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 5 in the Commons Dining Hall on campus.

Rob Miller

Sandy Pelkofer

Rob Miller and Sandy Pelkofer, both of Rapid City, S.D., received USD's highest athletic department honor for student athletes when they were named the male and female Scholar Athletes of the Year during the banquet.

Miller and Pelkofer, selected by the USD Board of Control, were honored for both their academic and athletic achievements while at USD. Miller and Pelkofer 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.

Pelkofer ranks as the best women's pole vault performer in school history and one of the best ever in the NCC. This year, she set both the indoor and outdoor NCC marks in the pole vault. At the NCC meet May 10 in Sioux Falls, she vaulted 12'7 to break an outdoor USD school record and set a new NCC mark. The 12'7 vault by Pelkofer is the second best in NCAA Division II this outdoor season. She also broke a school and North Central Conference record with an indoor vault of 12'5, which ranked second in NCAA Division II this season. Earlier this year, she was NCC Women's Track and Field Athlete of the Week. She also won pole vault titles this season at the Sioux City Relays, Minnesota Gold Classic, John Dalton Memorial Meet, Godfather's Division II Challenge meet in Emporia, Kan., among others. At the 2001 NCAA Division II Indoor Nationals, Pelkofer won the pole vault title with a 12'3, which tied the national record in Division II at that time. A four-time all-American, she finished second in the pole vault at the NCAA Division II indoor nationals in March 2002. Pelkofer broke her own North Central Conference record (11'11 3/4) with a 12'0 at the 2001 NCC Indoor Meet. Throughout her career, Pelkofer, who won a state title in the pole vault while competing for Rapid City Stevens, has continually set new records at meets at which she has competed. Pelkofer, who has a 3.685 grade point average with a major in psychology, is the daughter of Joelle Graff and Tim Pelkofer.

Miller earned a 3.83 grade point average in biology and is now a graduate student planning to attend medical school next fall. He has had a 4.0 grade point average each of his last two semesters. A senior, he was named to Academic All-NCC Team in 2001 when he had 1-2 record with four saves in 20 appearances as South Dakota's no. 1 relief pitcher. This year, he is one of the NCC's best and most flexible pitchers as he is both a starter and reliever for the South Dakota Coyotes baseball team that finished 24-18 and 8-11 in the NCC. Miller, who will be named to the Academic All-NCC squad in an announcement next week, ranks high in several NCC categories as of April 28. He is first in win-losses with an 8-2 mark and is second in strikeouts at 10.05 per game. Miller, who finished with 68 strikeouts this season, is third with seven complete games and fifth in innings pitched with 68 1/3. He is also first in appearances with 18, including four saves. This season teams are hitting just .238 vs. Miller. Earlier this year, he had a no-hitter for 5 1/3 innings in a two-hit complete game win over Northland College. He is the son of Robert and Virginia Miller.

SCHOLAR ATHLETE RECOGNITION: As part of the Scholar Athlete recognition on May 5, USD also presented certificates to the scholar athlete recipients from each of the programs in USD intercollegiate athletics.

They included Rob Miller, a senior pitcher on the USD baseball team from Rapid City, S.D.; Paul Marshall, a senior men's basketball player from Winnebago, Ill.; Julia Frie, a junior women's basketball player from Byron, Minn.; Aimee Dunlop, a senior cross-country/track and field athlete from Woodbine, Iowa; Kent Peterson, a junior men's golfer from Salem, S.D.; Lacey Weber, a junior (academically) women's golfer from Salem, S.D.; Jimmy Terwilliger, a junior offensive lineman on the USD football team from Guthrie Center, Iowa; Lindsay Jacobson of the USD cheerleading squad of Sioux City, Iowa; Jaime Strong, a junior soccer player from McCook Lake, S.D.; Eric Dufek, a senior on the men's swimming and diving team from Lander, Wyo.; Elise Gosch, Beresford, S.D., a senior on the U-Dance team; Josh Hofer, a senior member of the men's track and field team from Freeman, S.D.; Sandy Pelkofer, a senior member of the women's track and field squad from Rapid City, S.D.; Jama Hemme, LeMars, Iowa, a senior member of the USD training staff; and Angie Bjorkman, a junior on the volleyball team from Vermillion, S.D.

HOY AWARD: USD Alumni Director Nancy McCahren presented Carl B. "Rube" Hoy Awards to football student-athlete Wade Mitchell, Parkston, S.D; Alissa Koronkiewicz, Peshtigo, Wisc., and Mike Hendricks of Watertown, S.D.

The Hoy Award recognizes outstanding achievement by a male and female student athlete and a member of the USD training staff.

Mitchell, a senior pre-law major from Parkston, was a big play performer for the Coyotes football team in 2001. He had an interception and two touchdowns, including a 70-yard fumble return for a touchdown and an 84-yard kickoff return for a score. He had 10 kickoff returns for 265 yards. In 2001, Mitchell had 36 tackles, including 18 solo tackles, a forced fumble and tackle for loss. During his career, Mitchell had 163 tackles, including 81 solo stops. He has participated in various community service projects including community cleanup with other members of the football team. He also has been very active with youth at the Congregational Church in Vermillion, S.D.

