RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. - Kim Moosbacher made GAC history as she became the first tennis player – men's or women's – to garner one of the league's year-end awards, earning the Great American Conference Female Athlete of the Year on Thursday morning.
Earlier in the spring, she received the Intercollegiate Tennis Association National Senior Player of the Year honor.
Moosbacher was in the midst of a terrific senior year as she was 20-2 in singles competition. She won the ITA Regional Title in the fall and did not drop a single set in tournament play. She entered the spring season ranked No. 4 in the country and finished at No. 9 with so much season left to go
Moosbacher was 9-1 at No. 1 singles in the spring, including six matches where she did not give up a set, and was 7-3 at No. 1 doubles. Before the end of the season, Moosbacher defeated the No. 3 player, Tatjana Stoll, of Northeastern State, 6-1, 6-1. The most recent rankings had her at No. 1 in the Central Region.
"No words," said Moosbacher. "I don't even know what to say. I know the other nominees also had great seasons as well, but I'm just happy I was selected. This is a good memory I will hold onto forever and something nobody can take away."
A career record of 81-14 in singles competition as well as a list of school records, Moosbacher was also named ITA Central Region Player of the Year and was named an All-American for the second straight season earlier this month.
The 2019 GAC Player of the Year was a three-time all-conference selection and was looking to make it four straight before this year ended abruptly due to COVID-19. Moosbacher finished as the No. 7 player in the country in 2019 with an impressive 19-4 record. She was a integral part of OBU winning the 2018 Great American Conference Championship, as well as the 2017 NCCAA national championship.
"It's a great honor to be representing the sport of tennis," said Moosbacher on becoming the first tennis player to win this award. "It's really nice to represent OBU and I can reprsent (the school and the sport) forever."
Moosbacher holds school records for career wins (81), overall wins in a season (49), singles wins in a season (24), and doubles wins in a season (25). She also earned the highest program's all-time highest ranking for an individual player.
