MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College will present the athletics department's most prestigious awards to a pair of 2009 graduates at the Hall of Fame Banquet on Feb. 6. The ceremony will coincide with the induction of the 27th Hall of Fame Class. Former baseball standout Cameron Cimino (Boardman/Boardman) will receive the Way-Weigelt Award and former track and field star Tiffany Kovacevich will be awarded the Betty Cleland Award.

This year's Hall of Fame inductees are All-American infielder Chuck Nachreiner '79, All-Region setter Jenny Kroger '89, All-American defensive back Bryan Bown '94, All-Region center Jason Hayes '97 and All-American pitcher Bob Davies '98. In addition, Ken and Betty Stollar will be receiving the department's Distinguished Service Award during the banquet.

The Hall of Fame Banquet, which takes place Saturday evening in the Dyson Baudo Recreation Center, caps off a busy weekend at Marietta College that includes a track & field meet as well as a men's and women's varsity basketball game. It also features alumni games for men's and women's basketball and volleyball.

Tickets are $25 and can be purchased through the athletics office by calling (740) 376-4665 or by emailing Wendy Thieman at thiemana@marietta.edu.

Cimino, a native of Boardman, Ohio, was a three-year letterman with the baseball team.

"Cam was a tremendous competitor and leader for our program," Head Baseball Coach Brian Brewer said. "While Cam was naturally gifted offensively, he had to work very hard on his defensive abilities. His being named an All American first team third basemen is a great reflection of his work ethic and committment to getting better."

Cimino split time between third base and designated hitter and hit .382 during his three-year varsity career in the pinstripes. In 130 career games, he finished with 158 hits, including 38 doubles, 7 triples and 18 home runs, to go along with 123 runs scored and 109 runs batted in. Cimino was a varsity member of the squad that won the NCAA Mideast Regional in 2007 and finished runner-up in 2009.

As a senior, Cimino became Marietta's 107th All-American selection and 21st Jack Rafeld OAC Player of the Year in addition to being named All-Great Lake Region. In 49 games, Cimino, who was also a 2008 All-Region and All-OAC selection, paced Marietta in batting average (.443), hits (81), doubles (19), triples (3), runs scored (57) and multiple-hit games (24). He finished second in home runs (11), RBI (47) and multiple-RBI games (15).

Cimino, an Advertising & Public Relations major, remains in Marietta and is working to pursue a career in professional baseball.

Kovacevich, a native of Strongsville, Ohio, was a four-year letterman with the track and field program.
 
“Tiffany was a program changing recruit," Head Track & Field Coach Derek Stanley said. "Not only was she able to accomplish success in track & field but she experienced the same level of success in the classroom. As she progressed through school, she became an icon for our throwing program and served as an example of the type of student-athlete Marietta can be proud of. She finished her career as the best woman ever to throw for Marietta and she was easily the best student-athlete I have ever coached.”

Kovacevich holds the school record in the indoor shot put (11.82m), indoor weight throw (14.84m), outdoor shot put (12.16m) and outdoor hammer throw (47.25m).

As a senior, Kovacevich stepped up as one of the team's four captains and was named OAC Student-Athlete of the Month for April. Her All-OAC performance in the indoor weight throw contributed to the team's fourth place finish at the 2009 OAC Indoor Championships. Kovacevich then won the hammer throw title for the second year in a row at the 2009 OAC Outdoor Championships where Marietta took fifth. A six-time All-Ohio performer, she also provisionally qualified in the hammer throw for the NCAA Division III National Outdoor Track & Field Championship.

Kovacevich, an Advertising & Public Relations major, is currently pursuing a master's degree at Heidelberg University where she is also an assistant coach with its track and field team.