ANDERSON, S.C. -- A tradition within the Anderson University Athletics Department, the annual Athletic Honors Night was celebrated in the Student Center Theater on campus on Wednesday, April 24. In addition to recognizing the seniors from each program, Student-Athlete Advisory Committee members, Chi Alpha Sigma inductees, and each teams Trojan Award winners, the department recognized four major awards that were given out this evening, including Male and Female Scholar Athlete of the Year as well as the Male and Female Athletes of the Year.
MALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Ty Nelson, Cross Country/Track & Field
Ty Nelson, a member of the men's cross country/track and field team and native of Moore, S.C. carries a 3.92 GPA in General Engineering and Math with a minor in Business.
Ty has been an active participant in community service and leadership activities, most recently serving two days a week at Hope Missions Homeless Shelter.
During the fall cross country season, Ty broke personal records in both the 8k and 10k. He had a fourth place finish out of 183 athletes at Converse and a 7th place finish out of 75 athletes at the NCAA DII Regional preview.
During the track season, Ty recorded personal records in the 3k, 5k, 8k, and 10k and won the men's distance medley relay with his teammates at the South Carolina Invitational.
FEMALE SCHOLAR ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Laken Maxwell, Softball
Laken Maxwell a native of Bowden, Ga. has finished her senior year posting a 3.78 GPA. Laken will graduate early May with her degree in Kinesiology and plans to continue her education here at AU enrolling in the Anderson University Doctorate Physical Therapy Program.
Laken has been an active participant in the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, engaging in several community service and leadership activities within the organization, most notably Make-A-Wish. The senior hurler, has been a Bible study leader for the softball team and has also volunteered at Morningside of Anderson Nursing Home, the Good Neighbor Cupboard, Calhoun Academy of the Arts, several Physical Therapy clinics, with the United Way Snack Pack program , as well as with several other organizations in her hometown.
Laken is closing out another tremendous season. The three-time SAC Pitcher of the Week, has amassed 225 total strikeouts, which leads the SAC and ranks tied for fifth in the NCAA. Laken ranks number two in the nation with an impressive 12.1 K's per seven innings pitched and ranks tied for second in the conference for total wins, with 16.
MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Elliot Dotson, Cross Country/Track & Field
Elliot Dotson, an impressive member of the men's Track and Field team and sophomore from Greenville, S.C., earned All-Region in three Indoor events…the men's distance medley relay, the 800 and the mile.
Elliot and teammates won the distance medley race at the SAC Indoor Championships with a meet record-breaking time of 10 minutes and 16 seconds.
Elliot ran the fastest 800 in the SAC this season and the second fastest time in AU history with a time of 1 minute 53 seconds.
In our home meet a couple of weeks ago, Elliot placed second in the Elite mile race with an NCAA qualifying time of 4 minutes and five seconds.
Less than a week ago, Elliot competed at the Wake Forest Invitational, posting another program-record breaking time of 3 minutes, 47 seconds and 51 one hundredths in the 1500-meter race.
FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Diamond McDowell, Women's Basketball
Diamond was a 4-time South Atlantic Conference Player of the Week, selected to the SAC First Team, Earned D2CCA All-Southeast Regional First Team and was Honorable Mention WBCA All-America.
The native of Asheboro, N.C., ranked top-30 in multiple categories with the NCAA stats with a 7th place ranking in season double-doubles with 17.
The 6-2 forward, averaged 16.9 points per game, 10.1 rebounds per game, 2.9 and 1.7 blocks per game. Diamond scored a career-high 40 points in just 30 minutes of action in AU's final regular season game while pulling down 13 rebounds.
During this past season, Diamond reached the 1000-point career milestone. She has moved up the AU All-time career list and now ranks third in defensive rebounds, fourth in total rebounds, fifth in offensive rebounds and sixth in blocked shots with still an entire season to go.
