Gymnastics

2020 HOGSPYs: Female Student-Athlete of the Year

Razorback Communications April 29, 2020

The female student-athlete of the year award recognizes a standout sophomore, junior, or senior student-athlete who has demonstrated outstanding athletic achievement on the field of play. Must be a student-athlete who maintains a GPA of 2.5 of above.

This year’s nominees are:

Sophia Carter (GYM)

  • Finished the regular season ranked 11th in the country on the floor, ranked sixth among SEC gymnasts, scoring no lower than a 9.875 on the floor all season, anchored every meet on Floor in 2020.
  • Claimed event titles eight times throughout the 2020 season to bring her career total to 24
  • Competed balance beam and floor in every meet in 2020, recorded a season high 9.925 on the beam in back-to-back meets at Missouri
  • Earned SEC Specialist of the Week after her beam performance vs. the Bulldogs – helped Arkansas to a season-best 49.275 in the event, the second Razorback in program history to be named the SEC Specialist of the Week (1/30/18), the first Razorback in program history to earn the award twice (2/11/20).
  • Second consecutive year with Regular Season All-America status by the WCGA – only one of three Razorbacks to achieve the honor in multiple seasons.

Anna Hopkin (SWD)

  • Anna was named 2020 SEC Scholar Athlete of the year. On top of winning medals in all her events at the 2020 SEC Championships (50 free, 100 free, 200 free).
  • She currently holds the top times in Arkansas program history in the 50 free (21.19), 100 free (46.20), 200 free (1:42.35) and 100 fly (52.31)
  • Anna is a 2020 CSCAA All-American in five events: 50, 100 & 200 free, 200 free relay & 400 free relay.

Katie Izzo (XC/TF)

  • SEC Indoor Runner of the Year.
  • Won 3,000m and 5,000m titles at SEC Indoor.
    • Broke 30-year-old SEC Indoor 5,000m record, ran second-fastest winning time in 3,000m.
  • Broke school record in 5,000m with a time that ranks No. 2 on all-time collegiate list.
  • Earned All-America and All-Academic honors in cross country and was SEC individual champion.
    • Finished third in NCAA race, leading Arkansas to first-ever national title in cross country.
  • Class of 2020 Honda Sport Award for Cross Country finalist.

Alexis Tolefree (WBB)

  • The WBCA Regional All-American Finalist averaged career-highs across the board, pouring in 16.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game, all while shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from three.
  • Tolefree was even better in conference play, averaging 18.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game, shooting the ball at a 41.6 percent clip from the field and at a 38.9 percent clip from deep on her way to First-Team All-SEC Honors.
  • Tolefree led the team in scoring and in steals in SEC play, and her scoring average in conference only games was the third best mark in the league.

Haley VanFossen (SOC)

  • Made a start in all 23 games during the season and anchored a defense that ranked second in the conference in goals-against-average (.466 – seventh nationally) and shutout percentage (.565).
  • Had a goal in Arkansas’ win over Ole Miss on Oct. 3 and dished out an assist against Minnesota on 8/29.
  • Joined Anna Podojil to become the first United Soccer Coaches All-Americans in school history. All-Southeast Region First Team. First SEC Defensive Player of the Year in program history. Just the third Razorback in school history to be named All-SEC First Team in back-to-back seasons. SEC Defender of the Week (9/16). Member of the MAC Hermann Watch List.

Watch the video to find out this year’s winner.

Powered by