LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Junior Payton Murphy from Western Michigan University, Bentley University senior Emily Sweet and senior Lauren Thibodeau from the University of Louisville have been named finalists for the Honda Inspiration Award as announced by Judy Sweet, CWSA Board Member and Chair of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) Inspiration Award committee.
The Honda Inspiration Award winner for the Class of 2022 will be selected from these three finalists by the CWSA Board of Directors and honored with the Class of 2022. On June 20 at 8:30 pm ET, CBS Sports Network will air Defying the Odds: The 2022 Honda Inspiration Award – a special telecast highlighting the three finalists. Encores of the show are set to air at 11 pm on the evening of June 20 and at 10 am on June 21.
"There were many strong nominations for the 2022 Inspiration Award, and each had a truly inspiring story," said Sweet. "The three finalists demonstrated strength, resiliency, determination and success in overcoming significant health challenges and ongoing adversities."
An Inspiration Award winner has been selected annually for the past 34 years. The Honda Inspiration Award is given to a deserving female student-athlete in Division I, II or III who has experienced extraordinary physical and/or emotional adversity, injury and/or illness, or experienced extraordinary personal sacrifice during her college enrollment as a student-athlete and yet returns to athletic success.
Jean Lenti Ponsetto, Chair of the CWSA Board of Directors stated, "Once again, the Honda Inspiration Award finalists show us that a competitive heart and spirit personifies grace and courage when confronted with the most insurmountable adversity."
Murphy received the finalist honors after suffering a severe neck injury in 2020, but eventually returning to competition after a long road in recovery. She would subsequently go on to have a monstrous comeback the following season, receiving a number of accolades including 2021 MAC Gymnast of the Year.
The Class of 2022 Honda Inspiration Award winner will be announced in June and will be honored with the Class of 2022 through a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 27th at 9 pm EST.
