Earlier tonight, Briar Cliff University hosted its annual Champions of Character banquet, a celebration of sport, scholastic achievement and character. Over 350 student-athletes gathered in the university's St. Francis Center to collectively look back upon the 2017-18 academic year and to recognize successes. Several awards were handed out throughout the evening including the male and female athlete of the year awards, the male and female scholar-athlete of the year awards, the male and female champion of character awards, the university's most inspirational athlete of the year award and the coach of the year award.
The athlete of the year awards were handed out to student-athletes whose success in sports made them shining ambassadors for Briar Cliff, athletes who raised the bar, captured the attention of the community and made Charger Nation proud to bleed Blue & Gold. The recipient of this year's female athlete of the year award was Johanna Vaske. This past season, she led the women's basketball team in scoring with 12.1 points per game and was second in rebounding with 5.4 rebounds per game. Vaske was named all-GPAC honorable mention for her efforts. She also excelled in track and recently set a school record in with 3,821 points in the heptathlon at the Doane Invite. The recipient of the male athlete of the year award was Prichard Sibanda. From his first appearance of the season, Sibanda let it be known that this was his year. In that contest he broke the school's single game scoring record by registering six goals. He helped his team put together an impressive 7-2 mark at home in 2018. He was an All-GPAC first team selection after scoring a school record 26 goals on the year. He led the nation in goals per game and points per game and was second in the NAIA in total points and goals scored. He scored at least two goals in seven games and led the team in five statistical categories.
Also honored during the evening were those student-athletes who have shown dedication in the classroom as well as in the athletic arena. Conference and national scholar-athletes were recognized and two student-athletes were selected as this year's scholar-athletes of the year. This year's female recipient of the Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award was a senior volleyball player from Wahoo, Nebraska. She is a two-year member with the Blue and Gold volleyball squad and dished out 463 assists this season. The recipient of the female scholar-athlete of the year award was Laura Barry. On the men's side, Logan Adam was honored as the male scholar-athlete of the year. Adam, a senior baseball player from Phoenix, Arizona, is currently hitting .318 with 41 hits, 19 RBI and 23 runs scored.
Each coach had the opportunity to nominate a Champion of Character from their own program, a student-athlete which they felt upheld the five core character values embraced by the NAIA; respect, integrity, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership. Of the 18 male and female nominees a committee decided on two student-athletes who deserved the title Champion of Character. The 2018 Female Champion of Character Award went to Jamie Jacobsen. The senior track and cross country runner from Treynor, Iowa, has been a four-year member of both the cross country and track and field teams at BC and she is also involved with campus ministry and academic peer mentoring. The 2018 Male Champion of Character was awarded to Jared Betz. The senior basketball player from Sioux City, Iowa, has been with the Chargers for four seasons but is also involved in Education Club, Student-Athlete Leadership Council and is a Miracle League volunteer.
The Most Inspirational Athlete of the Year Award honors an athlete who inspires others with his or her performance and/or actions, perhaps by overcoming adversity, injury or heartbreak. The recipient of the 2018 Most Inspirational Athlete of the Year didn't compete on the varsity level until he was a senior due to overcoming three ACL surgeries but appeared in six games for the Charger men's soccer team this season. BC's Most Inspirational Athlete this year was Zach Vanderah.
The evening also involved speeches by a few Charger student-athletes and recognition of record-breaking performances and those members of the Blue and Gold who received conference and national accolades throughout the year, including national qualifiers and All-Americans.
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