Good morning. The Diamond Hogs are a day away from hosting the Fayetteville Regional, and a new month brings championship track and field to the forefront. We’ve got some well deserved honors to give out this Thursday morning.

Now, what else did we mix into today’s Brew?

🎥 Face-to-Face with Hunter Holland
🏃‍♂️ Jaydon Hibbert’s dominance
🐗 And so much more!

🎙️ HOG POD: HUNTER HOLLAND

Nerves ain’t got nothing on Hunter Holland. Weekends at Baum-Walker is the exact stage the junior gets pumped for. Learn Hunter’s long journey to get to Arkansas, and how he became a random pitch generator for the Razorback baseball team in this episode of the Hog Pod.

🎥 FROM THE TOP OF THE HILL

Hogs+ senior contributor Clay Henry sits down with hitting coach Nate Thompson as the Razorbacks prepare to host their first opponent in their regional - Santa Clara. Plus, hear how Jared Wegner and Tavian Josenberger are recovering from injuries and trying to find their stride.

📈 STOCK UP

🔺 Four For Five. The month of June brings the conclusion to the track and field season, and Arkansas is entertaining championship week with plenty of momentum. The Hogs totaled five SEC Outdoor honors based on voting by the league coaches.

• Coach of the Year: Chris Bucknam — This is Coach Bucknam’s eighth honor during the outdoor season to go along with 10 in cross country and 12 during the indoor season.

• Field Athlete of the Year & Freshman Field Athlete of the Year: Jaydon Hibbert — Jaydon becomes the first freshman to claim both field event honors since Mondo Duplantis of LSU in 2019. The previous Razorback to sweep both awards was pole vaulter Andrew Irwin in 2009. 

• Co-Freshman Runner of the Year: Ben Shearer — Ben becomes the first Razorback to be named Freshman Runner of the Year since sprinter Kenzo Cotton in 2015.

• Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Ayden Owens-Delerme — Awarded the honor back during SEC Championship week, Ayden became the eighth Razorback to claim SEC Outdoor Scholar-Athlete of the Year for a total of 10 honors since it was first awarded in 2004.

🔺 Staying Outside. In his final season coaching Razorback women’s track, Lance Harter earned his 46th overall SEC Coach of the Year honor, and 10th during the outdoors season. It certainly helps when athletes like Britton Wilson are running in your colors. Britton was named the SEC Runner of the Year for the second consecutive outdoor season. The junior from Henrico, VA repeated her unique double victory in the 400m and 400m hurdles from last year’s SEC meet and defended her titles in record fashion as she delivered a world best same day double.

A 9-Time NCAA Coach of the Year, 46-Time SEC Coach of the Year and inductee to the USTFCCCA Coaches Hall of Fame, Coach Harter announced in November 2021 that he would retire following the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships this month. Hogs+ is ready to celebrate the legacy of Lance Harter with the original documentary “Why Not You? - The Lance Harter Legacy” premiering next Tuesday, June 6. Check out the trailer here.

🔺 For Your Consideration. Two of Arkansas softball’s best received worthy recognition from the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Slugger Rylin Hedgecock was earned NFCA First Team All-American status, while ace pitcher Chenise Delce got the nod for Second Team status. It marks the third consecutive season multiple Razorbacks have been named to All-America teams, and Chenise is the program’s first pitcher and one of two Razorbacks to be distinguished as a two-time All-American, joining Danielle Gibson who was selected to All-America squads in 2021 and 2022.

🔺 Timing Is Everything. Kickoff times for Arkansas football’s first three games have been announced.

First, the Razorbacks will begin the 2023 season with their first meeting against Western Carolina at 3pm on Saturday, September 2.

The Hogs will then come home to Razorback Stadium to face Kent State at 3pm on Sept. 9, and BYU on Sept. 16. for a 6:30pm tilt. It’ll be the first time the Golden Eagles ever play the Hogs, and Cougars’ first-ever trip to Fayetteville.

🎧 THE RAZORBACK DAILY

Field work. As regional weekend approaches, we’re helping you get to know the teams coming to Fayetteville. And we’ve got game times for the first three Razorback football games this fall.

📬 STAY WITH US

Did someone forward you the Razorback Brew? Well, the first thing you should do is thank them. The next think you should do is subscribe below and get it in your inbox every weekday morning just in time for your first cup of coffee.

📅 THE WEEK AHEAD

Thursday 6/1:

No scheduled events

Friday 6/2:

⚾️ Baseball vs. Santa Clara in Fayetteville Regional @ 2:00pm on ESPN Plus

Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here!

And feel free to read our Privacy Policy