Riley Edmundson ’25 Named NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee

FULL BIG SOUTH CONFERENCE RELEASE
 
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – UNC Asheville Women’s Swimming and Diving alum Riley Edmundson ’25 has been named the college’s NCAA Woman of the Year nominee. Edmundson turns into the third NCAA Woman of the Year nominee in program historical past.
 
Edmundson graduated from Asheville in May 2025 with a bachelor’s diploma in economics and a minor in psychology. For her undergraduate profession she posted a 3.92 grade level common. Edmundson was closely concerned on UNC Asheville’s campus and within the Asheville neighborhood in her time on campus, serving as a volunteer with Laundry Love serving to homeless and under-privileged people with their laundry. She additionally taught youth swim classes, was concerned in UNC Asheville’s Leaders for Leaders program, was a Mental Health Ambassador for the Women’s Swim and Dive crew and was additionally a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
 
In the pool, she was a crew captain for 3 years in addition to incomes the Coach’s Award in 2022, the Hardest Worker Award in 2023 and the Swimmer of the Year Award from UNC Asheville Swim and Dive in 2025. She holds the freshman file within the 200-yard butterfly, and was additionally named the Janice Brumit Rising Star Award winner at UNC Asheville’s Our Turn To Play occasion in 2025. She was additionally a two-time All-Conference choice within the 200 Fly, incomes Second Team All-CCSA honors in 2022 and All-ASUN Third Team honors in 2024. Academically, she was named to both the Chancellor’s List or the Dean’s List all eight semesters and was additionally a two-time College Sports Communicators Academic All-District choice.
 
“It is an honor to have Riley Edmundson recognized as the Big South nominee for the 2025 NCAA Woman of the Year award!” mentioned head swimming and diving coach Elizabeth Lykins. “During her career at UNC Asheville she learned and grew as a person, a swimmer and a leader on the team and within the community. We are so very proud to give her this well-earned recognition. Congratulations, Riley, on your nomination!”

About Women’s Athletics Presenting Partner First Bank

First Bank is the banking subsidiary of First Bancorp and is headquartered in Southern Pines, North Carolina, with whole belongings of roughly $12.1 billion. As a state-chartered neighborhood financial institution, First Bank operates 113 financial institution branches in North Carolina and South Carolina and a nationwide SBA platform. Since 1935, First Bank has taken a tailor-made method to banking, combining best-in-class monetary options, useful native experience, and expertise to handle a house or enterprise. First Bancorp’s widespread inventory is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market beneath the image “FBNC.” Visit our web site at www.LocalFirstBank.com. Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender.