VERMILLION, S.D.—Senior basketball player Hannah Sjerven and sophomore swimmer Zachary Kopp have been named South Dakota Athletes of the Year announced Friday in a digital version of The Charlies, the athletic department's annual award ceremony.
 
It marks the second year in a row that the Catie Tobin Female Athlete of the Year comes from Dawn Plitzuweit's program. Sjerven led the Coyotes to a 19-6 record capped by a Summit League Tournament title and the program's third NCAA tournament appearance. She led the team with averages of 17.1 points and 9.8 rebounds while shooting better than 52 percent from the field.
 
Sjerven, who hails from Rogers, Minnesota, was named Summit League Defensive Player of the Year for the second consecutive season after leading the league in blocks and ranking fourth in steals. She earned first-team all-Summit League accolades for the second time in as many seasons and was a finalist for Mid-Major Player of the Year. Highlighting her resume was a 31-point, 21-rebound performance in a road win at Bradley in mid-December.
 
Kopp becomes the first known representative from the swimming and diving program to be named the John Van Why Male Athlete of the Year since the late 1990s. Kopp was named Summit League Men's Swimmer of the Year and Men's Swimmer of the Championships after leading the Coyotes to their first Summit League title back in April. He won five gold medals – two individual and three as a relay member – at the meet held in Fargo, North Dakota.
 
Kopp won the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke at the Summit League Championship Meet. He was also a member of the first-place finishing 200-yard freestyle relay, 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay teams. He added more points to the team tally with a fourth-place finish in the 100-yard freestyle.
 
Kopp hails from Otsego, Minnesota. He is one of three brothers who have competed in coach Jason Mahowald's program.
 
The women's athlete of the year award is named for Catie Tobin, who was one of the first female track and field athletes to compete for the University of South Dakota. The men's athlete of the year is named for Dr. John Van Why, the University's former physical education department chair who pushed for the importance of athletics and physical activity in the 1950s.
 
Past recipients of the Catie Tobin and Dr. John Van Why awards are listed below:
 
Catie Tobin Female Athlete of the Year
2021: Hannah Sjerven, basketball
2020: Ciara Duffy, basketball
2019: Hayley Dotseth, volleyball
2018: Shanice Cannigan, track and field
2017: Audrey Reeg, volleyball
2016: Nicole Seekamp, basketball
2015: Nicole Seekamp, basketball
2014: Kendall Kritenbrink, volleyball
2013: Bethany Buell, track and field
2012: Amber Hegge, basketball
2011: Amber Hegge, basketball
2010: Ramsey Fitzsimmons, cross country / track and field
2009: Stacy Bjorlie, swimming and diving
2008: Unknown
2007: Heidi Muellenberg, track and field
2006: Aimee Nielsen, cross country / track and field
2005: Lindsey Soukup, volleyball
2004: Becky Olson, volleyball
2003: Molly Wedel, cross country / track and field
2002: Sandy Pelkofer, track and field
2001: Tiffany Davis, softball
 
Dr. John Van Why Male Athlete of the Year
2021: Zachary Kopp, swimming and diving
2020: Chris Nilsen, track and field
2019: Chris Nilsen, track and field
2018: Chris Streveler, football
2017: Chris Nilsen, track and field
2016: Teivaskie Lewin, track and field
2015: Teivaskie Lewin, track and field
2014: Tyler Starr, football
2013: Jeff Mettler, cross country / track and field
2012: Tom Compton, football
2011: Will Powell, football
2010: Noah Shepard, football; Tyler Cain, basketball
2009: Dylan Grimsley, basketball
2008: Unknown
2007: Stefan Logan, football / track and field
2006: Wesley Beschorner, football
2005: Josh Mueller, basketball
2004: Tommie King, basketball
2003: Bill Gassen, football
2002: Tom Green, track and field
2001: Nate Tibbetts, basketball