The Blaster Awards were established in 2016 to honor the best in Mines athletics. Awards are given out in 14 categories, nominated and voted on by head coaches and athletics staff with the exception of the SAAC Commmunity Impact Award, which is voted on by members Mines SAAC, and the Iron Digger Awards, which are selected by the Oredigger strength and conditioning staff. All 14 awards are given out and celebrated at a red-carpet ceremony attended by all of Mines' varsity teams.
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Blaster Award Winners
Male Rookie of the Year
2016 - Triston Sisneros (M. Track & Field)
2017 - Trevor Amann (M. Soccer)
2018 - Michael Glen (M. Basketball)
2019 - Brendan Sullivan (M. Basketball)
2020 - John Matocha (Football)
2021 - Loic Scomparin (M. Cross Country/Track & Field)
2022 - Grayston DiBlasi (Wrestling)
2023 - Lukas Taggart (Golf)
2024 - Alex Romack (M. Basketball)
2025 - Vladislav Kazakin (M. Swimming)
Female Rookie of the Year
2016 - Acacia Ortiz (W. Soccer)
2017 - Mia Wood (W. Swimming)
2018 - Lindsey Jin (Volleyball)
2019 - Drew Stokes (Volleyball)
2020 - Hannah Miller (W. Track & Field)
2021 - Jorie Selig (W. Swimming)
2022 - Reese McDermott (W. Soccer)
2023 - Jordan Tierney (W. Swimming)
2024 - Bella Campos (W. Soccer)
2025 - Jennifer Pierson (W. Swimming)
Comeback Player of the Year
2016 - Connor McLean (M. Track & Field)
2017 - Shayne Justice (Football)
2018 - Tyler Blomster (Baseball)
2019 - Ben Clare (M. Basketball)
2020 - Grant Colligan (M. Cross Country/Track & Field)
2021 - Raven Herrera (W. Basketball)
2022 - Tyler Blomster (Baseball)
2023 - Carter Noehre (Wrestling)
2024 - Cody Thompson (Wrestling)
2025 - Yahir Chairez-Salazar (Wrestling)
Male Academic Athlete of the Year
2016 - Richard Garvey (M. Soccer)
2017 - Gokul Natesan (M. Basketball)
2018 - Joe Popp (Baseball)
2019 - Ben Schneiderman (M. Cross Country/Track & Field)
2020 - Ben Schneiderman (M. Cross Country/Track & Field)
2021 - Brendan Sullivan (M. Basketball)
2022 - Patrick Allan (M. Soccer)
2023 - Duncan Fuehne (M. Cross Country/Track & Field) and Michael Sprauer (M. Soccer)
2024 - Duncan Fuehne (M. Cross Country/Track & Field)
2025 - Hunter Potrykus (M. Track & Field)
Female Academic Athlete of the Year
2016 - Taryn Huber (Volleyball)
2017 - Taryn Huber (Volleyball)
2018 - Jennifer Kendall (W. Soccer)
2019 -Â Jennifer Kendall (W. Soccer)
2020 - Denali Pinto (W. Basketball)
2021 - Zoe Baker (W. Cross Country/Track & Field)
2022Â - Zoe Baker (W. Cross Country/Track & Field)
2023Â - Zoe Baker (W. Cross Country/Track & Field)
2024 - Margaux Basart (W. Cross Country/Track & Field)
2025 - Grace Strongman (W. Cross Country/Track & Field)
SAAC Community Impact Award
2016 - Liz Tomon (W. Basketball)
2017 - Tyler Mertens (M. Soccer)
2018 - Dallas Frisbie (XC/Track & Field)
2019 - Jacob Feldman (Wrestling)
2020 - Delaney Duis (Volleyball)
2021 - Sydney Marchando (Softball)
2022 - Julia Eiken (Volleyball) and Sean Roberts (Football)
2023 - Claire Lautman (W. Swimming)
2024 - Yahir Chairez-Salazar (Wrestling)
2025 - Yahir Chairez-Salazar (Wrestling) and Izaiah Padilla (Wrestling)
