June 15, 2012

VERMILLION, S.D. - - The University of South Dakota athletic program has placed 139 student-athletes on the Academic All-Summit League Team for the winter and spring seasons, it was announced on Friday. South Dakota was third out of all Summit League teams with that total.

To qualify for the team, a student-athlete must have a 3.0 grade-point average (GPA) or better in the semester in which he or she competes, and must use a year of eligibility. IN order to be named a Distinguished Scholar (which was released on Thursday), an athlete must have a 3.6 GPA.

Women's track and field led the way for the Coyote teams with an impressive 36 selections – or 90 percent of its team – on the squad. Women's swimming and diving had 24 honorees, while men's track and field was at 20. Softball had 12 selections – or 80 percent of its team – on the squad, with women's basketball and men's swimming and diving each having 10 honorees.

Student-athletes who qualified for the winter/spring list who earned a 4.0 for the spring semester included seniors Emma Ladwig (Gayville, S.D.), Hoffman and Krysl; juniors Alexa Duling (Gregory, S.D.), Nicole Funck (Dakota Dunes, S.D.), and Megan Meyer (Bismarck, N.D.), sophomore Jeff Mettler (Eureka, S.D.); and freshmen Janice Baumberger (Indianapolis, Ind.), Jillane Doom (Wagner, S.D.), Brant Haase (Lemmon, S.D.), Josee Jansen (Sioux City, Iowa), and Tyler Sternhagen (Yankton, S.D.).

Four Coyotes earned academic all-conference honors for a fourth straight year: seniors Amber Hegge (Crofton, Neb.), Haley Juhnke (Vivian, S.D.), Ladwig and Annie Roche (Vermillion, S.D.)

A total of 19 athletes earned their third straight academic all-conference honor, including seniors Katie Benedict (Sioux Falls, S.D.), Hoffman, Louie Krogman (White River, S.D.), Krysl, Janine James (Cheyenne, Wyo.), Ashlea Johnson (Yankton, S.D.), Lukas Maier (Norfolk, Neb.), Natalie Newman (Overland Park, Kan.), Chad Pinkelman (Norfolk, Neb.), Christina Roberts (Omaha, Neb.), Alexa Rudeen (Sioux City, Iowa), Thad Stoddard (Douglas, Wyo.), Dane Van Arkel (Colorado Springs, Colo.), Tanner Willard (Belle Fourche, S.D.); juniors Raynee Buckley (Omaha, Neb.), Duling, Cody Horton (Mitchell, S.D.), Kaitlyn Jefferson (Westland, Mich.) and Jackie Kahnke (Shakopee, Minn.),

Earning honors for the second straight year included senior Jared Clement (Le Mars, Iowa), juniors Miss Blackburn (Sioux Falls, S.D.), Nicole Funck (Dakota Dunes, S.D.), Pam January (Richfield, Minn.), Marina Kiefer (Zurich, Switzerland), Brandon Kovash (Harrisburg, S.D.), Sam Mehr (Apple Valley, Minn.), Megan Meyer (Bismarck, N.D.), Carol Miller (Mead, Neb.), Ashley Sveum (Eau Claire, Wis.), Betsey Whisonant (Cody, Wyo.) and Alexis Yackley (Onida, S.D.) and sophomores Mariah Anderson (Kearney, Neb.), Bethany Buell (St. Louis, Mo.) and Stacie Kjelden (Vermillion, S.D.).

Including the 34 honorees from the Academic All-Summit League team from the fall, the Coyotes had 173 student-athletes earn academic all-conference honors or the 2011-12 year.

South Dakota Honorees
Athlete, Year, Major, Hometown
Men's Basketball
Brandon Bos, Fr., Undecided, Markham, Ontario
*Jack Foley, Fr., Biology, Centerville, S.D.
Nimrod Hilliard, Fr., Undecided, Madison, Wis.
*Louie Krogman, Sr., History, White River, S.D.
Nick Mabbutt, Jr., Pre-Medicine, Milton Kynes, England.

Women's Basketball
Amber Hegge, Sr., Math Education, Crofton, Neb.
*Pam January, Jr., Health Sciences, Richfield, Minn.
McKayla Knudson, Jr., Health Sciences, South Sioux City, Neb.
*Lisa Loeffler, Fr., Kinesiology, Maplewood, Minn.
Sam Mehr, Jr., Accounting, Apple Valley, Minn.
*Ashley Olson, Fr., Physical Therapy, Blue Earth, Minn.
*Annie Roche, Sr., Biology, Vermillion, S.D.
*Kelly Stewart, Fr., Contemporary Media, Columbus, Neb.
*Jodie (Boss) Wachal, Sr., Art, Columbus, Neb.
*Alexis Yackley, Jr., Pre-Medicine, Onida, S.D.

