Horns Illustrated

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Empress Davenport’s drive on the court earned her a spot on this year’s Five Who Thrive list.

JUNE 2015

CONTENTS FEATURES

FIVE WHO THRIVE SPRING SPORTS

Each year, the Horns Illustrated staff selects ďŹ ve athletes who separated themselves from the competition — both on and off the ďŹ eld — as part of our Five Who Thrive. This year, we’re proud to announce that the 2015 group includes golf player Scottie Schefer, tennis standout Soren Hess-Olesen, sprinter Courtney Okolo, baseball’s Ben Johnson and basketball’s Empress Davenport.

A SHOT AT GLORY TRACK & FIELD

DEPARTMENTS

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FIRST LOOK

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

ROUNDUP

SPIRIT OF THE MONTH - Garrett Greene

MEDIA VOICES

THE HABE ON THE HORNS

IN SEASON

FINAL SCORE

COVER PHOTOS: COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY. THIS PAGE: PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS

For the past four years, Ryan Crouser captured the nation’s attention as he dominated the ďŹ eld in both the shot put and the discus. Now with his senior year coming to a close, Crouser has the opportunity to complete a feat that no other thrower has accomplished in over 10 years.

COVERING UT SPORTS SINCE 1994 AUSTIN CORPORATE OFFICE: 512-626-8513 SUBSCRIPTIONS: 1-855-246-7677 E-MAIL: INFO@HORNSILLUSTRATED.COM

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REGIONAL DIRECTORS S OUTH CENTRAL TE X AS SAN ANTONIO: JOHNNY WALKER (UT-AUSTIN, BA ’98) SOUTHEAST TEXAS HOUSTON: BRANDON ASSUNCAO ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: ALLYSON WATSON MAILING AD D RES S P.O. BOX 50069 AUSTIN, TX 78763 COPYRIGHT© 2015 BY TEXAN MEDIA, L.L.C. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR PART IS PROHIBITED. HORNS ILLUSTRATED IS NOT AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS. 6 HORNS ILLUSTRATED

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LEADING

OFF

A three-hit shutout by freshman pitcher Erica Wright and another homer from senior Gabby Smith powered Texas to a key series victory over Baylor on May 10. With the win, Texas tied the Bears for second place in the final league standings. Smith homered for the second straight game during Senior Weekend while sophomore shortstop Devon Tunning went 1-for-2 with a two-RBI single. Wright was dominant from the circle, allowing just three hits, walking two and striking out four in her 14th complete-game win of the season. “This win was huge for our momentum heading into the postseason,” head coach Connie Clark said. “It’s all about the importance of making adjustments because that’s what it’s going to be like when we get into postseason. The need to do that this weekend was exceptional for us.”

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ROUNDUP

COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

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THREE-PEAT: The No. 2 men’s golf team won its third straight Big 12 Championship at the Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla. The Longhorns finished with a four-round total of 1130, 24 strokes ahead of runner-up Texas Tech, breaking the Big 12 record for margin of victory at a championship, The previous record was set by the 2008 Oklahoma State team that won the championship by 20 strokes. Freshman Scottie Scheffler earned medalist honors in the tournament after shooting a fourth-round 73 to card even par for the tournament. Scheffler is the fifth Longhorn to win a Big 12 Championship in program history and the first since Brandon Stone did it in 2013. The victory marks Scheffler's second consecutive win after his victory at the Western Collegiate on April 12. The men’s golf team became the sixth Texas program to capture a Big 12 Championship during the 2014-15 season, joining volleyball, men's swimming & diving, women's swimming & diving, women's indoor track & field and men's indoor track & field. Texas rowing and baseball later rounded out the group, winning their own respective conference titles.

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ROUNDUP

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

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ENIOR BERTINE STRAUSS was named this year’s Big 12 Player of the Year. Strauss finished the regular s e a s o n ranked No. 30 nationally by Golfstat BERTINE STRAUSS and currently holds a 72.52 adjusted scoring average on the year with 17 wins over opponents ranked in the top 50. She anchored Texas as the No. 1 player in nine of 10 events this season, including winning the first tournament of her career at the PING/ASU Invitational in April. She led the Longhorns with a team-best 12 sub-par rounds. She recorded six top-10 finishes and was Texas' low player in eight events. Strauss is the first Texas golfer to win the award since Madison Pressel in 2011 and the 11th since 1983.

IN MEMORIAM: JOE CLEMENTS

TEXAS LOST ONE of its own with the recent passing of Joe Clements. A native of Nacogdoches, Texas, Clements played quarterback for the Longhorns from 1955-57 before moving on to have a storied high school coaching career in Houston. Clements lettered three seasons (1955-57) with the Longhorns and had his most productive year in 1956, when he passed for 793 yards and rushed for another 180. His final season (1957) was the first of the Darrell K Royal era. Clements, who was 78 when he passed, began his coaching career in 1967 at Robert E. Lee High School in Houston. He remained there for three years before serving as head coach and 14 HORNS ILLUSTRATED

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THE BEST OF EVERYTHING NO. 2 TEXAS men's golf head coach John Fields, sophomore Beau Hossler and freshman Scottie Scheffler all received Big 12 awards this season. Fields was named Big 12 Coach of the Year, while Hossler earned recognition as the league’s Player of the Year. Scheffler was named Newcomer of the Year. This season — Fields has led the Longhorns to six wins this season — his 19th at Texas — including five in their last six tournaments. . Texas won the Big 12 Championship on April 26 by 24 strokes. Fields has won Big 12 Coach of the Year three straight years and five times total. Hossler was named Big 12 Player of the Year with his 69.17 Sagarin rating. He hasn’t finished outside the top 20 this season, and notched the first win of his collegiate career at the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational in March. He tied for eighth at the Big 12 Championship after shooting a 289. He was named Big 12 Newcomer of the Year in 2014. Scheffler became the fifth consecutive Texas player to be named Newcomer of the Year after most recently winning back-to-

athletics director at his alma mater, Huntsville High School. He compiled a 222-76-6 career record, including a 170-44-3 mark at Huntsville. At one point his teams won 51 straight district games — a 4A record that stood for 16 years. His teams made the playoffs 18 times in his 27 years on the sideline. He was one of six individuals labeled by the Houston Chronicle as Coach of the Decade for the 1980s and chosen as 4A Coach of the Year by the Texas Sports Writers Association in 1981. Clements was inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame in 2010.

back tournaments. He also finished second at the Augusta Collegiate Invitational at the beginning of April.

BEAU HOSSLER

A SAD FAREWELL: Former Texas quarterback and legendary high school coach Joe Clements passed way on May 4.

ROUNDUP

DERRICK JOHNSON

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JORDAN SHIPLEY

FINDING THEIR PLACE IN HISTORY

ALL PHOTOS THIS SPREAD: COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

WO OF the most productive players in Longhorns history were inducted into the Texas High School Football Hall of Fame in May. Linebacker Derrick Johnson and wide receiver Jordan Shipley are among six inductees in the 2015 class. Each class has an inductee from a specific decade. Johnson is the representative from the 1990s and Shipley is from the 2000s. The remaining inductees include Bert Coan (1950s), Junior Coffey (1960s), Mike Singletary (1970s) and Jerry Ball (1980s).

Johnson played at Texas from 200104 and was one of the most decorated defenders in school history. He earned the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as the nation's top defensive player and the Butkus Award (nation's top linebacker) as a senior. He was also a finalist for the Bednarik Award (nation's top defensive player), the Lombardi Award (nation's top lineman) and the Lott Trophy (defensive player of the year) in 2004. Johnson, who’s heading into his 11th season with the Kansas City Chiefs, ranks third in school history in tackles (458), first in tackles for loss (65) and first in interceptions among linebackers (9). He set the Texas single-season record for forced fumbles with nine in 2004, when he was a unanimous

first-team All-American. A two-time All-American who played at Texas from 2006-09, Shipley was a threat to score whenever he touched the ball. He’s the Longhorns' all-time leader in receptions (248) and ranks second in receiving yards (3,191) and touchdowns (33). He was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award (nation's top wide receiver) and a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award (nation's top player) in 2009. Shipley holds the school record for most career touchdowns on punts (3) and kickoff returns with (4). He played four seasons in the NFL with Cincinnati, Tampa Bay and Jacksonville.

EYE OF THE STORM

THE SEATTLE STORM selected senior Nneka Enemkpali with the 26th overall pick in the 2015 WNBA Draft. Enemkpali becomes the eighth Texas student-athlete to be drafted in the WNBA and the first since 2010. Although a knee injury cut her senior season short, Enemkpali led the Big 12 in rebounding (10.6 rpg) and double-doubles class (nine) through the first 17 games of the season. The Pflugerville, Texas, native earned senior CLASS All-American honors this season and finished her collegiate career with 1,116 points (30th at Texas) and 899 rebounds (ninth). “I was watching the draft with my family and it was a relief to see my name on the selection board after a long year,” Enemkpali said. “Ever since high school, it has been a dream of mine to play professionally and now I’m excited that it’s now a reality. I can’t wait to bring my competitive fire to Seattle’s organization.”

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RISING SENIOR ABBY SMITH has been named by Top Drawer Soccer as one of the top 10 goalkeepers in all of women’s collegiate soccer heading into the 2015 season. The netminder recorded yet another outstanding season between the pipes as a junior in 2014, helping the Longhorns to an 11-8-4 record and an NCAA second round berth. During the year, the first-team NSCAA/ Continental Tire All-Central Region and All-Big 12 Conference choice started 22 of 23 possible matches, registered a 0.92 goalsagainst-average equaled, and with nine shutouts, equaling former

MAKING A SPLASH: Sophomore Madisyn Cox earned Big 12 Swimmer of the Year honors after her stellar performance at this year’s NCAA Championship. ABBY SMITH

Texas keeper Dianna Pfenninger’s single-season record for shutouts established back in 2008. Smith also led the Big 12 with 98 saves, a mark that proved good enough to rate sixth all-time in a single campaign in Texas history.

THE RETURN OF TAYLOR POINT GUARD ISAIAH TAYLOR announced that he plans to return for his junior season. Taylor led the team in scoring (13.1 ppg), assists (4.6 apg), steals (23) and minutes (31.5 mpg) while earning All-Big 12 Third Team honors as a sophomore. “I’ll be coming back to work on my game and be a part of the new era of Texas basketball,” Taylor said. “When it all came down to it, I didn’t want to leave my teammates and not be a part of something I feel can be special. Coach [Shaka] Smart says he needs me to be the floor leader. I love our team and I love Texas.” Taylor played and started in 24 games last year (he missed 10 games with a left wrist injury) and reached double figures in scoring 17 times. He converted 85-of-101 (.842) free throws, added 3.2 rebounds per contest and posted a 110-to-63 (1.75-to-1) assist-to-turnover ratio on the season.

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TAKING THE FLOOR: Isaiah Taylor will lead the floor when he returns next season.

THE BIG 12 CONFERENCE announced sophomore swimmer Madisyn Cox, diver Murphy Bromberg and head coach Carol Capitani as recipients of three of the league's five postseason awards. League coaches selected Cox as the Big 12 Swimmer of the Year and Bromberg as the Big 12 Diver of the Year. Capitani earned her second career selection as the Big 12 Swimming Coach of the Year. Cox was the only Big 12 swimmer to reach a championship final at the NCAA Championships. The Lubbock native became the second-fastest Longhorn ever in the 200 IM and placed third in the event (1:54.43) at the national meet. Notably, Cox recorded lifetime bests on all six individual swims at the NCAA Championships. She also led off Texas’ 800 freestyle relay that placed 13th at the NCAA meet. Bromberg was the only Big 12 diver to reach a championship final and earn All-American honors at the NCAA Championships. The Bexley, Ohio, native placed sixth in the platform diving championship final and added a 13th-place overall finish on 3-meter at the NCAA Championships. Bromberg was the Big 12 Championships' Diver of the Meet after winning the three-meter and platform events. Capitani earns her first selection since 2013 as the Big 12 Swimming Coach of the Year and her first since 2013. Texas posted its top NCAA Championships finish in Capitani's three-year tenure last month when it placed seventh after taking ninth at the previous two NCAA Championship meets.

