Hall Of Fame
Marietta College
Klaiber and Sidick to recieve awards at Saturday's Hall of Fame banquet
Klaiber named 2005 Betty Cleland Award winner, while Sidick honored with 2005 Way-Weigelt Award
Feb. 1, 2006
MARIETTA, Ohio –The Betty Cleland and Way-Weigelt awards are the most honored distinctions the Marietta College Athletics Department presents each year. The 2005 recipients were two successful Marietta College Athletes who are certainly deserving of these awards.
Women’s rowing standout Dorothy Klaiber was this past year’s Betty Cleland Award winner and the honor of the Way-Weigelt Award went to Pioneer center fielder Chris Sidick. Both Sidick and Klaiber will be on had Saturday (Feb. 4) to be recognized during the Hall of Fame banquet.
Klaiber’s accomplishments on the water make her an outstanding selection for the 2005 Betty Cleland Award.
A three-year mainstay on the women’s crew Varsity Eight squad, Dorothy Klaiber rowed herself to a perfect finish to conclude her collegiate career. Not only did Klaiber claim Marietta College’s 2005 Betty Cleland Award, but she was also a first-team All-American selection after claiming second team accolades as a sophomore and junior. She is only the third member of the women’s rowing team to receive first team recognition. Mary Kunes, a former Betty Cleland Award winner, and Katie Wilson were named first-team All-Americans in 1999.
Klaiber’s accomplishments throughout her three years on the varsity squad, however, span far beyond national attention. Her teammates voted her co-captain in each of her last three seasons, as well as Oarswomen of the Year as a junior and senior. She was also awarded the Lindamood Prize at the conclusion of her senior year.
Winning seven titles during her tenure as a member of the Varsity Eight shell, Klaiber was instrumental in helping MC women’s crew climb back into the national headlines. This was most evident when the crew took first place at Dad Vail’s in 2004 only to finish runner-up in 2005. Her contributions in the boat also helped the Pioneers reclaim the title at the MC Invitational for the third consecutive year.
Although her leadership and work ethic will be sorely missed in 2005-06, future rowers have a good role model to follow in Klaiber.
Sidick, a two-time NCAA Division III All-American and Jack Rafeld Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Year in baseball and two-time All-OAC performer and NCAA Division III career leader in kick returns and kickoff return yards in football, was a run-away choice for the 2005 Way-Weigelt award.
Sidick made an immediate impact on both the gridiron and the diamond during his time on campus — an impact that will MC athletics will continue to feel even though Sidick graduated in May of 2005.
The aggressiveness, speed and toughness he brought with him to each practice and contest provided his teammates a glimpse of what it takes to be successful.
Sidick spent time on both sides of the ball, seeing time at defensive back, linebacker, wide receiver and running back, during his four seasons of football. He also returned kicks for Marietta and became the NCAA Division III career leader in kick returns (106) and kickoff return yards (2,235). Sidick received honorable mention All-OAC honors for his defense as junior and second team All-OAC recognition as a wide receiver in 2004. He was also named an All-Region return specialist as a senior.
In the spring, Sidick, a center fielder, built an impressive resume as he caused headaches for opponents throughout his four seasons with the Etta Express.
As a freshman, he was named to both the OAC and NCAA Division III All-Tournament teams. He earned his first All-OAC and All-Region honors as a sophomore. Sidick continued to rake in bigger honors as a junior, as he was selected OAC Player of the Year, All-Region and an All-American. He capped off his baseball career by duplicating his junior year, taking home OAC Player of the Year, All-Region and All-American honors.
Following graduation in May, the Cecil, PA native became the 40th Marietta College player to sign a professional baseball contract, when he joined the Washington Wild Things of the Frontier League.
