The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
05.03.2022 | Forty Acres Insider
Important news happening in and around Texas Athletics compiled by Vice President and Athletics Director Chris Del Conte. [<a href="http://texassports.com/archives.aspx?path=forty_acres_insider">Forty Acres Insider archives</a>]
Greetings Longhorn Nation,
It's time to flip those calendars once again as we've reached the month of May. It's such a special month with so many spring seasons heading into Big 12 and NCAA Championship competition, the final week of classes upon us and graduation on the horizon. And this week, the road to the national title will start right here at the Texas Tennis Center for our Men's and Women's Tennis squads. Baseball, Softball and Track & Field are in the stretch run of their regular seasons, Rowing closed out its regular season with a glorious Austin morning on the lake, and Women's Golf is getting ready for the NCAA Regionals in less than a week. And wow, George and Willie put on a spectacular show at the Moody Center over the weekend! It is truly an awesome time to be a Longhorn.
Oh, and while I've got you and we're talking Moody Center, the brand-new basketball court has arrived, and we shared a sneak peak of it on Monday. You can read about it and check out the photos here.
Men's and Women's Tennis Both Open NCAA Tournament Play at Home
It's NCAA Tourney time for Men's and Women's Tennis and both teams will begin play this Friday and Saturday in the friendly confines of the Texas Tennis Center. Texas is one of seven schools nationally to serve as a host site for NCAA First & Second Round matches. The Men are the No. 12 overall seed and play Idaho on Friday at 10 a.m. CT, and should our Horns advance, we'll serve it up against either No. 20 SMU or No. 33 LSU on Saturday at Noon CT. The Women earned the No. 4 national seed and host Ball State on Friday at 1 p.m. CT. Should we win on Friday, we'll face either No. 20 Michigan or No. 38 Oregon in the second round on Saturday at 3 p.m. CT. Admission for all matches on Friday and Saturday is free, and paid parking is available in the East Campus Garage, so we hope to see a lot of Burnt Orange packing the Texas Tennis Center on both days!
Softball Travels to Lubbock, Sweeps Texas Tech with Baylor Up Next
How about Coach White and the Texas softball crew?! Winning on the road in the Big 12 is never an easy task, but the Longhorns took care of business this past weekend by sweeping a three-game series at Texas Tech. The cardiac Longhorns were at it again in Lubbock, battling back twice in games one and three to make it 14 wins after trailing at any point in a contest this season. Janae Jefferson continues to etch her name throughout the UT record book by scoring her 200th career run on Saturday to become the only Texas player to ever reach the 300-hit, 200-run club. Also with those victories at TTU, the Longhorns have now secured the No. 3 seed in the upcoming Big 12 Championship in Oklahoma City (May 12-14). Before the postseason begins though, a three-game series with Baylor and a chance to show our Horns your best Texas Fight at Red & Charline McCombs Field awaits this weekend. Game one is in Waco on Friday, then it's back home for "Senior Day" on Saturday as we'll honor six standout seniors prior to that game, with the regular-season and series finale on Sunday. This team is so much fun to watch, come on out help them Hook the Bears!
Track & Field Sets More Records, Secures Several Victories at Penn Relays and LSU Invitational
Our Track & Field squad was putting up great performances, setting records and posting victories as a split squad competed from Philly to Baton Rouge. It was the distance runners traveling to the prestigious Penn Relays and coming away with a pair of wins as Yaseen Abdalla crossed the line first in the 5,000m and our 4xMile Relay of Yusuf Bizimana, Yaseen, Cruz Gomez and Crayton Carrozza claimed the title in one of the meet's premier events. The Texas Fight was further on display at the LSU Invitational as our Women's 4x100m relay team of Julien Alfred, Rhasidat Adeleke, Kevona Davis and Kynnedy Flannel continued its total domination this season, breaking the school record they set earlier this year in winning again in 42.37 seconds. That's the best time in the nation this year, one of the top collegiate times ever run, and our Horns have now run four of the five fastest 4x100m relay times in UT history this spring! Our women passed the baton to perfection, sweeping the relays with a meet-capping victory in the 4x400m relay as well. The team of Stacey Ann Williams, Adeleke, Alfred and Kennedy Simon did that in a stadium record time of 3:25.64. And on the Men's side our guy Jonathan Jones just keeps burning up the track, too. He sprinted to a 400m victory with the third-fastest outdoor time in school history (44.79). He now has run the five fastest outdoor 400-meter dash times ever by a Longhorn. And we did it in the field too as our Horns won five of those events, including Tyra Gittens (women's high jump), Jathan Belaire (men's long jump), Warren Miller (men's pole vault) and Tripp Piperi (men's shot put), along with Chrystal Herpin who won the women's discus with the second-best throw ever by a Longhorn at 182-7. Coach Flo's got them doing so many great things. We'll have a few Longhorns taking part in a final tune-up out west at the Oregon Twilight on Friday, but all eyes are keenly focused on the Big 12 Championships May 13-15 in Lubbock.
