April 30, 2013

VERMILLION, S.D.—University of South Dakota juniors Jeff Mettler and Bethany Buell were named Coyote Male and Female Athletes of the Year, respectively, at an awards ceremony Sunday at the Muenster University Center on the USD campus.

Mettler, a 4.0 student from Eureka, S.D., was named Track Championship Most Valuable Performer in helping lead USD's indoor track team to its first Summit League Championship. He won individual championships in the 3,000-meter run and the mile and placed third in the 5,000-meter run. Mettler was the runner-up at the League's Cross Country Championships in the fall. He currently holds the League's best steeplechase time with a mark that ranks 12^th in the region.

Buell, from St. Louis, Mo., earned first-team All-America honors after placing sixth in the pole vault at the NCAA Championship Meet in Fayetteville, Ark. It was the third All-America honor for Buell, who won her second Summit League Indoor Championship after clearing 14-feet-5.5-inches, a meet and program record. Buell currently holds the best outdoor vault in the nation at 14-feet-7.5-inches. She carries a 3.969 GPA.

Football player Tim Marlette from Sioux Falls, S.D., and track athlete Alexa Duling from Gregory, S.D., were named USD Scholar Athletes of the Year – an award reserved for seniors. Marlette led the Coyotes with 85 tackles last season. Duling, who carries a 4.0 GPA, is an All-American in the 400-meter hurdles.

The annual event hosted by Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) recognizes Coyote individual and team accomplishments on the field and in the classroom, as well as community service efforts. Awards highlighting the coach, team and performance of the year are voted on by SAAC. The USD administrative staff bestows several awards including athlete and scholar athlete of the year.

The full list of award winners follows:

SAAC Awards:

Unsung Heros: Morgan Hancock, softball; Alexis Yackley, basketball; Tad Schuurmans, track & field

Performance of the Year: Men's indoor track team wins Summit League Championship

Coach of the Year: Amy Williams, women's basketball

Team Community Service Award: Women's soccer

Outstanding Team of the Year: Men's cross country

Outstanding Freshmen of the Year: Mubarik Musa, cross country; Rachel Svendson, swimming

Outstanding Sophomores of the Year: Jeff O'Connell, track & field; Yamini Reddy, tennis

Outstanding Juniors of the Year: Jeff Mettler, cross country/track & field; Bethany Buell, field

Outstanding Seniors of the Year: Will Powell, football; Alexa Duling, track

Coyote Character Award Winners: Tansha Clarke, women's indoor track; Ashley Sveum, women's outdoor track; Jeff Mettler, men's cross country; Kristin Steffen, women's cross country; Sam Mehr, women's basketball; Tim Marlette, football; Tori Kroll, volleyball; Yamini Reddy, tennis; Katelyn Wudel, softball; Jordan Boots, men's basketball; Nolan Schmit, men's golf; Victoria Grasso, women's golf; Nick Hopson, men's swimming; Stephanie Goddard, women's swimming; Mackenzie Viktor, men's track & field

USD Awards:

Dr. John Van Why Award (Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year): Jeff Mettler, cross country/track & field

Catie Tobin Award (Outstanding Female Athlete of the Year): Bethany Buell, field

Outstanding Male Scholar Athlete of the Year (senior with min. 3.2 GPA): Tim Marlette, football

Outstanding Female Scholar Athlete of the Year (senior with min. 3.2 GPA): Alexa Duling, track

Carl & Hazel Hoy Award Winners (outstanding leadership, athletic and academic achievement): Alexis Yackley, basketball; Will Powell, football

Jeff Mettler	Bethany Buell	Alexa Duling