The female student-athlete of the year award recognizes a standout sophomore, junior, or senior student-athlete who has demonstrated outstanding athletic achievement on the field of play. Must be a student-athlete who maintains a GPA of 2.5 of above.
This year's nominees are:
Sophia Carter (GYM)
- Finished the regular season ranked 11th in the country on the floor, ranked sixth among SEC gymnasts, scoring no lower than a 9.875 on the floor all season, anchored every meet on Floor in 2020.
- Claimed event titles eight times throughout the 2020 season to bring her career total to 24
- Competed balance beam and floor in every meet in 2020, recorded a season high 9.925 on the beam in back-to-back meets at Missouri
- Earned SEC Specialist of the Week after her beam performance vs. the Bulldogs – helped Arkansas to a season-best 49.275 in the event, the second Razorback in program history to be named the SEC Specialist of the Week (1/30/18), the first Razorback in program history to earn the award twice (2/11/20).
- Second consecutive year with Regular Season All-America status by the WCGA – only one of three Razorbacks to achieve the honor in multiple seasons.
- Anna was named 2020 SEC Scholar Athlete of the year. On top of winning medals in all her events at the 2020 SEC Championships (50 free, 100 free, 200 free).
- She currently holds the top times in Arkansas program history in the 50 free (21.19), 100 free (46.20), 200 free (1:42.35) and 100 fly (52.31)
- Anna is a 2020 CSCAA All-American in five events: 50, 100 & 200 free, 200 free relay & 400 free relay.
- SEC Indoor Runner of the Year.
- Won 3,000m and 5,000m titles at SEC Indoor.
- Broke 30-year-old SEC Indoor 5,000m record, ran second-fastest winning time in 3,000m.
- Broke school record in 5,000m with a time that ranks No. 2 on all-time collegiate list.
- Earned All-America and All-Academic honors in cross country and was SEC individual champion.
- Finished third in NCAA race, leading Arkansas to first-ever national title in cross country.
- Class of 2020 Honda Sport Award for Cross Country finalist.
- The WBCA Regional All-American Finalist averaged career-highs across the board, pouring in 16.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.6 steals per game, all while shooting 42.3 percent from the field and 40.4 percent from three.
- Tolefree was even better in conference play, averaging 18.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.8 steals per game, shooting the ball at a 41.6 percent clip from the field and at a 38.9 percent clip from deep on her way to First-Team All-SEC Honors.
- Tolefree led the team in scoring and in steals in SEC play, and her scoring average in conference only games was the third best mark in the league.
- Made a start in all 23 games during the season and anchored a defense that ranked second in the conference in goals-against-average (.466 – seventh nationally) and shutout percentage (.565).
- Had a goal in Arkansas’ win over Ole Miss on Oct. 3 and dished out an assist against Minnesota on 8/29.
- Joined Anna Podojil to become the first United Soccer Coaches All-Americans in school history. All-Southeast Region First Team. First SEC Defensive Player of the Year in program history. Just the third Razorback in school history to be named All-SEC First Team in back-to-back seasons. SEC Defender of the Week (9/16). Member of the MAC Hermann Watch List.