GEORGETOWN, Texas – Southwestern University is honored to announce outfielder Will Cates and forward Annie Bourne as the 2015 Dr. Tex Kassen and Dr. Carla Lowry Male and Female Athletes of the Year for the 2014-15 academic year.

Will Cates, a junior outfielder from Cy Fair, Texas, led the Pirates in nearly every statistical category offensively. He posted a .391 batting average (66-for-169) with 10 doubles, eight triples, 36 RBIs, .425 on-base percentage, .633 slugging percentage and 31 stolen bases, all of which were team highs. His five home runs ranked second on the team, while he also drew eight walks.

Cates opened his junior campaign with a dominant performance against Howard Payne, going 3-for-4 from the plate with two home runs, two walks, two stolen bases, three RBIs and four runs scored. His performance earned him the first of two SCAC Hitter of the Week honors during the season.

A laundry list of postseason awards followed, including SCAC Offensive Player of the Year, DIII Baseball All-America Honorable Mention, and All-SCAC First Team. The honors did not just include his impressive resume on the field, his excellence in the classroom also was highlighted with CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team and CoSIDA Academic All-America Honorable Mention selections.

Annie Bourne, a senior forward from Dallas, Texas, finished her collegiate career on a high note by setting a new SCAC record for rebounds in a career (1178) and was named the SCAC Defensive Player of the Year. She averaged 11.4 points and 12.7 rebounds in 33 minutes per game, shooting 50.2 percent from the floor and 31.4 percent from three-point range. Bourne posted a team-high 14 double-doubles on the year with a season-high 21 rebounds against Texas Lutheran on February 20. Twice this season Bourne scored 21 points, first against Austin College on January 31 and again versus Schreiner on February 28. Bourne was the SCAC Player of the Week twice (Week 5, 12) and was named to the All-SCAC First Team, SCAC All-Tournament Team and D3hoops.com All-South Region Third Team. 

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 2015-16 academic year.

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