Former NCAA Woman of the Year Karenna Groff Tragically Dies...
Former NCAA Woman of the Year Karenna Groff Tragically Dies in Plane Crash
Former NCAA Woman of the Year Karenna Groff Tragically Dies in Plane Crash
The collegiate sports community is mourning the loss of Karenna Groff, a former MIT soccer star and the 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year, who tragically died in a plane crash on Saturday.
The 25-year-old, along with five family members, perished when their private plane crashed in Copake, New York.
Groff, who graduated from MIT with degrees in biological engineering and a masterās in the same field, was a standout on and off the field.
A soccer All-American, she helped lead her team to multiple NCAA Division III tournaments and holds the record for goals scored in a single game at MIT.
Beyond her athletic accomplishments, Groff was a visionary and humanitarian.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, she co-founded openPPE, a project designed to address the global shortage of personal protective equipment.
She also conducted groundbreaking research at Boston Childrenās Hospital, focusing on epilepsy.
Her work in academics, leadership, and community service earned her the prestigious NCAA Woman of the Year accolade, an honor recognizing the achievements of top graduating female athletes.
The crash claimed the lives of her father, Dr. Michael Groff, a neurosurgeon and experienced pilot; her mother, Dr. Joy Saini, a urogynecologist and founder of Boston Pelvic Health and Wellness; her brother Jared Groff; and Jaredās partner Alexia Couyutas Duarte, who planned to attend Harvard Law School.
Groffās boyfriend, James Santoro, also perished in the accident.
According to officials, the pilot reported a missed approach at Columbia County Airport shortly before the crash.
Despite warnings about low altitude from air traffic control, contact was lost, and the twin-engine Mitsubishi MU-2B descended rapidly into a muddy field.
Investigators are reviewing the site, and a full report is expected in the coming months.
Groffās contributions to science, athletics, and her community left an indelible mark.
Tributes have poured in from MIT, her friends, and the broader college sports community, all celebrating her vibrant life and profound accomplishments.
āShe was a rising star with endless potential,ā said a spokesperson from MIT. āHer loss is a tragedy felt deeply across so many communities.ā
Karenna Groffās legacy of excellence, compassion, and perseverance will continue to inspire, even as her untimely passing leaves an irreplaceable void.