Blewitt, Pickering Tabbed as 2003 Athletes of the Year
April 13, 2003

Emerald’s Awards in downtown Ashland has a full array of trophies. They cater to the customer’s needs and keep a full line of products in stock.

Senior Adriane Blewitt was recognized as this year’s female student-athlete of the year. (File photo)

The same can be said for seniors Adriane Blewitt and Craig Pickering. Those two are the 2003 Ashland University female and male student-athlete of the year recipients. The awards were presented on Sunday (Apr. 13) at the 19th annual Ashland University All-Sports Banquet and Hall of Fame induction. The banquet was held at AU’s John C. Myers Convocation Center.

Blewitt and Pickering have their trophy cases stocked with every award imaginable. Throughout their careers, they’ve been crowd and coach pleasers. Academic performance or athletic accomplishment, Blewitt and Pickering have ranked among the nation’s best.

The male and female student-athlete of the year citations are selected by the nine-person AU athletic committee. The awards take into account athlete performance, academic achievement and community service. This year there were 14 nominees for the awards - seven women and seven men. Student-athletes are nominated by the coaches in their respective sports.

This is the second time Blewitt, a native of Boardman, OH, has been the female athlete of the year. She was also recognized in 2001. A track and field standout, Blewitt is a 10-time All-America with five national championships. She’s also been a national runnerup five times. At this year’s NCAA Division II indoor championships, she claimed gold medals in the shot and weight throw. She is the all-time NCAA Division II and Ohio collegiate record holder in the shot – indoors and outdoors. She was ranked seventh in the world indoors this year in the shot.

Blewitt is the 2003 national indoor track and field athlete of the year and in 2002, was the NCAA Division II national outdoor track and field athlete of the year. She has been the team’s most valuable athlete for the last two years. Her heroics indoors in 2003 helped the AU women finish fifth at the national meet.

On the conference level, Blewitt has been honored as the most valuable athlete at the 2003 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference indoor championships. She was also the most valuable athlete at the 2001 GLIAC outdoor championships. In 2002, Blewitt was the GLIAC’s female student-athlete of the year.

Blewitt’s a four-time United States Track Coaches Association Academic Team member and in 2002 was a first team Verizon Academic All-America. She’s a physical education major with a 3.62 grade point average. Earlier this year, she was featured in Sports Illustrated’s “Faces in the Crowd” section.

Senior Craig Pickering was recognized as this year’s male student-athlete of the year. (File photo)

Pickering, a native of Aylmer, Quebec, is an 18-time All-America in swimming. He advanced to the NCAA Division II national meet all four years he competed. Three times he’s been the AU male swimmer of the year. Pickering won 17 GLIAC championships in his career and twice was honored as the conference’s male swimmer of the year. He owns school records in the 500 and 1,000 freestyle and the 400 IM. He is the GLIAC record holder in the 500 and 1,650 freestyle and 800 free relay.

In 2002-2003, Pickering was undefeated in dual meets in the 200 freestyle, 100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 200 butterfly, 400 IM and 200 IM. His best finish at this year’s national meet came in the 400 IM where he placed fifth.

A year ago, Pickering was a second team Verizon Academic All-America. Four times he’s been named to the College Swimming Coaches of America All-Academic Team. In 2000, Pickering was named the GLIAC Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Pickering is an athletic training major with a 3.88 GPA.

Joining Blewitt on the ballot for the women’s student-athlete of the year award were Alanna Buurma (basketball), Tara Griffin (cross country), Jackie Jeschelnig (outdoor track and field), Liz Leonard (swimming), Josie Nelson (softball) and Becky Richards (soccer).

The field for the men’s award, in addition to Pickering, included Joey Brightbill (outdoor track and field), Tom Church (basketball), Nick Cordes (cross country), Chris Skibinski (baseball), Toby Stepsis (football) and Jody Stewart (indoor track and field).

Sunday’s festivities also included the induction of the six newest members of the Ashland University Hall of Fame. This year’s induction class listed Greg Bartram (Class of 1989, track and field), DeAnn Cirino-Bartram (Class of 1990, track and field), Chris Harkness (Class of 1989, football), Rob Herron (Class of 1976, golf), Chris Parks (Class of 1988, track and field/football) and Ron Pratt (Class of 1958, basketball/baseball/football).

This year’s Eagle Forever award was presented to Carl and Gloria Strine. Carl Strine has worked on the AU chain crew for football for over 30 years.

Ashland University director of athletics Bill Goldring served as the master of ceremonies. Ashland University President Dr. G. William Benz gave the welcome address. Senior student-athletes from AU’s 20 intercollegiate teams, plus senior trainers and equipment staff personnel, received their honorary blankets.