May 6, 2001

VERMILLION, S.D. - The University of South Dakota Athletics Department honored student athletes, students from programs affiliated with the athletic department and coaches during a Student Athletes Awards Banquet on May 6 in the Commons Dining Hall on campus.

Jeremy Kudera of Dell Rapids, S.D., and Sara Deckert of Doland, S.D., received USD's highest athletic department honor for student athletes when they were named the male and female Scholar Athletes during the banquet. Kudera and Deckert, selected by the USD Board of Control, were honored for both their academic and athletic achievements while at USD. Deckert and Kudera now become the Stan Marshall Award nominees from USD. The Marshall Award, presented by the North Central Conference, recognizes the top male and female scholar athlete in the conference and will be announced later this spring.

Deckert is one of the greatest track and field sprinters in school history. At the Indoor Nationals this past winter at Boston, she won a national title in the 400 meters, setting a new school record. Deckert ran a 54.65 (breaking Stephanie Knight's 1998 record of 54.88 at the nationals to become USD's first 400-meter champion. Deckert now holds both South Dakota's 200 and 400 records. Earlier in February 2001,Deckert was tabbed the Most Outstanding Performer at the NCC Track and Field Championships by winning her third straight NCC title in the 200 meters while claiming a 400 meter title and a second place finish in the 55 meters. At the outdoor nationals last spring, she finished second in the 200 meters (23.72) and fourth in the 100-meter dash (11.93). Deckert has won six NCC titles in indoor and outdoor track and field. A four-time all-American, she was one of seven USD women's track and field athletes tapped as USCTA academic All-Americans late last summer. The daughter of Gary and Muriel Deckert, she has a 3.587 grade point average in business management and marketing.

A pre-medicine major, Kudera capped off a brilliant basketball career with a strong senior season, which included earning a first team selection to the 2001 Verizon Academic All-American team. Kudera, who has a 3.974 grade point average, was named a GTE All American a year ago. He is a three-time first-team Academic all-North Central Conference pick, three-time first-team all-North Central Conference selection and a three-time Academic All District VII (1998-2001) selection. In 2001, he averaged 14.2 points and 7.6 rebounds per game. He was third in NCAA Division II in free throw shooting (78-84, 92.9 percent) and first in the NCC in free throw shooting. He was also first in the NCC in defensive rebounds (6.04 per game), second in 3-point field goals made (2.69 per game), and fourth in the NCC in rebounding (7.6). Kudera, the son of Steve and Marilyn Kudera, was named NCC Player of the Week on Feb. 5. At South Dakota, Kudera finished ninth in career points with 1,352 and ninth in career rebounds with 705. He finished third in made 3-point field goals in a career with 229 (229-580 for 39.4 percent). He also owns the fourth and fifth best single season totals for made 3-point field goals (82 - 1999-00 and 78 - 2000-01).

Scholar Athlete Recognition: As part of the Scholar Athlete recognition, USD also presented certificates to the scholar athlete recipients from each of the programs in USD intercollegiate athletics. They included (athletic training) Jill Panning, a senior from Sioux Falls, S.D., (baseball) Rob Miller, a senior from Rapid City, S.D., (men's basketball) Kudera, (women's basketball) Kelly Gese, a senior from Shoreview, Minn., (women's cross country) Aimee Dunlop, a junior from Woodbine, Iowa, (men's cross country) Jason Probasco, a senior from Woodbine, Iowa, (football) Josh Stamer, a senior from Sutherland, Iowa, (women's golf) Steph Hawley, a senior from Huron, S.D., (softball) Tiffany Davis, a senior from Hawarden, Iowa, (men's swimming) David Nelson, a senior from Baudette, Minn, (soccer) Angela Houdek, a junior from Sioux Falls, S.D., (outdoor women's track and field) Deckert, (indoor track and field) Sandy Pelkofer, a senior from Rapid City, S.D., (men's track and field - outdoor) Aaron Dykstra, a senior from Yankton, S.D., (indoor men's track and field) Josh Hofer, a junior from Freeman, S.D., (volleyball) Angie Bjorkman, a junior from Vermillion, (U-Dance) Michelle Early, a junior from Sioux Falls, S.D., and Angie Wipf, USD cheer squad, a senior from Watertown, S.D.

