GEORGETOWN, Texas - In Southwestern University campus-wide voting, seniors Madison Edwards and Nik Kelly have been selected as the 2017-18 male and female Pirate Anchor Award winners. The award was presented at the annual Southwestern University Leadership Banquet Wednesday night.
Other finalists for the 2018 Pirate Anchor Award were Peter Robinson (swimming), Tyler Adams (track & field), Kate Mitchell (volleyball) and Angelica Grayson (women's soccer).
The Anchor Award symbolizes the individual(s) who keeps the seas calm in times of turmoil and strife and is presented annually by the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (SAAC) to the male and female athlete who best display a number of traits that embody the spirit and character of the SU community. The winners are voted on by any members of the Southwestern student body, faculty and staff.
Click here to view the past Anchor Award recepients
Kelly was an All-American, All-Region and All-ASC selection in his final season. He wraped up an illustrious career as one of the top pass defenders in the entire nation among all divisions. Kelly finished his career with 58 passes defended, good for first in all divisions in a four year career, and 17 interceptions, good for second.
Kelly was second in the ASC in passes defended with 14 and interceptions with four. Kelly finished with 41 tackles including four tackles for loss. Kelly finished 12th in the nation in passes defended per game at 1.8 as he finished with a total of 18 pass breakups. Kelly had two or more breakups in five games this season including two separate games with three.
Kelly was also a danger in returning kicks where he also earned honorable mention honors. He had 33 kick returns averaging 22.6 yards/return and a long of 55 yards. He also had 11 punt returns for 80 yards.
Edwards, a senior out of Fort Worth, played in all 28 games averaged 7.8 pts/gm while shooting 35% from behind the arc. She was tops on the team in assist-to-turnover ratio at 1.1 for the season.
Edwards really came on strong towards the end of the season, scoring in double figures in seven of her last eight contests after only scoring in double figures three times in 20 games. On February 3rd against Trinity, Edwards went for 17 points including three 3-pointers. She also scored 10 points in the fourth quarter in an overtime upset in the SCAC Semifinals of Austin College.
Edwards earned a spot on the SCAC All-Tournament Team after averaging 11.3 points during the SCAC Championships including 6 of 13 from behind the arc.