INDIANAPOLIS – The Great Midwest Athletic Conference was proud to announce Hillsdale College senior student-athlete Victoria Addis (Massillon, OH/Jackson HS) as the recipient of the 2019-20 Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year Award on Thursday afternoon.
 
Addis, a two-sport standout in swimming and softball, was officially selected among a pool of strong applicants following a vote among faculty athletic representatives from Great Midwest member institutions.
 
The Great Midwest Scholar-Athlete of the Year annually recognizes an individual for a combination of their athletic success and accomplishments in the classroom for the most recent academic year.
 
Addis personified excellence in both areas while graduating with a final GPA of 3.95 as a major in Biochemistry at Hillsdale. She was a recipient of the 2020 American Institute of Chemists’ Outstanding Senior Award Recipient.
 
Additionally, Addis received a LAUREATES Scholarship funding research into gene cloning, PCR and transformations and protein isolation. She was able to present her results at a Hillsdale Research Symposium back in February.
 
In the pool, Addis experienced a conference championship in swimming and diving as the Chargers won as a team in Canton. She also received all-conference honors for the second straight year.
 
Addis was runner-up as a member in the 200-yard medley relay, third in the 200 freestyle relay and second in the 400-yard medley relay. She also delivered team points in the 50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and 200 breaststroke.
 
The senior was also an instrumental part in helping Hillsdale to a pair of NCAA Softball Championship appearances (2018, 2019) as Great Midwest team champions for the past two years. The Chargers were attempting to make it three straight this spring before the season was shortened due to COVID-19.
 
Addis had a pair of doubles this spring while batting .368 last year with 11 extra-base hits in 30 games played.
 
“It’s unheard of in Division II to have an athlete who is such an integral part of two different sports, and it takes a very special person to do that while upholding the kind of academic standards for herself that Victoria has,” Hillsdale College Women’s Swimming and Diving coach Kurt Kirner said. “In 30 years of coaching swimming collegiately, I’ve never seen anyone balance academics and multiple athletic commitments as successfully as Victoria has. She has set the standard for every student-athlete who jumps in the pool for us.”
 
“It’s rare enough to see someone play two sports in college, but to be a leader in both sports and to accomplish the things Victoria did is just simply amazing,” added Hillsdale College softball coach Kyle Gross. “To me, Victoria’s achievements stand out, but also her character. She’s the most genuine person you’ll ever meet, and someone who made everyone around her better every day with her positive attitude. For that reason alone we were extremely blessed to have her be a part of this program for the last four seasons.”

 Other finalists on the ballot for the 2019-20 award included Findlay’s Hanna Cederholm (swimming and diving), Lake Erie’s Holland Erb (women’s soccer), Tiffin’s Elle Hamilton (women’s lacrosse), Trevecca Nazarene’s Leah Hoffman (women’s soccer), Malone’s Faith Lau (volleyball), Ursuline’s Sarah Mitchell (women’s soccer) and Walsh’s Andra Lehotay (cross country/track and field).