THIS SPREAD CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: BETHANY WALTER/UNIV. OF TEXAS, PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS, PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS, UT ATHLETICS, JIM SIGMON/UNIV. OF TEXAS

GOLDEN GIRLS

THE BEST DEFENSE

ROUNDUP JOSEPH SCHOOLING

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CLEAN SWEEP

HE BIG 12 CONFERENCE announced Texas student-athletes and coaches as recipients of all five of the league's postseason awards. League coaches selected three-time NCAA champion sophomore Will Licon as the Big 12 Swimmer of the Year and four-time All-American sophomore Mark Anderson as the Big 12 Diver of the Year. Three-time NCAA champion freshman Joseph Schooling was named the league's Newcomer of the Year. Eddie Reese earned his 13th overall and 10th consecutive selection as the Big 12 Swimming Coach of the Year while Matt Scoggin received his 10th selection as the Big 12 Diving Coach of the Year. Licon won his first NCAA titles in the 400 IM and the 200 breaststroke. He rewrote his school records in both events and became Texas’ first NCAA champion in the 400 IM. Anderson was the only Big 12 diver to score on all three boards at the NCAA Championships. Schooling won NCAA titles in the 100 and 200 butterfly and became the first Texas swimmer ever to win both of those events. He became the first Texas freshman swimmer to win two NCAA individual swimming titles at the same meet since Brendan Hansen in 2001. Recently named the 2015 CSCAA/NCAA Division I Men's Swimming Coach of the Year, Reese won his 11th NCAA team title. Remarkably, he has led Texas to 29 NCAA top-three finishes in his 37 seasons in Austin. Scoggin just completed his 21st season as the Texas diving coach. Under his guidance, Texas was the only Big 12 school to score points in diving at the 2015 NCAA Championships.

THE END OF AN ERA: THE CLASS OF 2015 SINCE ARRIVING ON THE 40 ACRES in August 2011, the Class of 2015 has witnessed a rollercoaster ride in the form of Texas athletics. Here are the numbers and dates that define the Class of 2015’s time at the University of Texas. The number of Division I national titles. In 2012, the men’s golf team defeated Alabama 3–2 to win the program’s first title since 1972. That fall, volleyball won its first national championship since 1988 by defeating Oregon. This past March the

3:

FAST & FURIOUS

TEXAS CLOSED THE 121ST PENN RELAYS with a pair of victories, including one of the most sought after titles at the meet. The Longhorns won the women's 4x400-meter relay at a time of 3:29.46 to repeat as champions. The team of Kendall Baisden, Morolake Akinosun, Ariel Jones and Courtney Okolo bested the field to give Texas its 12th all-time title in the event at the Penn Relays. That total is twice as many as South

men’s swimming & diving team won its first national title since 2010.

169:

The combined number of losses by the three major men’s sports (baseball, football and basketball). This is the most since the 171 total losses endured by the class of 2001.

2004:

The last time the women’s basketball team advanced to the Sweet 16 — until this year. Texas knocked off No. 4-seeded Cal 73–70 to advance to the Sweet 16. The Longhorns fell to the eventual champion, No. 1-seeded Connecticut Huskies, 105–54.

Carolina’s six and no other school has more than two. “It was an awesome job by the women in the 4x4,” head coach Mario Sategna said. “We had the three veterans do what they always do. Courtney brought home the gold as the anchor, but Ariel — as a freshman — stepped up. That's going to pay dividends down the road when we need some help at conference, regionals and nationals.”

2013:

The year softball finished the season ranked No. 3 in the country.The No. 3 position was Texas’ highest ranking in program history. That year also marked the team’s first appearance in the Women’s College World Series since 2006.

4:

The number of Big 12 Conference titles for volleyball. The Longhorns went 61–3 in conference play and did not lose more than one conference match in a season.

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UTSA ROUNDUP CALENDAR JUNE 2015

TRACK & FIELD

10-13 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Eugene, Ore. All Day

UNTIL NEXT YEAR

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HIS SEASON WAS one of the most successful seasons in the history of the UTSA softball program. The Roadrunners’ 36-18 record marked their best season since 2006 and earned them the No. 5 position in the program history books. Though the season came to an end with a 6-4 loss to Florida Atlantic in the conference semifinals, the team will walk away from 2015 knowing it surprised fans and opponents alike. UTSA entered its second season under head coach Michelle Cheatham under the radar, a likely result of a 2014 season that saw the team go 24-30 and a ninth-place finish in Conference USA. The Roadrunners also had one of the youngest teams in the conference. The 2015 roster listed seven sophomores, six freshmen, five juniors and only four seniors. Senior Megan Low ended her time with the Roadrunners with 16 home runs and 40 RBIs. Sophomore Randee Crawford led the team with 19 home runs and 64 RBIs. The Roadrunners strung together several four-game and fivegame winning streaks along the way to the postseason. When they fell to Florida Atlantic in the semifinals, the Roadrunners were riding a six-game winning streak. The team appeared to be on track to capture its seventh straight win when the Roadrunners took a 4-0 lead early in the game. Florida Atlantic dug in, however, and stopped UTSA before winning 6-4 and earning a trip to the conference finals, where they lost to the Owls. UTSA was so close to earning an at-large bid to the tournament as Florida Atlantic, even with the loss, was invited to the big dance. The old refrain in baseball also applies in softball — “Wait ‘til next year.” Next year, the Roadrunners may be even better.

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MEN'S TENNIS

AFTER TAKING down Rice in the Conference USA Championship, the men’s tennis team found that LSU was more than the team could handle in the first round of the NCAA tournament. The Roadrunners entered the regional in Waco with a 17-8 mark on the season. That record earned BRETT HOGAN UTSA the third seed in the fourteam tournament. The appearance marked the Roadrunners’ fourth trip to the NCAA tournament since the program began back in 1982. All four trips have come during and after 2002. LSU won both of the doubles matches and all of the individual matches to move on to face Baylor, which also swept its opponent, Bryant. UTSA returned home with next season to build toward.

GOLF

THE 2015 Conference USA golf tournaments included several ups and downs for the UTSA golf programs. The men took on the challenging course at Texarkana (Ark.) Country Club and finished with a team score of 295-295-303-893. The score earned the Roadrunners a ninthplace finish. UTSA was two strokes in front of 10th-place Marshall but 32 strokes back of the conference

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY JEFF HUEHN/UTSA ATHLETICS

FINAL AT BAT: Megan Low completed her season as one of the team’s top players, hitting 16 home runs and knocking in 40 RBIs.

champions, North Texas. Brett Hogan was the leading individual for the Roadrunners. He finished with a score of 222 (6 over par) over the three rounds to claim a share of 23rd place. The women’s golf team finished its conference tournament in Fort Myers, Fla. The Roadrunners finished in third place with a score of 7-over-par 871 thanks to top-10 finishes from Aimee Ponte (sixth place) and Nikki Long (seventh place). The women’s team score was 14 strokes behind conference champions Middle Tennessee. UTSA’s score was the second-best 54-hole conference tournament score in school history.

UTA ROUNDUP CALENDAR JUNE 2015

TRACK & FIELD

10-13 NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships Eugene, Ore. All Day

GOING THE DISTANCE: Craig Lautenslager captured an individual Sun Belt Conference title after taking first place in the 5000-meter run.

THIS PAGE FROM LEFT: JIM SIGMON/UNIV. OF TEXAS, UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

SWEET REPEAT

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HE UT ARLINGTON men's track & field team repeated as Sun Belt Conference champions after turning in a stellar performance on May 10. The championship marked UTA's 10th title conference title and the fifth under coach John Sauerhage. This year’s title marks the first time that the Mavericks have won back-to-back crowns since 1996-97. The women's team improved upon last year's finish by two spots, claiming fourth. The women ended with 90 points in the 10-team field. The UTA men finished with 166 points to post an 18-point victory over second-place Arkansas State. “We came through with clutch performances in every event area,” Sauerhage said. “That's the fun thing about having a complete team. It wasn't one area. It was everyone.” Clayton Vaughn registered the most impressive performance of the day, clocking a winning time of 9.93 in the 100-meter finals. His time shattered his own school record (10.07) and established a new meet record. His time officially ranks as the third fastest in the NCAA this year behind times of 9.87 and 9.90. UTA iced the victory by dominating the evening's 5000-meter run. Craig Lautenslager earned an individual conference title in the event with a clocking of 14:37.19. For the women, Ashly Wright claimed her first-ever conference title by taking the 800 meters (2:07.34). Her time established a new Sun Belt meet record. On her heels was teammate Tamerah Gorham, who gave UTA a 1-2 finish.

BASEBALL

THE UT Arlington baseball team closed out the home portion of its schedule with an offensive explosion en route to a 9-3 win over Appalachian State. In addition to winning the final home game of the season, the victory also meant UTA took the final series of the home season. “That's a good way to finish the home season and win another series,” head coach Darin Thomas said. The game also marked the final home game in the careers of eight UTA players, who were honored before the game. Three of those seniors played major roles in the victory — Levi Scott went 3-for-5 while driving in a run and scoring twice, had two hits and two RBIs in four plate appearances, and Travis Sibley scored a run and picked up two of the Mavericks’ 16 hits.

Mavericks. Already named the Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year, VanDijk was named to the 2015 Full Court NCAA Division I Women's Mid-Major Freshman All-American team after leading all Division I freshmen with 15 double-doubles. She also led UTA to the largest turnaround in Division I play — the Mavericks won 17 games in 2014-15, 13 more than they did in the previous season. VanDijk averaged 13.2 points and 10.4 rebounds per game, making her one of just two Sun Belt Conference players to average a double-double. Her 298 rebounds were the seventh-highest single-season total in UTA women’s basketball history. In addition to winning the conference’s Freshman of the Year award, she also was named second-team all-conference, making her the only UTA player to earn All-Sun Belt honors.

THE NEW GIRL: Rebeka VanDijk set the bar high as she collected multiple honors during her freshman season.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

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ROUNDUP

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ARRETT GREENE MADE A CAREER out of something he loves — the game. A Texas alumnus and a former member of the Longhorn Band, Greene is the producer of The Lowdown with Alex Loeb, the weekday afternoon show on 104.9 The Horn. As producer, Greene is in charge of coordinating the show, putting together content to accompany Loeb’s commentary and contributes to the on-air conversation every once in awhile. In addition, Greene assisted with starting up a soccer show on Sunday morning known as The Throw In. “I always enjoyed watching sports and I just could not get enough of it,� Greene said. “It just came naturally for me.�

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Greene graduated from Texas in 2013 with a degree in broadcast journalism. After coming to Texas as an architectural engineering major, a friend’s decision to change majors pushed Greene toward a different career path. “I had my homework out and I looked at it,� he recalled. “I cared more about what was happening in the AFC Championship the following week than what I was studying.� As a student, Greene was involved in many different journalistic organizations that including Texas Student TV and the radio station. He was also a commentator for Texas softball. While working with TSTV, Greene became involved with the sports department and participated in update-style shows and sports debate sessions. He eventually wanted to report play-by-play action, which led to his

involvement with Texas softball. After some time, Greene graduated to color commentary. “It got me more involved in the aspects of the game,â€? Greene said. “I enjoyed the fact that I was involved in the game even though I wasn’t necessarily playing it. I was able to connect in a different way.â€? Greene didn’t get where he is today without hard work and advice from those who D=@ =HNA=@U AT?AHHA@ EJ PDA Ĺ‚ AH@ “Find somewhere where you can write,â€? he advised. “That’s something that I’ve never excelled at and I feel that I’ve been hampered by that. Also, be willing to do whatever you need to do. Volunteer to do stats for a game — be involved and show your interest. Get involved in every aspect of the game and every aspect of the industry.â€?

