SIOUX FALLS, S.D.—The University of South Dakota has swept the 2023-24 Daktronics Summit League Scholar Athletes of the Year with track and field athlete Jacy Pulse and swimming and diving athlete Caleb Swanson taking home the league's top honor.
 
This marks the first time in league history that both the female and male Scholar Athletes were from the same institution. The award dates back to the 1992-93 season.
 
South Dakota's total number of Scholar Athlete of the Year recipients increases to seven since joining the league in 2011-12. The Coyote track and field program accounts for five of those honors.
 
Pulse qualified for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 400-meter hurdles. She's a two-time All-American in the event and was twice named the Summit League Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year. She's a 14-time Summit League champion and a five-time Academic All-Summit League team recipient.
 
"What a great way for Jacy to wrap up her collegiate career as a Coyote," said South Dakota director of track and field Lucky Huber. "She truly exemplifies what it means to be a student-athlete as a great student working towards her nursing degree while dedicating her time to excel on the track as well. To finish her senior year at the Olympic Trials is an incredible feat and Jacy managed to qualify while also completing her nursing degree in four years. This accolade could not go to a more deserving individual."
 
Pulse, a native of Salem, South Dakota, graduated with a bachelor's degree in nursing in May with a 3.96 cumulative grade-point average. She's made five Academic All-Summit League teams and earned USTFCCA All-Academic honors five times.
 
Swanson is a 2023 Truman Scholar and he earned a NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship earlier this year. He's a Summit League academic honor roll and commissioner's list student, carrying a 4.00 grade-point average while studying sustainability and political science/legal studies.
 
"It is an incredible honor for Caleb to be named the Summit League Scholar Athlete of the Year," said South Dakota swimming and diving head coach Jason Mahowald. "Caleb's work in the classroom, on campus, around the community, and in the pool, make him a shining example of what a student-athlete should be. We are so unbelievably proud of all that Caleb has done during his time at USD, and we are even more excited to see all the wonderful things he will do in the future!"
 
Swanson, a native of Mitchell, South Dakota, competed in three events at the Summit League Championships this winter. He was named to the Academic All-Summit League team and was a College Sports Communicators Academic All-District selection this year, receiving both honors for the second time in his Coyote career.