Mines Athletics Celebrates 2022 Blaster Awards

GOLDEN, Colo - Colorado School of Mines Athletics celebrated the seventh annual Blaster Awards on the evening of Tuesday, May 3, at Volk Gym on Mines' campus. For the first time in three years, the Orediggers celebrated the best of Mines Athletics in person with winners announced and honored in 14 categories. There were more than 60 individual nominations in 12 categories and two other awards honoring team and coaching staff accomplishments. Mines head coaches nominated and voted on 11 of the awards while the Community Impact Award was voted on by the Mines Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and the Iron Digger Awards were selected by the Mines strength and conditioning staff.

The 2021-22 school year marked a near return to normal and the Orediggers thrived across the board. Among the notable successes were a total of five RMAC titles, two NCAA Regional crowns and a run to the NCAA National Semifinals. Multiple awards came down to the final votes, but the night's big winner was Mines football leading the way with four different awards including Team of the Year, Coaching Staff of the Year, Male Athlete of the Year and co-SAAC Community Impact honors. It marked the first time in the history of the Blaster Awards that football won Team of the Year. Wrestling, women's cross country and track & field, men's soccer, and women's basketball all claimed multiple awards as well. Overall, nine different teams were represented with Blaster Award distinction. 

The winners are featured below. Fans can view all nominees for each category HERE.

Female Rookie of the Year

Awarded to an outstanding female athlete who is in their first year of eligibility (either true freshman or redshirt freshman). Transfers are not eligible unless they are a redshirt freshman.

Reese McDermott - Women's Soccer

Reese McDermott is the second women's soccer player to win Female Rookie of the Year but the first since Acacia Ortiz won the inaugural honor in 2016. McDermott won 2021 RMAC Freshman of the Year along with First-Team All-RMAC and Second-Team All-Region distinction. She claimed the accolades by leading the Orediggers with eight goals and two assists - all as a true freshman.

Male Rookie of the Year

Awarded to an outstanding male athlete who is in their first year of eligibility (either true freshman or redshirt freshman). Transfers are not eligible unless they are a redshirt freshman.

Grayston DiBlasi - Wrestling

Grayston DiBlasi became the first Oredigger wrestler to ever win Male Rookie of the Year at the Blaster Awards. As a true freshman, DiBlasi was a NCAA qualifier at 141 pounds - the first Mines freshman to go to the national meet since 2013. He finished First-Team All-RMAC thanks to a 26-7 record while leading the Oreidggers in wins and falls (10). DiBlasi also won the Doug Moses Open and finished top-three at four different tournaments.

Female Academic Athlete of the Year

Awarded to the most outstanding female scholar-athlete, with a combination of athletic and academic achievement taken into consideration. 

Zoe Baker - Women's Cross Country / Track & Field

After breaking through as Female Academic Athlete of the Year in 2021, Zoe Baker defended her Blaster Award crown and joined a list of repeat winners in the category including Taryn Huber (VB) in 2016 and 2017, and Jennifer Kendall (WSOC) in 2018 and 2019. Baker's resume for the accolade included her second straight NCAA Elite 90 honor for indoor track & field, two RMAC Academic Athlete of the Year awards, two RMAC Summit Awards and three USTFCCCA All-America honors across cross country and indoor track & field. Additionally, Baker rolled into the 2022 Blaster Awards ranked #6 in the nation in the 10K, #17 in the outdoor 5K and #53 in the 1,500m.

Male Academic Athlete of the Year

Awarded to the most outstanding male scholar-athlete, with a combination of athletic and academic achievement taken into consideration. 

Patrick Allan - Men's Soccer

Patrick Allan gave Mines men's soccer it's second Male Academic Athlete of the Year winner. The first was Richard Garvey who brought home the inaugural honor in 2016. Allan won the award as a CoSIDA First-Team Academic All-American along with United Soccer Coaches' Scholar All-America distinction. On the field, the Minnesota native and two-time Mines graduate was named United Soccer Coaches' and D2CCA Second-Team All-Region after claiming First-Team All-RMAC honors. He started 17 matches for the Orediggers and played 1,461 minutes on the way to eight shutouts and the men's fifth straight RMAC title.