COURTESY GARRETT GREENE

Garrett Greene

MEDIA VOICES

JOHNNY WALKER REVIEW JOHNNY WALKER EVALUATES TEXAS’ LATEST COACHING ADDITIONS.

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ORMER LONGHORN JOHNNY WALKER sat down with Horns Illustrated to give his thoughts on the newest members of the Texas coaching Staff. HORNS ILLUSTRATED: WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON SHAKA SMART?

ALL PHOTOS THIS PAGE COURTESY UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

JOHNNY WALKER: With former head ?K=?D /E?G =NJAO SA O=S PDA ł NA B=@A EJ PDA H=OP few seasons. I look at Shaka Smart and I think he’s a great hire. From watching him coach at Virginia Commonwealth University, fans know that he brings a lot of excitement and enthusiasm to the court. Players want to play for him. People know Texas as a football school but that doesn’t mean the Longhorns can’t be good at all sports. Texas is a premiere athletics program, and with its resources and reputation, Texas can be a football and basketball school. With Smart, I see that coming true. He’s not only going to win over the players and the staff, but he’s going to get the fans and alumni excited about Texas basketball again. He’ll get people to come to the games to watch the team play.

HI: SOUNDS LIKE SMART AND CHARLIE STRONG WILL BRING THE SWAGGER BACK TO TEXAS. JW: 0PNKJC =J@ 0I=NP SEHH @Ał JEPAHU >NEJC = swagger and toughness back to Texas. They have such high expectations for their players. And that goes without saying — they have to meet their own set of expectations as Texas coaches. I can see both their programs winning championships and having success. HI: WHAT WAS STRONG’S IMPACT ON THE TEXAS PLAYERS SELECTED IN THIS YEAR’S NFL DRAFT? JW: As fans, we’ll see more players drafted by professional teams, not because of skill, but because of the high expectations and character that Strong’s players are known for. Strong holds his players to such a high standard both on and off the ł AH@ PD=P LAKLHA =NKQJ@ PDA J=PEKJ =J@ PDA +#) =NA taking notice — it’s not just the people at Texas or Louisville. Rodger Goodell went and spoke to 0PNKJC =>KQP DEO ł RA ?KNA R=HQAO =J@ & PDEJG PD=P O a good indication of how respected Strong is, not just around college football, but in the league as well.

JOHNNY WALKER'S RESUME • Played football and baseball at Texas from 1987-90 • Two-time All-Southwest Conference • Caught the game-winning reception to beat Oklahoma in 1989 • Drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1990 (4th round)

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STRONG AND SMART WILL DEFINITELY BRING A SWAGGER AND TOUGHNESS BACK TO TEXAS. THEY HAVE SUCH HIGH EXPECTATIONS FOR THEIR PLAYERS.

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MEDIA VOICES

SEAN ADAMS GIVES HIS TAKE ON THE LONGHORNS SELECTED IN THIS YEAR’S NFL DRAFT.

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PORTS RADIO SHOW HOST Sean Adams of AM 1300 The Zone was a football and PN=?G Ĺ‚ AH@ =PDHAPA =P >EHAJA DNEOPE=J University. For the past decade, Adams has covered Texas sports, leveraging his knowledge of what it takes to be a successful athlete at the college level. As the host of ‘The Adams Theory,’ he also talks about college BKKP>=HH =J@ =O KB NA?AJP PDA +#) !N=BP Horns Illustrated caught up with Adams to get DEO PDKQCDPO KJ PDA +#) !N=BP =J@ DKS PDA Longhorns will improve under Charlie Strong. HORNS ILLUSTRATED: WHICH LONGHORN PLAYER FROM THE 2015 NFL DRAFT WILL MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT?

SA: With Vince Wilfork leaving the -=PNEKPO PK CK PK PDA 1AT=JO +AS "JCH=J@ will have a hole in their defensive line. The fact that the Patriots picked up Malcom Brown likely indicates he’ll be successful. I could see Jaxon Shipley having an opportunity to contribute at a place like Arizona. He played with Garrett Gilbert, !=RE@ OD =OA *? KU =J@ 1UNKJA 0SKKLAO at quarterback. That’s tough treading. That’s not to try and dog any of those kids, but that’s PKQCD %A†O MQE?G =J@ DA ?KQH@ ł P EJ LH=UEJC on the inside of a guy like Larry Fitzgerald.

HI: WHICH OF TEXAS’ UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS HAS THE BEST CHANCE TO MAKE AN NFL ROSTER? SA: John Harris has a chance. And I don’t see why in the right system and in the right role that running back Malcolm Brown can’t make a roster. From a signee perspective, this class could be viewed as very valuable. The number of players who end up on a roster could also be a good indication of Charlie Strong and his ability to coach up and NALH=?A LH=UANO "RANUKJA EO OAAEJC SD=P &†RA >AAJ saying for a while now, that Texas will lose

a number of players on defense. And the guys they lost were pretty valuable.

JAXON SHIPLEY

TWEETS ROD BABERS (@rodbabers) Who defines a rivalry? And why are history and tradition prerequisites? Some are short-lived; some are old and some regional.

SEAN ADAMS (@thatsean) Imagine dealing with tornados in Oklahoma ‌ and then a tiger safari in Tuttle, Okla., is hit by a storm. Wild animals have escaped. Do NOT leave your homes. Quandre Diggs is off the board. He was one of my favorite players to cover. Always candid, real and didn’t mind checking in with the media.

HI: WERE YOU SURPRISED BY WHERE ANY OF THE PLAYERS LANDED?

CRAIG WAY (@craigway1) So Pacquiao walks out taking selfies and Mayweather walks out with the Burger King and Bieber — the sport of boxing is in

SA: +K =HPDKQCD PK >A DKJAOP & HEGA@ .Q=J@NA !ECCO & GJAS DEO DAECDP S=O going to come into question. On Senior +ECDP =C=EJOP 1 2 DA D=@ KJA KB PDA SKNOP games of his career. The one thing that was highlighted was how he was beat because of his height. HH EJ =HH !ECCO EO LAN?AJP LQNA football player. There’s a space for him, whether they try and isolate him on the short OE@A KB PDA ł AH@ KN D=RA DEI =O = JE?GAH>=?G on the inside. In my mind he’s one of the best pure football players to come out of Texas in the last few years.

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fine shape. Better to be late in the first round (or even at the end of it) than not at all. Congratulations Malcom Brown.

FROM LEFT: PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS, ALL OTHER PHOTOS COURTES Y AM 1300 THE ZONE

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? BASEBALL (2011-13)

THE LONGHORNS SET THEIR SIGHTS ON UP-AND-COMING JUNIORS TO FILL THEIR OFFENSIVE LINE.

FROM LEFT: HORNS247.COM, HORNS247.COM, BETHANY WALTER/UNIV. OF TEXAS

AUSTIN MYERS

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ECRUITING ALONG THE OFFENSIVE line for the 2016 class isn't going well for the Longhorns, so why not get a head start on the rising 2017 crop? Walker Little has tremendous size at 6’7� and LKQJ@O =J@ DEO OKLDKIKNA ł HI features impressive highlight clips for a young offensive lineman. %A D=O PDA J=OPU OPNA=G =J@ @AOENA PK ł JEOD a block. More importantly, he's a pure tackle, a position where it's getting harder and harder to ł J@ HEJAIAJ SDK ?=J OP=U PDANA @KSJ PDA NK=@ He likes Texas and, although he's not a package deal in the true sense of the term, the Longhorns have the potential to be the one school to land )EPPHA =J@ ł RA OP=N @ABAJOERA P=?GHA *=NREJ 4EHOKJ Offensive line offers are dicey when offering prospects at a younger age, but the Longhorns don't have much of a choice given the way things have gone. At the very least, this looks like an offer to a prospect who will stick at tackle with some projectable tools at the position. Texas’ issues recruiting offensive linemen in the 2016 class are well documented, which is

WALKER LITTLE

why an offer to a 6’4�, 291-pound TCU commit makes sense. Austin Myers told Horns247 he's open to hearing from other schools, which is a good thing for the Longhorns if the staff really makes him a priority. *UANO D=O CKK@ HAJCPD =J@ ?KQH@ ł HH IQHPELHA spots on a depth chart at either tackle or guard. Ideally, he's a guy who can stick at tackle because of good feet and ability to deal with edge rushers on an island at the high school level. He had a good showing at The Opening Dallas Regional, good enough to get him ranked as the No. 167 overall prospect in the country according to 247Sports. He was good in one-onone situations at the camp, and his ability to work in space gives a college line coach a lot to work with.

COREY KNEBEL was a standout pitcher at both Bastrop and Georgetown High schools before making his way to the 40 acres in 2011. He played for Bastrop between his freshman and junior years, where he won the District MVP award and was a three-year letter winner. He transferred to Georgetown for his senior year. Knebel was an instant success as a freshman at Texas. He tied the school record for most saves in a single season (19) and was named a First-Team All-American. He also grabbed First-Team All-Big 12 Conference honors that year. In his sophomore year Knebel retained his position =O PDA )KJCDKNJO† PKL ?HKOAN =J@ ł JEODA@ PDA UA=N SEPD = 2.08 ERA and nine saves. In June 2013, the Detroit Tigers selected Knebel with the 39th overall pick in the Major League Baseball Amateur Draft. Knebel played in the Tigers’ minor league system for almost a year before being called up to the majors on May 24, 2014, for his debut against the Texas Rangers. Ironically, the Rangers picked up Knebel a few months later and assigned him to their Triple-A team — the Round Rock Express — following the trade. In August 2014, Knebel sprained the ulnar collateral ligament of his elbow on his throwing arm, ending his season early. The following year, he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers and recently took the place of second baseman Scooter Gennett, who was sent down to the team’s minor league team. While on the Colorado Springs roster, Knebel had posted a 1-2 record and a 4.70 ERA.

JUNE 2015 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 23

Social Buzz Have to say I’m disappointed that I wasn’t drafted but this will only serve to motivate me to work even harder and prove myself. — Cedric Reed (@Ced_Red88)

DID YOU KNOW? 143K FACEBOOK LIKES

In all, five players were drafted and five free agents were signed. As always, fans turned to social media to sound off about this year’s draft and congratulate the 10 players. Here are our favorite comments from the Horns Illustrated page: It breaks me to see them leave the team but I’m happy they made it to the BIG Gridiron! CONGRATS GUYS! HOOK’EM HORNS!— Djguntown Dwa Great players, credit due to Mack Brown for starting the process! — Zach Barr

/hornsillustrated

— Laura Sogar (@laurasogs)

Our “Reach” was over

1 MILLION during the week of 5/3-5/9 Averaged over

25K VISITS PER DAY OVER 20K POST CLICKS We have over

8600 1100+ 1800+

+KPDEJC HEGA PD=P =SGS=N@ IKIAJP when you catch someone taking a pic of you but trying to be sneaky with it. — Cat Osterman (@catosterman)

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In honor of Masters week every teacher should (1) cancel class and/or (2) stream Masters coverage during class. — Taylor Funk (@Tfunk1030)

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HAS OVER 120K FANS IN TEXAS

Charlie and the Shaka Factory. I dig it. — Chad Hollingsworth (@ChadH_31)

AND READ BY FANS IN 152 COUNTRIES IN 2014

Good to see a great group of guys go; now let’s bring up the next group— Travie Johnson AWESOME. We need Longhorns to represent every year. — Augie Mora

@haydeno_: He clearly found the proper way of finding a prom date.

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@afisher0402: She’s destined to be a Longhorn.

@P1Dion: Spending a little father-daughter time at the spring game.

@justadaddysgirl82: This little one is just cruising along, in Longhorn gear.

C L O C K W I S E F R O M T O P R I G H T : A L L T W I T T E R P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y T W I T T E R . C O M , A L L O T H E R P H O T O S C O U R T E S T I N S T A G R A M . C O M A N D R E S P E C T I V E P H O T O GR A P H E R S .

