By Ryne Rickman, UT Martin Sports Information Director
DANBURY, Conn. – Kelby Kane, a senior on the University of Tennessee at Martin equestrian squad, was named the recipient of the 2021-22 Eastern College Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year award.
The distinguished accolade is given annually to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative Grade Point average on a top two team from the ECAC Championship. The student-athlete must be at least a sophomore in academic and athletic standing and in at least her second year of competition at her institution. Additionally, she must have competed at least once in either discipline at the ECAC Championship.
A biology major out of Lexington, Ky., Kane currently sports a perfect 4.0 GPA over 120 collegiate credit hours. She is a two-time Ohio Valley Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipient, earning that award during her freshman and sophomore seasons (she did not compete as a junior).
Kane was also an integral contributor in the arena this season, helping the Skyhawks go 7-2 against ECAC competition and advance to the ECAC Championship meet as the league’s No. 2 seed.
Kane was named ECAC Fences Rider of the Year and also accounted for a spot on the ECAC All-Fences team after topping UT Martin with 13 victories (in 16 opportunities), four MOP’s and an 82.1 regular season scoring average. She was also a valuable member of the Skyhawks’ flat lineup, leading the squad with four MOP’s while ranking second on the team in wins (eight) and regular season scoring average (78.4).
A four-time ECAC Fences Rider of the Week in 2021-22, Kane established new career-highs in scoring in both fences (88 points) and flat (88 points) during UT Martin’s victory over then-No. 3 SMU on Oct. 2.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information