DURANGO, Colo. — Fort Lewis College football player
Nick Frizzell and women's cross country runner
Ashley Kelly received the Dr. Troy Bledsoe Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards at tonight's Skyhawk Awards Banquet.
Frizzell, a 6-foot, 245-lb. senior defensive lineman from Evergreen High School, carries a 3.93 grade point average in Business Administration-Marketing. During his senior season, he earned first team ESPN/CoSIDA Academic All-District 7 and RMAC All-Academic accolades. As a junior in 2009, he was a RMAC All-Academic second team pick and a recipient of the D2 Athletic Directors Association Academic Achievement Award. The latter honor was also bestowed upon him following his sophomore season in 2008.
“Nick has been a pleasure to work with as he's performed at a high level both on the field and in the classroom, winning multiple awards for his play,” said Director of Athletics Kelly Higgins. “The effort he has put forth has helped turn Skyhawk football in the right direction. We will be sad to see him go, but happy that he takes his degree in Business Administration with him.”
Frizzell was a four-year letterwinner on the Skyhawk football team. During his career, he recorded 50 tackles (20 solo) and one tackle behind the line of scrimmage.
Kelly, a 5-foot-5 senior from Brighton High School in Brighton, Colo., was a four-year letterwinner on the Skyhawk cross country team and maintains a 3.99 grade point average in Biochemistry. She qualified for U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association All-America honors each of the past two years based on her finishes in the NCAA Division II Central Regionals.
“Ashley is the epitome of the DII student-athlete, maintaining balance in her commitment to her sport as well as her determination in the classroom,” said Higgins. “Near perfection in Biochemistry is an extraordinary achievement and we will be proud to claim her as one of our finest alums.”
She has also been recognized on the RMAC All-Academic Honor Roll and received the D2 Athletic Director's Association Academic Achievement Award.
The Dr. Troy Bledsoe Scholar-Athlete of the Year Awards are presented each year to the senior female and male student-athletes who best exemplify the balance of excellence in athletics and academics. The award is named after Bledsoe, who served as director of athletics at Fort Lewis College from 1974-92. He was also head golf coach and head women's basketball coach at various points of his FLC career. Bledsoe died on December 30, 2009, at the age of 83.
Past female recipients of the Dr. Troy Bledsoe Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award include:
• 2010 – Jamie MacArthur (soccer)
• 2009 – Jessica Bailey (volleyball)
• 2008 – Jenna Peters (softball)
• 2007 – Kate Mahler (soccer)
• 2006 – Jessica Quigley (cross country)
• 2005 – Sarah Griffith (soccer)
• 2004 – Melissa Kingsland (soccer)
• 2003 – Mandy Smith (softball)
• 2002 – Mindy Basham (soccer)
• 2001 – Jamie Basham (soccer)
• 2000 – Heather Lyons (cross country)
• 1999 – Marci Christiansen (volleyball)
• 1998 – Shirl Hamblin (volleyball)
• 1997 – Jessica Copp (volleyball)
• 1996 – Jessica Copp (volleyball)
• 1995 – Janene Caldwell (volleyball)
• 1994 – Angie Schilling (basketball)
Past male recipients of the Dr. Troy Bledsoe Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award include:
• 2010 – Ben Rogers (cross country)
• 2009 – Ryan Jameson (basketball)
• 2008 – Nick Kirchhof (soccer)
• 2007 – Tim Bieri (basketball)
• 2006 – Kyle Fredrick (soccer)
• 2005 – Luke Babcock (cross country)
• 2004 – Thomas Rocco (football)
• 2003 – Kevin Hatch (basketball)
• 2001 – Joey Grindstaff (cross country)
• 2000 – Calum Robertson (soccer)
• 1999 – Isaac Hall (football)
• 1998 – Ryan Ostrom (basketball)
• 1997 – Neil Patterson (football)
• 1996 – Mike Schutz (basketball)
• 1995 – Jason Odette (golf)
• 1994 – Shane Voss (football)
