La Crosse, WI - The Viterbo University Athletics Department hosted it third annual Athletic Honors Banquet last Friday. Besides V-Hawk seniors being honored, the athletic department handed out its Male and Female Athletes of the Year awards along with their Senior Scholar Athlete of the Year award and their Champions of Character of the Year award.

Twin sisters Emily Anderson (Sr. - Baraboo, Wis.) and Sam Anderson (Sr. - Baraboo, Wis.) were named Senior Scholar Athletes of the Year while Eric Ambrose (Jr. - Twin Lakes, Wis.) was named Viterbo Champions of Character of the Year. Scott Buschman (Jr. - Naperville, Wis.) was named Male Athlete of the Year and Ashley Sorenson (Sr. - Reedsberg, Wis.) was named Female Athlete of the Year.

The Anderson sisters have made their impact at Viterbo both on the soccer field and in the classroom. Academically, they both will graduate this May with a 4.0 GPA. Emily Anderson has been a four year starter for the V-Hawk defense and will graduate with a Marketing degree while Sam Anderson has been a four year starter for the V-Hawk offense and will graduate with an Elementary Education degree. On the field, Emily has started in all 75 games for the V-Hawks assisting on one goal during her career but she has helped stop so many more goals from being scored against the V-Hawks. Sam on the other hand is leaves Viterbo fourth on the all-time goals scored list (35) and fifth on the all-time points list (86). During their time as a V-Hawk, the Anderson's have helped the V-Hawks win two MCC championships and qualify for two NAIA Region VII tournaments.

Ambrose had another successful season on the court but he has also had an impact off of the court. The Champion of Character initiative is a NAIA national program that teaches five core values: respect, integrity, servant leadership, responsibility, and sportsmanship. Ambrose has shown all of these character traits both on and off the court this season. Off the court, Ambrose is finishing his second year as the Vice President of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee and leads numerous service projects with the basketball team. A First Team All-Conference selection, Ambrose started all 31 games for the V-Hawks and finished second on the team in scoring (15.4 points per game).

Buschman had another stellar season for the V-Hawks as he was named to the NAIA All-America Honorable Mention team. Buschman led the V-Hawks and the MCC in rebounding (10.3 rpg) and finished second in the MCC in scoring (19.0 ppg). He finished the season with 18 double-doubles including 7 straight games to finish the season. He also grabbed 330 rebounds smashing a V-Hawk school record that has stood since the 1976-77 season when Chris Yahnke finished with 290 rebounds. A First Team All-Conference selection, Buschman sit among the top ten in school history in scoring (1,416, 9^th) and rebounding (851, 2^nd).

Sorenson saved the best season of her prolific career for her final year on the V-Hawk women's soccer team. Sorenson became first women's soccer player to be named MCC Player of the Year. She led her team and the MCC in goals scored (20) and points recorded (42). A NAIA Honorable Mention All-American, Sorenson scored six game winning goals and finished third on the single season goals scored list. She leaves Viterbo as the school record holder in goals scored (56) and points scored (135). She is also tied for second on the all-time assist list with 23 assists.

The scholar athlete of the year award goes to the individual(s) who will have finished their eligibility this year and has the highest cumulative GPA. The Male and Female Athlete of the Year awards along with the Champions of Character award were voted on by the Viterbo athletics department.