Athletes of the Year


The Nebraska Sports Council has named its 2010 Cornhusker State Games Athletes of the Year.


Zach Cottle, Male Athlete of the Year - Cottle, who competed in high school at Omaha Skutt, earned his 10th straight CSG Iron Man Wrestling Award with a 14-0, five gold-medal performance. His career total includes 38 gold medals and seven silver medals. In high school, his team won state championships each of his four years, and Cottle won three state individual titles. After this summer, Cottle heads to West Point to study, train and wrestle for the United States Military Academy.

Sylvana Airan, Female Athlete of the Year - Airan, who won two golds and a bronze this year, has earned at least one medal in each of the 25 years table tennis has been part of the Cornhusker State Games.  The 56 year-old is also a key volunteer for the table tennis event and well-known for her good sportsmanship.

Paul Schmitz, Senior Athlete of the Year - Schmitz, 63, won gold medals in the 800-meter run, the 1,000-meter open-water swim and the 750-meter open water swim.  He earned silver in the 400-meter run, the 1,500-meter run, high jump and biathlon, and took bronze in the 50-meter backstroke at the pool meet.  A Vietnam veteran and 22-year Army Officer, Schmitz said he competed to set an example for his kids and to qualify for the 2011 State Games of America in San Diego.

The Cornhusker State Games, which is sponsored by Anderson Auto Group, BlueCross BlueShield of Nebraska, BNSF Railways and other Nebraska businesses, is a program of the Nebraska Sports Council.  For more information, visit NebraskaSportsCouncil.com or call 402-471-2544.


PREVIOUS ATHLETES OF THE YEAR  


Male Female Senior

1994 - Ray Scott, Papillion, Badminton

1995 - Craig Olsen, Grand Island, Racquetball

1996 - Eric Shanks, Lincoln, Swimming

1997 - Tom McCann, Kearney, Wrestling

1998 - Dustin Terry, Omaha, Wrestling

1999 - Shane Lavy, Lincoln, Masters Track/ Field

2000 - Jerry Owen, Lincoln, Soccer

2001 - Mike Hafenbrack, Yutan, Powerlifting

2002 - Tim Neumann, Lincoln, Wrestling

2003 - Kerry McDermott, Lincoln, Tennis, Road Race

2004 - Herman Batelaan, Omaha, Badminton

2005 - Rob Pilcher, Omaha, Wrestling

2006 - Scott Bredehoft, Lincoln, Triathlon/Adventure Race

2007 - Donte Rodriguez, Wrestling

2008 - Keefe Lodwig, Swimming

2009 - Dave Sutko, 25 Events

1994 - Carol Olson, Omaha, Swimming

1995 - Allison Poole, Lincoln, Youth Track/ Field

1996 - Melanie Bodlak, Doniphan, Powerlifting

1997 - Erika Anschutz, Grand Island, Archery

1998 - Megan Bals, Lincoln, Raquetball

1999 - Dorothy Ekblad, Lincoln, Road Race

2000 - Ashley Selig, Lincoln, Youth Track/ Field

2001 - Amanda Kline, Lincoln, Karate

2002 - Allison Aldrich, Schuyler, Soccer

2003 - Margo Kent, Cambridge, Adventure Race, Triathlon, Volleyball

2004 - Andrea Paul, Omaha, Armwrestling

2005 - Becky Breisch, Lincoln, Masters Track & Field

2006 - Laura Pilakowski, Volleyball

2007 - Jennifer Newell, Triathlon

2008 - Anne Schiltz, Taekwondo

2009 - Kimberly Shrader, Fencing

1999 - Harold Kroeker, Grant, Masters Track/Field

2000 - Jack Bryans, Omaha, Wrestling

2001 - Clarence Osborn, Lincoln, Masters Track/Field

2002 - Larry Fuerst, Lincoln, Basketball

2003 - Barton "Bucky" Greenburg, Omaha, Swimming

2004 - John Elliott, Lincoln, Archery

2005 - Jim Potter, Chadron, Muzzleloading

2006 - Carol Frost, Masters Track & Field

2007 - Carolyn Foster, Badminton

2008 - Lee Alexander, Masters Track & Field

2009 - Jim Peter, 6 Sports