC has produced a pair of Jostens winners, including Trinity’s Tara Rohde in 2005 and Colorado College’s Melanie Auguste in 2009.

The Rotary Club of Salem is responsible for the initial review of the nominees, which it conducts over a two-week period. The Club's Jostens Trophy Committee objectively reviews the nominees and uses a numerical system to pare down the pools to an initial list of 20 finalists -- 10 for the men's award and 10 for the women's trophy.

The finalists will now be reviewed by the Jostens Trophy National Selection Committee. The committee is composed of men and women from across the country. The committee features current and former athletic administrators and head coaches, past Jostens Trophy recipients, and select members of the Division III media. The committee will spend the next week-plus reviewing the nominees with the aim of announcing the two winners the week following both national championship events.

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