The 7th-annual Dutchies were held Sunday night at Central College, honoring the best student-athletes from the previous 12 months on campus.
The evening started by recognizing the male and female freshman athletes of the year – golfer Harold Dobernecker and softball player Frannie Burnett.
Football was named coaching staff of the year, team of the year and also won the Dutchie for moment of the year for Blaine Hawkins’ last second touchdown pass to Tanner Schminke to propel the Dutch to victory over Wheaton in the second round of the NCAA playoffs last November.
Up next was a special recognition for record-breaking performances, honoring Hawkins for his NCAA record 63 touchdown passes and softball player Sara Tallman for setting the school’s career stolen bases mark.
Three leadership awards were handed out, with Sydney Canney earning the Marjorie Giles Student Life Leadership Award, Carter Tryon winning the Prins Sportsmanship Award and Hawkins earning the Ron Schipper Leadership Award.
Central also recognized 63 multi-sport student-athletes, with basketball player / track and field athlete Sam Beattty being named male multi-sport athlete of the year and volleyball player / track and field athlete Krissa Larson winning female multi-sport athlete of the year.
Several individuals were recognized for their performance in the classroom, with men’s tennis and women’s cross-country winning the highest team GPA awards. Football player Josh Kuiper and tennis player Alyssa Lewton were the male and female with the highest individual grade point average.
Up next were the strength and conditioning awards, honoring hard work in the weight room. Track and field athlete Thomas Spoehr and softball’s Lauren Birt won the male and female strength and conditioning awards.
The final awards of the evening were for male and female athlete of the year, won by football player Blaine Hawkins and track and field athlete Kiki Pingel.
The Dutchies are hosted by Central’s Student Athlete Advisory Council and emceed by KNIA/KRLS radio’s Trevor Castle.