University of Hawai`i sophomore diver Emma Friesen was honored today with the Joe Kearney Award from the Western Athletic Conference.

The award is given annually to the top male and female WAC athletes. Fresno State baseball player Steve Susdorf was selected as the male winner by WAC athletics directors. Friesen was chosen by WAC senior woman administrators.

Friesen, a sophomore from North Vancouver, British Columbia, became the second diver in UH history to win a national championship in March. Friesen won the 1-meter springboard championship, breaking a UH record along the way. Friesen earned All-American honors and was named NCAA Tri-Diver of the Year.

Friesen is the first diver to win the award since it began in 1991-92 and the fifth Rainbow Wahine to win the award in the past six years.

"UH has had a lot of outstanding divers and I'm proud to be the first diver to win this award," Friesen said in a press release. "This is a great honor and the support has been great at UH, including the excellent coaches and teammates, we are like a family."

Friesen finished sixth at the NCAA Championships on the 3-meter and also won the WAC 1-meter championship. Her school record on the 1-meter of 336.20 came after six dives at the NCAA Championship. Her freshman year she won the WAC 1-meter and finished second at the WAC on the 3-meter.