VERMILLION, S.D.—Four members of the South Dakota women's triathlon team have been awarded individual Scholar All-America honors by the College Triathlon Coaches Association (CTCA) and USA Triathlon.
 
Junior Payton Ryz, junior Sammy Whitting, junior Maddie Lavin and sophomore Ella Kubas were all recognized for 2020.
 
Ryz receives Scholar All-America for the third consecutive season and Kubas receives the recognition for the second-straight year. Both Whitting and Lavin earn the honor for the first time.
 
Traditionally to qualify for CTCA Scholar All-America status, a student-athlete must finish in the top 20 at the national championship meet and have maintained a 3.5 grade-point average. The competition requirement was waived this year as the 2020 triathlon season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
South Dakota triathlon has finished runner-up twice at the USA Triathlon Collegiate National Championships (2018, 2019). The program begins its third year of competition in 2021.