Texas fans sat on the edge of their seats during this year’s NFL Draft, questioning if this year’s group could restart a 76-year tradition that fell apart after not a single Longhorn was selected during the 2014 draft. Fans didn’t have to wait long as Malcom Brown was selected in the first round.

Thank you everyone for the birthday wishes! In an effort to join in the celebrations my car hit 100K miles today so we’re both old.

PATRICK MEREDITH/UNIV. OF TEXAS

MEET THE T-ASSOCIATION

The T-Association is an organization made up of former varsity athletics letter winners. An additional designation for the T-Association members is the T-Ring, which is awarded to an athlete who lettered for 2 or more years, who did not compete the last 2 years of eligibility anywhere other than The University of Texas and who graduated from college. David McWilliams, former Longhorn head football coach, currently serves as the executive director for the T-Association. T-Association Mission - The T-Association’s mission is to create and maintain an enhanced atmosphere and structure whereby UT student-athletes become lifetime members of The University of Texas Athletics family and are welcomed, involved and encouraged to participate during and after their college tenure. TAPN Mission - The Letter Winner’s Professional Network exists to unite the members of the T-Association on a professional level by providing networking opportunities and a database of contacts, thereby furthering the opportunities, community, education and success of Longhorn Letter Winners. CONTACT INFORMATION: t-association@athletics.utexas.edu 512.471.6864

THE HABE ON THE HORNS

The Winners Circle

EVEN WITHOUT THE BIG THREE, TEXAS CONTINUES TO CARRY ON ITS WINNING TRADITIONS.

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Y THE standards set forth by the University of Texas, and according to the ones who say the Longhorns need to bring home the national title in every possible sport, the highprofile sports failed to make an impact this season. The big three (football, men’s basketball and baseball) have yet to make a dent among the standings of the nation’s elite. Being dominated by a secondSOREN HESS-OLESEN AND LLOYD GLASSPOOL tier Southeastern Conference school in a bowl game, losing to ARAN OLKP EJ PDA + D=ILEKJODELO EJ PDA a Midwest mid-major basketball-centric college program’s 19th season of competition. EJ PDA BENOP NKQJ@ KB PDA + PKQNJ=IAJP Texas’ women’s swimming & diving team or finishing the season in the first round of won the Big 12 title and finished seventh in the PDA + NACEKJ=H EJ >=OA>=HH EO FQOP JKP CKK@ + O 1DA SKIAJ†O CKHB PA=I A=NJA@ = OLKP EJ enough for Texas. =J + NACEKJ=H =J@ BAHH FQOP PSK OPNKGAO BNKI But broadening our view to include the gaining a berth in the championship tournament, entire Longhorn athletic programs, fans still have even as standout Bertine Strauss played in the plenty to celebrate. tournament as an individual. The “other� sports on the 40 Acres have And the men’s golf team, powered by a more than carried their weight. The volleyball lineup that contains some of the most talented team made a run into the national semifinals and male amateur players in the world, rolled into the soccer team pushed into the second round of PDA + PKQNJ=IAJP =J@ S=O = B=RKNEPA PK SEJ PDA + O 1DA SKIAJ ?KJPEJQA@ PK OQNLNEOA the title. with the basketball team’s season ending in the Finally, the Texas track teams both won Big Sweet 16. The men’s swimming & diving team’s EJ@KKN PEPHAO =J@ BEJEODA@ OETPD EJ PDA + O national championship — its 11th overall and Then they swept the conference outdoor crowns first since 2010 — fortified the season. as well and were expected to make plenty of That trend continued into the spring S=RAO EJ PDA + KQP@KKN IAAP semester. These other sports may not carry the clout The Longhorn softball team, in rebuilding of football, baseball or men’s basketball, but mode and without one of it’s best pitchers they’re certainly carrying the tradition of Texas through the meat of the season, qualified for the sports across the collegiate landscape. For that, + PKQNJ=IAJP RE= = H=PA NQJ =J@ HKOP EJ PDA they deserve your gratitude, support and a hearty regional round. congrats. Texas advanced to the Sweet 16 in men’s Just sayin’, ya know? tennis and later sent a singles player (Lloyd Glasspool) and a doubles team (Glasspool and three-time All-American Soren HessThe Habe is Steve Habel, Horns Illustrated’s Olesen) into the Round of 16 in the individual senior editor. He was the magazine’s first staff championships. member in 1994, and has covered Texas sports The rowing team, ranked 11th in the final ever since. poll, won the Big 12 title and earned its firstJUNE 2015 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 25

FIVE WHO THRIVE MEET THE TOP FIVE ATHLETES FROM THE SPRING SEASON.

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ANY WOULD EXPECT anyone J=IA@ "ILNAOO PK @EOLH=U = commanding presence, and "ILNAOO !=RAJLKNP D=O HERA@ QL PK DAN J=IA !QNEJC DAN time at Texas, the guard proved herself as a leader, consistently hitting timely shots and connecting with teammates on the road to the Longhorns’ Sweet 16 appearance. &J B=?P !=RAJLKNP OAP PDA LH=PA = JQI>AN KB times for her teammates, averaging 2.6 assists LAN C=IA N=JGEJC +K KJ PDA PA=I !=RAJLKNP =HOK A=NJA@ = OLKP EJ PDA CKK@ graces of Longhorn fans everywhere when she hit a layup with 4.2 seconds remaining KJ PDA ?HK?G EJ PDA 0" EC D=HHAJCA ODKS@KSJ PK SEJ =C=EJOP PDAJ +K 1AT=O A&M. Äź4A D=@ PK LQOD PDA PAILK ‡ !=RAJLKNP said after the game. “We have never been down by that much during the season and we were trying to press — anything to speed

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them up.â€? Throughout her basketball career, !=RAJLKNP SKNGA@ PK AOP=>HEOD DAN LNAOAJ?A KJ PDA ?KQNP 0DA HA@ PDA !QJ?=JREHHA %ECD School basketball team to the 2012 state championship game, where she earned recognition as Most Valuable Player. She completed her high school career ranked as the 29th guard and 71st overall recruit in the ?H=OO KB >U "0-+ ?KI “She’s one of the most competitive players I’ve ever coached, but she also has a great sense of humor, and that brings a CKK@ =PIKOLDANA PK PDEO PA=I ‡ !QJ?=JREHHA coach Cathy Self-Morgan said. “I’ve had a lot of individuals in 34 years that have had different parts of the package, but not the whole package.â€? (JKSJ BKN DAN HECDPJEJC MQE?G Ĺ‚ NOP step and indefatigable effort on defense, !=RAJLKNP MQE?GHU ?=QCDP PDA AUA KB PDA 1AT=O basketball program. According to head coach (=NAJ OPKJ !=RAJLKNP†O =PPEPQ@A =J@ SKNG

ethic are infectious. “Her decision making is pretty good,� Aston added. “There’s no question about that.� !=RAJLKNP LH=JO PK ?KJPEJQKQOHU EILNKRA as she leads the team into the 2015-2016 season. The Longhorns currently sit within the top 10 of many websites’ early rankings OK PDA KLLKNPQJEPU BKN !=RAJLKNP PK ODEJA will remain within her grasp. With any luck the Longhorns will land a rematch against the Connecticut Huskies, who eliminated the Longhorns this season on their way to PDA J=PEKJ=H PEPHA =J@ !=RAJLKNP SEHH >A provided with an opportunity to shoot a @=CCAN EJ =JKPDAN PEP=J "T=?PEJC NARAJCA KJ the Huskies would not only be a crown jewel BKN !=RAJLKNP >QP BKN PDA )KJCDKNJO =O SAHH *=JU B=JO =NA >APPEJC PD=P !=RAJLKNP SEHH be ready if and when the time comes.

P R E V I O U S S P R E A D : A L L P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y U T A T H L E T I C S P H O T O G R A P H Y . T H I S S P R E A D F R O M L E F T : P A T R I C K M E R E D I T H / U N I V . O F T E X A S , S U S A N S IG M O N / U N I V . O F T E X A S

Empress Davenport

JUNE 2015 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 29

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OREN HESS-OLESEN'S body told him it was time to turn it up. +KS DA JAA@A@ DEO IEJ@ PK follow suit. At peak physical shape, the senior All-American tennis player knew that his body, stamina and strength could outlast any opponent. And up until now, his physicality always slightly outpaced his mentality during a match. +KP =JUIKNA Hess-Olesen proved his growth as a player, both physically and mentally, in his regional tournament match against California's Andre Goransson in a 5-7, 6-4, 6-3 victory this May. The win helped the PDAJ +K 1AT=O PAJJEO PA=I IKRA EJPK PDA + D=ILEKJODEL NKQJ@ KB The senior Longhorn started out blistering against Cal, racing out to a 4-0 advantage in PDA Ĺ‚ NOP OAP 1DAJ EP S=O 0Q@@AJHU PDA match was tied 5-5. Then Hess-Olesen lost 7-5 and was down one set to zero. The second set started to slip away. But that’s the same set where his body and mind synched and Hess-Olesen realized his full potential. “Trust is a hard thing to convince yourself of, but you have to trust your shots,â€? he said SDAJ NAĹƒ A?PEJC >=?G KJ PDA I=P?D He talked himself through his game plan, relying more on his forehand and returning balls with a higher spin. Hess-Olesen’s ability to remain calm allowed him to reverse the tables and walk away with the win. Äź& S=O NA=@U PK >=PPHA =J@ Ĺ‚ CDP ‡ %AOO Olesen said. “I told myself that even if I'm not LH=UEJC SAHH PDANA O JK NA=OKJ JKP PK Ĺ‚ CDP ‡ In the offseason, Hess-Olesen was diligent in addressing any holes in his game, removing any opportunity for his opponents to take advantage of him. “It all starts in practice,â€? he said. “I know I can play at a high level. I know a lot of times if I don't play well it's because of the mental part. It's about allowing myself mentally to perform better physically.â€? “It’s about being prepared,â€? he continued. “It’s about being able to convince myself about my identity as a tennis player.â€? Although the Longhorns were eliminated in the next round, Hess-Olesen's impact on the Texas tennis program will stand the test of time.

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Soren Hess-Olesen

He was the named the ITA Texas Region Senior Player of the Year, earning him an EIIA@E=PA JKIEJ=PEKJ BKN PDA +=PEKJ=H Senior Player of the Year award. This season, he maintained a 30-6 overall record and NA?KN@ =P +K OEJCHAO @QNEJC @Q=H match play. He was a top-5 singles player and completed his career ranked ninth in program history in career singles wins (103). The soon-to-be graduate will walk away from his college playing career with complete belief in himself. The moment of clarity that OPNQ?G PDA !AJI=NG J=PERA @QNEJC DEO I=P?D against Goransson, in which it seemed he was destined to lose several times, is something

that will help set Hess-Olesen apart after he leaves the 40 Acres. “I proved I'm always going to have a ?D=J?A ‡ DA O=E@ Äź+K I=PPAN SDK UKQ LH=U or how far you fall behind. I couldn’t have been any closer to losing that match. But I knew there would be an opening. I knew he couldn't maintain that level for two hours. I GALP Ĺ‚ CDPEJC >A?=QOA & GJAS EP ?KQH@ >A IU last tennis match for the Longhorns, ever.â€?

