May 7, 2003

Athletics Award Banquet Honors Student-Athletes for 2002-03 Achievements

The annual Truman Athletics Awards Banquet was held in the Georgian Room of the Student Union last night. Over 200 student-athletes attended the end--of -the-year gathering.

The women's cross country team that had a 3.63 cumulative grade point average after the fall, was the Women's Team Academic Award winner, while the men's golf team, with a 3.37 GPA, was also honored.

Outstanding Senior Student-Athletes Awards went to wide receiver Andrew Blakley (St. Joseph, Mo./Central) and Liz Hug (Maryville, Ill./Collinsville).

Blakley earned first-team all-MIAA recognition for the second straight year in 2002. He completed his career by leaving a nearly indelible mark in the Truman, MIAA and NCAA record books, finishing his career with 300 catches for 3,458 yards and 22 touchdowns. Blakley claimed the MIAA records for career receptions and receiving yards this past season and is second all-time in NCAA Division II and tied for sixth among all-Division leaders (I, I-AA, II, III). He claimed the MIAA single season mark for receptions in the final game of his career, ending the season with 96 receptions for 965 yards and six TDs.

Blakley did not miss a game after joining the team in 1999 when he began his career as a true freshman. He caught a pass in all 44 career games, which also stands as a school record. Blakley was a third-team all-America in 2001, and was one of six candidates from the Midwest region to make the Harlon Hill ballot that recognizes the NCAA Division II player of the year. He finished the 2002 tied for the lead in NCAA Division II receptions (8.73 pg).

Hug is four-year and 12-time national champion after winning the 1,000-yard freestyle and 200-yard individual medley, as part of the winning 800-yard freestyle relay squad and the NCAA-record setting 400-medley and 400-yard freestyle relay teams in 2003; in the 200-yard individual medley and 500-yard freestyle and as part of three relay teams (400-yard medley and 400- and 800-yard freestyle) as a junior in 2002; as part of the 800-yard freestyle relay in 2001 and as a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay in 2000.

She is 28-time all-America after also finishing third in the 200-yard individual medley, fourth in the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly, fifth in the 200 backstroke, second as part of the 400-yard freestyle relay squad and third as part of the 200-yard medley relay team as a freshman; after placing sixth in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly, seventh in the 200 freestyle, ninth in the 500 freestyle, second as part of the 200 medley relay squad and fifth as part of the 400 medley relay team her sophomore season; after finishing second in the 200 freestyle and third in the 1,000-yard freestyle at the 2002 NCAA Division II national championships; and after placing second in the 500-yard freestyle and fourth in the 200-yard free in 2003.

As a senior, Hug helped set an NCAA record in the 400-medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay at the national meet. She also set the NCAA DII record in the 200-yard individual medley in 2002, and was part of NCAA record-setting 400- and 800-yard freestyle relay, and 400-yard medley relay teams in that same year. She holds Truman records in the 200-yard individual medley and as part of the 400- and 800-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard medley relay teams.

William Feiner (Kirksville), bat-boy for the baseball team and ardent supporter of Truman sports, was given the William H. Cable Spirit of Truman Award. His family also received special recognition for their support of the program.

The Dean's Recognition of Academic Excellence award, presented to the male and female student-athletes with the highest GPA, went to kicker Austin Lepper (Ames, Iowa/Gilbert) who graduated with a3.97 cumulative GPA this past December, and swimmers Ellen Frick (Manhattan, Kan.) and Kelli Dudley (Topeka, Kan./West) and pitcher Britni Buford (Kahoka, Mo.), who all posted a cumulative GPA of 3.92 after the fall of 2002.