Delaware native, Katherine Judge, was honored as the Big South Conference Woman of the Year for 2017-18. She received this award alongside Kayli Nichols from UNC Asheville.
The Big South’s Woman of the Year Selection Committee uses criteria of service and leadership, academic achievement, athletics excellence and a personal statement from each candidate.
As an Eagle, Judge was a four-year starter on the lacrosse team. She was also a four-time All-Conference honoree, which has only been accomplished by six players in the Big South’s history.
Judge helped the Eagles win two Big South titles during her time at Winthrop. She ranked first all-time in conference with 421 draw controls and 247 ground balls, and placed third with 143 caused turnovers and 81 career matches played.
She was a standout, both defensively and offensively, on the field in the 2018 spring season. Judge finished second on the team with 55 goals, a single-season high for the midfielder.
During her time in Rock Hill, she set a Winthrop and Big South record with 149 draw controls and her 7.45 draws per game ranked her ninth in Division I. In addition, Judge played in the 2018 IWLCA Senior All-Star Game.
While attending Winthrop, Judge volunteered at various community events in Rock Hill. She also interned at the Iswa Head Start Program where she worked with social workers to help children and their families.
She was named the recipient of the 2018 inaugural Golden Eagle Award, which is said to be awarded to “an exemplary student-athlete leader, a teammate to always count on who encourages others, and the type of student-athlete who represents all good things about Winthrop Athletics.”
At the end of her collegiate career, Judge was honored on the Winthrop President’s List and Dean’s List three times, respectively, and was listed on the 2017 IWLCA Academic Honor Roll.
As a member of the 2017 Big South Women’s Lacrosse All-Academic Team, Judge maintained a 3.73 grade point average while majoring in social work with a minor in family and consumer science. She now attends Penn as she completes her master’s degree.