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Previous Winners

GOLDEN, Colo. - The third annual Blaster Awards were held Monday, April 30 at Volk Gymnasium, honoring the best in Mines Athletics from the 2017-18 school year. Winners were announced in a dozen categories, with each nominated and voted on by Mines' head coaches, with the exception of the Community Impact Award, which was voted on by Mines SAAC.

Baseball and women's soccer were the night's biggest winners; baseball picked up Team of the Year, Most Improved, and Coaching Staff of the Year honors, while women's soccer earned two of the three women's individual major awards in the Female Player of the Year (Emily Garnier) and Academic Athlete of the Year (Jennifer Kendall). The winners and nominees were:
 

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MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Michael Glen (Men's Basketball)
Glen was named the RMAC Freshman of the Year after starting as a true freshman at forward for Mines, averaging 10.8 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks per game. He was also named Honorable Mention All-RMAC.

Also nominated: Weston Hunt (wrestling), Peyton Scherschel (men's swimming), Ryan Wilson (men's soccer), Luke Julian (men's track & field), Chris Clore (football), Gabe Garvens (baseball)

FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Lindsey Jin (Volleyball)
The AVCA Regional Freshman of the Year and AVCA Honorable Mention All-Region, Jin excelled for the RMAC champion volleyball team, earning First-Team All-RMAC status averaging a team-best 3.29 kills per set.

Also nominated: Gina Coleman (women's track & field), Megan Dickson (softball), Chaney Brugman (women's soccer)

COMPETITION OF THE YEAR - Men's Basketball vs. Fort Hays State (Nov. 17, 2017)
Down by 10 with 47 seconds left, Mines made an incredible comeback to beat Fort Hays State 109-101 in double overtime. Ben Sonnefeld hit three free throws with three seconds remaining at the end of regulation to force overtime; it took two extra periods before a 7-0 Mines run won it.

Also nominated: Football vs. Dixie State, Men's Cross Country at RMAC Championships, Men's Soccer vs. Colorado Mesa (RMAC Tournament Final), Wrestling vs. CSU-Pueblo, RMAC Indoor Track & Field Championships

SAAC COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD - Dallas Frisbie (Cross Country/Track & Field
Frisbie participated in numerous charitable projects over the past year to earn the SAAC Community Impact Award. Her volunteer work includes the Golden Farmers' Market, Student-Athlete Formal, and the Oredigger Club Board of Directors; she has also served or continues to serve roles working with Mines USG, SAAC, SAIL, and Team IMPACT, among others.

Also nominated: Jake Feldman (Wrestling) for his work with community service including the Helluva Service Event, Oredigger Camp, and many other causes and events

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Tyler Blomster (Baseball)
Blomster, a sophomore pitcher, injured his shoulder during the 2017 RMAC Tournament and did not pitch during the summer or fall. After missing all of non-conference play in 2018, he returned to be one of the RMAC's most dominant pitchers, going 6-0 with a 2.09 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 43 innings.

Also nominated: Mia Wood (Women's Swimming), Ian Kingsolver (Men's Swimming), Skyler Lykins (Wrestling), Logan Bock (Football)

MALE ACADEMIC ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Joe Popp (Baseball)
A mechanical engineering major with a 3.938 GPA, Popp was an RMAC First-Team All-Academic selection for baseball. At the plate, the junior has been an offensive force hitting .386 with 46 RBI, 10 home runs, and a .646 slugging percentage.

Also nominated: Zach Rusk (Men's Basketball), Cort Hanson (Men's Swimming), Noah Ottum (Wrestling), Jason Zobott (Men's Soccer), Alan Berry (Golf), Ben Schneiderman (XC/Track), Colin Peter (Football)

FEMALE ACADEMIC ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Jennifer Kendall (Women's Soccer)
Kendall was the RMAC Academic Player of the Year in soccer and was named a CoSIDA Third-Team Academic All-American with a 3.995 GPA in mechanical engineering. On the pitch the striker had a career year scoring nine goals and a team-best 20 points to be named First-Team All-RMAC.

Also nominated: Sarah Berude (Women's Swimming), Emily Bailey (Women's Basketball), Clara Larson (Softball), Molly Reicher (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field)

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - John Haist (Men's Soccer)
Haist had a historic season at striker for the RMAC double-champion men's soccer team, scoring 22 goals (tying the program record) and leading all divisions of college soccer with nine game-winning goals. The D2CCA First-Team All-American was the RMAC Player of the Year in leading Mines to the NCAA Sweet 16.

Also nominated: Luke Schroepfer (Men's Basketball), Sam Knott (Men's Swimming), Grant Colligan (Men's Cross Country/Track & Field), Connor McLean (Men's Track & Field), Cameron Mayberry (Football), Mikey Gangwish (Baseball)

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Emily Garnier (Women's Soccer)
The first woman to repeat as the Female Athlete of the Year, Garnier capped off an exceptional career with her third all-America honor in 2017. The center back led NCAA Division II with 15 assists - also a program record - and was named the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year and Colorado Sportswoman of the Year in college soccer.

Also nominated: Marina Hansen (Volleyball), Molly Reicher (Women's Cross Country/Track & Field), Mia Wood (Women's Swimming), Clara Larson (Softball)

MOST IMPROVED - Baseball
After a 32-22 season in 2017, baseball is currently on track to surpass that showing at 29-13 overall and 22-10 in conference play with a #2 regional ranking and the program's first-ever national ranking. 

Also nominated: Wrestling, Women's Basketball, Women's Cross Country, Men's Soccer, Men's Track & Field

COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR and TEAM OF THE YEAR - Baseball
Head coach Jerod Goodale and assistants Robby Bales, Mark Martinez, and Tyler Thomas have put baseball on the verge of history as they continue to battle for an RMAC title and the program's first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance. Mines is currently second in the region and a half-game out of first place in the RMAC.

Finalists for Coaching Staff of the Year: Cross Country, Men's Soccer, Track & Field, Women's Soccer
Finalists for Team of the Year: Men's Cross Country, Men's Soccer, Men's Track & Field, Women's Soccer, Volleyball