Rowing at Longhorn Invite and on to Big 12
In our final competition before hosting the Big 12 Championships (May 15), our defending National Champion Rowing squad continued to make waves and leave the competition in their wake! Coach O'Neill and our Horns swept all five races at Saturday's Longhorn Invite at Walter E. Long Lake. On a beautiful morning, the First Varsity Eight — fresh off their second Big 12 Boat of the Week honor this season — improved its winning streak to 15-straight races dating back to last season, while the Second Varsity Eight and Varsity Four remained unbeaten this season. We'll be right back at that location in our beautiful city in just a couple short weeks, this time with a conference title on the line and as a prequel to the NCAA Championships May 27-29 in Sarasota, Fla. for our No. 1-ranked squad.
Three Longhorn Swimmers earn spots on Team USA World Championship Roster
When Team USA takes to the pool for the FINA World Championships later this summer, our Longhorns will be well represented. Three of our Men's Swimmers did big things at last week's USA Swimming International Team Trials, earning selection for roster spots on the American team that will take on the world June 18-July 3 in Budapest! Carson Foster, Drew Kibler and Coby Carrozza all secured their first world championship bids after outstanding performances at the Phillips 66 International Team Trials. Carson led the way, winning the 400-meter individual medley and earning a spot in the 200m IM field with a second-place finish. He also was third in the 200m freestyle and advances as a member of the 4x200m freestyle relay. Drew, the two-time reigning Big 12 Swimmer of the Year, punched his ticket to the World Championships with a second-place finish in the 200m freestyle and as a member of the 4x100m freestyle relay. Coby joins Carson as a selection on Team USA's 4x200m freestyle relay. We had several other outstanding efforts from all of our Men's and Women's Swimmers competing at the meet as well, and though they didn't earn bids, they continued to gain valuable experience and build on their resumes. Oh, and congrats are in order for the esteemed leaders of our outstanding programs, Eddie Reese and Carol Capitani, who will represent us on the international stage serving as assistant coaches for Team USA at the World Championships.
Women's Golf will travel to Albuquerque for NCAA Regional Championship
Fresh off a Big 12 Championship — Coach Murphy's fourth in the last five conference championships — our Women's Golf squad earned one of the top seeds at the NCAA Regional in Albuquerque. They've got a week to prepare, rest a little and retool, but will be heading to The Championship Course at New Mexico this weekend and be ready to roll for Monday's NCAA Regional competition. We'll be taking dead aim on advancing to the NCAA Championship round for the sixth year in-a-row and 30th time in program history, so get ready to follow along and cheer on our Horns!
Women's Basketball Standouts Set to Compete in USA Basketball 3X Nationals
Are y'all ready for some Texas Women's Basketball three-on-three style?! Four Longhorns will take to the half court in a big-time competition of the game you all know so well from backyard basketball. It's the 2022 Red Bull USA Basketball 3X Nationals, and we'll be well-represented by Aliyah Matharu, Shay Holle, Rori Harmon and Aaliyah Moore on the courts at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass. The event is set for May 13-15 and will feature up to 16 men's and 16 women's teams vying for national titles. Our Longhorns received an invitation to compete based on their Elite 8 finish in the 2022 NCAA Tournament.
Kudos to Coach Schaefer, Tabbed TABC Coach of the Year
Speaking of Women's Basketball, last year was another special one for our program, and this week Coach Schaefer was recognized for leading our Horns to a tremendous season. After advancing to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Tournament for a second-straight year, winning the Big 12 Championship Tourney, posting a 29-7 record and finishing the year ranked No. 6 nationally, the Texas Association of Basketball Coaches (TABC) has named Coach Schaefer the 2022 Division I Women's Basketball Coach of the Year. Here's to a well-deserved honor and all he's done for our program. It's just the start of many more great things ahead, but sending an emphatic Hook 'Em for a job well done!
A Slew of All-Big 12 Honors for Men's and Women's Tennis
The All-Big 12 Men's and Women's Tennis teams were announced last week and were chock-full of Longhorns. For the Women, we had the conference Player of the Year in Peyton Stearns, and she was joined on the All-Big 12 singles first-team by freshman sensation Sabina Zeynalova. The dynamic doubles duo of Peyton and another freshman in Allura Zamarripa earned first-team honors, while Charlotte Chavatipon and Kylie Collins earned second-team recognition in both singles and as a doubles tandem. Peyton's extraordinary year gained further recognition as she was the Big 12 Individual Champion at No. 1 singles, as well. And of course, Sabina, the Big 12 Individual Champion at No. 3 Singles, was also a member of the league's All-Freshman Team. On the Men's side, there were several Big 12 postseason awards, including fabulous freshman Pierre-Yves Bailly bringing home Freshman of the Year to go with five other All-Big 12 selections. Two of the honorees were first-team picks with Micah Braswell earning that recognition in singles and the duo of Richard Ciamarra and Cleeve Harper in doubles. We had three second-teamers, as well, in Bailly and Eliot Spizzirri in singles, and the pair of Spizzirri and Siem Woldeab in doubles. Richard and Cleeve also were tabbed the Big 12 Individual Champion at No. 1 Doubles.
