The Colorado School of Mines Athletics held its 11th annual Blaster Awards on April 28, celebrating outstanding achievements across 14 categories in Oredigger athletics. Key awards included Female Rookie of the Year to Sierra Wall, who contributed to a historic women鈥檚 cross country title, and Male Rookie of the Year to Cody Wyman for his impressive freshman season. Margaux Basart earned Female Academic Athlete of the Year, while Bennett and Dunagan shared the Male Academic Athlete title. Cody Thompson was named Male Athlete of the Year, marking his third win at the Blaster Awards, and the Mines women's cross country team received Team of the Year for their exceptional season.

By the Numbers
  • Sierra Wall and Cody Wyman both recognized as first-time recipients of Rookie of the Year awards.
  • Cody Thompson ended the season with a 19-1 record, achieving the best single-season winning percentage in Mines history.
State of Play
  • The 2026 Blaster Awards introduced two new categories for Male and Female Comeback Players of the Year.
  • For the first time in history, a women鈥檚 team, the cross country squad, received the Team of the Year award.
What's Next

The success of the Mines cross country team could shift focus to improving their national standing and attracting more recruits. The recognition of the individual and team awards suggests continued support and investment in student-athlete programs is likely to follow.

Bottom Line

The Blaster Awards highlight Colorado School of Mines鈥� commitment to academic and athletic excellence, fostering a competitive and supportive environment for its student-athletes. This year's awards not only accomplished recognition of individual and team success but also promoted the spirit of community service in athletics.