Peyton Stearns, a sophomore from the University of Texas, was named the Honda Sport Award winner for Tennis as announced today by Chris Voelz, Executive Director of THE Collegiate Women Sports Awards (CWSA).

The Honda Sport Award has been presented annually by the CWSA for the past 46 years to the top women athletes in 12 NCAA- sanctioned sports and signifies “the best of the best in collegiate athletics”.  The winner of the sport award becomes a finalist for the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year and the prestigious 2022 Honda Cup, which will be presented on a live telecast on CBS Sports Network on June 27^th, at 9 pm ET/6 pm PT

Stearns was chosen by a vote of administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools. Finalists included Eryn Cayetano (USC), Sarah Hamner (South Carolina) and Emma Navarro (Virginia).

“I’m super grateful to receive the Honda Sport Award for Tennis,” Stearns said. “It is such a privilege and honor to represent The University of Texas and the sport of tennis itself.”

Stearns, a sophomore from Mason, Ohio, is the 2022 NCAA Singles Champion after entering the championship ranked as the second seed and led Texas to the 2022 National Championship team title winning at No. 1 singles and competing at No. 1 Doubles (DNF). She is a two-time ITA Singles All-American and earned Doubles All-America honors this season.

The 2022 Big 12 Player of the Year was a perfect 8-0 in conference play and was named the Big 12 Championship Most Outstanding Performer after capturing the conference individual title. She earned All-Big 12 First Team honors in both singles and doubles.

Overall, she finished the season at 33-2 in singles play and finished the season ranked No. 1 in the final ITA singles rankings.

“In Peyton Stearns, the Honda Award can rest easy knowing that its newest recipient embodies all that this elite and enduring honor represents,” said Texas head coach Howard Joffe. “Peyton is indeed excellent, unique and the best of the best. She is a joyous soul and a driven competitor, has a bright and dedicated mind and is really a champion athlete. Peyton joins names like Osterman and Sterkel and I believe that once her career is complete, she will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with those hall of fame athletes and people.”

The CWSA, entering its 46th year, has honored the nation’s top NCAA women athletes for their superior athletic skills, leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service.  Since commencing its partnership in 1986, Honda has provided more than $3.4 million in institutional grants to the universities of the award winners and nominees to support women’s athletics programs.  

About Honda Corporate Social Responsibility

For more than 60 years in the U.S., Honda has been committed to making positive contributions to the communities where its associates live and work. Honda’s mission is to create products and services that improve the lives of people while conducting its business in a sustainable manner and fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. Accordingly, Honda believes in helping people reach their life’s potential through its focus on the areas of education, the environment, mobility, traffic safety and community. Learn more at http://csr.honda.com/.