Koronkiewicz, a senior biology major from Peshtigo, Wisc., has a 3.399 grade point average. The heart and soul of the South Dakota women's basketball team, she finished her career 12th on the all-time rebound list at South Dakota with 513 career boards. Described by head coach Chad Lavin as one of the best defensive players he has ever coached, she was a key contributor as the women's basketball team recorded a 19-9 record, 12-6 in the NCC which was second in the league. A team captain and outstanding leader, she had a career high of 14 rebounds vs. Jamestown on Dec. 3, 1998 and high of 12 vs. Dakota State on Dec. 1, 1998. In 1998-99, she averaged 7.4 rebounds. This season she contributed 2.5 rebounds per game.

Every year, a Hoy Award is also presented to a member of the training staff. Hendricks is the 2001-02 recipient. Originally of Watertown, Hendricks is a senior biology major with a 3.3 grade point average. A member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, he has traveled as a member of the training staff with the football and track and field teams. He plans to attend the Northwestern Chiropractic in Minneapolis this fall.

VAN WHY AWARD: Tom Green, a senior from Hornick, Iowa, received the John Van Why Award, presented by Athletics Director Kelly Higgins and Robert Van Why. The Van Why Award honors the outstanding male athlete at USD. Green, who has a 3.12 grade point average in psychology and contemporary media and journalism, recently captured a 100-meter title at the Drake Relays, a long-time goal of his. He also finished second in the 60-meter dash in a school record time of 6.73 at the 2002 NCAA Division II Indoor Track and Field Championships at Boston, Mass., this winter. Green was a member of USD's men's 4x400-meter relay that was second in 3:12.69 at the 2002 NCAA Division Indoor Nationals. His performance helped South Dakota to a fourth place finish at the indoor nationals, the second best indoor team finish in school history. An Academic All American, he owns school records in the 100-meter dash outdoors (10.3), 55-meter indoor dash (6.31), 60-meter indoor dash (6.81), and he was a member of the record-setting 4x100 outdoor relay (40.80).

CATIE TOBIN AWARD: Sandy Pelkofer, a senior from Rapid City, S.D., received the first annual Catie Tobin Award as the outstanding female athlete(s) at South Dakota this past year.

COLONEL ROBERT F. WALES AWARD RECIPIENTS: This is a new award to honor student athletes from South Dakota who have excelled in the classroom, community and competition.

Through the generosity of Colonel Robert F. Wales, who left the USD Athletic Department in excess of $500,000, which is now used each year for scholarships for outstanding student athletes from South Dakota.

The 2002 recipients include sophomore Mandy Koupal of Wagner, S.D., and junior Jarrod Edelen of Vermillion, S.D.

Koupal, a sophomore elementary education major with a 3.849 grade point average, enjoyed one of the best seasons ever by a women's basketball player at South Dakota. Originally of Wagner, Koupal averaged 21.3 points and 9.5 rebounds per game during the 2001-02 season in leading the Coyotes to a second place finish (12-6 in the NCC, 19-9 overall) in the conference. Koupal finished the season leading the NCC in defensive rebounds (7.11 per game), and she was third in scoring at 21.7 points per game and rebounds, 9.8 per game. Koupal is the third South Dakota player named league MVP and the first since Ann Pancoast was selected in 1984-85. She was named to the First Team Daktronics All-Region Team, First Team All-NCC, Academic All-NCC, All-NCC Tourney Team, and Second Team Verizon Academic District VII. She recorded a NCC-high 15 double doubles, while scoring 20 points 16 times and 30 points four times. She was NCC Player of the Week three times. Koupal set four school records, including points scored in a season (596), season scoring average (21.7), free throws made (152), and free throws attempted (191). Koupal, who led USD in 15 individual categories, also set several NCC records for sophomores including scoring, free throws made, free throw attempts and rebounds. She is a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

Jarrod Edelen, who has a 3.761 grade point average with a double major of computer science and economics, is listed as the number one punter on South Dakota spring football depth chart. During the 2001-02 season, Edelen played in seven games for South Dakota in 2001-02, mainly as a member of the kicking squad. He was a member of special teams in 1999 and redshirted in 1998. Edelen was an All-State kicker and Vermillion High's MVP during his senior season.

At USD, Edelen is a Rawlins Scholar, a Presidential Alumni Scholarship recipient, a Wal-Mart Competitive Edge Scholarship winner, and a Technology Fellow. He is also a member of the Mortar Board and ODK Honorary Societies, and has been named Phi Beta Kappa.

COYOTE CHARACTER AWARDS: For the second straight year, the Student Athletic Activities Council presented Coyote Character Award to student-athletes at South Dakota.

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.