USD presented several other awards during the ceremony.

Hoy Award: Alumni Director Nancy McCahren presented Carl B. "Rube" Hoy Awards to Deckert, Stamer and Stacey Gales of White Lake, S.D. The Hoy Award recognizes outstanding achievement by a male and female student athlete and a member of the USD training staff.

A senior from Doland, S.D., Deckert won a national title in the 400 meters at the NCAA D-II indoor championships this winter, setting a new school record and becoming the Coyotes' first ever 400-meter champion. Deckert ran a 54.65, which broke former Coyote Stephanie Knight's 1998 record of 54.88. Deckert, who hold both South Dakota's 200 and 400 records, was named the Most Outstanding Performer at the NCC Track and Field Championships in February. Deckert has won seven NCC titles in indoor and outdoor track and field. A four-time all-American, she was one of seven USD women's track and field athletes tapped as USCTA academic All-Americans late last summer. The daughter of Gary and Muriel Deckert, she has a 3.587 grade point average in business management and marketing.

Stamer, a senior from Sutherland, Iowa, who recently signed a free agent contract to play for the New York Giants of the NFL. Stamer has a 3.667 grade point average in accounting (business). He will graduate in May 2001 with a master's degree in accounting. Stamer was named an honorable mention All-American by the Don Hansen's National Weekly Football Gazette, a Daktronics all-Midwest Region second team pick, second team all-NCC selection, and for the second straight year, a first-team academic all-NCC pick. He also received the USD Coaches Appreciation Award (defense). Stamer led the North Central Conference and finished in the top 20 nationally in tackles for loss (TFL) with 21 and he recorded six quarterback sacks that was fourth in the NCC. In his career, the senior captain recorded 152 total tackles, 36 tackles for loss (-137) and 15.5 quarterback sacks. He is the son of Mary McClaren and Terry Stamer.

Gales has a 3.5 grade point average in therapeutic recreation and will graduate with a minor in athletic training. A member of the National Athletic Trainers Association, Gales has served as the head student athletic trainer for women's basketball and the assistant student athletic trainer for men's basketball and football. Gales, who has been named to the Dean's List at USD, has served as the vice-president of the USD Athletic Training Club. She is the daughter of Marvin and Margaret Gales.

Van Why Award: Nate Tibbetts, a senior from Sioux Falls, received the John Van Why Award, presented by Athletic Director Kelly Higgins and Robert Van Why. The Van Why Award honors the outstanding male athlete at USD.

Tibbetts will go down in school history as perhaps South Dakota's greatest passing guard. Tibbetts was named by the Sioux Falls Argus Leader as the Player of the Year in South Dakota for the 2000-01 season. He was also named first team all North Central Conference in 2001. Tibbetts, who averaged 8.3 points and 7.6 assists per game in 2000-01, leaves South Dakota as its best-ever-passing guard and also its career steals leader. He was named the Coyotes' Defensive Player of the Year and the team MVP. Nicknamed "The General, " Tibbetts finished his career with 678 assists, which shattered the mark of former Coyote great Rick Nissen, who had 598 from 1972-76. Tibbetts had the two best single season assist totals in school history (216, 1999-00, and 214, 2000-01). He set the career steals mark with 215, passing Tim Hatchett, who had 208 from 1986-90. Tibbetts, an elementary education major, is the son of Fred and Micki Tibbetts.

Catie Tobin Award: Tiffany Davis, a senior from Hawarden, Iowa, and Kelly Gese, a senior from Shoreview, Minn., received the first annual Catie Tobin Award as the outstanding female athlete(s) at South Dakota this past year.

