For the second time in her career, senior Kytra Hunter of the University of Florida has won the Honda Sports Award for for gymnastics, singling her out as the premier collegiate gymnast in the nation. Hendrick Honda in Bradenton congratulates Ms. Hunter and thanks her for magnificently representing Florida on the national stage.
The Honda Sports Award is one of a variety of prestigious awards given as part of the Collegiate Women Sports Awards Program (“CWSA”), now in its 39th year. Chris Voelz, Executive Director of the CWSA, announced her win on May 1, 2015. Ms. Hunter responded to the announcement with pleasure, stating, “What a wonderful surprise to such an amazing season. The Honda Award is so special to women’s collegiate athletics and I am so honored to receive it on behalf of the University of Florida. I’d like to thank my teammates, coaches and all who cheered the Gators because their support means so much. It has been a privilege representing the University of Florida as a Gator gymnast.” University of Florida gymnasts have claimed this award three of the last four years, as Ms. Hunter also received the award as a freshman in 2012, and Gator Bridget Sloan won the award in 2013.
This award is the latest honor in Ms. Hunter’s exceptional career. Ms. Hunter’s performances earned both individual and team accolades, as the University of Florida won its third straight National Championship title in 2015. She is one of five gymnasts in SEC Championship history to win at least one league event title each season of her career, winning a UF career record of seven SEC events. Just in 2015, Ms. Hunter won a number of titles, including the NCAA floor exercise title, SEC Gymnast of the Year, National Association of Collegiate Coaches/Women Southeast Region Gymnast of the Year, and Four All-America Honors. She finished her collegiate career with UF records for career floor (32) and vault (21) wins, and third all-time among Gators in event (83) and all-around (21) wins.
Each year Honda honors the top collegiate female athlete in 12 different NCAA-sanctioned sports with the Honda Sports Award. Each Honda Sports Award winner excels not only in athletic skills, but also in leadership, academic excellence and eagerness to participate in community service. A vote by administrators from over 1,000 NCAA member schools selected Ms. Hunter as the gymnastics winner. Honda Sports Awards also recognize female athletes who compete in basketball, cross country, field hockey, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, volleyball and other sports. Ms. Hunter and the other 11 winners were finalists for the 2015 Honda Cup, presented to the nation’s Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year.
American Honda Motor Co., Inc., sponsor of the Honda Sports Award, donates $5,000 to each Honda Sports Award recipient school and $1,000 to each nominee school. Honda began sponsorship of this Collegiate Women Sports Award in 1986, and has since provided more than $3.0 million in institutional grants to support women’s athletics programs. Hendrick Honda in Bradenton, Florida congratulates the University of Florida and its two-time Honda Sports Award-winner, Kytra Hunter.
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