The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
UT Athletics inducts 10th Longhorn Women's Hall of Honor class
11.20.2009 | Texas Athletics
Nov. 20, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas -- On Friday afternoon, UT Athletics honored its 10th class of Women's Athletics Hall of Honor inductees with a ceremony in the Lone Star Room at the Frank Erwin Center.
The 2009 class includes: Edwina Brown, college basketball's National Player of the Year in 1999-2000; Tiffany Cohen, two-time NCAA swimming champion; Jenny (Hayes) Harris, a first-team volleyball All-American; Nanceen Perry, three-time NCAA track champion; and Laura Wilkinson, two-time NCAA diving champion.
Enshrinement into the Hall of Honor is considered the highest honor bestowed by the 36-year-old UT Women's Athletics department.
The 2009-10 class is comprised of five phenomenal women. Each excelled in the field of competition during their time as student-athletes at The University of Texas, while also succeeding in the classroom and in life after graduation.
A two-time All-American and first-team All-Big 12 Conference selection, Brown is one of the most versatile players in school history. She is the only player in UT history to record at least 1,700 points, 500 assists and 250 steals through her career. Brown also remains the only player in history to lead the team in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals in the same season - and she accomplished that as a junior and senior.
After ranking seventh nationally in scoring with 21.2 points per game, Brown claimed the Margaret Wade Trophy -- awarded annually the top player in college basketball -- as a senior.
"It was just good to be here and take part in this," Brown said. "You know, I've seen this (event) for the past nine years, or at least heard about it when I wasn't here, but being here for the first year when it is actually my turn is really special. I feel honored and I feel blessed just to be a part of a group of women who came before me."
With a pair of NCAA individual championships and nine All-America honors, Cohen is remembered as one of the top freestyle distance swimmers to ever compete for The University of Texas. As a freshman, Cohen won NCAA titles in the 500- and 1,650-yard freestyle events while leading the Longhorns to the NCAA team championship. Over the next two seasons, the Longhorns won two more team titles, and Cohen picked up seven more All-America nods.
Cohen was a proven winner on the grandest stages even before she came to UT. Her international career is highlighted by winning gold medals in the 400- and 800-meter freestyle events with Olympic-record times at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.
"There has been a quarter of century since I've been at The University of Texas. For all those old feelings of victory, and all the blood, sweat and tears that I went through to help the team win the national championships, (this induction) has brought all those back," Cohen said. "It is an incredible feeling and it is hard to describe."
A first-team All-American who led the Longhorns to their first national championship in Volleyball, (Hayes) Harris is known simply as one of the most dominant middle blockers in program history. During her two seasons on the Forty Acres, UT had a combined record of 100-22-1 (.817) and captured the AIAW national championship in 1981.
"I'm so proud to be a part of this tradition," (Hayes) Harris said. "And at the time, I was here I didn't feel like a pioneer. I was just a 20 year-old kid. I was a young one when I came. I can look at the national championship and see how far back it was, and that's the only way I can feel like a pioneer."
Perry completed her four-year career with the Longhorns as one of the most decorated sprinters in her sport's history - three NCAA championships, 12 All-America honors and eight Big 12 championships simply underscore that point.
In addition, Perry helped led the Longhorns to four consecutive NCAA team titles (1998 Indoor, 1998 Outdoor, 1999 Indoor, 1999 Outdoor), an accomplishment only one other school (LSU) can claim.
"Being at Texas was one of my best times. We were very cohesive and very family-oriented," Perry said.
"When I found out about the induction, I was amazed and honored. I'm still amazed and honored. I'm just trying to figure out what to do."
As one of the most accomplished divers in NCAA and American history, Wilkinson won two NCAA platform titles and six All-America honors during her three-year collegiate career. Wilkinson won the 1997 NCAA platform championship as a freshman, and bookended her career with another title in 1999 before turning professional.
Wilkinson went on to wow the world at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, when -- despite a broken foot -- she vaulted up from eighth place to win the gold medal on the platform. Wilkinson also claimed gold medals on the platform at the 2004 FINA World Cup and 2005 FINA World Championships and remains the only woman to win platform titles at each of the three major world championships.
"I don't think I realized how quite big of a deal this was until I got here. When you see the athletes who are here, it is really humbling," Wilkinson said. "The University of Texas is where it all began, where I learned to compete. I gained great confidence and had some great coaches and people supporting me. I'll never ever forget that."