THIS SPREAD: ALL PHOTOS BETHANY WALTER/UNIV. OF TEXAS

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EN JOHNSON loves being close to home. He loves being in Omaha even more. After the Texas baseball team’s tough season, the Longhorns need to win the 2015 Big 12 title to advance to the College World Series. And although the team won EPO ł NOP ?KJBANAJ?A PEPHA OEJ?A =J@ =?DEARA@ SD=P many thought was the impossible, the players — along with Johnson — never made it out of the Lone Star state @QNEJC PDA LKOPOA=OKJ 1DA )KJCDKNJO HKOP PK !=HH=O =LPEOP EJ PDA + /ACEKJ=H DAH@ EJ !=HH=O HA=REJC PDA PA=I ?HKOA PK DKIA BKN PDA weeks to follow. Johnson was in a similar situation as a freshman, when Texas needed to win the conference tournament to earn a bid to the College World Series. This time, however, he saw something entirely different in the makeup of this year’s club. ğ"RAJ PDKQCD SA D=RA OPNQCCHA@ JK KJA D=O MQEP UAP ‡ PDA OAJEKN KQPł AH@AN O=E@ ğ,QN +K CK=H S=O PK CK >=?G PK ,I=D= =J@ SEJ EP all. It was in front of us. People looked at us as done. This just meant regionals started a week earlier for us.� ğ4A D=@ PK ł J@ = S=U PK SEJ PDA EC 1KQNJ=IAJP ‡ "JPANEJC DEO ł J=H OA=OKJ SEPD PDA )KJCDKNJO 'KDJOKJ ?=IA EJPK his senior year with a focus lead to the team far into the postseason. At the end of the season, Johnson started all 56 games for Texas and tied for second on the team in RBI with Collin Shaw at 32. Johnson

Ĺ‚ JEODA@ Ĺ‚ NOP KJ PDA PA=I EJ PKP=H >=OAO SEPD Â… PDA JATP ?HKOAOP player was Barrera with 102. His 16 stolen bases is more than any other player has even attempted. Johnson also led the team in hits (80) and tied for the lead in runs with Barrera (38). An Austin native, Johnson is proud that he chose to stay close to home and play for Texas. “This is the best place in America and I couldn’t imagine going anywhere else,â€? he said. The Westwood High graduate was a highly touted player on the diamond but was also a stud at quarterback. And although he was intrigued at times to play football at the college level, the idea of not LH=UEJC =P !EO?D #=HG #EAH@ NECDP @KSJ PDA NK=@ BNKI DEO DKIA S=O one he simply could not give up. Äź& @AĹ‚ JEPAHU IEOO LH=UEJC BKKP>=HH ‡ 'KDJOKJ O=E@ Äź>QP &†I O=PEOĹ‚ A@ LH=UEJC >=OA>=HH BKN 1AT=O &P†O ARANU GE@†O @NA=I ‡ Playing so close to home fueled Johnson over the past four years, as he always knew his family was in the stands. “For me, it’s amazing my family is just down the road,â€? Johnson said. “It’s exciting to have your family and friends watch you play every weekend.â€? “I can’t imagine playing anywhere else.â€?

Ben Johnson

JUNE 2015 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 31

ON THE OFFENSIVE: During press time, several players (including Tyrone Swoopes) commented on the offense’s overall improvement. Pictured left to right: (Camhron Hughes); D’Onta Foreman; Duke Catalon.

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N

EEDLESS TO SAY, Courtney Okolo set high expectations coming into the 2014-15 season— expectations that some may say seem unattainable based on her performance this season. Okolo hasn’t stopped running fast times; the 50.99 400 meter she ran at the Michael Johnson Invitational in April was the fastest time in the nation this season (as of the beginning of May). But adding almost a OA?KJ@ PK = IAPAN PEIA EO OECJEĹ‚ ?=JP AOLA?E=HHU when competing at the collegiate level. Fans should note, however, that the 50.99 Okolo recorded in Waco marked the only time she ran the open 400 during the regular season. Add the fact that she had a muscle spasm in her hamstring during the week leading up to the race, and suddenly her only time this season looks just as impressive as her record-setting run from 2014. Sprints coach Tonja Buford-Bailey said that Okolo hasn’t taken a step back from her recordsetting season a year ago. On the contrary, she said, Okolo has improved. “She’s running better now than she was at this time last year,â€? Buford-Bailey said. “She had a spasm in her leg, and was feeling really nervous about running. She had that situation with her leg that week, and she was running against her idol (former Texas and Olympic champion Sanya Richards-Ross). So the race was a big deal. She didn’t run a perfect race — she got out slow and ran conservative. That’s what we had planned to do, to see how the leg SKQH@ DKH@ QL &P SKNGA@ KQP 0DA SKJ +KS ODA†O healthier and she’s ready to run fast.â€? The more success Okolo enjoys, the longer her season will stretch. Assuming she continues to perform at a high level and stay healthy, her OA=OKJ ?KQH@ EJ?HQ@A PDA + 4AOP -NAHEIEJ=NU /KQJ@ EJ QOPEJ EJ H=PA *=U PDA + ,QP@KKN D=ILEKJODELO EJ "QCAJA ,NA EJ IE@ 'QJA PDA USA Outdoor Championships in late June and the World Championships in Beijing, China, in August. Supremely talented and competitive, Okolo naturally wants to win every time she steps on a track. But when pressed on which competition holds the most importance for her, she said it’s the + D=ILEKJODEL Äź*U >ECCAOP CK=H EO SEJJEJC PDA + Championship,â€? Okolo said. “I want to win the 4x400-meter relay. That’s my favorite race and we want to get that collegiate record. Buford-Bailey declined to detail her plan to keep Okolo at her best over a four-month period. But she did say the lengthy schedule was one of the main reasons Okolo ran the open 400 just the one time before the postseason. “Those meets are important, but we have to plan accordingly — hence the one race in the open 400,â€? Buford-Bailey said. “She was excited to run well at the Michael Johnson but she also is able to move on. She’s healthy now and she’s ready to run fast, at just the right time.â€?

EDITOR’S NOTE: AT THE TIME OF PRINT, OKOLO WAS SCRATCHED FROM THE NCAA PRELIMINARILY 400-METER EVENT DUE TO INJURY. HORNS ILLUSTRATED WISHES HER A SPEEDY RECOVERY.

THIS SPREAD FROM LEFT: JESSE DROHEN, UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

Courtney Okolo

Scottie Scheffler

S

OMETIMES THE REPORTS detailing a young athlete’s level of talent are blown out of proportion. After all, every current and former Longhorn player was the best player at his or her high school and earned the adulation that comes with a certain measure of fame at an early age. Then players like freshman golfer Scottie 0?DABĹƒ AN ?KIA =HKJC Â… LH=UANO SDK NAPQNJ immediate dividends even though he may not be the best player on the team. 1DEO OA=OKJ 0?DABĹƒ AN SKJ PDA EJ@ERE@Q=H title at the Big 12 Championship and at the prestigious Western Intercollegiate, leading the Longhorns to team victories in both PKQNJ=IAJPO %A†O Ĺ‚ JEODA@ EJ PDA 1KL OARAJ in seven of the 11 tournaments he’s competed in this year and had the squad’s second best O?KNEJC =RAN=CA Ä AJPANEJC PDA + Lubbock Regional in mid-May.

0?DABĹƒ AN BNKI !=HH=O %ECDH=J@ -=NG S=O the 2013 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship champion as a high school junior, following in the huge footprints left by former Texas standout and newest Masters Tournament champion Jordan Spieth. 1DA OPKNEAO =>KQP 0?DABĹƒ AN†O CKHB ?=NAAN leading up to his arrival to the 40 Acres are almost Paul Bunyan-esque and begin when he was a tyke. “There's a yellow pole about 100 yards KQP KJ PDA N=JCA =P /KU=H ,=GO EJ !=HH=O ‡ 0?DABĹƒ AN O=E@ Äź4DAJ & S=O KN PDEO CQU O=E@ DA @ CERA IA Ĺ‚ RA ?D=J?AO PK DEP PDA LKHA If I did, he said he’d buy me a car when I was 17. My dad says I hit the pole twice. I still haven’t received the car.â€? O = UA=N KH@ 0?DABĹƒ AN ODKP PSE?A EJ PDNAA @=UO 1DA Ĺ‚ NOP NKQJ@ DA S=O QJ@AN L=N =P +KNPDSKK@ HQ> EJ !=HH=O OEPA KB PDA 1952 U.S. Open, where PGA Tour veteran Hunter Mahan held the previous record. The

second, two days later, was an impressive QJ@AN =P PDA !=HH=O KQJPNU HQ> &J 0?DABĹƒ AN NA?KN@A@ = DKHA EJ KJA on the par-3 17th hole at Austin’s Onion NAAG HQ> @QNEJC PDA Ĺ‚ J=H NKQJ@ KB PDA 2&) state tournament on the way to winning the 4A individual championship. +A=NHU = UA=N H=PAN DA F=NNA@ = ENKJ BKN another ace and the par-3 second hole at TPC Las Colinas while playing in the PGA Tour’s %- UNKJ +AHOKJ H=OOE? QJ@AN = OLKJOKN†O ATAILPEKJ %A AJ@A@ QL Ĺ‚ JEODEJC J@ in the event but couldn’t cash the $62,000 check because he’s still an amateur. 0?DABĹƒ AN D=O P=HAJP PK >QNJ =J@ SEHH >A = force to be reckoned with in the college game as long as he stays at Texas. “As a freshman, to come in here and win the Big 12 is outstanding,â€? coach John Fields O=E@ KB 0?DABĹƒ AN Äź%A†O LQPPEJC DEIOAHB KJ PDA map in collegiate and amateur golf around the nation.â€?

JUNE 2015 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 33

A Shot at Glory Ryan Crouser has an opportunity to make track & field history this season — but that’s not his primary focus.

P

ICKING OUT THE THROWERS =P = PN=?G łAH@ IAAP EO D=N@HU @EBł?QHP With very few exceptions, they’re the tallest, heaviest and strongest =PDHAPAO KQP KJ PDA łAH@ 1DAU KBPAJ PKSAN KRAN PDAEN PA=II=PAO and coaches, boasting physiques that defensive linemen secretly covet. With such an image it’s not surprising throwers are often misunderstood athletes. One can easily look at them and consider their success to be a result of overwhelming physical power and little else. The thrower who can bench press an SUV or deadlift a house will win every time, right? +KP JA?AOO=NEHU Make no mistake — bigger athletes can become natural throwers as they D=RA PDA LKPAJPE=H PK >NEJC PDA IKOP OPNAJCPD PK PDA łAH@ QP PK OQCCAOP PD=P being an elite thrower requires nothing more than brute force couldn’t be more wrong. Consider the case of Ryan Crouser. Coming out of high school in Boring, Ore., he had his pick of elite college track programs, despite the fact he resembled his basketball teammates more than the linemen who doubled as shot putters. He was lean and lanky, carrying somewhere between 210 and 220 pounds on his 6’5� frame, but he was also exceptionally athletic and displayed extraordinary throwing technique.

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LIMITLESS: Ryan Crouser captured the 2015 Big 12 outdoor title in the discus while setting a new facility record at 58.92 meters. This marks his second consecutive title.

JUNE 2015 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 35

Four years of physical and mental maturity — as well as countless hours in the weight room and on the track — have transformed Crouser from a promising thrower into a world-class competitor. He =HNA=@U D=O PDNAA + ODKP LQP ?D=ILEKJODELO Ä PSK KQP@KKNO KJA indoors) and is a favorite to win this year’s outdoor title. Crouser could also participate in the U.S. Track & Field Outdoor Championships in June and perhaps even make the national team which heads to Beijing in August for the World Championships. In addition, he’s a standout discus thrower whose coach says his long-term future might be mostly in the discus. He set the all-time Texas record in the discus last year. “I have come across a number of great athletes in a lot of sports,â€? Texas throwing coach Ty Sevin said. “But if I brought Ryan into the football world, he would be one of the strongest, most athletic guys KJ = PA=I Â… =J +#) PA=I Â… NECDP JKS -AKLHA @KJ†P QJ@ANOP=J@ DKS athletic he is, how strong he is. I have coached a lot of great athletes and Ryan is up there with the best of them. He’s fast. He’s athletic. He could pick up a javelin today and throw it, and he’d be a great thrower. He could play football. He could’ve played college basketball.â€? 4DAJ NKQOAN Ĺ‚ JEODA@ OA?KJ@ PK 0PELA 7QJE? KB PDA 2JERANOEPU KB #HKNE@= =P PDEO UA=N†O + &J@KKN D=ILEKJODEL I=JU REASA@ EP =O an upset — including Crouser himself. He said that despite the fact that he remains among the premier throwers in the country, he’s not overly pleased with the way things have gone during his senior year. However, a change in his training regimen has Crouser optimistic about the remainder of the outdoor season.

