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GOLDEN, Colo. - The second annual Blaster Awards were held Monday, May 1 at the Green Center, honoring the best in Mines Athletics from the 2016-17 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.

Men's basketball was the night's big winner, picking up Team of the Year and Coaching Staff of the Year honors. The full list of 2016-17 winners is:
 

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MALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Trevor Amann (Men's Soccer)
Amann was named the RMAC Freshman of the Year after scoring 13 goals and 27 points, leading Mines and placing second in the RMAC. A D2CCA Second-Team All-Region honoree, Amann had two hat tricks and a team-best four game-winners as a rookie.

Also nominated: Tim Amundson (golf), Tyler Blomster (baseball), Logan Ramley (cross country), Grant Stewart (football), Jake Woods (wrestling)

FEMALE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR - Mia Wood (Women's Swimming)
Wood was twice an all-American at NCAA Championships, earning national top-16 finishes in the 500- and 1000-freestyle events. The RMAC Freshman of the Year won the RMAC 500-free title and took silver in the 200- and 1000-frees, earning three first-team all-RMAC nods. She set four Mines records as a freshman.

Also nominated: Brook Eberle (women's cross country), Clara Larson (softball), Giselle Sawaged (women's soccer)

COMPETITION OF THE YEAR - Men's Basketball vs. Fort Lewis (March 4, 2017)
Trailing by eight with 1:22 left in the RMAC Tournament championship game, Mines' comeback sent the game to overtime to beat #21 Fort Lewis 102-98. Ben Clare scored 23, including two game-tying free throws with 2.0 seconds left, and Luke Schroepfer scored 10 of his 24 points in overtime. The win helped Mines secure the #1 seed in the NCAA South Central regional on their way to an Elite Eight appearance.

Also nominated: Football vs. CSU-Pueblo, Men's Cross Country at RMAC Championships, Women's Soccer vs. Texas A&M Commerce (NCAA Sweet 16), Volleyball at MSU Denver (RMAC Tournament final)

SAAC COMMUNITY IMPACT AWARD - Tyler Mertens (Men's Soccer)
Mertens participated in numerous charitable projects over the past year to earn the SAAC Community Impact Award. Merten led the men's soccer team in raising more than $2,000 for Kenleigh's Kause, an annual bike ride between the campuses of Mines and Regis to benefit the Global Downs Syndrome foundation. Mertens, dressed for the match, rode his bicycle to Regis this season in support of the event before playing. He was also a leader in supporting the Wild Animal Sanctuary and the Foothills Animal Shelter through the event 10,000 Meters At 10,000 Feet, which raised more than $3,000 for the two shelters.

Also nominated: Football team for their work with Team IMPACT, Wrestling team for their work with the Helluva Service event

COMEBACK PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Shayne Justice (Football)
Justice missed all of 2015 with a broken ankle, and had significant complications from surgery, being told he may never walk normally again. He persevered and returned as a senior to play in 12 games at cornerback, making 21 tackles and four pass break-ups.

Also nominated: Anna Deleray (women's soccer), Ashi Geberkidane (men's soccer), Caleb Waitsman (men's basketball)

MALE ACADEMIC ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Gokul Natesan (Men's Basketball)
A computer science master's student with a 3.90 GPA, Natesan earned his second First-Team Academic All-America award in 2017 as he repeated as the RMAC Academic Player of the Year. Natesan led Mines to an unforgettable season as a D2CCA Third-Team All-American, crossing 2,000 career points to earned First-Team All-RMAC, RMAC Tournament MVP, and NCAA South Central Regional Most Outstanding Player honors.

Also nominated: Jacob Gerken (wrestling), Brennan Mays (men's swimming), Ben Schneiderman (men's cross country/track & field), Hasan Shaar (football)

FEMALE ACADEMIC ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Taryn Huber (Volleyball)
A repeat winner in this category, Huber became volleyball's first-ever Academic All-American as a senior in 2016. A chemical engineering major with a 3.93 GPA, Huber was the RMAC Academic Player of the Year, RMAC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, and First-Team All-RMAC, A two-time RMAC Defensive Player of the Week at libero, Huber set the Mines career digs record as a senior.

Also nominated: Carrie Kralovec (women's swimming), Megan Wenham (women's cross country/track & field), Sam Zumbro (women's soccer)

MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Justin Dvorak (Football)
Also the co-male athlete of the year in 2016, Dvorak had an historic senior season, winning the Harlon Hill Trophy as NCAA Division II's best football player. A consensus All-American, Dvorak was also the D2CCA Ron Lenz Ron Lenz National Offensive Player of the Year, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame Male Collegiate Athlete of the Year, and RMAC Offensive Player of the Year among a bevy of postseason honors. On the field, he led Mines to the RMAC title and NCAA second round, throwing for 4,584 yards and 53 touchdowns, both D-II bests, and setting virtually every Mines and RMAC passing record along the way.

Also nominated: Jacob Gerken (wrestling), George Markham (golf), Gokul Natesan (men's basketball), Josh Schechter (men's swimming), Nathanael Williams (men's cross country)

FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Emily Garnier (Women's Soccer)
The Colorado Sportswoman of the Year in college soccer, Garnier led Mines to the RMAC double and NCAA Elite Eight. The central defender was only the second player in league history to be both the RMAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, earning D2CCA First-Team All-America and NSCAA Second-Team All-America, D2CCA South Central Regional Player of the Year, and First-Team All-RMAC awards. She led Mines with 26 points on eight goals and a team-best 10 assists.

Also nominated: Hanna Barringer (Women's cross country/track & field), Hallie Smith (softball), Alanna Winfield (volleyball), Mia Wood (women's swimming)

MOST IMPROVED - Softball
After going 20-24 in 2016 and being picked eighth in the RMAC preseason poll, softball notched a 29-13 record in 2017 to secure the #2 seed in the upcoming RMAC Tournament. Mines ended the regular season on a seven-game win streak and recorded three RMAC series sweeps; without a doubt one of the most entertaining teams to watch at Mines this year, softball won nine times in their final at-bat, including six walk-offs.

COACHING STAFF OF THE YEAR - Men's Basketball
Head coach Pryor Orser and assistants Brad Schick, Tim Fry, and Scott Hill led Mines to the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time in program history, setting a Mines record with 30 wins. Mines won both the RMAC regular-season and Tournament championships, reeling off six consecutive postseason wins to capture the South Central regional trophy.

Also nominated: Men's cross country, football, women's soccer, softball, volleyball

TEAM OF THE YEAR - Men's Basketball
With the first NCAA Elite Eight appearance in program history, men's basketball earned Team of the Year honors. Mines went 30-5, winning both the RMAC regular-season and Tournament championships, reeling off six consecutive postseason wins to capture the NCAA South Central regional trophy.

Also nominated: Men's cross country, football, women's soccer, softball, volleyball