Florida Softball Standout Lauren Haeger is 2015 Southeastern Conference Female Athlete of the Year
Thursday, July 9, 2015 | Softball
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- University of Florida senior Lauren Haeger is the 2014-15 Roy F. Kramer Southeastern Conference Female Athlete of the Year, the league announced Thursday morning. Haeger and the male winner, Arkansas baseball player Andrew Benintendi, were selected by a vote of the league's athletics directors.
Haeger led Florida's softball team to its second-straight national championship in 2015 as she became the third softball player to win the USA Softball National Collegiate Player of the Year, the WCWS Most Outstanding Player and the Honda Awards in the same season (also: Keilani Ricketts, Oklahoma – 2013; Danielle Lawrie, Washington – 2009).
In terms of Florida history, the Peoria, Ariz., product became the first Gator to win the National Player of the Year award, third to be named the WCWS Most Outstanding Player and second to garner softball's Honda Award.
In addition, Haeger was the 2015 SEC Pitcher of the Year.
Florida's SEC Athletes of the Year
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Florida's SEC Athletes of the Year |
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Year |
Name |
Sport |
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2015 |
Softball |
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2014 |
Softball |
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2009 |
Tim Tebow |
Football |
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2008 |
Tim Tebow |
Football |
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2005 |
Ryan Lochte |
Swimming |
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1997 |
Danny Wuerffel |
Football |
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1996 |
Danny Wuerffel |
Football |
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1994 |
Nicole Haislett |
Swimming |
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1993 |
Nicole Haislett |
Swimming |
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1988 |
Dara Torres |
Swimming |
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1984 |
Tracy Caulkins |
Swimming |
Statistically, Haeger hit .433 in the NCAA tournament (.571 at OKC) with three homers, five runs scored and seven RBI. For the season, she hit .347 with 19 homers and 71 RBI.
In the circle, she assembled a 32-2 record with a 1.23 earned run average after beginning the year with 24 consecutive victories to mark the best start to a campaign in Gator history.
Haeger, a National Fastpitch Coaches Association First Team All-American, finished her career as the SEC record holder for career home runs (71) and the Florida benchmark for career RBI (260). She ended her time in the Orange and Blue with a career mark of 73-12 in the circle.
Her 71 homeruns and 73 wins makes her and Babe Ruth (yes, that Babe Ruth) the only players NCAA softball, NCAA baseball or Major League Baseball history to hit 70+ home runs and win 70+ games in a career.
A Gator has now picked up a SEC Athlete of the Year honor 11 times since 1984. Haeger is the fifth Gator athlete to be named SEC Female Athlete of the Year and the second-straight, as Hannah Rogers won the award following UF's softball championship a season ago.
Prior to then, Tim Tebow was the Gators last UF male recipient, claiming his second consecutive honor in 2009.
What They Said…
"To be a part of the Gator softball team has truly been a privilege. Softball is a team sport and I am honored to receive this award on behalf of the Gator program. It has been a wonderful season to share with my teammates, coaches and all the Gator fans. I hope everyone who competed, coached or cheered the Gator softball team can take some pride in this award because all played a role this memorable season." – Gator senior Lauren Haeger
"It's an amazing accomplishment for Lauren (Haeger) to be named the Female Athlete of the Year in the SEC. It's a tremendous honor for Lauren and all of her teammates who helped her achieve this award. This says a lot about the season she had and shows the overall importance of being a great player on a team that has a great year. We are very honored for the SEC to recognize Lauren and super proud of her and the great career she has had for the Gators." – Florida Head Coach Tim Walton
"Andrew and Lauren have competed at the highest level of collegiate athletics, and through their hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence, have been successful in their endeavors. They are outstanding representatives of their universities and the SEC is proud to honor them for their accomplishments." - SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey
Other 2015 Nominees:
Each member school can nominate a male and a female for SEC Athlete of the Year. The league athletic directors vote for the winner. Here's a complete list of the 2014-15 nominees:
Male: Amari Cooper, Alabama (football); Reese Dismukes, Auburn (football); Marquis Dendy, Florida (track & field); Maicel Uibo, Georgia (track & field); Willie Cauley-Stein, Kentucky (basketball); Vernon Norwood, LSU (track & field); Senquez Golson, Ole Miss (football); Dak Prescott, Mississippi State (football); Shane Ray, Missouri (football); Will Starke, South Carolina (golf); Mikelis Libietis, Tennessee (tennis); Deon Lendore, Texas A&M (track & field); Carson Fulmer, Vanderbilt (football).