FOCUSED ON THE HERE AND NOW: Crouser has an opportunity to become one of a few throwers who own three NCAA crowns. But he’s not focused on making history — he’s focused on making his next throw his best throw.

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THIS SPREAD FROM LEFT: JESSE DROHEN, UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

“Honestly, I feel like it’s been a down year for me,â€? he said. “I’ve spent a lot of time working on [my throws] and doing more volume PN=EJEJC PDEO UA=N +KS =O SA†NA CAPPEJC PK ?KJBANAJ?A ?D=ILEKJODELO PDA + O =J@ 20 D=ILEKJODELO SA†NA ?QPPEJC PDA RKHQIA @KSJ I’m lifting a little less frequently and throwing a little less. It’s basically cutting the volume down and increasing the intensity of the training.â€? According to Sevin, Crouser was able to focus on increasing his OPNAJCPD SDAJ DA Ĺ‚ NOP =NNERA@ =P 1AT=O >A?=QOA DEO PA?DJEMQA S=O OK far ahead of the other throwers. Coming from a family of throwers, Crouser learned the craft early on. His father, Mitch, threw at the 2JERANOEPU KB &@=DK %EO QJ?HAO !A=J =J@ NE=J >KPD PDNAS =P ,NACKJ His cousin, Sam, carried on the family tradition and now also throws BKN PDA !Q?GO “I talk to my dad about throwing quite often,â€? Crouser said. “I’d be crazy not to. He was a great thrower — he threw over 220 (feet) in PDA @EO? %A D=O >AAJ PDANA =J@ DA D=O @KJA EP +KP I=JU LAKLHA D=RA =??AOO PK OKIAKJA HEGA PD=P OK DA†O @AĹ‚ JEPAHU = >EC NAOKQN?A BKN IA ‡ And while he calls upon his father for advice and suggestions, Crouser avoids any discussion about technique. “He was a glider,â€? Crouser said, “and I’m a spinner.â€? Crouser, instead, sees more resemblance between his own PDNKSEJC IKPEKJ =J@ DEO QJ?HA !A=J KN DEO ?KQOEJ 0=I &B DA ?=J SEJ PDA + KQP@KKN ODKP LQP ?D=ILEKJODEL NKQOAN will join some truly elite company. The last thrower to win three KQP@KKN + ?NKSJO S=O '=JQO /K>>ANPO KB 0*2 1DA H=OP PEIA = PDNKSAN SKJ PDNAA ?KJOA?QPERA PEIAO S=O NAJP +KKJ KB PDA 2JERANOEPU of Georgia, who pulled off the three-peat between 1992 and 1994. Crouser said that while joining that elite club is not his primary focus, doing so would likely bring his personal goals within reach. “It’s always great to be put on any list like that,â€? he said. “But for me, personally, I just like to go out and compete. If it works out, and I AJ@ QL SEJJEJC IU PDEN@ OPN=ECDP PEPHA PD=P FQOP NAĹƒ A?PO IU =PPEPQ@A KB taking it one meet at a time. But I don’t compete to get in the history books. I compete to throw far and to help Texas win.â€? Sevin expanded on the topic, suggesting that not only is the effort PK FKEJ /K>>ANPO =J@ +KKJ JKP = LNEKNEPU BKN NKQOAN >QP PD=P EP ?KQH@ be detrimental if it became his focus. “I don’t think that’s even in his head,â€? Sevin said. “I didn’t even GJKS PD=P ÄĽ=>KQP +KKJ =J@ /K>>ANPO9 &P†O JKP = >EC @A=H BKN QO #KN me, I want to see him go to the meet and compete to the best of his ability. You have to focus on preparing the right way and performing at a high level; if you do that, you have a chance to be very successful. A lot of athletes are ruined when they chase numbers.â€? “Ryan wants to defend his [conference] shot put and discus titles, but in my mind, he can win the double, the shot and discus, at nationals,â€? he continued. “He has the ability to win both.â€? 0DKQH@ NKQOAN†O OQ??AOO ?=NNU PDNKQCD PDA + D=ILEKJODEL he’ll earn the opportunity to compete against the nation’s best — including professional throwers — at the U.S. Championships. A strong performance there would mean a spot on the national team which will compete at the World Championships in Beijing in August. Throwers are often in their late 20s or early 30s before they reach their peak years, but Sevin said Crouser already has what it takes to compete against the best in the nation. “If Ryan goes into the U.S Championship and throws 21.5 meters in the shot put — which he is very capable of doing — he has a great chance,â€? Sevin said. “The problem is that the United States is the best shot put country in the world, so there are guys who can throw really far.â€? Crouser has plenty of time before he reaches his peak, and his career at Texas will likely continue its upward trend over the next year. Because he redshirted a season, he can still compete for the Longhorns

during next year’s indoor season. With the rest of the outdoor season remaining and the 2015 indoor season on the horizon, he continues to put in the work. His success is the clear result of his dedication and work ethic. And although he has an eye on two national titles, Crouser remains humble about creating his legacy. “I’ve never been one to chase records,â€? Crosuer said. “You look at them, and they’re something to pursue. But if you chase records, they almost limit you; prevent you from going beyond that mark. Once you get that record, what drives you to push further? Some guys, once they CAP = NA?KN@ Ĺ‚ J@ EP @EBĹ‚ ?QHP PK LQOD L=OP PD=P ‡ “I know I have a long way to go and that I can improve,â€? he continued. “So I look at personal performance, and if I throw the way I can, if I do what I can do, the records will come along the way.â€?

JUNE 2015 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 37

IN SEASON

IN THE SWING OF THINGS: Only a sophomore, Beau Hossler earned Player of the Year honors this season, as well as recognition as a Ping First-Team AllAmerican.

ON THE BRINK

AFTER ROLLING THROUGH REGIONALS, THE MEN’S GOLF TEAM IS ON THE CUSP OF GREATNESS.

I

N MANY WAYS, 2015 was the year of Texas Longhorns golf. And after a dominating RE?PKNU =P PDA + )Q>>K?G /ACEKJ=H in mid-May, the men’s team was in line to make this year one for the ages. The second-ranked Longhorns carried a considerable head of steam EJPK PDA + +=PEKJ=H D=ILEKJODEL tournament at the Concession Golf Club in Bradenton, Fla., on May 29. Over six days,

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Texas competed against the best of the best in college golf, with a championship in its sights and firmly within its reach. Unfortunately, the Longhorns didn’t win EP =HH B=HHEJC EJ PDA + D=ILEKJODEL MQ=NPANBEJ=H NKQJ@ KB I=P?D LH=U PK +K 5 USC. However, this season was still a remarkable year for both current and former Longhorn golfers. In April, two-time Masters Tournament

champion Ben Crenshaw played in the Masters for the final time and spent the weeks prior to the event being feted for his accomplishments. In countless television and print interviews, Crenshaw, who won the national championship twice (in 1971 and 1972) while on the 40 Acres, spoke continually about how Texas helped shape his career. Then former Texas player Jordan Spieth

THIS SPREAD: ALL PHOTOS UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

— the 21-year-old wunderkind of the PGA Tour — swamped the field to win the Masters himself, tying an overall tournament scoring record set by none other than Tiger Woods. Spieth was part of a championship team as well for the Longhorns in 2012. As good as the year has been for Crenshaw and Spieth, things might be even better — in a relative way — for the current crop of Texas men’s golfers. Texas won the Lubbock Regional at the Rawls Course after dispatching host team Texas Tech and overcoming difficult conditions. The Longhorns came into the day three strokes behind the leader, Texas Tech, but shot a 10-under 275 to claim the title by four strokes. With the victory, the Longhorns captured a total of seven tournaments this season, including six victories in their last seven tournaments played. The only other season in Texas has won seven or more tournaments was 2011-12, when the team won eight tournaments, including the national championship. “I’m proud of our guys,� coach John Fields said. “The play that they exhibited is representative of our team. There’s no question that winning this regional gives us some momentum going into the national

championship.� The Longhorns’ roster is like a who’s who of top amateur golfers, and Fields’ ability to mesh the talent with the proper attitude and confidence continues to be a key to the success of the program. In Lubbock, the Longhorns were led by sophomore Gavin Hall, who posted his second consecutive top-three finish after carding a 68 after 69s in the first two rounds to finish third. Hall enters the national championship tournament having shot under

par in six of his past eight rounds. Sophomore Beau Hossler, who has finished inside the top 20 in 12 tournaments this year, tied for fourth after shooting a 70. #NAODI=J !KQC $DEI LKOPA@ DEO OA?KJ@ best finish of the year with a tie for seventh after carding a 68 earlier in the tourney in Lubbock. Scottie Scheffler, a freshman who has likely been the Longhorns’ best golfer over the second half of the season, tied for 11th after shooting a third-round 69, and senior

STAYING LOW: Gavin Hall was a key player for the Longhorns this season, carding a season-low 65 in the first round of the conference championship — just two strokes shy of the course record.

JUNE 2015 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 39

DOUG GHIM

Kramer Hickok carded a 73 to tie for 22nd. “We don’t have a defined leader on this team — I’m happy with the entire group we have,� Fields said. “When you have multiple winners on your team, you have a good chance to win any golf tournament.� Based on their performances this year, Fields was named Big 12 Coach of the Year, Hossler was named Player of the Year and 0?DABBHAN S=O J=IA@ +AS?KIAN KB PDA 6A=N Scheffler, Hossler, Hall and Ghim were all named to the All-Big 12 Team. This year marks Fields’ third straight conference coach of the year honor and fifth overall in his 19 years at Texas. The Longhorns won the Big 12 Championship on April 29 by 24 strokes. %KOOHAN PDA EC +AS?KIAN KB PDA 6A=N in 2014, earned player of the year honors thanks to his 69.17 Sagarin rating. He also captured his first win of his collegiate career at the John Hayt Collegiate Invitational in March. Scheffler became the fifth consecutive Texas player to be named newcomer of the year after winning back-to-back tournaments. He also finished second at the Augusta Collegiate Invitational at the beginning of April. He won the Western Intercollegiate after carding a 201 at Pasatiempo Golf Club and followed it with a win at the Big 12 Championship after carding a 280 at Southern Hills Country Club. “In college golf, kids are leaving home for the first time and getting comfortable in their new surroundings, and it takes time,� Fields said. “For Scottie, he’s just now getting more comfortable and having fun. The real abilities that he has are manifesting themselves.� “I have been all over the place at times this semester,� Scheffler said. “I’m just trying 40 HORNS ILLUSTRATED

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GAVIN HALL

to get everything under control.� Hall finished two strokes behind Scheffler at the Big 12 Championship. He has seven top-10 finishes this season. Ghim has finished in the top-20 four times this season, his best coming at the Gifford Collegiate in a tie for third. Is this a team of destiny? Fields believes that the past can help propel this latest group of Longhorns. “Our guys are very plugged into the tradition of this program,� Fields said. “We’ve had so many great teams here — it’s

BEAU HOSSLER

pretty heady stuff but it’s always around these guys. Success and doing things the right way is expected and embraced here.â€? Äź+KS SA D=RA PK I=GA KQN KSJ S=U with this 2015 team,â€? he added. “In a few weeks, hopefully we will have people talking about them.â€?

