GEORGETOWN, TEXAS - The Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference recently announced two Southwestern athletes earned finalist positions for the 2025 Man and Woman of the Year. Men's Soccer graduate Michael Grimm and Women's Track and Field graduate Arden Neff were selected as one of five finalists among the men and one of six among the women.

The award recognizes the conference's senior student-athlete who has best distinguished themselves throughout their collegiate career in the areas of academic achievement, athletic excellence and service and leadership. The award will be announced at the end of the month. 

Grimm served as the team captain for a successful 2024 Pirates team who finished 11-3-4, totaling the most wins since 2018. The forward racked up career-highs in goals (6), assists (8), and points (20). He's made a strong impact since the day he stepped on campus starting in 64 games with 38 total points. The accolades piled up in his senior season earning First Team All-SCAC, Second Team All-Region, Academic All-District, Academic All-American, and Southwestern University's Dr. Tex Kassen Male Athlete of the Year. 

Neff shined on the track earning multiple program firsts in her final season. She broke school records in the 200M (26.46) and the 400M (1:00.63) events. The crowning jewel was becoming the first Pirate Track and Field athlete ever to earn All-American status, finishing seventh in the 400-Meter Hurdles on the national stage. She also became the first women's track athlete to earn SCAC Women's Track Athlete of the Year. Neff took care of business in the classroom as well, capturing the coveted Elite 19 Award. Other significant accolades for Neff included winning the 400 Hurdles event at the conference meet, along with being named All-Region and Southwestern's Dr. Carla Lowry Female Athlete of the Year. 

The women's finalists included: Kenedie Lane of Austin College, Viviana Rivero of Centenary College, Healy Bledsoe of Colorado College, Linzee Leal of Texas Lutheran Univeristy, Michaela Bosco of Trinity University, and Neff. The men's class included: Brady Dygert of Austin College, Curtis Hale of Colorado College, Jack Manke of Texas Lutheran University, JonConnor Rule of Trinity University, and Grimm.