Reese Atwood earns player of the year award as Texas dominates Big 12 softball awards

Prior to Wednesday’s practice, the Texas softball team had a surprise film session on the big screen that stands over centerfield at McCombs Field.

The star of the show? Sophomore catcher Reese Atwood, who’s reveal as the Big 12’s player of the year highlighted a slide presentation of all the conference postseason awards for the regular-season champs.

Atwood, who set single-season school records for home runs (21) and RBIs (83), also hit .433 while serving as the offensive centerpiece for a Texas team that went 45-6 and rose to a unanimous No. 1 ranking in every collegiate poll.  She joins Amy Hooks (2011) and Taylor Thom (2014) as the only Longhorns to win the award.

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“Just super grateful for this opportunity to be able to be named something as high as like the Big 12 player of the year,” Atwood said. “I think that's just a great honor, and to be able to have my teammates out here, and being able to celebrate their awards, too, it’s special.”

Those teammates include Teagan Kavan, the Big 12’s freshman of the year. The pitcher from Iowa led Texas in wins (16), innings pitched (97.1), strikeouts (99) and surprises, based on her reaction to the unveiling of the awards.

“They said that they found something in film and they were going to show us on the screen,” she said with a smile. “So I had no idea.”

While she was honored by the recognition from the Big 12 coaches, Kavan said Atwood’s award proved especially rewarding for the team.

“I think we all knew that was going to happen, but it was so cool to see just all her hard work pay off,” said Kavan, who is also the first Texas freshman to be selected as a first-team, All-Big 12 player since Erica Wright in 2015. “Reese is the hardest worker on the team, I would say, and it's just really cool to see her succeed.”

Mike White became the first Texas coach honored as the Big 12 coach of the year since Connie Clark in 2010.  

“It's more of a staff award, actually,” he said, deflecting praise. “My staff has been fantastic this year. As far as the players, this is just this great recognition for all their hard work, and I'm pleased for them.”

Pitcher Citlaly Gutierrez, outfielder Ashton Maloney and infielder Mia Scott joined Atwood and Kavan on the first team as Texas tied Oklahoma for most first-team selections. Outfielder Kayden Henry, shortstop Vivi Martinez and utility player Katie Stewart were selected as All-Big 12 second-team members. Henry, Kavan and Stewart were all unanimous freshman-team selections as well. 

The five first-team selections for the program this season are the most in a single season since the 2012 team had a program-best five members honored.