GEORGETOWN, Texas – Southwestern University is honored to announce men's golfer Jordan Cowart and women's cross country and track & field athlete Lilly Duarte as the 2014 Dr. Tex Kassen and Dr. Carla Lowry Male and Female Athletes of the Year for the 2013-14 academic year.

Cowart, a junior from Austin, Texas, made a splash on the national stage this year. Cowart led the Pirates to their best ever finish at the NCAA Championships, 11^th place, and ended the tournament tied for third overall. He carded a +2 for the tournament for a total of 290. He was named Second Team All-America as he finished just outside the top 10 in just two of nine tournaments.

At the 2014 SCAC Championships, Cowart earned First Team All-SCAC honors after finishing tied for second place overall with 218 strokes, setting a new SU record for lowest score at a 56 hole championship.

Cowart's post season honors continued as he was a GCAA All-West Region selection and All-American Scholar as he finished the year in fourth in Division III in the individual Golfstat rankings. His 73.91 scoring average is first all-time for Southwestern.

"Jordan is a valued member of the men's golf team and naturally took on the team captain role," says Coach Dan Ruyle. "He had a great year for us and was one of the top players in the country all year. His success is a culmination of all the hard work he has put in since his first day on campus."

Duarte, a senior from Streetman, Texas, had a sensational final season with the Pirates. In the fall, Duarte earned a spot in the NCAA Championships, just the second female Southwestern runner to accomplish this feat. She was an All-SCAC selection after finishing in eighth place with a time of 23:23.4 and earned All South/Southeast Region honors with a ninth place finish at Regionals.

On the track, Duarte won the 1500 at the SCAC Championships and was second in the 800.

Duarte has the fastest time in school history in the 5K and 6K for cross country, setting both marks this fall, and also holds the SU record in the 800 and 1500. She was also a member of the Southwestern record holding 4x4 relay team.

Duarte's success continued into the classroom as she was a member of the SCAC Academic Honor Roll and South/Southeast Region All-Academic Team with a 3.89 GPA while majoring in physics. Duarte was named the SCAC Woman of the Year, was a nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year and named the SCAC Pirate Anchor Award winner this past academic year.

"Lilly is an accomplished student and athlete and epitomizes the SU motto of 'Engaging Minds. Changing Lives'," said Coach Francie Larrieu Smith.

Drs. Kassen and Lowry are former Directors of Athletics who were advocates for all student-athletes.  They expected excellence from all student-athletes who participated wearing the Southwestern uniform.  They had great respect for those who worked hard, were exceptional performers and those that exemplified great sportsmanship.

The two student-athletes will be honored and receive their awards at a sporting event during the 2013-14 academic year.

Please click here to view past winners of the Kassen/Lowry Award.