Female Iron Digger (Started in 2020)
2020 - Stefanie Brunello (Softball)
2021 - Kailey Said (W. Swimming)
2022 - Megan van de Graaf (W. Basketball)
2023 - Annie Osmun (W. Swimming)
2024 - Sidney Wilson (Softball)
2025 - Cassidy Chvatal (Softball)
Male Iron Digger (Started in 2020)
2020 - Robert Gambrell (Wrestling) and Jason Zobott (M. Soccer)
2021 - Trevor Howard (Baseball)
2022 - Ryan Fidel (Wrestling)
2023 - Josh Johnston (Football)
2024 - Daniel Caddy (Wrestling)
2025 - Jonathan Moore (M. Basketball)
Female Oredigger Excellence (Started in 2020)
2020 - Abby Tiesman (Volleyball)
2021 - Sydney Marchando (Softball)
2022 - Courtney Stanton (W. Basketball)
2023 - Meghan Slowey (W. Swimming)
2024 - Zoe Baker (W. Cross Country/Track & Field)
2025 - Reese McDermott (W. Soccer)
Male Oredigger Excellence (Started in 2020)
2020 - Cameron Mayberry (Football)
2021 - Ryan Wilson (M. Soccer)
2022 - George Marchant (M. Soccer)
2023 - Michael Zeman (Football)
2024 - John Matocha (Football)
2025 - Loic Scomparin (M. Cross Country/Track & Field)
Female Athlete of the Year
2016 - Danielle Johnson-Hazlewood (Volleyball)
2017 - Emily Garnier (W. Soccer)
2018 - Emily Garnier (W. Soccer)
2019 - Emily Townsend (W. Soccer)
2020 - Mia Wood (W. Swimming)
2021 - Zoe Baker (W. Cross Country/Track & Field)
2022Â - Zoe Baker (W. Cross Country/Track & Field)
2023 - Hannah Miller (W. Track & Field)
2024 - Hannah Miller (W. Track & Field)
2025 - Reese McDermott (W. Soccer)
Male Athlete of the Year
2016 - Niki Grotz (M. Soccer) and Justin Dvorak (Football)
2017 - Justin Dvorak (Football)
2018 - Johnny Haist (M. Soccer)
2019 - Brody Oliver (Football)
2020 - Connor McLean (M. Track & Field)
2021 - Brendan Sullivan (M. Basketball)
2022 - Michael Zeman (Football)
2023 - John Matocha (Football) and Dillon Powell (M. Cross Country/Track & Field)
2024 - John Matocha (Football)
2025 - Majok Deng (M. Basketball)
Coaching Staff of the Year
2016 - Cross Country (Head Coach Chris Siemers)
2017 - Men's Basketball (Head Coach Pryor Orser)
2018 - Baseball (Head Coach Jerod Goodale)
2019 - Wrestling (Head Coach Austin DeVoe)
2020 - Cross Country (Head Coach Chris Siemers)
2021 - Men's Basketball (Head Coach Pryor Orser)
2022 - Football (Head Coach Gregg Brandon)
2023 - Cross Country (Head Coach Chris Siemers)
2024 - Football (Head Coach Pete Sterbick)
2025 - Cross Country (Head Coach Chris Siemers)
Team of the Year
2016 - Men's Cross Country
2017 - Men's Basketball
2018 - Baseball
2019 -Â Men's Cross Country
2020 - Men's Cross Country
2021 - Men's Basketball
2022 - Football
2023Â - Men's Cross Country
2024 - Football
2025 - Men's Cross Country
Most Improved Team (Discontinued after 2020)
2016 - Women's Basketball
2017 - Softball
2018 - Baseball
2019 - Women's Cross Country and Wrestling
2020 - Women's Swimming
Competition of the Year (Discontinued after 2019)
2016 - Men's Soccer at Midwestern State
2017 - Men's Basketball vs. Fort Lewis (RMAC Tournament)
2018 - Men's Basketball vs. Fort Hays State
2019 - Women's Soccer at UCCS
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