The Coyote Character Award recipients included: Paul Marshall, Winnebago, Ill., men's basketball; Cara Hamilton, Rapid City, S.D., women's cross country; Ed Whetham, Stillwater, Minn., men's cross country; Emily Gunter, Rapid City, S.D., soccer; Werner Christensen, Freeman, S.D., cheerleading; Tiffany Hopkins, Cannon Falls, Minn., softball; Zach Devine, Columbia, Mo., swimming and diving; Jamie Davis, Colton, S.D., women's track and field; Amy Allen, Madison, Minn., training room; Angie Bjorkman, Vermillion, S.D.; volleyball; Elise Gosch, Beresford, S.D., U-Dance; Josh Hofer, Freeman, S.D., men's track and field; Lindsey Schafer, Mandan, N.D., women's swimming and diving; Rob Miller, Rapid City, S.D., baseball; Jenny Chandler, Vermillion, S.D., women's golf; Adam Chandler, Vermillion, S.D., men's golf; Ryan Justice, Ankeny, Iowa, football; Alissa Koronkiewicz, Peshtigo, Wisc., women's basketball; Paige Wilbur, Pierre, S.D., Tennis.

OTHER HONORS AND RECOGNITION:

NCAA Post Graduate Scholarship Recipients: Sara Deckert of Doland, S.D., and Jeremy Kudera of Dell Rapids, S.D., were both honored for receiving NCAA Postgraduate Scholarships during the awards banquet. Deckert, who is attending graduate school and serving as an assistant coach for the track and field team, and Kudera, who is enrolled in the USD School of Medicine, were named postgraduate scholarship recipients for winter and spring sports in an announcement by the NCAA early last summer. Of the 116 winter and spring sports scholarships, 58 were awarded to Division I student-athletes, 18 to student athletes in Division II, and 40 to student-athletes in Division III. A total of 58 women and 58 men who participated in winter and spring sports were honored. The NCAA also awarded 58 postgraduate scholarships to student-athletes participating in fall sports. Kudera earned a 3.97 grade point average in pre-medicine. Deckert earned a 3.587 grade point average in business.

NCC COACH OF THE YEAR: In addition, USD honored head coach Dave Gottsleben, who was awarded an NCC Coach of the Year award for the eighth time as he directed the men's indoor team to a conference title and fourth place at the NCAA Division II Indoor Nationals this past winter. The fourth place finish is the second best finish by a men's indoor team and third best finish by a men's team in school history. In his 18th season at South Dakota, Gottsleben has coached 101 all-Americans, four national champions and directed his team third place finishes at both the 1997 NCAA Division II Indoor Meet and the 2000 Outdoor Meet and fourth place finish this year at the indoor nationals. Those performances are the best ever by an indoor and outdoor team in school history, which includes seven top-10 NCAA finishes. In 1997, he was named the Division II Men's National Coach of the Year by the U.S. Track Coaches Association and he was also selected the North Central Region Coach of the Year for the fourth time. With the leadership of Gottsleben, the Coyotes have enjoyed a rich tradition, placing fourth or better in 30 of the last 33 NCC indoor and outdoor meets. USD is one of the most consistent NCC teams with 13 second place finishes, two-third place efforts and six NCC championships in the last 22 NCC meets.

TEAM HONOR: In the final event of the NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships, The University of South Dakota's men's 4X400-meter relay finished second in 3:12.69 to lift the Coyotes to a fourth place finish at the NCAA Division II Indoor Nationals. The performance was the third best performance ever by a USD track and field team. It is the second best performance indoors with only the 1997's third place finish better. The relay, which included sophomore Ronnie McDougle (Pompano, Fla.), senior Tom Green (Hornick, Iowa), senior John Kehoe (Rapid City, S.D.) and junior Ryan Finley (Omaha, Neb.), finished behind St. Augustine who clocked in at 3:12.26. Green also finished second in the 60-meter dash, running in :6.73, which broke his own school record of :6.77. Sophomore Derek Pelc (Norfolk, Neb.) was third in the men's high jump with a mark of 6-09 3/4. The Coyotes also received several other outstanding efforts at the meet.

STAN MARSHALL AWARD:

SD Athletics honored Jeremy Kudera of Dell Rapids, S.D., for receiving the Stan Marshall Award from the NCC last summer. Kudera was one of two student athletes to receive the North Central Conference's highest honor for students. Kudera was named the 2001 Stan Marshall Award recipient. The Marshall Award is given annually to a male and female senior student-athlete distinguishing themselves through academic performance, athletic ability and community activities. The award is named in memory of longtime South Dakota State athletic director Stan Marshall, who died in 1980. Marshall was a leader at the conference and national levels of intercollegiate athletics. The league's institutional representatives from the NCC selected Kudera. A total of 20 student athletes (10 men, 10 women) were named honor athletes last month. Each school nominates one male and one female student-athlete for the honor. Kudera is the third male honoree from USD since the award was established in 1982. Jerus Campbell, a South Dakota football player, was honored in 1983 and Matt Hoyt, a cross country/track and field athlete, won the award in 2000. Overall South Dakota has had five recipients. The female award winners from USD include Jean Misterek, 1987, women's basketball; and Karrie Wallen, 1984, women's basketball.

USD also acknowledged the 160 student athletes that have attained a cumulative grade point average between 3.0 and 4.0.

For more information about South Dakota athletics, go to www.usdcoyotes.com