Davis, a senior from Hawarden, Iowa, has been one of the top softball players in the North Central Conference. Davis led the NCC in home runs with 17 and has 53 in her career, which ranks among the top ten in NCAA. This season, Tiffany has a .394 batting average and a .840 slugging percentage. A senior captain, Davis was named co-MVP of the NCC on Friday. She was also named to the all-NCC team for the second straight year. Davis holds nearly every school record in hitting including: hits (240), runs scored (173), runs batted in (211), doubles (51), triples (14), home runs (53), walks (135), games played (250) , and at bats (669). Her career fielding percentage (.975) is best in school history. She is third in career putouts with 717 (leader - Stacie Schliesman, 1135, 1994-97).

In terms of seasonal performance, she has set new school records with 63 RBI, 17 home runs, five triples and 46 walks. Her .833 slugging percentage is also a school record. Her 17 home runs are an NCC record and her 53 total home runs ranks her in the top 10 in the NCAA all-time career home run lists. Last season, Davis was selected as an NFCA All-American, all North Central Region, and first team all-NCC selection. Davis has a 3.15 GPA in criminal justice. She is the daughter of Lori and Randy Davis.

Gese, a senior from Shoreview, Minn., has a 3.545 grade point average in communications disorders. Gese was named all-North Central Conference during a solid senior season in 2000-01. She was also one of three Coyotes named to the academic all-NCC squad. Gese, was named all-NCC for the second time. She was also honored during the 1998-99 season when she was picked all-North Central Region. In her career, Gese scored 1,293 points, which places her fifth on the Coyotes' career scoring chart. Her 436 career assists places her third on the Coyotes' career list and her 129 steals is 14th on the school's career list. She was also named to the Sioux Falls Argus Leader College First Team. She is the daughter of Mark and Linda Gese.

Coyote Character Awards: A new part of the awards ceremony was the establishment of the Coyote Character Award by the Student Athletic Activities Council. The award honors the student athletes' demonstration of the basics of good character including respect, trustworthiness, responsibility, fairness, caring and sportsmanship. These award winners have demonstrated good character on the field or court of play as well as in the classroom and serve as role models for South Dakota Athletics. A total of 17 student athletes were named Coyote Character Award recipients. They included: (baseball) Rob Miller, Rapid City, S.D., (men's basketball) Jeremy Kudera, Dell Rapids, S.D., (women's basketball) Kelly Koepp, Jordan, Minn., (women's cross country) Aimee Dunlop, Woodbine, Iowa, (men's cross country) Noah Deyo, Rapid City, S.D., (football) Wade Mitchell, Parkston, S.D., (women's golf) Steph Hawley, Huron, S.D., (men's golf) Adam Chandler, Vermillion, S.D., (soccer) Ali Magel, Sioux City, Iowa, (softball) Leanna Chapman, Rapid City, S.D., (men's swimming and diving) David Nelson, Baudette, Minn., (women's swimming and diving) Sara Hamlet, Aurora, Ore., (women's track and field) Sara Deckert, Doland, S.D., (men's track and field) Aaron Dykstra, Yankton, S.D., (women's tennis) Paige Wilbur, Pierre, S.D., (women's volleyball) Angie Bjorkman, Vermillion, S.D., and Angela Golesh, Lakewood, Colo.

Other Honors and Recognition: USD recognized two student athletes that won individual national titles in indoor track and field in February. Deckert won the 400-meter dash in a school record 54.65 seconds while Pelkofer had a school record pole vault of 12'3 to win the pole vault at the NCAA Division II Track and Field Championships in Boston, Mass.

Matt Hoyt and Stefanie Senn, who were recipients of NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships last summer, and Jeremy Kudera and Kelly Gese, who are finalists for NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships in 2001, were honored at the banquet.

In addition, USD honored head coaches Dave Boots, Dave Gottsleben and Chad Lavin, who were recognized by various organizations as coach of the year. Boots received his third straight NCC Coach of the Year in men's basketball while Gottsleben received a NCC Coach of the Year (outdoor track) honor for the seventh time as well as the South Dakota Sportswriter's Association College Coach of the Year. Lavin was recently recognized by the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association as its College Coach of the Year in women's basketball.

In addition, the USD acknowledged the 161 student athletes that have attained a cumulative grade point average between 3.0 and 4.0.