VERMILLION, S.D. – Freshman Sara Reifenrath of the track and field squad and redshirt-sophomore A.J. Plitzuweit of the men's basketball team have been named the South Dakota Rookies of the Year announced Tuesday in a digital version of The Charlies, the athletics annual award ceremony.
 
Reifenrath, a sprinter from Hartington, Nebraska, is the second women's track and field athlete to be named Rookie of the Year, a list that includes Analisa Huschle in 2012. Plitzuweit, a guard from Vermillion, South Dakota, is the fourth men's basketball player to earn the award with the most recent one being Matt Mooney in 2017.
 
Reifenrath was voted the Summit League Most Outstanding Performer at the outdoor championships, while also sweeping the Newcomer of the Championships both indoors and outdoors. She took home gold in the 200 meters, 400 meters and 4x400-meter relay at both the indoor and outdoor championships. She's the second Coyote to earn the MOP honor and the seventh to earn the newcomer award since USD joined the league in 2012. Reifenrath was one of 25 Coyote qualifiers for the NCAA West Preliminary. Just a freshman, she broke USD's school records for both the 200 meters and 400 meters, both indoors and out.
 
Plitzuweit was voted Summit League Newcomer of the Year and was a first-team all-conference selection this past season. Plitzwueit led the Coyotes to an 11-4 conference record and the No. 2 seed at the conference tournament. The team set several team records over the course of the season including longest win streak in the Division I era and longest conference win streak since joining the Summit League. Plitzuweit was one of three players in Division I to score 37 or more points twice in a season and finished the season averaging 19 points which ranked 46^th nationally. Plitzuweit made a career-high eight 3-pointers en route to a career-high 37 points in a home win against Oral Roberts.  

Prior recipients of USD Rookie of the Year are listed below:
 
Female
2021: Sara Reifenrath, Track & Field
2020: Elizabeth Juhnke, Volleyball
2019: Leah Dregenberg, Triathlon
2018: Chloe Lamb, Basketball
2017: Ciara Duffy, Basketball
2016: Caitlin Duffy, Basketball
2015: Brittany Jessen, Volleyball
2014: Greysen Hertting, Swimming & Diving
2013: Rachel Svendson, Swimming & Diving
2012: Analisa Huschle, Track & Field
2011: Jodie Boss, Basketball
2010: Sigornie Pfefferle, Cross Country
2009: Kayla Smith, Swimming & Diving
2007: Jeana Hoffman, Basketball
2006: Stacie Bjorlie, Swimming & Diving
 
Male
2021: A.J. Plitzuweit, Basketball
2020: Brithton Senior, Track & Field
2019: Jack Durst, Track & Field
2018: Nathan Schultz, Football
2017: Matt Mooney, Basketball
2016: Michael Fredrick, Football
2015: Gawain Williams, Track & Field
2014: Trevor Bouma, Football
2013: Mubarik Musa, Cross Country/Track & Field
2012: Kyle McKelvey, Track & Field
2011: Jeff Mettler, Cross Country/Track & Field
2010: Casey Shade, Track & Field
2009: Bill Lane, Track & Field
2007: Tyler Cain, Basketball
2006: Jessie Becker, Basketball