A fencer and a diver/triathlete from Omaha, a Taekwondo master from Hastings and a wrestler from Scottsbluff have earned top honors as 2013 Cornhusker State Games (CSG) Athletes of the Year.
Alex Bucevicius, 25, of Omaha, who earned a gold medal, two silvers and a bronze in fencing, was named the Male Athlete of the Year. The Female Athlete of the Year Award goes to two-sport medalist Emilie Kluth, 27, also of Omaha. Kluth earned two gold medals in diving and a silver for her age group in triathlon. Hastings Taekwondo athlete and instructor Vicki Neiman was selected as the E Lee Todd Senior Athlete of the Year for participants age 55 and over. Nieman earned a silver medal in the forms division, in which she competed with an otherwise all-male field. Salem Harsh, a 14 year-old wrestler from Scottsbluff, earned the CSG Youth Athlete of the Year award along with his third straight CSG Wrestling Iron Man Award, five gold medals and one silver.
CSG Male, Female and Youth Athletes of the Year are nominated for national awards issued by the National Congress of State Games at its annual symposium, set to take place Oct. 21-24 in San Antonio. The E. Lee Todd Senior Athlete of the Year Award is a Nebraska-only honor.
The 2013 Cornhusker State Games, held July 20-29, drew 12,323 participants from 81 different counties. The Nebraska Sports Council, which conducts the Cornhusker State Games, is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. Platinum partners include St. Elizabeth Regional Medical Center, BlueCross & BlueShield of Nebraska and Nebraska Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine. Learn more at NebraskaSportsCouncil.com.