Press contact: Angela Try

SPRINGFIELD, IL — The 2024 recipients of the Dick Dhabalt Athlete of the Year Award at Lincoln Land Community College have been announced. The award winners are baseball’s Grant Pohlman of Carrollton and basketball’s Marley Smith of Auburn. 

Grant Pohlman is a sophomore catcher for the Loggers baseball team. He was named All-Region 24 Catcher, Region 24 Co-Player of the Year, First Team All-MWAC, MWAC Player of the Year and Second Team All-American. He had a .359 batting average, 11 2B, 12 HR, 46 RBI and 16 SB. 

“Grant is a very talented baseball player and our team leader,” said Ron Riggle, LLCC athletic director and head baseball coach. “As good of a player as Grant is, he is an even better person.”

Marley Smith is a sophomore forward for the women’s basketball team at LLCC. She averaged 18.6 points per game and 9.3 rebounds. She was named an All-American, All-MWAC (twice), All-Region 24 (twice), National Tournament All-Tourney Team and NJCAA Player of the Week.

“Marley has been a team leader the past two seasons,” said Chad Jones, head coach, LLCC women’s basketball. “She is an excellent student as well.”

The LLCC Dick Dhabalt Athlete of the Year Award recognizes annually one LLCC male athlete and one female athlete. The award was established in February 2015 in honor of Mr. Dhabalt, former athletic director, head men’s basketball coach and faculty member, and acknowledges his dedication to education, athletics and students at LLCC.