Thirteen distinguished and decorated former University of Texas student-athletes and staff will be inducted this September into the Men’s and Women’s Athletics Halls of Honor. Tickets to the general public for both induction ceremonies will go on sale in late August.
The 16th Longhorn Women’s Hall of Honor class includes: Juliet Cuthbert-Flynn (Track & Field, 1983-86), three-time Olympic medalist, three-time NCAA champion and 11-time Southwest Conference champion sprinter who helped Texas to a pair of NCAA team titles; Destinee Hooker (Volleyball, 2006-09; Track & Field, 2006-07, ’09), four-time All-American in volleyball, who led UT to a 2009 NCAA runner-up finish, and four-time NCAA high jump champion and six-time All-American in track and field who helped the Longhorns to the 2006 NCAA Indoor team title; Debbie (Risen) Hurwiz (Swimming, 1984-86, ’88), seven-time NCAA champion and 19-time All-American who led UT to four NCAA team titles; Charlotta Sorenstam (Golf, 1992-93), the 1993 NCAA individual national champion; and Tori (Trees) Smith (Swimming, 1984-87), six-time NCAA champion, 14-time All-American and 1984 U.S. Olympic team member who helped Texas to four consecutive NCAA team titles.
The 59th Men’s Hall of Honor class includes: Blake Brockermeyer (Football, 1992-94), first-team All-America offensive lineman in 1994; Brendan Hansen (Swimming, 2001-04), three-time Olympic gold medalist, former world record holder and 13-time NCAA champion who helped Texas to two NCAA team titles; Michael Huff (Football, 2002-05; Track & Field, 2005), UT’s first-ever Jim Thorpe Award winner and the Defensive MVP of the 2006 BCS Championship Game; and Vince Young (Football, 2003-05), winner of the 2005 Maxwell Award, Davey O’Brien Award and Manning Award while leading UT to the 2005 National Championship. Special selection Fred Akers (Football Head Coach, 1977-86; Football Assistant Coach, 1966-74) and vintage selections Larry Hardy (Baseball, 1968-70), David Kristynik (Football, 1959-61) and Randy Peschel (Football, 1966-69; Baseball, 1968-69) round out the men’s class.
The UT Women’s Athletics Hall of Honor was created in 2000. To be eligible for nomination, a former student-athlete must have completed her collegiate eligibility five years prior to the year of election. The UT Women’s Athletics Hall of Honor Selection Committee considers both a candidate’s contribution to the UT Athletics program and the candidate’s contributions to his/her community. A maximum of five former student-athletes and one additional non-athlete per year may be inducted into the Women’s Hall of Honor.
The Men’s Athletics Hall of Honor was founded in 1957. The governing body, the Longhorn Hall of Honor Council, is made up exclusively of men who have lettered at UT. Each year, a selection committee nominates 16 candidates whose names are distributed to the Hall of Honor Council. To be eligible for nomination, a letterman must have completed his eligibility 10 years prior to the year of election. The four honorees receiving a majority of votes are inducted. In addition, the Council can add a limited number of vintage or special selections to that year’s class.
The induction banquet for the 2015 women’s class is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 25. The luncheon ceremony will start at 11:30 a.m. in the Lone Star Room of the Frank Erwin Center. Tickets to the ceremony are $35 per person, and interested patrons may also sponsor a table of 10 for $450.
The banquet for the 2015 men’s class will be held later that same evening (Sept. 25). A social hour will begin at 6 p.m. with the dinner ceremony to start at 7 p.m. on the floor of the Erwin Center. Tickets to the ceremony are $75 per person, and interested patrons may also sponsor a table of 10 for $1,000.
Tickets will be made available to the general public on Aug. 24. Please check TexasSports.com for details.
The new members of the Hall will receive a special salute during the Texas Football game vs. Oklahoma State on Saturday, Sept. 26.
More on swimming Hall of Honor inductees:
Brendan Hansen is one of the University of Texas’ top swimmers in history, accomplishing the rare feat of completing an unbeaten winning streak in the 100- and 200-yard breaststrokes in collegiate competition. He wrapped his collegiate career in 2004 with American records in both breaststrokes, collecting eight individual NCAA titles. Hansen was equally impressive on the international level, winning six Olympic medals in 2004, 2008 and 2012 as well as four long course breaststroke world titles.
Tori (Trees) Smith was an integral part of the Texas women’s swim team, winning the 200 back NCAA title in 1985 and being a part of a national champion team from 1984 to 1987. She competed in the 1984 Olympic Games in the 200 backstroke, finishing fifth.
Debbie (Risen) Hurwiz won the 100 back NCAA title in 1985 and was part of the winning 200 freestyle relay the same year. She was also a part of the four consecutive NCAA team titles for Texas from 1984 to 1987.
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