Comeback Player of the Year

Awarded to an athlete, male or female, who overcame injury, illness, or other adversity, to perform at a high level this season

Tyler Blomster - Baseball

Tyler Blomster made the case to have this award named after him as he brought it home for the second time in his illustrious Oredigger career. As the embodiment of resilience, Blomster through he had started his senior season in 2020, but it was cut short by COVID-19. He eventually underwent reconstructive elbow surgery (Tommy John) and sat out the 2021 season. In 2022 he has returned and become the RMAC's all-time leader in wins and strikeouts. As of May 3, Blomster is 7-2 with a 2.50 ERA and one save thanks to 60 strikeouts in 68.1 innings and 11 appearances. He has also tossed three complete games including two shutouts.

SAAC Community Impact Award

The SAAC Community Impact award is voted upon by the membership of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee to recognize the outstanding community service by either one student-athlete, a group, or a team. 

Julia Eiken - Volleyball / Sean Roberts - Football

For the first time in the history of the Blaster Awards, the voting for the SAAC Community Impact Award ended in a tie. Julia Eiken became the second volleyball player honored for her work in the community after Delaney Duis earned the honor in 2020. Sean Roberts is the first football player to ever earn the distinction.

Eiken served as the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory community while overseeing four community chairs and working as a liaison of athletics community to campus. She spearheaded multiple athletics and campus activities and also appeared as a speaker at Convocation Fall 2021. As a leader in community service events, Eiken also organized the Welcome BBQ last fall for all athletes with an estimated attendance surpassing 400 participants. She filled the same role for the Athlete Formal in April which she lead and organized as well.

Roberts set up and continues to run a non-profit called Campus Grocer. Not only does it help provide Mines student-athletes with reduced-cost groceries, it also provides help to numerous underserved populations across the Denver-metro area. The money generated through Campus Grocer has helped provide payments for cancer treatment, created job placement for the homeless population, helped at-risk youth and also generated over 3,000 pounds of food given to families in need.

Female Oredigger Excellence Award

Awarded to a female senior who has completed their eligibility and has distinguished themselves in an outstanding manner in achievement, leadership, and school spirit over the course of their Mines careers.

Courtney Stanton - Women's Basketball

Courtney Stanton became the third winner ever of the Female Oredigger Excellence Award since its inception in 2020. She's the first women's basketball player to earn the honor. In a statement from Head Coach Brittany Simpson, “Courtney has been a 3 year captain for us and has really been a fantastic leader on and off the court. Her consistency within her leadership throughout this season was huge part of our success. Not only did she have a huge impact on our season this year, but Courtney is always out supporting the other student athletes. She really embraces what it means to be an Oredigger with her leadership and commitment to Mines.”

Male Oredigger Excellence Award

Awarded to a male senior who has completed their eligibility and has distinguished themselves in an outstanding manner in achievement, leadership, and school spirit over the course of their Mines careers.

George Marchant - Men's Soccer

Just like the women's side, George Marchant is the third-ever winner of the Male Oredigger Excellence Award, but in contrast, he is the second consecutive individual from the men's soccer program to claim the honor. Ryan Wilson was the winner in 2021. In a statement from Head Coach Greg Mulholland, "George was team captain for Mines Soccer record-breaking fifth consecutive RMAC title. George is a model leader, both on and off the field. George is extremely hard working and dedicated to a positive team culture. He is never seeking individual accolades but only the greatness of the program. He has grown into a player that the coaches and team depend on, with a toughness and tenacity that was required. George is a selfless individual whose greatest quality is to lead by example and guide others to be their best. There was never a training session or match where I ever questioned his passion or willingness to do what the team needed. George was second on the team in minutes with 1528 on the year. His lone goal was the game winner in overtime vs #11 ranked Seattle Pacific University. George is the consummate Oredigger, succeeding both on and off the field in every facet of his time here.

Female Iron Digger Award

Awarded to two seniors, one male and one female, who has demonstrated unparalleled dedication to physical preparation. Candidates will have been at the forefront of their team's training in both personal improvement and leadership, exemplifying whit means to work behind the scenes. Candidates must have appeared in at least 50% of their team's competitions. This award is voted on by the strength and conditioning staff.

