Whiston sisters, with local tie, earn All-SEC honors
Perhaps Waverly Whiston’s positive experiences working at and playing the golf course at Fox Den Country Club has enhanced her overall positive experience as a University of Tennessee student-athlete.
Whatever happened, little sister Nicole Whiston must have been impressed, following Waverly to UT — all the way from San Diego — to create a sibling pair on the UT Lady Vols Golf Team during the 2019-2020 season.
Both enjoyed much success, earning All-SEC awards, the league office recently announced.
Waverly, a junior, was named to the All-SEC Community Service Team. A SAAC representative, she spent time during the year working and teaching at the women’s team’s golf clinic and participated in the team’s pen pal program.
She also participated in a Christmas gift program, adopting a child at Christmas and providing that child with presents.
“Waverly is very deserving of the All-SEC Community Service Team honor,” UT head coach Judi Pavon said. “She always looks forward to representing Tennessee and the golf team in the community and helps out when she has an opportunity.”
On the course, Waverly ranks eighth all-time in UT history in career stroke average at 74.53.
Nicole, a freshman, was named Second Team All-SEC and earned a spot on the All-Freshman SEC team. She is just the third Lady Vol to be named All-SEC First or Second Team and earn All-Freshman honors in the same season,
Despite a shortened season, Nicole had the second lowest single-season average in Lady Vol history at 72.21, while her 13 rounds of par or better ranked eighth all-time in program history.
She is one of three Lady Vols to compete in all eight tournaments during the 2019-20 campaign, placing in the top 25 seven times highlighted by a career-best fifth-place outing at the Illini Invitational.
“I’m excited for Nicole being named to the All-SEC second team and All-Freshman team,” head coach Judi Pavon said. “She had a great freshman season, only finishing out of the top 25 one time. I know she was disappointed to not play in the postseason and test herself against the best players in the conference and the country, but she has a lot more golf ahead of her. She is a great competitor and I’m looking forward to seeing what she accomplishes in the future.”
