Florida senior Hannah Rogers was named the Southeastern Conference Female Athlete of the Year on Tuesday.
Florida senior Hannah Rogers was named the Southeastern Conference Female Athlete of the Year on Tuesday.
Rogers and the male winner, Kentucky baseball player A.J. Reed, were selected by a vote of the league’s athletics directors.
“It means so much to me because of what we accomplished as a team,” Rogers said in a UF release. “I would not have gotten this award without the support of my teammates and coaches. It makes me proud to have done this for the University of Florida, but also for the game of softball. Though the game is getting bigger and bigger, it probably doesn’t get the recognition it should, so this is something I can take pride in — not just for me, but for softball.”
Rogers led Florida softball to its first national championship in 2014 and was named the Women's College World Series Most Outstanding Player after factoring in all five games (four complete‐game wins, three shutouts, and one save). The Gators went undefeated at the WCWS, outscoring opponents 32-6 in the five games played in Oklahoma City.
"It's a tremendous accomplishment to be the Female Athlete of the Year in the SEC, but for it to go to our most unselfish athlete just says a lot about Hannah and so much about our team,” Florida coach Tim Walton said. “I'm excited for her to get the award, but also excited for our team to have put her in position to get that award."
The Lake Wales native earned a complete‐game victory in all seven starts she made during the NCAA tournament and finished as the NCAA active career leader in wins (127). Rogers was named a third-team NFCA All‐American, becoming the first Florida softball player to earn All‐America honors four times. She also earned All‐SEC recognition in each of her four seasons.
This past season, she won 30 games (30‐8) for the third time in her career, compiling a 15‐7 record against ranked opponents, including a six‐game winning streak to close the season. Rogers completed her Florida career as the second winningest pitcher in program history (Stacey Nelson — 136).
A Gator has now picked up a SEC Athlete of the Year honor 10 times since 1984. Rogers is the fourth Gator athlete to be named SEC Female Athlete of the Year and the first since swimmer Nicole Haislett collected her second consecutive honor in 1994.
"A.J. and Hannah are true examples of outstanding student-athletes,” SEC Commissioner Mike Slive said. “They have competed at the highest level of collegiate athletics, and through their hard work, dedication and commitment to excellence, have been successful in their endeavors. They are fine representatives of their universities and this conference. The SEC is proud to honor them for their accomplishments.”
Each member school can nominate a male and a female for SEC Athlete of the Year. Here’s a complete list of the 2013-14 nominees:
Male: Robby Shelton, Alabama (golf); Jarrion Lawson, Arkansas (track & field); Tre Mason, Auburn (football); Scottie Wilbekin, Florida (basketball); Aaron Murray, Georgia (football); Aaron Nola, LSU (baseball); Nik Scholtz, Ole Miss (tennis); Brandon McBride, Mississippi State (track & field); Michael Sam, Missouri (football); Jadeveon Clowney, South Carolina (football); Hunter Reese, Tennessee (tennis); Deon Lendore, Texas A&M; (track & field); Jordan Matthews, Vanderbilt (football).
Female: Kim Jacob, Alabama (gymnastics); Katherine Grable, Arkansas (gymnastics); Branndi Melero, Auburn (softball); Laura Ryan, Georgia (swimming & diving); Dezerea Bryant, Kentucky (track & field); Rheagan Courville, LSU (gymnastics); Rafaelle Souza, Ole Miss (soccer); Ally McDonald, Mississippi State (golf); Molly Kreklow, Missouri (volleyball); Tiffany Mitchell, South Carolina (basketball); Madison Shipman, Tennessee (softball); Breeja Larson, Texas A&M; (swimming); Simone Charley, Vanderbilt (track & field/soccer).