Feb. 9, 2007

The 61st annual Viejas Salute to the Champions dinner is next Tuesday, Feb. 13th, at the Town and Country Resort in Mission Valley. USD had a record year with 18 student-athletes earning honors for Stars of the Month. Junior QB Josh Johnson, who led the Toreros to an 11-1 record and second straight mid-major national championship, is one of five amateur stars of the year, and becomes just the second Torero to be so honored. Torero women's tennis player Zuzana Lesenarova, a four-time All-American, earned the honor in 1999 after winning the NCAA Division I singles championship.

The Salute dinner honors the Breitbard Hall of Fame Class of 2007, the 2006 Professional and Amateur Stars of the Year, the 2006 Challenged Athlete Star of the Year, the 2007 Community Champion, the 2007 Ernest H. Wright Sr. Humanitarian Award and the Parade of Champions recognizing the Stars of the Month. The emcee is Emmy Award-winner Dick Enberg. The reception begins at 5:30 p.m., followed by the dinner/program at 6:15 pm. For ticket information, call 619 -699-2309. Below is a complete list of USD winners from 2006. For complete information, visit San Diego Hall of Champions

2006 University of San Diego `Stars of the Month'
Corey Belser, Men's Basketball, January
Josh Butler, Baseball, February
Tiara Harris, Women's Basketball, February
Brandon Johnson, Men's Basketball, March
Keoni Ruth, Baseball, April
Josh Romanski, Baseball, May
Jordan Abruzzo, Baseball, June
Nate Boman, Baseball, August
Kristen Carlson, Volleyball, September
Josh Johnson, Football, September
Laurel Abrahamson, Volleyball, October
JT Rogan, Football, October
Christie Dawson, Volleyball, November
Jordan Paopao, Football, November
Amber Sprague, Women's Basketball, November
Eric Bakhtiari, Football, December
Ross DeRogatis, Men's Basketball, December
Amanda Rego, Women's Basketball, December