SPRINGFIELD – Sensational swimmer Lily DeSpain (Springdale, Ark.) has been named as the recipient of the 2024 Missouri State Outstanding Female Athlete Award, announced by MSU Athletics on Wednesday.

First awarded in 1981, the MSU Outstanding Female Athlete Award is presented annually to the university's top female athletic performer, as voted by the head coaches of the MoState's 11 women's intercollegiate programs.
 
Other finalists for the 2023-24 Outstanding Female Athlete Award were: Camielle Day (soccer), Cristina Flaquer (tennis), Kayla Pfitzner (golf), Olivia Krehbiel (softball), Brooke Plessnar (beach volleyball) and Lacy Stokes (basketball).

DeSpain won a team-high five gold medals and also earned a bronze at the 2024 MVC Championships to lead the Bears to an eighth straight conference title. She placed first in the 800-yard freestyle relay (7:12.19, MVC Record), first in the 500-yard freestyle (4:48.23, MVC season best), first in the 400 IM (4:14.92, MVC Record), first in the 200-yard butterfly (1:58.89, MVC season best), first in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:18.87, MVC Record) and third in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:31.50). For the season, she won 12 individual events and earned All-MVC first-team laurels while also being named as the 2024 MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

She is the sixth swimmer to earn the award, joining Courtney Phillips (2003), Jordan Hawkins (2009), Chelsea Dirks-Ham (2011), Renata Sander (2014) and Anna Miller (2022).
   

Missouri State Outstanding Female Athlete Award
        1981 - Stephanie Dutton, field hockey
        1982 - Jennifer Seveland Box, volleyball
        1983 - Lynne Strubberg, basketball
        1984 - Jeanette Tendai, basketball
        1985 - Kim Schwaab, field hockey
        1986 - Terri Whitmarsh, softball
        1987 - Kathy Crotty, volleyball
        1988 - Marjorie DeMarino, field hockey
        1989 - Mindy Struckhoff, volleyball
        1990 - Susan Ruch, volleyball
        1991 - LaWaynta Dawson, basketball
        1992 - Barb Gaines, softball
        1993 - Barb Gaines, softball
        1994 - Melody Howard, basketball / Kellie Becher, softball
        1995 - Melinda Sallins, track & field
        1996 - Melinda Sallins, track & field
        1997 - Michelle Baptiste, track & field
        1998 - Lisa Davies, basketball
        1999 - Verneta Lesforis, track & field
        2000 - Jackie Stiles, basketball
        2001 - Jackie Stiles, basketball
        2002 - Cheasa Gibson, track & field
        2003 - Courtney Phillips, swimming & diving
        2004 - Cheasa Gibson, track & field
        2005 - Casey Owens, track & field, cross country
        2006 - Tracy Partain, track & field
        2007 - Sally Hinton, golf
        2008 - Missy Linnens, golf
        2009 - Jordan Hawkins, swimming & diving
        2010 - Samantha Aguilar, soccer
        2011 - Chelsea Dirks-Ham, swimming & diving
        2012 - Casey Garrison, basketball
        2013 - Nia Williams, soccer
        2014 - Renata Sander, swimming & diving
        2015 - Lily Johnson, volleyball / Kenzie Williams, basketball
        2016 - Lily Johnson, volleyball
        2017 - Lily Johnson, volleyball
        2018 - Lily Johnson, volleyball
        2019 - Danielle Gitzen, basketball
        2020 - Alexa Willard, basketball
        2021 - Brice Calip, basketball
        2022 - Anna Miller, swimming & diving
        2023 - McKenzie Vaughan, softball / Jordan Wenner swimming & diving
        2024 - Lily DeSpain, swimming & diving