Athletic awards
04/16/2025
2025 Athletic award winners: Corwin Croy and Rita Dietrich (Larry W. Jones Memorial Award), Kiley Cline (Katheryn E. Little Award), and Justin Maurer (A.C. Burcky Award) with Athletics Director James Grandey.
Life Lessons and Legacy from Athletics
“Life Lessons from Athletics” was the message given at the Bluffton University Athletics Award forum on Tuesday, April 15. Awards were also presented to standout senior student-athletes and a dedicated supporter of Bluffton athletics.
According to Michele Durand, a 1988 graduate of Bluffton University and head women’s basketball coach at University of Findlay, failure is one of the most powerful teachers you will have.
“Failure is feedback,” said Durand. “When you fail at something and use it the right way, it becomes a teacher.”
Durand encouraged students that some of the greatest breakthroughs come after your biggest breakdowns. Durand said the greatest athletes are not the ones who do not fail, but rather those who learn the quickest from failure.
“Failure doesn’t lie to you, and doesn’t sugarcoat anything,” said Durand. “If you can handle it right away, it shows you how to grow.”
Durand was inducted into Bluffton University’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018 for her achievements in coaching. She played both basketball and tennis as an undergraduate at Bluffton.
A.C. Burcky Award
Justin Maurer of Springfield, Ohio, received the 2025 A.C. Burcky Award as outstanding male athlete of the year. Justin has started more than 140 games in his career and has 133 hits, 26 doubles and 15 homeruns. Justin has 68 career walks which ranks him in the top five all time and he has 53 hit by pitches, which ranks him second all time. His on base percentage of .448 ranks him 10th all-time and he ranks 5th all-time in home runs. Justin is also the career leader for chances and putouts as well. For his performance on the field, Justin earned 1st Team All-HCAC in 2024.
“Justin is a man of hard work and integrity,” said James Grandey, head baseball coach and director of athletics. “He always is willing to put in the extra time hitting, lifting weights, or studying to be successful. Our program is better for having Justin being in our program and we are excited to watch this next step on his journey.”
A pre-physical therapy major, Maurer is the son of Ryan and Heather Maurer. He has been Academic All-HCAC in each semester he has been eligible has earned CSC Academic All-District two times.
After graduation, Maurer plans to attend physical therapy school at Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The A.C. Burcky Award is named for the late professor of physical education and coach who served Bluffton from 1922-68. A.C. Burcky was inducted into the NAIA Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962. In 1970, the A.C. Burcky addition to Founders Hall was dedicated in his honor.
Kathryn E. Little Award
Kiley Cline of Fostoria, Ohio, received the 2025 Kathryn E. Little Award as outstanding senior female athlete of the year.
Kiley has been a four-year member of the golf team and has been the #1 spot on the team her entire career. She has been named HCAC Athlete of the Week eight times and has earned 1st Team All-HCAC as well. She has six top 10 finishes and 10 top five finishes while securing three individual tournament wins as well. She holds the records for lowest season average, lowest career average, low 18-hole score and low 36-hole score. She is also a part of every team record in our record books.
“Kiley truly loves the game of golf and is the first person to show up to the course and the last to leave,” said Ryan Turner, head golf coach. “She is a very humble player and always displays excellent sportsmanship. She is a great leader on and off the course who promotes our family atmosphere and team culture.”
A biology major with minors in Spanish and chemistry, Cline is the daughter of Joe and Heather Cline. Upon graduation, Cline plans to pursue further her education earning a master’s degree while coaching golf through a graduate assistant position.
Her award is named for Kathryn Little, who served in Bluffton’s health, physical education and recreation department and in athletics from 1958-74. Little was a member of the first class inducted into the Bluffton Athletics Hall of Fame.
Larry W. Jones Memorial Award
Corwin Croy ’69 and Rita Dietrich received the Larry W. Jones Memorial Award. This award is presented “in recognition of interest, support and significant contributions to Bluffton University athletics” by a non-athlete.
Corwin is a 1969 graduate of Bluffton College and a member of record holding relay teams. He earned his Master of Education Administration in 1979 from Ohio University. Rita earned her degree in 1970 and her Master of Education from OU in 1983.
Corwin coached football and basketball and they both Corwin and Rita coached track and field at the high school level during their teaching careers. Both have also served as officials as well.
Corwin and Rita began supporting Bluffton athletics as a way to repay the university for their support. Both Corwin and Rita also became adjunct instructors and supervisors of student teachers which allowed them to become fans of the students and their friends. You can often find Corwin and Rita at many Bluffton events from the arts to track meets near and far supporting our students.
Both Rita and Corwin were positively impacted by educators and coaches in their lives and have done all they can to also have a positive impact on the lives of students as well.
The award is named after Larry Jones, who graduated from Bluffton University in 1970. He participated in varsity basketball while at Bluffton and later served as an athletic official before being killed in an automobile accident in 1978.