Female: Emma Talley, Alabama (golf); Dominique Scott, Arkansas (track & field); Emily Carosone, Auburn (softball); Kendell Williams, Georgia (track & field); Kendra Harrison, Kentucky (track & field); Madelene Sagstrom, LSU (golf); Julia Jones, Ole Miss (tennis); Rhianwedd Price, Mississippi State (track & field); Kearsten Peoples, Missouri (track & field); Tiffany Mitchell, South Carolina (basketball); Chelsea Claase, Tennessee (cross country/track & field); Shamier Little, Texas A&M (track & field); Simone Charely, Vanderbilt (track & field/soccer).
All-Time SEC Athletes of the Year:
The SEC Athletes of the Year Awards were first presented in 1976 for men and 1984 for women. The honor was renamed the Roy F. Kramer Athletes of the Year in 2004 to honor the former commissioner who served the conference from 1990-2002.
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Southeastern Conference Athlete of the Year Recipients |
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Year |
Male |
Female |
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2015 |
Andrew Benintendi, Arkansas (baseball) |
Lauren Haeger, Florida (softball) |
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2014 |
A.J. Reed, Kentucky (baseball) |
Hannah Rogers, Florida (softball) |
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2013 |
Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M (football) |
Allison Schmitt, Georgia (swimming) |
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2012 |
Anthony Davis, Kentucky (basketball) |
Brooke Pancake, Alabama (golf) |
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2011 |
John-Patrick Smith, Tennessee (tennis) |
Kayla Hoffman, Alabama (gymnastics) |
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2010 |
Mark Ingram, Alabama (football) |
Susan Jackson, LSU (gymnastics) |
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2009 |
Tim Tebow, Florida (football) |
Courtney Kupets, Georgia (gymnastics) |
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2008 |
Tim Tebow, Florida (football) |
Candace Parker, Tennessee (basketball) |
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2007 |
David Price, Vanderbilt (baseball) |
Monica Abbott, Tennessee (softball) |
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2006 |
Xavier Carter, LSU (track & field) |
Seimone Augustus, LSU (basketball) |
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2005 |
Ryan Lochte, Florida (swimming) |
Kirsty Coventry, Auburn (swimming) |
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2004 |
Alistair Cragg, Arkansas (cross country/track) |
Jeana Rice, Alabama (gymnastics) |
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2003 |
Alistair Cragg, Arkansas (cross country/track) |
LaToya Thomas, Mississippi State (basketball) |
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2002 |
Walter Lewis, LSU (track & field) |
Andree' Pickens, Alabama (gymnastics) |
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2001 |
Matias Boeker, Georgia (tennis) |
Amy Yoder Begley, Arkansas (cross country/track) |
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2000 |
Kip Bouknight , South Carolina (baseball) |
Kristy Kowal, Georgia (swimming) |
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1999 |
Tim Couch, Kentucky (football) |
Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee (basketball) |
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1998 |
Peyton Manning, Tennessee (football) |
Chamique Holdsclaw, Tennessee (basketball) |
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1997 |
Danny Wuerffel, Florida (football) |
Trinity Johnson, South Carolina (softball) |
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1996 |
Danny Wuerffel, Florida (football) |
Saudia Roundtree, Georgia (basketball) |
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1995 |
Todd Helton, Tennessee (baseball) |
Jenny Hansen, Kentucky (gymnastics) |
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1994 |
Corliss Williamson, Arkansas (basketball) |
Nicole Haislett, Florida (swimming) |
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1993 |
Jamal Mashburn, Kentucky (basketball) |
Nicole Haislett, Florida (swimming) |
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1992 |
Shaquille O'Neal, LSU (basketball) |
Vicki Goetze, Georgia (golf) |
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1991 |
Shaquille O'Neal, LSU (basketball) |
Daedra Charles, Tennessee (basketball) |
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1990 |
Alec Kessler, Georgia (basketball) |
Dee Foster, Alabama (gymnastics) |
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1989 |
Derrick Thomas, Alabama (football) |
Bridgette Gordon, Tennessee (basketball) |
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1988 |
Will Perdue, Vanderbilt (basketball) |
Dara Torres, Florida (swimming) |
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1987 |
Cornelius Bennett, Alabama (football) |
Lillie Leatherwood King, Alabama (track & field) |
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1986 |
Bo Jackson, Auburn (football) |
Jennifer Gillom, Ole Miss (basketball) |
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1985 |
Will Clark, Mississippi State (baseball) |
Penney Hauschild, Alabama (gymnastics) |
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1984 |
Terry Hoage, Georgia (football) |
Tracy Caulkins, Florida (swimming) |
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1983 |
Herschel Walker, Georgia (football/track and field) |
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1982 |
Buck Belue, Georgia (football/baseball) |
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1981 |
Rowdy Gaines, Auburn (swimming) |
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1980 |
Kyle Macy, Kentucky (basketball) |
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1979 |
Reggie King, Alabama (basketball) |
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1978 |
Jack Givens, Kentucky (basketball) |
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1977 |
Larry Seivers, Tennessee (football) |
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1976 |
Harvey Glance, Auburn (track & field) |
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