Ricki Rothbauer (left) and Dr. James Votruba

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. - Two Northern Kentucky University senior student-athletes were selected as the Margery Rouse Athlete of Distinction Award recipients at the NKU Senior Awards Luncheon on Tuesday.

NKU women’s soccer player Kristen Votapek and Norse softball standout Ricki Rothbauer shared the Margery Rouse Athlete of Distinction honor. The Athlete of Distinction Award is the highest honor an NKU student-athlete can receive from the University.

The Margery Rouse Athlete of Distinction Award is presented to a female who best exemplifies the student-athlete concept through dedication, effort, ability, leadership and unselfishness, and has given the most to NKU Athletics.

In addition, the award is based on academic excellence, athletic ability and achievement, character and leadership and an active involvement in the community.

Votapek, a graduate of Amelia High School, led the NKU women’s soccer team to the Great Lakes Valley Conference championship in the fall. She was also named NCAA Division II second team All-American by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America last season.

Votapek earned GLVC Player of the Year honors after leading the league in scoring with 16 goals and 18 assists. Her performance enabled the Norse to earn the No. 1 seed in the NCAA II Great Lakes Region.

In two seasons at NKU, Votapek scored 27 goals and added 26 assists. She twice was named NSCAA All-Great Lakes Region. In addition, Votapek was named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District IV second team this season for her work in the classroom as well as a recipient of an NCAA postgraduate scholarship.

Tracy Carskadon (left) and Dr. James Votruba

Rothbauer, a graduate of DuPont Manual High School in Louisville, Ky., was named first team All-American last season as NKU set a collegiate softball record by winning 55 consecutive games. Rothbauer also set Norse single-season records for triples (9), hits (82) and runs scored (48) as NKU advanced to the NCAA Division II World Series for the second straight year.

A second baseman, Rothbauer is currently batting .375 with a team-leading 60 hits. The Norse are 31-17 going into their final two home doubleheaders of the season this weekend.

Five other NKU senior student-athletes - Tracy Carskadon, Katie Hanck, Amy Martini, Mark Krahe and Rachele Vogelpohl - received Career Achievement Awards.

Carskadon, a graduate of Oak Hills High School, earned All-GLVC honors twice for the NKU women’s cross country program. She also captured All-Region honors in 2004.

Hanck, a sweeper for the women’s soccer team and a graduate of Fairfield High School, anchored a Norse defense that held opponents to just 14 goals the entire season. Hanck also earned All-Region honors twice and helped NKU win two GLVC championships.

Martini, a midfielder/defender and a graduate of Oak Hills High School, scored two goals and had five assists as a senior. She also earned All-Region honors twice and helped the NKU women’s soccer team earn four straight NCAA Division II Tournament berths.

Krahe, a senior golfer from Edgewood, Ky., earned All-GLVC honors earlier this month and helped NKU capture the conference championship for the first time since 2001. His performance also enabled NKU to earn a spot in the NCAA Division II Super Regional.

Vogelpohl, a shortstop on the softball team, earned second team All-GLVC honors and was named to NCAA II Great Lakes Region all-tournament team last season. Her 11 career home runs currently rank No. 2 in Norse history, and she needs two homers to tie the record of 13 held by Krista Eldridge.

Vogelpohl, a graduate of Holy Cross High School, also scored the winning run last season in the NCAA Division II World Series against Le Moyne (N.Y.) in the Norse’s opening game.

Martini and NKU softball player Kara Lorenz were recipients of the Boothe Inspiration Award. NKU cheerleader Stephanie Walterman was honored with a Career Service Award for her contributions to the NKU athletics department.