Megan Van de Graaf - Women's Basketball

Megan Van de Graaf is the first-ever women's basketball player to be named Iron Digger and the third individual overall since the honor was added in 2020. Van de Graaf was a key player for the women's basketball team which won its second straight RMAC Regular Season Championship in 2021-22. It was the greatest season in the history of Mines women's basketball and the Texan finished it touting 8.2 points and 4.9 rebounds per game while shooting over 50% from the field and 72% at the free-throw line.

Male Iron Digger Award

Awarded to two seniors, one male and one female, who has demonstrated unparalleled dedication to physical preparation. Candidates will have been at the forefront of their team's training in both personal improvement and leadership, exemplifying whit means to work behind the scenes. Candidates must have appeared in at least 50% of their team's competitions. This award is voted on by the strength and conditioning staff.

Ryan Fidel - Wrestling

Ryan Fidel continued the tradition of excellence established by Mines wrestling in this category as the second individual from the team to earn the title Iron Digger in the three-year history of the award. The first-ever winner was Robert Gambrell in 2020. As a starting senior on the team, Fidel also worked directly with biomechanics research as part of his graduate program running through Mines weight room. On the mat, he finished 2021-22 with a record of 10-10 including one fall. He closed his career touting 32 wins compared to 15 losses with five falls. Also notable is his direct jump from the 157-pound weight class to 174 pounds.

Female Athlete of the Year

Awarded to the most outstanding female athlete of the year

Zoe Baker - Women's Cross Country / Track & Field

Zoe Baker became a two-time, back-to-back Female Athlete of the Year for Mines Athletics on Tuesday night within a hour of winning Female Academic Athlete of the Year. She earned the same honors in 2021 and became the second-ever Oredigger to win two straight after Emily Garnier did the same in 2017 and 2018. Baker's lengthy season resume includes three USTFCCCA All-American awards including two in indoor track & field and another for cross country. She finished #6 in the nation in the indoor 5K and #10 nationally in the indoor 3K. In the fall, the Longmont, Colo., native raced to #25 in the nation and helped Mines' women make a second consecutive podium as the #4 team in the nation. Baker also shattered the program records for the indoor 3K, indoor 5K, outdoor 5K and the 10K. She currently ranks #6 in the nation for the 10K and #17 in the 5K.

Male Athlete of the Year

Awarded to the most outstanding Male athlete of the year

Michael Zeman - Football

Michael Zeman brought Mines football its fourth Male Athlete of the Year award as the third Oredigger football player to earn the distinction. He joined a list including Just Dvorak (2016, 2017) and Brody Oliver (2019). His record-setting season led to him being a Harlon Hill Trophy finalist (D-II national player of the year) while also earning all-America awards from the AFCA, D2CCA, AP, D2football.com and Don Hansen's Gazette. He rushed for 1,608 yards and 21 touchdowns while tying the Mines record with 26 total touchdowns. That made him the co-leader in scoring in all of NCAA Division II. Zeman had triple-digit rushing numbers in 11 games and helped Mines football reach the NCAA semifinals.

Coaching Staff of the Year

Awarded to the most outstanding coaching staff of the year

Football

For the first time ever, the Mines football coaching staff were voted the top group in the department and it came appropriately after a record-setting, historic season. Led by freshly retired Head Coach Gregg Brandon, the Orediggers finished the 2022 campaign with an overall record of 12-2 on the way to a third consecutive RMAC title and eventually the NCAA semifinals. Along the way, Mines knocked off Bemidji State and Angelo State before battling to a three-point deficit against Valdosta State in the semifinals. Coach Brandon and his staff ended the season with the #3-ranked team in the nation - their highest final ranking ever.

Team of the Year

Awarded to the most outstanding team of the year

Football

The final award of the night saw Mines football win Team of the Year for the first time ever at the Blaster Awards. The Orediggers finished the 2022 campaign with an overall record of 12-2 on the way to a third consecutive RMAC title and eventually the NCAA semifinals. Along the way, Mines knocked off Bemidji State and Angelo State before battling to a three-point deficit against Valdosta State in the semifinals. The Orediggers ended the season with the #3-ranked team in the nation - their highest final ranking ever.