Men's Golf
Marc Gubbels, Jr., Undecided, Yankton, S.D.
Connor McDonagh-Poh, Fr., Business Management, Holden, Mass.
*Ty Munneke, Jr., Business, Champlin, Minn.
*Nolan Schmidt, So., Political Science, Avoca, Iowa
Lucas Turner, Sr., Health Science, Bowdle, S.D.
John Vining, Sr., Physical Education, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Tyler Zahn, Fr., Business, Aberdeen, S.D.

Women's Golf
*Janice Baumberger, Fr., Pre-Med (Psychology), Indianapolis, Ind.
Katie Benedict, Sr., Business, Sioux Falls, S.D.
*Nicole Funck, Jr., Health Services, Dakota Dunes, S.D.
Kylie Gaughenbaugh, Fr., Pre-Medicine, Canton, S.D.
Jordan Rearick, Fr., Nursing, Omaha, Neb.
Stephanie Rodgers, Fr., Undecided, Unadilla, Neb.

Softball
*Missy Blackburn, Jr., Health Science, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Christine Broders, So., Undeclared, Yankton, S.D.
*Allie Daly, Fr., Undecided, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Stephanie Hall, Sr., General Studies, Torrance, Calif.
Morgan Hancock, Fr., Pre-Medicine, Wahoo, Neb.
Kassie Loe, Jr., Pre-Medicine (biology), Lennox, S.D.
*Paige Policky, So., Physical Therapy, Lincoln, Neb.
Alexa Rudeen, Sr., Mathematics, Sioux City, Iowa
Brooke Schaben, Fr., Physical Therapy, Portsmouth, Iowa
Kate Snow, Jr., Psychology, Battle Creek, Neb.
*Katelyn Wudel, So., Elementary Education, Elmhurst, Ill.
*Bre Zmolek, Sr., Recreation, Brookings, S.D.

Men's Swimming and Diving
Marcus Christianson, So., History/Criminal Justice, Pierre, S.D.
Blake Frederick, Fr., Health Science, Lincoln, Neb.
Cody Horton, Jr., History/Criminal Justice, Mitchell, S.D.
Colin Krysl, Fr., Spanish and Business, Bellevue, Neb.
*Ryan Krysl, Sr., Omaha, Neb., Biological Sciences
*Lukas Maier, Sr., Psychology, Norfolk, Neb.
*Thad Stoddard, Sr., Natural Resources/Conservation, Douglas, Wyo.
Jake Tempesta, Fr., Criminal Justice, Apple Valley, Minn.
*Dane Van Arkel, Sr., Mathematics, Colorado Springs, Colo.
Matthew Weyer, Sr., Natural Resources/Conservation, Taos, N.M.

Women's Swimming and Diving
Emily Alitz, So., Clinical Lab. Sciences, Hastings, Minn.
*Mariah Anderson, So., Undeclared, Kearney, Neb.
Torie Buberl, Fr., Sport Management, Stillwater, Minn.
*Raynee Buckley, Jr., Visual/Performing Arts, Omaha, Neb.
Megan Chmielewski, So., Biology, Shakopee, Minn.
*Kate Dailey, Fr. Kinesiology/Sport Science, Kansas City, Kan.
Stephanie Goddard, Jr., Health Sciences, Casper, Wyo.
*Lizz Hoffman, Sr., English (Pre-Med), Eureka, S.D.
Janine James, Sr., Psychology, Cheyenne, Wyo.
Kaitlyn Jefferson, Jr., Biological Sciences, Westland, Mich.
*Jackie Kahnke, Jr., Psychology, Shakopee, Minn.
Cassie Kimmes, Fr., Criminal Justice, Hastings, Minn.
*Stacie Kjelden, Jr., Undeclared, Vermillion, S.D.
Alexis Klug, So., Biological Sciences, Dickinson, N.D.
*Molly Knowles, Fr., Elementary Education, Lockport, Ill.
Brooke Lang, Fr., Elementary Education, Gillette, Wyo.
Michyl Miller, Fr., Undeclared, Aberdeen, S.D.
Shannon Moceri, Jr., Political Science, South Lyon, Mich.
Delaney Schenk, Fr., PR/Advertising, San Diego, Calif.
McKenzie Shroyer, So., Legal Professions, Mitchell, S.D.
Kayla Smith, Sr., Woodbury, Minn. Contemporary Media/Journalism, Woodbury, Minn.
*Paige Stavely, Fr., Psychology, Hemlock, Mich.
Miranda Vlach-Buller, Fr., Psychology, Grand Island, Neb.
Corey Wannamaker, Fr., History, New Berlin, Wis.

