PEORIA, IL - For the 10th time in the history of the award, Bradley University's Charles Orsborn Award has been presented to multiple student-athletes, but for the first time, the winners come from the same family. The women's cross country and track twin sisters Caitlin and Kristen Busch (Waterloo, IL/Freeburg H.S.) were announced the co-winner of Bradley's most prestigious student-athlete award, capping the annual All About The B Awards ceremony Monday night at Renaissance Coliseum.
The Charles Orsborn Award has been presented annually since 1951 to recognize the Bradley University graduating senior student-athlete who has best combined academic and athletic success with community service. The twins were selected by the school's Intercollegiate Athletic Committee from a pool of five finalists that also included men's golfer Lyle Burns (Mahomet, IL/Seymour H.S.), softball player Kendall Duffy (Naperville, IL/Benet Academy) and women's golfer Danielle Lemek (Doniphan, NE/Doniphan-Trumbull H.S.). The award was last shared in 2010 when women's cross country and track runner Katie Nowak shared the honor with women's basketball player Jenny Van Kirk. While former winners Jenna Passman (2004) and Tim Regan (2003) now are married, the Busch twins become the first siblings to each win the award.
Caitlin Busch is a four-time Missouri Valley Conference champion, winning the 2014 and 2015 individual titles at the MVC Women's Cross Country Championships, as well as the 2016 MVC Indoor 3,000 meters title and the 2015 MVC Indoor 5,000 meters crown. Her time of 9:47.60 at the 2015 MVC Indoor Track Championships is the school record. A seven-time All-MVC performer in cross country, indoor track and outdoor track, she also earned cross country NCAA All-Midwest Region accolades in 2014 and qualified for the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 10,000 meters.
A health science major with a 3.77 cumulative GPA, Caitlin Busch is a seven-time MVC Scholar-Athlete honoree in cross country (2014 and 2015), indoor track (two events) and outdoor track (three events). She received the MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award in 2014 and 2015 and is a four-time recipient of the MVC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week. She also has earned recognition on the Bradley Athletic Director's Honor Roll in each of her first seven semesters.
Kristen Busch is a five-time Missouri Valley Conference champion, winning the 2014 and 2016 MVC Indoor title in the 5,000 meters, the 2015 MVC Outdoor championship in the 5,000 meters and the outdoor 10,000 meters crown in both 2014 and 2015. A 12-time All-MVC honoree in cross country and track, Kristen Busch earned honorable mention All-America recognition in the 10,000 meters for her performance at the 2014 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. She earned cross country NCAA All-Midwest Region honors in 2013 and 2015 and she has qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in three events.
A health science major with a 3.66 cumulative GPA, Kristen Busch is a nine-time Valley Scholar-Athlete in cross country (2014 and 2015), indoor track (four events) and outdoor track (three events). She received the MVC Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award in 2014 and 2015 and is a four-time recipient of the MVC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week. She also has earned recognition on the Bradley Athletic Director's Honor Roll in each of the last six semesters.
The catalysts of the Bradley women's cross country team's back-to-back Missouri Valley Conference championships in 2014 and 2015, both sisters are active participants with Bradley University's Service on Saturday program, including assistance with local Easter events for children and cleaning projects in local parks, as well as Washington tornado cleanup efforts. Both sisters serve as Bradley University tutors.
Caitlin Busch was Bradley's 2015 Varsity Club Female Most Outstanding Athlete, after Kristen Busch claimed the award in 2014, and both sisters will be considered this year, according to an initial announcement of candidates for the 2016 Varsity Club Most Oustanding Athletes Monday night. The complete list of candidates for the Varsity Club Most Outstanding Athletes continues to be fluid as four teams are still in season. The list will be reviewed and trimmed upon the completion of the 2015-16 athletic year and the winners will be determined through voting by Bradley coaches and staff, as well as local sports media and fans, this summer.
In other awards presented Monday: pioneering women's tennis player Mira Panajotovic Vukelich, who was recognized during the school's inaugural For the Love of the Game celebration of Bradley University's women's athletics history in January, is the recipient of the 16th annual Orville Nothdurft Lifetime Achievement Award; Duffy earned the 32nd Carl Grose Service Award; senior soccer player Andrew Brown was the male recipient of the 10th annual Coach Joe Stowell Award, while senior softball player Kathryn Spenn was the female recipient; baseball senior Brady Wilkin was presented the 14th annual Megan C. Fong Inspiration Award; and longtime Braves Club member Ray Picl received the 18th annual Bradley Athletics Special Recognition Award.
2016 All About The B Awards
Charles Orsborn Award: Caitlin Busch and Kristen Busch, Women's Cross Country/Track
Megan C. Fong Inspiration Award: Brady Wilkin, Baseball
Carl Grose Service Award: Kendall Duffy, Softball
Coach Joe Stowell Award: Andrew Brown, Soccer and Kathryn Spenn, Softball
Bradley Athletics Special Recognition Award: Ray Picl, Longtime Braves Club Member
Orville Nothdurft Lifetime Achievement Award: Mira Panajotovic Vukelich, Women's Tennis