Jordan Spieth: Masters Champion WINNING THE MASTERS says a lot about a player. If you have any doubts about that statement, take a look at former Longhorn standout Jordan Spieth, who captured the tournament in steely-eyed, determined fashion after streaking away from the field during the first three rounds. With his eyes filled with tears, Spieth hugged almost everyone in in the family tree after putting out on the 18th green. At that moment, the enormity of his accomplishment closed in all around him. Spieth already had a chip on his shoulder after he began the final round at the Masters last year. He was tied with Bubba Watson going into that round and carded a 72 to join the ranks of runner-ups who include former Texas great Tom Kite (who finished second at the Masters three times). “Last year I had an opportunity and watched it slip away,� Spieth said. “I watched Bubba win and everything that came with being the Masters champion. That definitely left me hungry.� #KN DKHAO 0LEAPD S=O JA=NHU LANBA?P KJ QCQOP= +=PEKJ=H†O BH=SHAOO LQPPEJC OQNB=?AO DKHEJC ?NQ?E=H LQPPO ARANU PEIA PDA IKIAJP ?=HHA@ BKN DANKE?O +KP KJHU @E@ 0LEAPD SEJ EJ record fashion, but he did so with a cast of contenders behind him who had collected a combined 24 major championships. In the end, golf’s freshest face and perhaps its nicest guy turned in a cutthroat performance. “He wanted so badly to come back after what happened last year and we all believed in him,� Spieth’s father, Shawn, said afterward. “You could see it in his eyes.�

ALL PHOTOS UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

JOHN FIELDS

JUNE 2015 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 41

IN SEASON

DRIVING FORCE: Anne Hakula led the Longhorns with a 73 in the second round of the Big 12 Tournament. The team finished sixth this season.

FULL THROTTLE

THE LONGHORNS LATE SEASON SUCCESS IS A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME.

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had our chances coming down the stretch, but it simply wasn’t in the cards for us.” Bertine Strauss, a South African and the lone senior on the Longhorn squad, earned a >ANPD EJ PDA + D=ILEKJODEL >U >AEJC one of the top three individuals not from a six qualifying teams. Strauss finished in sixth place in the medalist standings at 4-under-par for the three-round tournament, 12 strokes >ADEJ@ EJ@ERE@Q=H SEJJAN %=UHAU !=REO KB Baylor. “There’s no doubt that we were playing our best golf as a team at the end of the season when the tournaments meant the most,” Murphy said. “We improved every practice and with every tournament. The girls had their challenges early in the year and it took a while for me to adapt to them and for them to adapt to me.” Texas played in 12 tournaments in the 2014-15 season and posted five top-five finishes which included a match-play victory against Hawaii in the Texas-Hawaii Classic in March. The Longhorns also posted three runnerQL ODKSEJCO EJ = NKS =P PDA 2+# H=OOE? in Jacksonville, Fla., in early March, at the Anuenue Spring Break Classic in Hawaii later in that month and at the UTSA MatchUp in San Antonio on April 5. That stretch set the table for Texas’ late

season success. “We had a mixed bag of play over the season,” Murphy said. “We definitely had some highs and a few lows, but that’s our game. You’re never really on top of the game of golf… the moment you think you are it has a funny way of setting you straight.” STRAUSS LEADS THE WAY Strauss was more than just the Longhorns’ lone NALNAOAJP=PERA EJ PDA + D=ILEKJODEL PDEO season. She was the team’s top golfer in eight of 11 full-field stroke-play tournaments was a first-time medalist at the ASU Ping Invitational in April. She also averaged a team-low 72.52 strokes per round this season — almost a stroke and a half less than in the 2013-14 campaign. “Bertine is very talented and worked hard to improve and it showed,” Murphy said. “She’s not a very vocal person but she led the team by example. She understands where she needs to improve and how to get to there. Seeing her gain that understanding was very gratifying and it bodes well for her continued success moving forward.” Strauss’ individual tournament victory was the first for a Longhorn golfer since the 2011 OA=OKJ SDAJ +E?KHA 3=J@ANI=@A SKJ PDA Betsy Rawls Longhorn Invitational. Strauss

THIS SPREAD: ALL PHOTOS BETHANY WALTER/UNIV. OF TEXAS

I

N GOLF, IMPROVEMENT — both on the individual and team levels — is measured in small gains, sometimes one stroke at a time. The difference between winning and losing often comes down to one bad drive, a wayward 7-iron, a chip laid over by sod or a misread putt; it’s what makes golf so challenging and maddening at the same time. Given those parameters, the across-theboard progress made by the Texas women’s golf team during the 2014-15 campaign is a step in the right direction as the program makes its way into the upper echelon of collegiate golf. First-year coach Ryan Murphy, formerly an assistant with the men’s team, wouldn’t have it any other way. 1DA )KJCDKNJO =@R=J?A@ PK PDA + O 0=J Antonio Regional in May after finishing sixth in the Big 12 Championships. At the regional, held at the Alamo City’s Briggs Ranch Golf Club, Texas forged its best tournament effort of the season. The Longhorns ended up seventh and missed out KJ =@R=J?AIAJP PK PDA + D=ILEKJODEL by just two strokes after going toe-to-toe with a stacked tournament field. ļ$APPEJC PDNKQCD =J + NACEKJ=H EO = difficult task,” Murphy said. “We gave it our best effort and came up just a little short. We

was named Big 12 Player of the Year for her performance, the first Texas golfer to win the award since Madison Pressel in 2011 and the 11th to do so since 1983. “Her play [in the regionals], and all year really, has been strong,� Murphy said. “It’s fitting that Bertine competed at nationals as you want the best in the country there. Bertine is just that. I’m very proud of her season, her Big 12 Player of the Year award and for everything she has brought to our program. Her shoes will be hard to fill.� With 14 sub-par rounds out of the 33 she played and six finishes in the top 10, Strauss is sure to be an All-American when those honors are announced at the end of the season. “I wanted to improve every time I played and I was happy with the awards I received and the success I reached,� Strauss said. “I would’ve gave all those up to have had our team at the national championship tournament along with me. I focused on every shot and trying to take things one swing or putt at a time.�

be the backbone for the success of this program for the next few years.� “For this team, the key is unforced errors and finding a way to eliminate them,� Murphy added. “We need to minimize the damage at times, turn double bogies into bogies or even triple bogies into bogies. That’s something that I preach to my team. We don’t have to play perfect golf, we just need to be more solid than we are and minimize the absolute unforced errors.�

STROKE OF A GENIUS: With the help of new head coach Ryan Murphy, Tezira Abe was able to lower her stroke average this season.

A LOOK INTO THE FUTURE Four of the Longhorns’ top five golfers — Strauss, Julia Beck, Tezira Abe and Anne Hakula — lowered their stroke average this season. Abe was the low Texas player at the Big 12 Championship, where she finished 10th. Beck carded a 6-under-par 66 in the Alamo Invitational in October, which was, at the time, the secondlowest by an individual in Texas history to Pressel’s 65 at the Stanford Intercollegiate in 2009. “Coach Murphy worked with us to make us more confident in our games and raise the competition level to make us improve,� Strauss said. “It’s been a good change and I’ve enjoyed working with him. He brings a lot of knowledge to the game.� All except Strauss will be back next season. IKJC PDA LH=UANO NAPQNJEJC =NA +=P=HEA (=N?DAN (who had a 67 this year among five sub-par rounds), Lara Weinstein (who had two sub-par NKQJ@O EJ 0=N= 0?=NHAPP =J@ !AH=EJAU Peterson. “I had a distant relationship with the women’s golf team before this year from the other side of the [team’s facility], but I’ve learned a lot about them this year,� Murphy said. “I didn’t know how hard they were going to work. There’s talent on this team and they’re hungry for success.� Joining next year’s roster is Kentucky transfer Haley Mills, who has already won a collegiate PKQNJ=IAJP =J@ S=O KJ PDA HH 0" #NAODI=J team in 2013-14. “The team improved throughout the year and fought through to the finish,� Murphy said. “As their coach, I can’t ask or expect any more from them. The players we have coming back will JUNE 2015 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 43

IN SEASON

POWER SHIFT: During this year’s Senior Day game, Gabby Smith hit a crucial home run that spurred the Longhorns’ momentum to fight their way to victory.

CHAMPIONSHIP DRIVE

LED BY OPTIMISM, TEXAS SOFTBALL LOOKED TO BUILD ON ITS SUCCESSFUL 2015 CAMPAIGN WITH A TRIP TO THE COLLEGE WORLD SERIES.

T

EXAS HEAD COACH Connie Clark began the year optimistic of her team’s chances for success. And she had every right to be optimistic. The Longhorns are headed back PK PDA + 1KQNJ=IAJP BKN PDA PD ?KJOA?QPERA OA=OKJ =BPAN Ĺ‚ JEODEJC second in the Big 12, tied with Baylor. “We feel good about it, actually,â€? Clark said about the team’s progress. “This team is optimistic. We have a large squad made up of juniors and sophomores that have the experience under their belt.â€? !AOLEPA HKOEJC OARAN=H OECJEĹ‚ ?=JP C=IA changers to graduation last year (including Taylor Thom, Mandy Ogle and Brejae Washington), the Longhorns didn’t consider 2015 a rebuilding year. Instead, they focused on the experiences of their sophomore and junior classes, as well as several key, talented freshmen. “I truly believe we have a great chance to make EP =HH PDA S=U PDEO UA=N ‡ FQJEKN EJĹ‚ AH@AN 0PALD=JEA Ceo said. “We have a lot of returners within our sophomore class that now have that full year under their belt. Our freshman class isn’t huge, but they’re @AĹ‚ JEPAHU @EBBANAJ?A I=GANO ‡ Texas continued its recent tradition of opening

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the season with several back-to-back tournaments, allowing Texas to play several opponents in order PK LNAL=NA BKN = @EBĹ‚ ?QHP ?KJBANAJ?A OA=OKJ =J@ = LKPAJPE=H NQJ EJ PDA + PKQNJ=IAJP The Longhorns opened up their 2015 season on the road in Tempe, Ariz., at the Kajikawa Classic. In PDAEN Ĺ‚ NOP C=IA =C=EJOP PDA 2JERANOEPU KB =HEBKNJE= Santa Barbara, the Texas offense exploded to a 15-0 victory in 5 innings. The Longhorns scored = OP=CCANEJC NQJO EJ PDA Ĺ‚ BPD EJJEJC Â… PDA most runs in a single inning since the Longhorns scored 14 against Kansas in the sixth inning back EJ 1AT=O Ĺ‚ JEODA@ PDA (=FEG=S= H=OOE? SEPD a 3-2 record, losing to Oregon and Stanford and @ABA=PEJC +KNPDSAOPANJ =J@ NEVKJ= 0P=PA The Longhorns then traveled to Cathedral City, =HEB PK ?KILAPA EJ PDA *=NU +QPPAN KHHACE=PA H=OOE? BPAN SEJJEJC EPO Ĺ‚ NOP PSK C=IAO KB PDA ?H=OOE? PDA PA=I @NKLLA@ PDNAA OPN=ECDP PK Ĺ‚ JEOD PDA classic with a 2-3 record. The following weekend the Longhorns returned to Austin to open their home schedule SEPD PDA 1AT=O &JREP=PEKJ=H 1DA PA=I Ĺ‚ JEODA@ PDA EJREP=PEKJ=H SEPD = NA?KN@ @ABA=PEJC !=NPIKQPD Texas Southern and Lamar. Finishing up their preseason tournament record, the Longhorns participated in the Carolina Classic, going 2-1 =C=EJOP ,DEK +KNPD =NKHEJ= =J@ D=NHKPPA

To conclude their non conference schedule, the Longhorns swept Arkansas on the road in a threegame series, dropped a home contest to Georgia 0KQPDANJ =J@ Ĺ‚ JEODA@ SEPD = PSK C=IA OSAAL KB the University of Texas at San Antonio. Throughout

LEADING OFF: Lindsey Stephens led the team in batting average, hits, runs and home runs this season.

