2020 Hall of Fame Spotlight: Kelly Downey '05
PAXTON, MA – –Women’s basketball and soccer standout Kelly Downey ‘05 will be inducted into the Anna Maria College Athletic Department Hall of Fame as a member of the 2020 Hall of Fame Class on Saturday, March 25, 2023. The Hall of Fame ceremony for the 2020 class was postponed due to a weather postponement and then the COVID pandemic. This marks the 7th Hall of Fame class at Anna Maria, the Hall of Fame was founded in 1993. The five 2020 inductees will join the 26 current Hall of Fame Members which include athletes, coaches, administrators and staff. The Athletic Hall of Fame recognizes individuals who have distinguished themselves through their involvement in Anna Maria’s athletic program and who have demonstrated outstanding character, leadership, commitment, and sportsmanship.
"The Hall of Fame Committee, athletics department, and the college is excited to induct the 2020 Hall of Fame Class into the Anna Maria College Hall of Fame on March 25th. This class has waited over two years for this rightfully deserved honor. This group joins a great group of Hall of Fame members," commented Joe Brady '96, Director of Athletics. "I am excited to be a part of my first induction ceremony and this special occasion for these four outstanding individuals. We also look forward to celebrating Kelly's accomplishments in the fall."
Downey appears in the record book multiple times for both basketball and soccer. Her dominant soccer career includes six records: career points (162), career goals (71), points in a season (72), goals in a season (30), and career game winning goals (11) and season game winning goals (8). She is third all-time with 20 career assists. Downey helped the women’s soccer team to 37 wins in her four years, a 2001 Commonwealth Coast Conference regular season championship and to the 2000 TCCC conference championship game. Downey was named to the All-Conference First Team in 2000 and 2001, the All-Conference Second Team in 2002 and All-Conference Honorable Mention in 2004.
She finished her three-year basketball career with 909 career points (16th overall) and 395 rebounds (28th overall). She holds the fourth highest three-point field goal percentage at 33.2.
Downey graduated from St. Peter Marian in 2000. She is currently a Behavior Therapist in the Newtown Public Schools and is married to Roderick Payva. Kelly will be presented into the Hall of Fame by Paul Keating, her high school soccer coach.
“Kelly is that rare, talented athlete that is able to internalize her greatness and find motivation and inspiration from within to achieve success in everything she does and leads by example as well as word”, commented Keating.