Hockey player Derek Hansberry, cross country and track & field runner, Becca Jordahl, and softball and tennis player, Mindy Rudiger, have all earned Athlete of the Year and Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards at UW-River Falls.

This is the first year that Male and Female Athlete of the Year and Male and Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards have been given. "We felt it was important to recognize individuals in these categories on a yearly basis. These athletes represent the best of the best at UW-River Falls," said Falcon Athletic Director, Rick Bowen.

Hansberry, a senior from Arvada, Col., earned both the Male Scholar-Athlete and Athlete of the Year awards. Hansberry, who has a 3.88 grade point average and is majoring in business finance. He was named the WIAC and NCHA Scholar-Athlete in 2009. He was named to the 2007 CoSIDA/ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America College Division At-Large Third Team. Hansberry is a three-time member of the WIAC Scholastic Honor Roll and two-time honoree on the Northern Collegiate Hockey Association (NCHA) All-Academic squad. In addition, he has been recognized on UW-River Falls’ Dean’s List numerous semesters. Hansberry is a two-time USCHO.com All-America West Second Team honoree, claiming recognition in 2007 and 2008. He was named to the American Hockey Coaches Association/RBK All-America West Second Team in 2007 and USCHO.com West All-Rookie Team in 2006. Hansberry is a four-time All-NCHA First Team pick and three-time All-WIAC First Team selection. He was named his team’s Most Valuable Player in 2006. Hansberry, 6-0, 197 pounds, led the Falcons in goals (16) and points (25) in 2009. He was named the team's Most Valuable Player, the John Oostendorp Memorial award and the Jack Norqual, Sr., Memorial Coaches Achievement awards winner in 2009. He also led the team with seven power-play goals and two short-handed goals. He had two game-winners. He was named to the 2006 and 2007 first All-WIAC teams and earned honorable mention in 2008. Hansberry finished his career fourth in goals (74) and 12th in points (131). He scored 37 power-play goals, five short-handed goals and 12 game winners in 110 games. Hansberry was also named to the WIAC's All-Sportsmanship Team. That team is for individuals who displayed exemplary sportsmanship throughout the season. A team captain this season, Hansberry is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma and Sigma Beta Delta Honor Societies.

Jordahl, a senior from Pocatello, Idaho, earned the Female Athlete of the Year award. Last fall Jourdahl placed 14th out of 297 runners at the NCAA Division III Cross Country National Championship Meet hosted by Hanover College in Indiana. Jordahl finished the 6,000-meter race with a time of 21:25.11. Her average pace was 5:44.7 per mile, and her performance earned her All-American honors. Jordahl became an individual qualifier for the National Meet after placing second overall in the Midwest Regional. Jordahl placed first overall in the women’s WIAC Meet with a time of 21:00.59. She set the school cross country 6,000-meter record at the Oshkosh Invitational on Oct. 18 when she finished in 20:59. Jordahl has earned All-American honors three times in cross coutnry. She placed fourth at the 2007 NCAA meet and 19th at the 2006 NCAA meet. She was named the USTFCCCA Midwest Region Female Cross Country Athlete of the year in 2007. She has been named to the All-WIAC first team three times. Jordahl has also earned All-American honors in both indoor and outdoor track & field. In 2008 she was an All-American in the indoor 5,000-meter run and the outdoor 5,000 and 10,000-meter runs. She won the outdoor 5,000-meter run in 2008 and placed third in the 10,000. Jordahl helped the Falcon women's team capture the 2008 NCAA outdoor track & field National Championship. She has earned first team All-WIAC honors four times in indoor and outdoor track & field. She holds three UWRF indoor records; in the mile, 3,000-meters and 5,000-meters, and three UWRF outdoor records; in the 3,000-meters, 5,000-meters and 10,000-meters.

Rudiger, a senior from Menomonie, Wis., earned the Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award. She has earned four letters in both tennis and softball. She is an elementary education major with a 3.601 grade point average. In tennis she was a team co-captain this year and placed second at No. 6 singles at the WIAC Meet in October. She earned All-WIAC second team honors. In 2006 she won the team's Most Valuable Player award after earning All-WIAC second team honors in doubles. In 2005 she was named the team's Most Improved Player. Rudiger finished her career with a 34-25 singles record. Rudiger was named to the first All-WIAC softball teams in 2007 and 2008 and earned honorable mention in 2006. She was named to the second NFCA All-Great Lakes Region team in 2009 and to the organization's third team in 2008. She holds several Falcon career records. This year she hit 12 home runs which ties her for the UWRF single season mark. She has hit 38 career homers and that ties her for the WIAC career mark. Rudiger has scored 171 career runs and has 142 RBI and those marks are second and third respectively in the WIAC career records book. She hit .410 this year and led the Falcons in hits (59), doubles (11), slugging percentage (.736) and RBI (56). She is the Falcon career leader in at bats (562), runs (171), hits (208) home runs (38), RBI (142) and walks (96). She is second in career hitting with a .370 average. Rudiger started and played in every game in her UWRF career (171).