Kelsey Horton has long mastered the art of balancing academics and sports, all while staying involved in her community.
It was something she did during her time as a two-sport athlete at Durant High School and something she has continued to do through her senior season as an outfielder for the University of Florida softball team.
Because of her efforts, Horton is one of 10 finalists for softball for the 2013 Senior CLASS Award, a national competition managed by Premier Sports Management that honors the attributes of NCAA Division I senior student-athletes who excel in four areas: community, classroom, character and competition. An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Senior CLASS Award is designed exclusively for college seniors in their final year of eligibility.
“I’m very honored and happy to be a finalist for this award,” Horton said. “There have been a couple other girls here at UF that have gone to the finalist stage, so to be in the same category as them is a great honor.”
Candidates are selected in 10 NCAA sports by coaches, national media and fans. Horton was one of 30 candidates for softball, before the field was narrowed to 10 finalists.
The Senior CLASS Award winner will be announced during the 2013 Women’s College World Series May 30 through June 5, in Oklahoma City. Fans can vote for their favorites on seniorclassaward.com or the award Facebook page through May 13.
TEAM LEADER
A 2009 graduate of Durant, Horton was a part of three district championships and helped to lead her team to the Class 6A state championship game in 2008, when she earned all-state honors as a junior.
“I haven’t had the chance to come back and see any games because it’s during our season. But I know they won state last year and that was really exciting to hear,” she said.
Current Durant head softball coach Matt Carter, who coached that 2008 runner-up team, said she was a great player and an even better person.
“She was a social kid and had good morals and a good personality,” Carter said. “We enjoyed having her and we’re proud of what she’s doing.”
With the Florida Gators, Horton made the 2010 SEC All-Freshman Team and the All-SEC and NFCA All-Southeast Region Second Team in 2012.
As a senior, she has started in right field for the majority of the season and is batting .298 with 29 RBIs. Her eight home runs this season rank best on the team. The Gators are having a great year with a 45-5 record and are 14-4 in conference play.
“This team is different from any other team I’ve been on at Florida,” Horton said. “The team chemistry is great, and it’s a fun group of girls to be around.”
With just a month left in her playing career, Horton said she is trying to “make the most of it.” She started playing slow pitch when she was just 5 years old.
“It’s crazy to think that it’s almost over, but I’m just trying to take it all in,” she said. “I just want to have a good rest of the season and finish out strong. I always knew that softball had to end at some point, and I’m just excited to begin the next chapter in my life.”
OFF-THE-FIELD SUCCESS
That next chapter will be pharmacy school at Auburn University.
“I fell in love with Auburn, the campus and the program there,” she said. “I will always be a Gator fan, though.”
Horton’s accolades off the diamond are as impressive as her success on the field. A nutritional science major currently holding a 3.75 GPA, she has made the SEC Academic Honor Roll in 2010, 2011 and 2012, and was a Capital One Academic All-District 3 in 2011 and an All-American in 2012. She was also a NFCA All-America Scholar-Athlete in 2012.
At Durant, Horton was an All-Academic Athlete in volleyball and softball for three years.
“Academics have always been very important to me since high school, and I’ve just tried to work hard these last four years in the classroom,” she said.
Furthermore, Horton has remained active in community service. She volunteers with the March of Dimes and helps with the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children with pediatric brain tumors. The Gators softball team has adopted one of the children this season as part of the Jaclyn’s Guardian Angels campaign.
“The kids get to come to our games and feel like they’re a part of the team,” Horton said. “It’s a great experience.”
Horton was a 2011-12 SAAC Softball Representative, the 2012-13 UF SAAC Vice President and a member of the 2012 SEC Community Service Team.
As a member of the Goodwill Gators, Horton does various public outreach efforts in Gainesville, including visiting elementary schools.
Horton said she doesn’t know much about the Senior CLASS Award. The Gators softball team has a “no social media” policy, so she hasn’t been active in campaigning efforts, but said it would be an honor to win.
“All my teammates on the team have been really supportive and remind me about it,” she said. “I have played against some of the finalists and know that there are some great athletes I’m going up against. So that’s humbling.”
Contact Matt Mauney at mmauney@plantcityobserver.com.
VOTE
To vote for Kelsey, visit seniorclassaward.com/athletes/kelsey_horton. Voting ends May 13.