Jessie Vetter (Cottage Grove, Wis.), guardian of the Team USA net, was named Sportswoman of the Year yesterday by the Women's Sports Foundation. Vetter was recognized at the 30th Annual Salute to Women in Sports Awards Dinner in New York for her accomplishments with the U.S. Women's National Hockey Team and the University of Wisconsin women's hockey team.
Jessie Vetter
The award is given to a team and individual each yaer based on their athletic achievements during the past year (i.e. Aug. 1, 2008 - July 31, 2009). Previous winners include Nastia Liukin (2008), Mia Hamm (1997,1999) and Michelle Kwan (1998).
Vetter's accomplishments with the University of Wisconsin this past year included leading the team to their third NCAA national title in four years and becoming the first goaltender in history to start four consecutive NCAA championship games. She played all but one game for the Badgers, had a 33-2-5 record and a national-best .942 save percentage. She also set an NCAA record with 14 shutouts in the 2008-09 season and is the all-time NCAA Division I leader in wins (91) and shutouts (39).
Vetter earned the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, presented to the top player in NCAA Division I women's ice hockey, and was an All-America First Team selection, an All-Western Collegiate Hockey Association First Team honoree and was named MVP of the NCAA Women's Frozen Four and the WCHA Final Five.
With the U.S. Women's National Team she won the Women's Four Nations Cup, where she stopped all six Canadian shooters in a shootout, and IIHF World Women's Championship, where she earned a shutout gainst Finland in the playoff round and a 4-1 win over Canada in the goald medal game with 39 saves. She was awarded the Bob Allen Women's player of the Year award in June by USA Hockey.
Vetter and Team USA are currently on the Qwest Tour, a 10-game, nine city tour in preparation for the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, B.C. For more information on the Qwest Tour visit www.qwesttour.com.