Hook 'Em to our 11 Big 12 Softball Academic All-Big 12 Honorees
Congratulations to our 11 Softball student-athletes who earned a spot on the 2022 Academic All-Big 12 teams. Eight of them were first-team honorees and seven have had multiple appearances. The eight first-teamers were infielder Camille Corona, utility player Courtney Day, catcher/first baseman Mary Iakopo, second baseman Janae Jefferson, pitcher Shea O'Leary, infielder McKenzie Parker, catcher/first baseman JJ Smith and designated player/outfielder Jordyn Whitaker. Utility players Lauren Burke and Bree Cantu and infielder Alyssa Washington earned second-team honors. Mary, Janae, Shea & McKenzie all are Academic All-Big 12 for the third time while Lauren, Camille and Courtney are now two-time honorees. Sending an emphatic Hook 'Em to our bright and talented Softball standouts.
More Longhorns Earn Big 12 Honors
Kudos are in order for a number of recent sensational performances by Longhorn student-athletes. Late last week after the Forty Acres Insider went out, we got word that our Rowing team earned another Big 12 Boat of the Week honor. It was the second time this season our First Varsity Eight earned that weekly honor. The award came after Coach O'Neill's squad traveled to New Jersey and defeated No. 4 Princeton and No. 16 Rutgers at Lake Carnegie. We won or earned a share of the Big 12 weekly honor in each of the three weeks a UT boat was eligible this season. Congratulations are also in order for Men's Golfers Parker Coody, Cole Hammer and Mason Nome, who earned Big 12 Championship All-Tournament honors late last week, as well.
Another Full Week on the 40
We've got a lot going on this week on The Forty and beyond. After a tough weekend against No. 8 Oklahoma State at UFCU Disch-Falk Field, Baseball will look to bounce back and starts off our week of sports action tonight when they welcome in Houston Baptist (6:30 p.m. CT/LHN). They'll follow that by traveling to West Virginia for a critical Big 12 weekend series later this week. It's survive and advance time as Men's and Women's Tennis will be hosting NCAA Championship tournament competition at the Texas Tennis Center on Friday and Saturday. Softball travels to Baylor on Friday and hosts the Bears on Saturday and Sunday in its final regular season games before heading to the Big 12 Championship tournament in Oklahoma City starting on Thursday, May 12. Track & Field has a few competitors that are westward-bound for the Oregon Twilight on Friday as they close in on the Big 12 Championships May 13-15 in Lubbock. Our Big 12 Champion Women's Golf squad will be heading to New Mexico for the Albuquerque NCAA Regional this weekend and is set to compete for an NCAA Championship berth next Monday-Wednesday.
Tuesday:
• Baseball vs. Houston Baptist
Friday:
• NCAA Men's Tennis first round vs. Idaho
• NCAA Women's Tennis first round vs. Ball State
• Baseball at West Virginia
• Softball at Baylor
• Track & Field at Oregon Twilight
Saturday:
• NCAA Men's Tennis second round*
• NCAA Women's Tennis second round*
• Baseball at West Virginia
• Softball vs. Baylor
Sunday:
• Baseball at West Virginia
• Softball vs. Baylor
Monday:
• Women's Golf at NCAA Regional Championship
Tuesday:
• Women's Golf at NCAA Regional Championship
• Baseball vs. Texas Southern
Wednesday:
• Women's Golf at NCAA Regional Championship
*If Texas advances
Big-time games, matches and meets, Big 12 Championships and NCAA Championships, there's so much going on over the next couple weeks. There's the Texas Fight Tour on the horizon, too. It's going to be such a joy seeing all of you, enjoying some fellowship, cheering on our Longhorns, raising our Horns high and belting out that Texas…Fight! Can't hide pride, and it's such a great time to be a Longhorn. We're so grateful for each and every one of you.
Hook 'Em Horns,
Chris Del Conte
Chris Del Conte
P.S. — This is one beauty of a homecourt!
P.S. II – Check out the Bling! Women's Tennis got their National Championship rings!
P.S. III – A memorable night indeed! George and Willie were en fuego and the Moody Center continues to impress!
P.S. IV — What an honor it was celebrating another Longhorn Baseball great as Saturday's traDISCHions legend was the great Billy Bates!
P.S. V — What a great moment this was from Military Appreciation Day at UFCU Disch-Falk Field on Sunday.
P.S. VI — Gotta love the Poetry in Motion of Track & Field!
HEADLINES
VIDEO: Steve Sarkisian joins the LHN Spring Game Texas GameDay set
Softball wins series opener at Texas Tech on Friday
Women's Swimming & Diving's Paola Pineda announces return for 2022-23 season
Carson Foster wins 400 IM at USA Swimming International Team Trials
