Blast Announce Player Awards
Published on September 17, 2003 under A-League (A-League)
Indiana Blast News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, IN- The Indiana Blast have announced the player awards from the 2003 season. Over the last three games of the season fans had the opportunity to vote for the Blast player they thought worthy of Most Popular Player, Rookie of the Year, and Most Valuable Player.
Although only appearing in four games for the Blast in 2003, Rookie Ari Dolegowski was voted as the Most Popular Player. Dolegowski was a favorite at camps and in the community.
Justin McMillian was voted at the 2003 Rookie of the Year. McMillian played and started in 24 games for the Blast logging 2,170 minutes.
Third year Blast player Godfrey Tenoff was voted as the Most Valuable Player for the 2003 season. Tenoff played and started in all 28 games for the Blast logging a total of 2,617 minutes on the year. His minute total put him in second place in the A-league for minutes played in 2003. Tenoff also contributed to four goals and five assists.
OTHER AWARDS-Throughout the season, promotions filled the stands during any given Blast home game.
Each night the ATA Crazy Fan photographer was on the lookout for the ATA - Craziest Fan of the Game. Winning photos appeared on the Blast web site. Fans were then given the opportunity to vote for the fan they felt was the Craziest Fan of the Season. ATA is "An Honestly Different Airline" and is the Official Airline of the Indiana Blast.
The 2003 Craziest fan of the Season runner-ups were Andre & Eric Miller from Burlington, Indiana, and were awarded roundtrip airfare for two to any ATA Florida destination.
Eric Buenger from Greenfield, Indiana was voted the Craziest Fan of the Season and was awarded roundtrip airfare for two to any ATA destination in the Continental US.
Demodock.com sponsored a year-long "American Idol" contest in which fans were able to register to sing in a halftime contest on August 24th. The winner of the contest, as determined by the fans, had the opportunity to sing the National Anthem at the last regular season game. Geno Lesser from Fishers, Indiana came away the winner.
TEAM NEWS-The Blast have announced that they will compete in the PDL (Premier Development League) for the 2004 season. The Blast will be a member of the Central Conference, Great Lakes Division.
"Competing in the PDL will enable us to retain a core of Blast player favorites while allowing us to work more closely with the development of young, up-and-coming College players. We are already looking forward to another season of top quality, competitive soccer at Kuntz Stadium in 2004" stated Kim Morris - Blast President.
The Blast look to return to the A-league in 2005.
"USL fully supports the decision of the Indiana Blast to operate in the PDL for the 2004 season. The Blast will be an asset to an already strong Central Conference of the PDL and we look forward to their return to the professional divisions at the time it best fits the organization's long-range plans," said Tim Holt - Director, USL League & A-League Operations.
A-League Stories from September 17, 2003
- Blast Announce Player Awards - Indiana Blast
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