Peyton Stearns named Class of 2022 Honda Sport Award winner for Tennis

AUSTIN, Texas — University of Texas Women’s Tennis sophomore Peyton Stearns has been named the recipient of the Class of 2022 Honda Sport Award for Tennis, THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA) announced today. Stearns becomes the first player in program history to win the Honda Sport Award for Tennis and the first Longhorn in any sport to be recognized as a Honda Sport Award recipient since Courtney Okolo (Track and Field) in 2016.

The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 46 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA-sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics.” The winner of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2022 Honda Cup. The Honda Cup will be presented during the live telecast of the Collegiate Women Sports Award Presented by Honda on CBS Sports Network on June 27 at 8 p.m. Central.

“I’m super grateful to receive the Honda Sport Award for Tennis,” Stearns said. “It is such a privilege and honor to represent The University of Texas and the sport of tennis itself.”

Stearns was chosen by a vote of administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Finalists for the Honda Sport Award for Tennis included Eryn Cayetano (USC), Sarah Hamner (South Carolina) and Emma Navarro (Virginia).

Stearns was previously named the ITA National Player of the Year, an honor given annually to the Men’s and Women’s players who end the season ranked No. 1 in the final National Singles rankings. After leading Texas to its second-straight NCAA team title this year, she became the first player in program history to win the NCAA Singles championship and concluded the season with a 33-2 overall record in singles play.

Stearns paired with partner Allura Zamarripa on the doubles court and earned ITA Doubles All-America honors this season. The duo advanced to the NCAA Doubles quarterfinals and was No. 10 in the final ITA National Doubles rankings. Stearns also was tabbed the 2022 Big 12 Player of the Year, the Big 12 Championship Most Outstanding Player and the Big 12 Individual Champion at No. 1 Singles.

“In Peyton Stearns, the Honda Award can rest easy knowing that its newest recipient embodies all that this elite and enduring honor represents,” said Texas head coach Howard Joffe. “Peyton is indeed excellent, unique and the best of the best. She is a joyous soul and a driven competitor, has a bright and dedicated mind and is really a champion athlete. Peyton joins names like (Cat) Osterman and (Jill) Sterkel and I believe that once her career is complete, she will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those hall of fame athletes and people.”

Currently in its 46th year, the CWSA has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs.

The Longhorns posted a 26-4 dual-match record during the 2022 season and captured their second-straight and fourth NCAA team title in program history with a 4-1 victory against Oklahoma in the championship match on May 22. Texas previously won NCAA Championships in 1993, 1995 and 2021. The Longhorns joined Stanford and Florida as the only schools to repeat as NCAA Division I Women’s Tennis national champions since 1982.

Honda Sport Award Winners from The University of Texas

Previous Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year Winners (Honda Cup) from The University of Texas