Women's Tennis
*Nina Barudzic, Fr., Journalism, Kraguevac, Serbia
*Michelle Elkin, So., Undeclared, Omaha, Neb.
Marina Kiefer, Jr., Business, Zurich, Switzerland
*Veronika Makashov, Jr., Physical Therapy, Richmond Hill, Ontario
*Yamini Reddy, Fr., Business, Bangalore, India
Alena Sergeychik, Sr., Fine Arts/Graphic Design, Moscow, Russia
Shadi Soleymani, Sr., Biology, Vasteras, Sweden
Kortney Sterrett, Fr., Contemporary Media/Journalism
*Maddy Warder, So., Undeclared, Sioux City, Iowa

Men's Track and Field
Travis Brenner, So., Biology, Yankton, S.D.
Jared Clement, Sr., Biology, Le Mars, Iowa
*Parker Erickson, So., Recreation, Gayville, S.D.
Jacob Evenson, So., Elementary Education, Sioux Center, Iowa
*Brant Haase, Fr., Health Sciences, Lemmon, S.D.
Erik Hill, Fr., Health Sciences, Tea, S.D.
Alex Hohenthaner, So., Undecided, Yankton, S.D.
*Brandon Kovash, Jr., Psychology, Harrisburg, S.D.
Madison Landeen, Fr., Undecided, Beresford, S.D.
*Tyler Maxwell, Sr., Medical Technology, Tekamah, Neb.
*Jeff Mettler, So., Biology, Eureka, S.D.
Stephen Nielson, Fr., Undecided, Pierre, S.D.
*Jeff O'Connell, Fr., Physical Education, Philip, S.D.
*Chad Pinkelman, Sr., Business Management, Norfolk, Neb.
Kevin Sarehkhani, So., Communications, Walnut, Calif.
*Tad Schuurmans, Fr., Business, Tyndall, S.D.
Denton Stephens, So., Pre-Physical Therapy, Rapid City, S.D.
*Tyler Sternhagen, Fr., Pre-Med (Kinesiology), Yankton, S.D.
Kyle Wheeler, Sr., Business Management, Omaha, Neb.
*Tanner Willard, Sr., Pre-Medicine, Belle Fourche, S.D.

Women's Track and Field
*Jessica Brandli, Jr., Physical Education, Rapid City, S.D.
*Bethany Buell, So., Psychology, St. Louis, Mo.
*Brittany Chambers, Sr., Psychology, Orangevale, Calif.
*Tansha Clarke, So., Criminal Justice, St. Catherine, Jamaica
*Jilliane Doom, Fr., Contemp. Media/Journalism, Wagner, S.D.
*Alexa Duling, Jr., Biology, Gregory, S.D.
*Molly Ervin, Fr., Undeclared, Sioux Falls, S.D.
*Amber Ewers, Fr., Undeclared, Columbus, Neb.
Katie Ferguson, So., Pre-Med, Siou Falls, S.D.
*Christina Georgas, Jr., Political Science, Rapid City, S.D.
*Ashleigh Giese, So., Criminal Justice, Marshall, Wis.
Ali Gress, Jr., Health Science, Papillion, Neb.
*Emily Grove, Fr., Undeclared, Pontiac, Ill.
*Kasey Hohl, Sr., Health Science, Sioux City, Iowa
Analisa Huschle, Fr., Music, Bagley, Minn.
Anna Hyronimus, So., English and Spanish, Brandon, S.D.
*Josee Jansen Fr. Physical Therapy Sioux City, Iowa
Ashlea Johnson, Sr., Recreation, Yankton, S.D.
Rachael Johnson, Fr., Health Science, Yankton, S.D.
Haley Juhnke, Sr., Dental Hygiene, Vivian, S.D.
*Alena Laber, So., Health Science, Parkston, S.D.
*Emma Ladwig, Sr. Psychology Gayville, S.D.
*Megan Meyer, Jr., Pre-Physical Therapy, Bismarck, N.D.
*Carol Miller, Jr., Health Science, Mead, Neb.
*Lindsey Montileaux, Fr., Health Science, Tea, S.D.
Natalie Newman, Sr., Criminal Justice, Overland Park, Kan.
Kasey Presler, Fr., Nursing, Sioux Falls, S.D.
Christina Roberts, Sr., Biology, Omaha, Neb.
Darci Schwartz, Sr., Recreation, McCook Lake, S.D.
Kayla Smith, Sr., Contemporary Media/Journalism, Woodbury, Minn.
*Kristin Steffen, So., Pre-Physical Therapy, Crofton, Neb.
Ashley Sveum, Jr., Speech Communication, Eau Claire, Wis.
*Britni Waller, So., Contemporary Media/Journalism, Lincoln, Neb.
Megan Weber, Fr., Undecided, Columbus, Neb.
Rachel Weinandt, Fr., Kinesiology, Yankton, S.D.
Betsey Whisonant, So., Health Science, Cody, Wyo.
*Distinguished Scholars