CHAMPAIGN, Ill. –Parkland College Athletics is pleased to announce its Parkland Cobras Athletes of the Year for the 2021-2022 academic school year. Freshman golfer Dain Richie has been named the Male Athlete of the Year and freshman volleyball player Kat Blase has been selected as Female Athlete of the Year.
 
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This past season, 2021-2022 Male Athlete of the Year Dain Richie helped lead the Parkland College golf program to its fifth straight NJCAA National Championship appearance, where the team placed 4th, securing a Top-5 finish for the fourth consecutive year. On the way there, the team won their fifth straight MWAC Conference Championship, the Cobras finished 2nd at the Central District Championship and Parkland also picked up 6 regular-season victories.
 
"Dain is very deserving of this award," Parkland Golf head coach Corbin Sebens stated. "He joins a list as the 4th consecutive golfer who had great careers for us to win this award. Dain did great things on and off the course for us this season by earning a 4.0 GPA and finishing the year as a First Team All-American. These accomplishments would not be earned without steady composure and an incredible work ethic. We are very lucky Dain will be coming back for another season, and we cannot wait to see how he will lead us and how good he can become!"
 
Dain Richie, from New Berlin, Illinois was named to the NJCAA All-American First Team after finishing tied for seventh place, individually, at the National Championship. In addition, Richie earned a spot on the NJCAA All-Region 24 Team and the MWAC All-Conference team in his first year with the Cobras. Richie finished the season ranked 28th nationally, averaging 74.96 strokes over 22 rounds of play across 10 tournaments. The New Berlin High School alum ended his freshman season with five top-5 and eight top-10 finishes.
 
When asked about what being Athlete of the Year means to him, Richie said, "Achieving this award is a great honor, especially at a school like Parkland, which is full of great athletes and great sports programs. I hope that I can continue the success of past individuals that have received this award. Working towards this feat was no easy task. I was tirelessly practicing and honing my skills while staying focused in the classroom to prioritize good grades. I was trying to better myself every day as a person and on the course."
 
"Coach Sebens has provided me with a path and an opportunity," Richie continued. "He guided me throughout my freshman year, pushing me to be the best I can be. We had many long and sometimes difficult conversations that only allowed us to get through difficult times and strengthen our relationship. I am extremely excited to get back to campus in the fall and pick up where I left off."
 
Richie is the son of Anna Richie and Bill Richie. His academic pursuits include Horticulture.
 
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This past season, 2021-2022 Female Athlete of the Year Kat Blase helped lead the Cobras Volleyball team to a 56-3 overall record in a season that included M-WAC and District championships as well as a National Championship victory, the program's third national title in the last seven seasons. In 2021, the Cobras held a 26-0 record at home and ended the season on a 38-match winning streak.
 
"This season was a great experience," Blase said. "I have learned so much from my teammates and coaches and I have grown as a player and as a person. This award means a lot to me, but I wouldn't have been able to achieve any of this without the help of my teammates, family and coaches. I am very thankful for everyone that has supported me. I had fun this season and I am excited to see what next season holds."
 
Blase, a freshman from Charleston, Illinois, was selected to both the 2021-22 NJCAA DII Volleyball All-American First Team and the AVCA 2021 Two-Year College All-American First Team. The outside hitter put together a highly impressive statistical season, leading the country in blocks (337) and blocks per set (2.11) and ranking second in the nation in points (738.5) and hitting percentage (46.2%). Blase's 472 kills in 2021 ranked 11th in the country and her 4.6 points per set placed her in the top 20. In the NJCAA National Tournament, the Charleston High School alum produced 41 kills and 18 total blocks and was chosen as the 2021 NJCAA Division II National Tournament MVP. In addition to these national awards, Blase was chosen as the 2021-22 Player of the Year for both the Region 24 and the MWAC Conference.
 
"I'm proud of Kat and her evolution in her freshman year," Parkland Volleyball head coach Cliff Hastings said. "She had moments during the regular season where she questioned herself or at times held back, but when the post-season came around, Kat really felt confident in herself and felt that confidence in her teammates. She no longer held back but let herself shine which, in turn, made our team shine and only grow in confidence and joy as well. Sometimes talented-but-humble kids like Kat can shy away from the spotlight or be concerned about doing too much. I was proud that Kat understood that only by everyone doing their most-and-best could we win nationals with her anchoring the way. I look forward to that continued evolution both on and off the court for Kat in her second season this coming year."
 
Blase is the daughter of Nichole Woodall and Timothy Woodall. Her academic pursuits include Nursing.