By Eli Soderberg
Anna Grossheim is not your typical student-athlete. On January 15, she attended the NCAA Woman of the Year convention in Nashville, Tenn., a celebration of the top 30 honorees from all three divisions. Grossheim was one of the top nine finalists for the award for her achievements on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
As the UNCP soccer team captain, she has helped lead her team to dynasty status claiming three straight Conference Carolinas Championships, scoring 41 goals, recording 44 assists, and being a 9-time All-American, all while keeping a 4.0 GPA. But it’s her work as a firefighter and an EMT that truly sets her apart and earns her this recognition. She serves the Robeson community by saving lives, pulling people out of burning buildings and delivering babies.
“I have had some fantastic student-athletes over the years who have tried to embody and embrace the community piece of being a student-athlete, but no one has done it better than Anna,” Braves head coach Lars Andersson said.
According to the NCAA, the Woman of the Year award was created in 1991 to recognize graduating female student-athletes who have distinguished themselves in athletics, academics, leadership and community service. Anna, a graduate student in the public administration program, is the first athlete in UNCP history to make it to the top 30 for the award.
The convention was held in Nashville to honor the top 30 nominees, where Grossheim was accompanied by numerous family members, her husband Josh Duncan, Andersson, Athletic Director Dick Christy, Chancellor Robin G. Cummings and his wife, Director for Compliance Christina Chow and Dr. Jessica Siegele.
“It was a room full of incredible people and it kind of made me think that the world is in safe hands going forward just knowing those girls will continue to do everything that they’re doing now and to make a difference in the world,” Grossheim said.
Anna’s interest in the EMS field awoke from a free elective class in High School, which she simply chose because her favorite teacher was teaching it. She has been working and volunteering with the Red Springs Fire Department since July 2022 and as an EMT for Robeson County since July 2020. She has been able to see people walk away after a life-or-death decision she had to make and even though some fatal cases will forever be engraved in her memory, she talks about the wholesome “full circle moments” of running into prior patients at Walmart or the gas station who recognized her from a call.
Despite being on a tight schedule with classes, work, soccer practices and games, she explains she could not live without any of them. With the help of good time management and support from people around her, she manages to do it all.
“I don’t sleep a lot, and I drink a lot of caffeine,” Grossheim said with a smile on her face. “It’s kind of one of those things where if you really enjoy doing something and you love it you don’t mind sacrificing a little bit here and there.”
Reagan Carr, a teammate of Anna, explained that there are times when Grossheim would show up to film review in her work uniform and with a Red Bull in her hand because she came straight from a 12-hour shift. Often sleep deprived but nonetheless ready to put in the work necessary.
Grossheim is described as one of Pembroke’s local heroes as it is difficult to meet someone who has nothing but positive things to say about her.“UNCP has been so good to me during my time here, and I owe a lot of who I am and what I will become to this school, so I feel like it is a nice way to give back and continue to represent it in a positive manner,” Grossheim said.