With the academic year coming to a close, it felt like an appropriate time to dish out my first edition of the “Bloomies”.

OK, maybe it isn’t the most prestigious-sounding award, but it rhymes with my last name, highlighting my overflowing creativity.

Winners will receive an old-school high five if I see them on campus.

Without further ado, I present to you the 2005 Bloomies.

The “I Did Gain More Than 15 Pounds, Freshman of the Year” Award:

1. Todd Blythe

2. Rahshon Clark

3. Bret Meyer

Hard to argue with Blythe, who set a school season record with nine touchdown receptions, leaving him six shy of the career record. Todd receives bonus points because my AAU basketball team beat his when we were in seventh grade. Needless to say, I won that battle, but Todd won the war.

The “Stevie Johnson Versatility” Award:

1. (tie) Neil Hines and Erica Lynn, track and field

3. Brittany Dalager, volleyball

Hines and Lynn, both ISU multi eventers, excel in the high and long jumps but also throw the javelin — proving that not only can they leap over lengthy objects, they can launch them too. Dalager finished her ISU career in the top 10 for both digs and kills. Can you put “top 10 in kills” on a resume?

The “Seneca Wallace ‘The Run’ Play of the Year” Award:

1. Lyndsey Medders’ buzzer-beating, game-winning 3-pointer against Colorado in the Big 12 tournament

2. Curtis Stinson to Will Blalock to Rahshon Clark for a fastbreak slam against Virginia

3. Ellis Hobbs’ interception to seal the Independence Bowl

The “Troy Davis’ gold teeth, aka Best Accessory” Award:

1. Jeff Bergstrom’s fan section, “Bergie’s Bombers”

2. Stevie Hicks’ dreadlocks

3. Reggie George’s leg stockings

I truly admire a fan club, T-shirts and all, that travels to road games, sits in the front row all for the rare chance to see Bergstrom called from the depths of the bench. By the way, has anyone heard from Reggie George lately? I fear I will wake up one day and find his face on the back of a milk carton.

The “What’s That In My Salad? Surprise of the Year” Award:

1. Wrestling team wins in Iowa City

2. ISU men’s basketball wins at Kansas

3. Softball wins at Texas

Although many believe the Cyclone grapplers were more talented than the Hawkeyes, they still won at Iowa for the first time since 1977.

The “What The Heck Were They Thinking?” Award:

1. Field goal kickers

2. Shots attempted by Damion Staple outside 10 feet

3. Tyease Thompson and Jerry Gair charged with burglarizing Larch Hall

I know we are hard on our kickers, but imagine this. If Brian Jansen doesn’t miss three field goals at Iowa, Jansen and Scott Krava connect on their 22-yard field goals at Colorado, and Bret Culbertson makes the chip-shot against Missouri, Iowa State goes 9-2 and is playing on New Year’s Day. We can dream, can’t we?

Performance of the Year:

1. Curtis Stinson at Kansas

2. Bret Meyer vs. Nebraska

3. Katie Robinette vs. Kansas State

Stinson put the Cyclones on his back, crippled hand and all, with 27 points and eight boards in the shocking win that paved the way to the NCAA tournament. Kansas coach Bill Self said after the game, “We had no answer for Curtis Stinson.”

Female Athlete of the Year:

1. Anne O’Neil

2. Janet Anson

3. Katie Robinette

O’Neil led the ISU senior attack with a team-high 16.6 points. She was second on the team in both rebounds and assists while nailing half of her threes. She was drafted by the WNBA’s Sacramento Monarchs. Oh, I almost forgot, she was an academic All-American as well. Anybody else feel worthless now?

Male Athlete of the Year:

1. Ellis Hobbs III

2. Jared Homan

3. Nate Gallick

This was a difficult choice, as all of them had tremendous years. Hobbs and Homan, both seniors, will be missed and remembered for years to come.