Stearns presented with 2022 Honda Award for Tennis
The CWSA Awards are presented annually to the top women student-athletes in 12 NCAA sports and honor the best of the best in women's collegiate athletics.
2/25/2023
Peyton Stearns returned to the Texas Tennis Center on Saturday to be recognized as the 2022 Honda Award winner. Stearns was presented the award prior to the Texas women's tennis match against Stanford.
Stearns, the 2022 NCAA Singles Champion and three-time All-American in both singles and doubles, has moved on to her professional career after an incredibly successful career for the Longhorns. Stearns was the 2022 Big 12 Player of the Year and Big 12 Championship Most Outstanding Performer in her final season for Texas.
It was pretty cool to receive it (Honda Award) especially today back in Austin. It’s always nice to be back here and see the team. Being back at the facility brings back a lot of memories.Peyton Stearns
We loved having @peyton_stearns back on the Forty Acres! ????#HookEm | #HondaAwards pic.twitter.com/zK2p10K23c
— Texas Women's Tennis (@TexasWTN) February 25, 2023
TexasSports.com Q&A with Peyton Stearns
Scott Retzlaff of TexasSports.com talks with Peyton Stearns about the Honda Award, her career at Texas, and the start of her successful professional tennis career.
SR: What does it mean to be presented with the Honda Award here at the facility where you have so many memories?
PS: It’s awesome for sure. I didn’t know what the Honda Award was originally. Once I was educated on it, it was pretty cool to receive it especially today back in Austin. It’s always nice to be back here and see the team. Being back at the facility brings back a lot of memories.
SR: With so many awards and honors already in your career, which of those really stand out to you?
PS: I’d have to say the NCAA titles were the cherry on top, both individually and as a team. We overcame a lot last year. Freshman year, we cruised through it pretty quickly and easily. Then for me to win individuals was awesome because I came into the season wanting to win both this year. I had some fire within me and was able to get it done.
SR: You’ve had a bit of time away from Texas now. When you reflect, what does Texas mean to you?
PS: I miss it. It was like a family for me. Sometimes when I’m at my house, I miss those days being on the court with your family around you. It was pretty cool.
SR: What differences have you noticed between the college and pro game?
PS: College tennis and pro tennis are alike but very different at the same time. You have a much smaller team around you. Your circle is a couple of people. You’re traveling alone a lot. You’re doing your own schedule. When you’re on a team, it’s almost a given that there will be people around you who want you to win. There’s a schedule in front of you. You know what you’re doing the next week. There aren’t as many unknowns.
SR: Which pro events have really stood out to you so far in your young career?
PS: The U.S. Open last year was amazing. Cincinnati Western and Southern just because that’s my hometown in Cincinnati, so that’s always a favorite. Coming back here to Austin and winning the 25 (ITF W25) was really cool, especially getting to be back here. Those probably stand out the most to me from the past couple of months since I left college.
SR: What are your early goals as you set out in your professional career?
PS: When I left school, I was ranked around 400, and I ended last year around the 200’s. I started this year in the 200’s, I’m now in the 130’s. My goal is to be top 100 in the next two months.
SR: What events do you have coming up that you’re really excited about?
PS: Playing here over at Westwood, I’m really excited for that one. After that, I’m going out to Indian Wells for that tournament. That’s another great tournament that I’m excited to play.
SR: With Women’s History Month around the corner, what are your thoughts about the history of women’s athletics and the legacy of women’s athletics here at Texas?
PS: It runs pretty deep. You look at all of our sports and we’re crushing it in almost every sport. Look at volleyball, rowing, tennis. Personally, I think it’s really cool. In the moment, you don’t realize that you’re making history, but reflecting back on it you see that you had an impact for women’s sports. In the finals of individuals, I had Kelly Pace, who made the finals when she played here, who reached out. I think that’s really cool how history runs its course.
SR: Stanford had owned the Directors’ Cup Championship for so long. Texas has now earned that award two years in a row. What was it like to play such a big role in helping Texas to that award a pair of years in a row?
PS: It was awesome. Every sport had to do their part, and we did. It’s a really cool honor for our school and department.
