Senior volleyball standout Anne Rasmussen and senior swimming and diving member Josh Sorbe have been named the South Dakota Scholar Athletes of the Year announced Thursday in a digital version of The Charlies, the athletics annual award ceremony that was moved online this year thanks to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Rasmussen, who carries a 3.94 GPA in kinesiology and sport management, was a three-time All-Summit League honoree during her four-year career. The two-time Summit League Defensive Player of the Year earned Academic All-Summit League honors twice while also earning CoSIDA Academic honors as a senior.
Rasmussen (Oak Creek, Wisconsin) closed her career as one of the most decorated defensive players in South Dakota volleyball history. One of only two in school history to reach 2,000 career digs, her 2,004 are second most all-time, seventh in Summit League history and the most in the 25-point rally scoring era. Her senior season she posted 612 digs, third-most in program history while helping the Coyotes record a program-best 31-3 record, go 16-0 to win the Summit League regular season title and advance to the National Invitational Volleyball Championship title match.
Sorbe, who carries a 4.0 GPA in economics and political science, was a four-year contributor to the Coyote swimming and diving teams. Sorbe, a 2019 Truman Scholar and past student body president, provided team points in three events each at the Summit League Championships in all four seasons he competed.
Sorbe (Brookings, South Dakota) contributed 11 points at the Summit League Championships by finishing 10th in the 1650 free, 14th in the 400 IM and 16th in the 500 free. He helped the Coyotes post a team runner-up finish for the third-straight season and the team’s 706.5 were a school record for a Summit League Championships.
The Scholar Athlete of the Year award is reserved for accomplished senior student-athletes with a minimum 3.2 cumulative grade point average.
Recipients of the Female and Male Scholar Athlete of the Year awards over the past decade are listed below.
Female Scholar Athlete of the Year
2020: Anne Rasmussen, volleyball
2019: Allison Arens, basketball
2018: Brittany Jessen, volleyball
2017: Bridget Arens, basketball
2016: Elena Tsakakis, soccer
2015: Megan Glisar, track and field
2014: Bethany Firsick, track and field
2013: Alexa Duling, track and field
2012: Annie Roche, basketball & Emma Ladwig, track and field
2011: Crystal Schiernbeck, track and field
2010: Meredith Howell, swimming and diving & Rijalda Zejnic, tennis
Male Scholar Athlete of the Year
2020: Josh Sorbe, swimming and diving
2019: Eldon Warner, track and field/cross country
2018: Brice Cowman, track and field/cross country
2017: Miles Bergner, football
2016: Jeff O’Connell, track and field
2015: Brandon Bos, basketball
2014: Brandon Kovash, track and field
2013: Tim Marlette, football
2012: Chris Ganious, football
2011: Tane Owens, track and field
2010: Rob Gregoire, track and field
