Henrico Times

The Colonial Athletic Association continues its celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX by recognizing five women from each institution who made a significant impact during their time as a student-athlete, coach or administrator.

Today we feature UNCW.

Gwen Austin, Basketball (1981-85)

Austin was selected as the ECAC South Player of the Year and a first-team all-conference pick in 1984-85 after averaging 20.4 points and 12.8 rebounds per game. She finished her career as UNCW’s all-time leader in points (2,056), rebounds (1,290) and blocked shots (222), and averaged a double-double (18.9 ppg, 11.8 rpg) for her career while shooting an impressive 52% from the floor. Austin, who owns 16 school records at UNCW, had her number 23 hung in the rafters at Trask Coliseum, becoming the first Seahawks’ women’s basketball player to be so honored.

Sheila Boles, Basketball/Volleyball (1973-76)

Boles was a two-sports athlete who played on UNCW’s first women’s basketball team in 1973 and became the first recipient of a women’s basketball scholarship in 1974. She was a three-time MVP in women’s basketball and was chosen as the NAIA District 28 Women’s Basketball Player of the Year in 1976. Boles also competed for the Seahawks’ volleyball squad that captured the 1974 AIAW state championship. Following graduation, Boles put together an outstanding 31-year career as a coach and administrator. She won 167 games over 11 seasons as the boys’ basketball coach at Hoggard High School before serving as athletics director. She was inducted into the NCHSAA Hall of Fame in 2011.

JM Lewandowski, Beach Volleyball (2018-21)

Lewandowski competed on UNCW’s first beach volleyball team in 2018 and played in 76 duals over her four-year career. She played the No. 1 position in 15 matches during the 2020-21 season. Lewandowski ranks second in career victories for the Seahawks with 28 and is on the school’s top 10 list for wins and matches played. Along with her accomplishments on the sand, Lewandowski served as President of UNCW’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. She is currently attending medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Anna Raynor, Track & Field (2004-07)

Raynor is one of the most decorated performers in any sport at UNCW, setting 10 school records while competing in the hurdles and javelin for four seasons. She became the first Division I All-American in school history after placing 11th in the javelin at the 2005 NCAA Track & Field Championship. Raynor was three-time CAA Track & Field Athlete of the Year and was also honored as the CAA Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2007. A nine-time All-CAA performer in four events (javelin, high jump, long jump, 100m hurdles), Raynor participated in three NCAA Championships and placed fourth in the javelin in 2006 and 2007. She was also third in the javelin at the USA Championships in 2007 and 14th at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Sydney Schneider, Soccer (2017-19)

Schneider was selected as the CAA Goalkeeper of the Year and earned first-team all-conference honors in 2019 after posting a 1.06 GAA and a .735 save percentage. She ranks among the top six all-time at UNCW in GAA (1.20), victories (18) and shutouts (9). Schneider also excelled internationally, starting in goal for Jamaica at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She helped lead Jamaica to a third-place finish at the 2018 CONCACAF Women’s Championship, securing the first World Cup appearance in the country’s history. Schneider was the first UNCW player to be chosen in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) Draft when she was picked 29th overall by the Washington Spirit in 2021.

Original source can be found here.