KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Little more than two years ago, Katie Eberling decided to take a chance on a sport she knew little about.

Last night, her colleagues were all too happy to remind her just how much she's achieved in a short amount of time.

In an August 11 ceremony held at the Conference Center in Lake Placid, N.Y., the Western Michigan alumna and former Bronco volleyball player was voted the United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation Women's Bobsled Athlete of the Year, marking an early highlight in the career of the Olympic hopeful. Eberling completed her second season in the sport with two World Cup medals, winning her second world championship as the brakeman teamed with pilot Elana Mayers.

The award, given by the USA Bobsled & Skeleton coaching staff, came as a complete surprise to the Palos Hills, Ill. native.

"It was definitely a shock to me," said Eberling. "When the coach started talking about the accomplishments of the winner, and I started to realize they were talking about me,it was incredibly humbling.

"I have the utmost respect for all of the other athletes in the program," said Eberling. "We're competitive and we try to push each other to get better at all times, and they've been role models to me during the process."

Eberling remains a hopeful for the Sochi Olympics in 2014, beginning with the upcoming team camp at Lake Placid and the push championships.

"We're definitely living in a full Olympic atmosphere," said Eberling. "I'm just trying to take it one day at a time."

Eberling reflected on the passage of time since the fateful day she took Mayers' call in 2011, setting her down the path to her success with USA Bobsledding. She said that the days before bobsledding seem distant in her mind.

"You know, it's very strange," said Eberling. "As I've progressed in the sport, it feels like I started forever ago. It's been an amazing opportunity for me."