Tyler Kathan and Crystal Blamy (received by her parents)

Keene State Athletic Awards Banquet

KEENE, N.H., 5/3/09 - Tyler Kathan (Ludlow, Vt.) and Crystal Blamy (Walpole, N.H.) were named Keene State College's male and female Athletes of the Year, respectively, at the College's 2008-09 Athletic Awards Dinner held Sunday night at Spaulding Gym.

Sarah McDougle (Walpole, N.H.) was the recipient of the Scholar-Athlete Award, and the Keene State women's soccer team and men's track squad were presented with the Don Carle Award for having the highest cumulative GPA among Owl teams. Because the athletic season is not completed, players from the previous spring are eligible for awards.

The KSC Athletic Department also presented special Life Challenge award to Erin Dallas (Marlow, N.H.) of the field hockey team. Dallas, a two-time All-American, suffered a knee injury during the season and developed a post-surgical infection following her ACL operation in December.  She spent over three months in the hospital and had 37 operations.

Making the presentation to Dallas, KSC athletic director John Ratliff announced that in the future the honor will be known as the Erin Dallas Life Challenge award.

 In addition, 44 seniors and the 126-member KSC All-Academic team were also recognized.

Kathan wrapped up his four-year Owl career with a standout senior season, leading the LEC in scoring (18.4 ppg.) and rebounding (10.2 rpg.) The co-LEC player of the year was a double-figure scorer in 24 of KSC's 25 games, posted 14-double-doubles, and set career highs with 36 points against Western Conn. (1/13/08) and 19 rebounds vs. UMass-Dartmouth (1/10/08) this season.  Kathan, who was also named to the D3Hoops All-American , NABC All-Northeast District and  All-ECAC teams,  concludes his career third on Keene State's all-time scoring (1,805) and rebounding (939) lists. 

"I t feels good to go out with an award and be recognized for my contribution to the team and program." said Kathan. "I had a great career and I'll never forget the guys I played with the past four years."

Blamy won the high jump event at the NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Champions at University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh last spring with a leap of 5'-7". 

She became the third athlete to win both indoor and outdoor national championships in the same year since 1997.   The high-flying Blamy concludes her collegiate career with four All-Americas and two national titles in the high jump.

Presently residing in Australia, Blamy acknowledged the award with a note read by her parents.  "Winning the national championship was always a goal of mine and to be able to accomplish that amazing feat in my final year of competition will be something I will never forget," Blamy said. 

Joining the Keene State women's soccer team this season after playing at Simmons College in Boston, McDougle brought experience to the Owls backfield.  She also got the job done in the classroom, posting a 4.0 GPA as a health science major.

McDougle said her athletic and academic pursuits went hand-in-hand with each other.  "They each helped me to be successful," she said.  "Being in sports, I had to be disciplined and get my work done in a timely manner and they both kept me in line."

                Previous Winners

         Female Athlete of the Year

Year	Winner
1990	Denise Lyons
1991	Alison Foley
1992	Laura Bennett
1993	Deb Muir
1994	Sue Pranulis
1995	Heather Fiske
1996	Katje Mickola
1997	Heather Boisvere
1998	Lindsey Blood
1999	Kara Suhie
2000	Carrah Fisk
2001	Kelly Smith
2002	Mary Proulx
2003	Mary Proulx
2004	Jen Ortisi
2004	Tanya Strong
2005	Michelle Mason
2006	Breanne Lucey
2006	Meghan McLoughlin
2007	Sarah Joyce
2008	Jennifer Adams
2009	Crystal Blamy

           Male Athlete of the Year

Year	Winner
1989	Scott Hatch
1990	Rob Edson
1991	Osvaldo Molina
1992	Osvaldo Molina
1993	Dylan Gamache
1994	Leon Sheppard
1995	Eric Foley
1996	Jeff Sullivan
1997	Jeff Sylvester
1998	Matt Kocyba
1999	Wilson Perez
2000	Scott Jensen
2001	Chris Coates
2002	Dave Stantial
2003	Mark Miller
2004	Chris Timson
2005	Dave Bridgewater
2006	Eric Monmie
2007	Jeremy Schilling
2008	Matt Johnson
2009	Tyler Kathan

              Scholar Athlete of the Year

Year	Winner
1990	John Koester
1991	John Koester
1992	Shannon Vance
1993	Ricardo Alcaine
1994	Sue Smith
1995	Matt LaRosee
1996	Sue Smith
1997	Ryan Royce
1998	Hilary Gitchell
1998	Erica Morse
1999	Sharon Jensen
2000	Sharon Jensen
2001	Heather Pamula
2002	Sarah Nordle
2003	Sarah Nordle
2004	Megan Perkins
2004	Chepina Witkowski
2005	Michelle Harmon
2006	Laura Ahern
2007	Chris Koenig
2008	Amy Dubois
2009	Sarah McDougle

              Don Carle Award

Year	Winner
2001	Volleyball Team
2002	Volleyball Team
2003	Volleyball Team
2004	Women's Swim Team
2005	Softball Team
2006	Women's Swin/Dive Team
2006	Men's Cross Country Team/ Women's Swimming and Diving
2007	Men's Cross Country Team/ Women's Swimming and Diving
2008	Men's Cross Country/ Women's Soccer
2009	Men's Cross Country/ Women's Soccer

      Erin Dallas Life Challange Award

Year	Winner
2000	Johanna Lindberg
2002	Kelly Charbono
2008	John Napolitano/ Danielle Graveley
2009	Erin Dallas