University of South Dakota Athletics

Wayne Ailts, a native of Flandreau, SD, was a four-year letter winner for the Coyote footall team as a fullback, linebacker, and punter. He was one of the top college punters in the Midwest leading the North Central Conference in both 1955 and 1956. He earned first team all-conference honors as a senior in 1956. Ailts set the school record for single season punting average at 41.2 yards in 1954. He also established a school record by averaging 50 yards per punt (5-250) to help the Coyotes beat Iowa State Teachers College (now Northern Iowa) in 1956. He has been an elementary physical education instructor and junior high coach of football and wrestling at the Jackson School District.