Haeger & Hunter humbled amid Honda class of 2015
Tuesday, June 30, 2015 | Gymnastics, Softball, Chris Harry
Lauren Haeger and Kytra Hunter mug for the camera after Monday night's Honda Award presentation in Los Angeles, honoring the NCAA's top female athletes in their respective sports. [Photos by Robert Beck]
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- First, some perspective.
In the history of University of Florida women's athletics, no Gator had ever been named a Honda Award finalist until softball superstar Lauren Haeger heard her name called Monday night.
“I mean, what do you say to that?” Haeger asked.
And in the decorated history of UF women's athletics, only two Gators -- a pair of orange and blue icons in swimmer Tracy Caulkens (in 1982, '83 and '84, who twice won the Cup before it went to a semifinals format) and tennis assassin Lisa Raymond -- had been named Honda nominee in their respective sport twice until gymnast Kytra Hunter joined that elite group earlier this month. In 2012, Hunter became just the second UF freshman so honored.
“Honestly, when I look back on my collegiate career, I don't think there's any more I could have gotten out of it,” Hunter said. “It makes me so proud.”
Haeger and Hunter, who together gathered a wall of hardware for themselves and their teams the last four years, spoke late Monday night from Los Angeles after the Collegiate Women Sports Award show on CBS Sports honoring the 12 best athletes in their respective NCAA-sanction sports (those in attendance pictured below).
Missy Franklin, who claimed five titles while leading the University of California to the 2015 NCAA championship, was awarded the Honda Cup as 2015 Woman Athlete of the Year. Franklin, a 14-time All-American and Olympic gold-medalist, was chosen over a semifinal trio that also included Connecticut basketball superstar Breanna Stewart and Haeger, both of whom led their teams to national titles and edged a paddle wheel of superstars to reach the final three.
For Haeger, the night was the latest stop in whirlwind few weeks ignited earlier this month when she both pitched and hit the Gators to a second straight Women's College World Series crown. Haeger, the senior from Peoria, Ariz., became the first player in NCAA history to reach at least 70 wins as a pitcher for a career and match that number with 70 homers.
Oh, and since we started this post with perspective, we might as well remind anyone who wasn't watching the WCWS that the only other person ever to play a bat-and-ball sport and go 70-and-70 was named Babe Ruth.
Maybe for that very reason (not to mention she went 32-2 and led her team in homers and RBI for the season, plus posted a 4-1 mark and ERA of 1.18 while hitting .571 at the WCWS) Haeger's next stop will be another trip to California for the ESPY Awards in July. She is nominated in two categories: Best Female College Athlete and Best Championship Performance. In the latter category, her competition includes -- get this -- LeBron James in the NBA Finals, Madison Bumgarner in the World Series and Triple Crown-winning thoroughbred American Pharoah.
“When I heard that, I was like, 'What? Tell me again, who am I? I'm Lauren, right?' ” she said. “I don't know. It's just something I'm going to remember for the rest of my life.”
The same can be said for her most recent excursion to L.A.
Haeger, who earlier this month started a stint as a rookie with the Dallas Charge of National Pro Fastpitch, joined Hunter for the trip west and spent a couple days with the absolute best college female athletes in their respective sports.
“It's been a lot of fun just to connect with all the women here and to listen to some of their inspirational stories and the adversity they had to overcome,” Hunter said. “Just having the insight from their different points of view, being able to share their stories, will be something I can take away. I really do feel like I made some close friends here.”
Hunter and Haeger were already friends, having arrived at UF together as freshmen in 2011. Though they didn't have much time to hang out during their spring seasons, both watched each other dominant their craft.
Haeger went to many a gymnastic meet. Hunter watched Haeger set down batters and collect extra base hits on television. Combined, they won five national champions with their teams, with gymnastics claiming the last three and softball the last two.
Both will return to UF this fall and are on schedule to graduate in the coming academic year; Hunter in December with a degree in Food and Resource Economics; Haeger next spring in Family Youth and Community Science.
Their images and/or achievements will be emblazoned throughout their athletic facilities. Forever.
“I know how hard I had to work, so I have such respect for Lauren because I know what it took for her to be the best,” Hunter said.
In Haeger's case, as Florida's only Honda Award finalist in its 39-year history, a case can be made she is THE BEST Gators athlete, well, maybe ever. That's a debate left for others.
Without question, though, both Haeger and Hunter belong in it.
“That's just crazy,” Haeger said. “For me, it's about the work. I just go out there and do what I love to do, work hard, and the rest just sort of falls into place. But to leave a mark on a such a great university like Florida, that's just really cool. I don't have the words yet.”
Players Mentioned