T H I S S P R E A D C L O C K W I S E F R O M L E F T : B E T H A N Y W A L T E R / U N I V . O F T E X A S , P A T R I C K M E R E D I T H / U N I V . O F T E X A S , P A T R I C K M E R E D I T H / U N I V . O F T E X AS

the season and in the middle of Big 12 play, the Longhorns also competed against nonconference rivals Texas State, defeating them 10-2 in San Marcos and 6-5 in Austin. Texas opened its Big 12 conference season by sweeping Kansas in a three-game series on the road. The team opened its home conference schedule. at home against Oklahoma. The Sooners, who Ĺ‚ JEODA@ Ĺ‚ NOP EJ PDA EC PDEO OA=OKJ OSALP PDA Longhorns in Austin, producing two shutouts. The Longhorns rebounded with a mid week 8-0 shutout against UT Arlington and a threegame sweep of Iowa State at home the following weekend. The team then went on the road and lost 1-2 to Texas Tech in a three-game series before traveling to Oklahoma State and sweeping the Cowgirls in a three-game series. Texas wrapped up its conference and regular season with a three-game series against Baylor. The two teams were competing to determine who SKQH@ Ĺ‚ JEOD OA?KJ@ EJ PDA EC BPAN >AEJC swept in game one, the Longhorns went on to win PDA OANEAO PK Ĺ‚ JEOD OA?KJ@ PEA@ SEPD =UHKN EJ the Big 12. $=IA PSK =C=EJOP =UHKN S=O 0AJEKN !=U BKN PDA Longhorns, a day which the seniors are recognized for their accomplishments and contributions to the team. The two seniors on the Texas roster came up big, helping the Longhorns rebound from the series-opening loss three days prior. The Longhorns defeated Baylor 5-3 that day. “I love the fact that our seniors made such important contributions to tonight’s win,â€? Clark said. “The seniors came up big for us. It’s always CNA=P PK OAA PD=P >QP KJ 0AJEKN !=U SEPD AIKPEKJO running high, I’m proud of them.â€? ,QPĹ‚ AH@AN *=NHAA $=>=H@KJ =J@ LEP?DAN $=>>U Smith are the only two seniors on the Texas roster PDEO OA=OKJ !QNEJC PDA 0AJEKN !=U C=IA 0IEPD D=@ = ?NQ?E=H OKHK DKIA NQJ PK ?AJPAN Ĺ‚ AH@ EJ PDA Ĺ‚ BPD inning. The home run brought the Longhorns to within one run and spurred momentum that led to three runs in the sixth inning. Gabaldon contributed SEPD = O=?NEĹ‚ ?A Ĺƒ U EJ PDA )KJCDKNJ†O PDNAA NQJ OETPD inning to help put the Longhorns up. 0IEPD Ĺ‚ JEODA@ PDA NACQH=N OA=OKJ SEPD DEPO 12 runs and 14 RBIs with a .286 batting average. In PDA ?EN?HA ODA Ĺ‚ JEODA@ OA?KJ@ KJ PDA PA=I SEPD = "/ =J@ = NA?KN@ $=>=H@KJ Ĺ‚ JEODA@ SEPD a .277 batting average and 39 hits with 17 runs scored and 18 RBIs. #NAODI=J "NE?= 4NECDP S=O PDA )KJCDKNJO† IKOP @KIEJ=JP LEP?DAN Ĺ‚ JEODEJC PDA NACQH=N OA=OKJ SEPD = PA=I HKS "/ =J@ =J NA?KN@ Wright gave up 126 hits and 70 runs through 163 EJJEJCO LEP?DA@ 4NECDP Ĺ‚ JEODA@ PDEN@ EJ PDA EC SEPD = EC "/ =J@ = NA?KN@ ,J March 31, Wright was named Big 12 Pitcher of the Week following the Longhorns’ sweep of UTSA and Kansas. 0KLDKIKNA LEP?DAN 1E=NN= !=REO SDK S=O BNAOD KBB = OQ??AOOBQH BNAODI=J OA=OKJ Ĺ‚ JEODA@ NACQH= OA=OKJ SEPD = "/ =J@ = NA?KN@ P PDA LH=PA )EJ@OAU 0PALDAJO Ĺ‚ JEODA@ NACQH=N

season on top with a .354 batting average through 52 games, registering 57 hits and 44 runs with 46 RBIs, leading the Longhorns in all categories. She =HOK Ĺ‚ JEODA@ SEPD DKIA NQJO =HIKOP PSE?A that of any other Longhorn. Stephens was named Big 12 Player of the Week twice, once in February and again in March thanks to her performance at the plate. 'QJEKN EJĹ‚ AH@AN 0PALD=JEA AK S=O J=IA@ EC -H=UAN KB PDA 4AAG KJ *=U AK Ĺ‚ JEODA@ SEPD a .321 batting average with 36 hits and 30 runs scored. Following the Longhorns series victory over =UHKN PDA )KJCDKNJO A=NJA@ PDAEN >E@ PK PDA + Tournament. The Longhorns traveled to Los Angeles PK ?KILAPA EJ PDA + )KO JCAHAO /ACEKJ=H +K 2 ) DKOPA@ 1AT=O =H 0P=PA +KNPDNE@CA =J@ 0=J !EACK 0P=PA =P "=OPKJ 0P=@EQI 1AT=O B=?A@ 0=J !EACK 0P=PA Ä EJ PDA NACEKJ=H†O Ĺ‚ NOP C=IA on May 15. Unfortunately, the Longhorns’ season AJ@A@ A=NHEAN PD=J ATLA?PA@ 1AT=O HKOP PK 0=J !EACK State, 4-3. “It’s a very good match-up for us,â€? Clark said before the regional. “I look forward to taking the positive momentum we earned against Baylor into PDA + /ACEKJ=H ‡

GET OUTTA HERE: Devon Tunning started all 52 games at short stop this season and was a shortstop contributor to the team’s success.

JUNE 2015 HORNS ILLUSTRATED 45

IN SEASON

CHAD HOLLINGSWORTH

RISING UP

T

HIS FEATURE WAS originally assigned as a wrapup of a season gone awry and perhaps a swan song to the coach many consider too old to keep up with his players. But as seven days in May proved, you can’t bury a team that refuses to quit or cut loose a coach who finds a way to push the right buttons at the right time. This is the story of the 2015 Texas baseball team. The Longhorns are the Big 12 Conference tournament champion and a participant in an + NACEKJ=H BKN PDA PD PEIA PDA IKOP KB =JU !EREOEKJ & LNKCN=I EJ ?KHHACA >=OA>=HH J@ PDA Longhorns’ 76-year-old coach, Augie Garrido, once again pulled a rabbit out of his baseball cap. 1AT=O Ä KRAN=HH DEP PDA + O =O PDA

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PDEN@ OAA@ EJ PDA BKQN PA=I !=HH=O /ACEKJ=H DKOPA@ >U !=HH=O =LPEOP 2JERANOEPU 2JBKNPQJ=PAHU PDA postseason ended earlier than some expected, SEPD HKOOAO PK >KPD ,NACKJ 0P=PA =J@ !=HH=O Baptist. Garrido and the team, however, were just happy to reach this year’s tournament. “We’re proud to be anywhere,� Garrido said before the tournament. “We’re happy to >A EJ PDA + O 1DA IAOO=CA BKN PDA PA=I EO that it’s a beginning, not a heroic moment. It was a necessary one and there are still four main tournaments left and this is the start. You can JARAN LNA@E?P PDA NAOQHPO +K KJA SKQH@†RA LE?GA@ us to win the Big 12 tournament. What we have is an opportunity and that’s how we’ll approach it.� Some may be surprised that Texas even found EPO S=U EJPK PDA + O >QP PDKOA BKHGO HEGAHU

don’t understand the makeup of Garrido and the teams he pulls together. The Longhorns, who were already granted a spot in the Big 12 Tournament before the final weekend of play, went to Baylor and won two of three games in a two-day span. The victory led the team into the league postseason championship on a bit of a high. Texas needed to win the tournament to get EJPK PDA + O =J@ PDA PA=I @E@ FQOP PD=P QOEJC three complete-game pitching performances to get to the championship contest. The Longhorns fell behind Oklahoma State in the seventh inning only to surge from behind and win the whole shebang. “We have a bunch of gamers,� senior pitcher Parker French said. “This clubhouse is filled with

THIS SPREAD: ALL PHOTOS BETHANY WALTER/UNIV. OF TEXAS

THE TEXAS BASEBALL TEAM STEPPED UP TO THE PLATE WHEN IT MATTERED THE MOST.

GAME CHANGER: Tres Barrera led the team with nine home runs, a .395 onbase percentage and tied for first in runs scored (38) and walks (33) this season.

guys who perform at their highest level when the pressure and the stage is set to the highest level.â€? “We enjoy this stage ‌ big games and everything,â€? French added. “We embrace the moment and thrive in it.â€? Garrido said the Longhorns could attribute their late-season surge to their confidence and character — two characteristics that his team had all season, even if they were seemingly hidden from view. “You can’t manufacture confidence — it has PK >A PDANA ‡ $=NNE@K O=E@ Äź+K KJA D=O D=@ IKNA pain than the pain that has been brought on this group, but the greater the suffering, the greater the joy.â€? “For the players to go through the regular season and pretty much be counted out, and then

to experience the feeling of and being able to execute in relation to the game the way they did, I’d be surprised if they’re willing to let that feeling go,� he added. Garrido made some hard choices in the run-up to that final series in Waco and the Big 12 tournament. He benched Brooks Marlow, the senior who’s played nearly every inning of every game for the past three years, and Zane Gurwitz, Texas’ blur-fast centerfielder who responded by earning most valuable player honors in the league tourney. He also decided to live and die with his starting pitching; Texas didn’t have a reliever take the mound until the seventh inning of its fourth game in the Big 12 tournament. But the biggest decision he made was to give

the Longhorns almost two weeks off between May 3, when Texas lost to Texas Tech, and May 16, when the Longhorns took the field in Waco against Baylor. “Usually you try to work teams harder to get them to play better; our answer was 13 days off,â€? Garrido said. “Take a vacation. Get this stuff out of your head. We had to get rid of the demons.â€? Gurwitz said the time away from the field, >QHHLAJ =J@ >=PPEJC ?=CAO =P !EO?D #=HG #EAH@ S=O difficult to fathom. “It was hard but it was worth it,â€? Gurwitz explained. “It wasn’t about fixing our swing or fixing our arms — it was about fixing our minds. That’s what was really important. We have the talent. We know it but mentally we weren’t all completely there. Having that break and getting it out of our minds and starting fresh is what we needed.â€? To borrow a casino saying, the Longhorns are JKS LH=UEJC SEPD DKQOA IKJAU +K KJA NA=HHU ATLA?PA@ 1AT=O PK >A EJ PDA + OĢ JKS PD=P EP†O in the field of 64, anything is possible. “I sense a new beginning with the team,â€? Garrido said. “There has to be balance to the offense and defense and that certainly reveals character. The game is about attitude — it always has been and always will be. The players recognize the champion that’s in them and know what they have to do.â€?

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FINAL SCORE

The Texas track & field team completed a double sweep of the Big 12 Conference Championships as the men and women claimed the outdoor titles to go with their indoor wins from February. The victories mark just the fourth time in Big 12 history a team has swept all four track & field team titles. The men’s team won with 151 points and held off Texas Tech, which had 126.75 over the three-day event held at Iowa State’s Bergan Track. The women bested K-State with 141.5 points to the Wildcats’ 129.5 during the 21 events. The titles mark the ninth Big 12 outdoor title for the women and the sixth for the men. No school has more Big 12 women’s outdoor titles than Texans, and the men tied Nebraska for the all-time lead. Texas is also the only school from one of the five power conferences to sweep indoor and outdoors for the men and women in 2015. The last time a Big 12 school claimed the double sweep in track & field was 2006, when Texas accomplished the feat. “We talked about from the first team meeting back in September that the step indoors or out was to be winning the conference title,” said head coach Mario Sategna.

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UT ATHLETICS PHOTOGRAPHY

Reigning Champs