USD Athletic Top Five Moments of 2024-2025

     This past year of USD athletics was filled with shattered records, historic achievements and unforgettable memories that drew the attention of the Vermillion community and Coyote fans. Here are The Volante’s top five moments of this school year that define dedication and commitment to the game.

     For the top memorable event of the year, the South Dakota Coyotes football team claimed its first ever Missouri Valley Conference title after a nail-biting 29-28 win over the No. 1 ranked North Dakota State Bison. 

     Another historic event of the football team’s accomplishments in the 2024 season included their first-ever FCS semi-final game appearance after they defeated UC Davis 35-21 in the quarterfinals.

     In addition to those historic marks, the football team also completed an undefeated season in the DakotaDome with an 8-0 record, the first undefeated home season since 2011.

     Coming in number two for the top five athletic moments of the year is the Coyote volleyball team claiming the Summit League Championship title. This rivalry matchup against SDSU resulted in the Coyotes winning 3-2 in Kansas City, Missouri.

     This was the volleyball’s fifth Summit League title in the last seven years. USD made a historic achievement in the conference by being the first Summit League team to win three games in only three days to earn the title.

     Standing in third place for the top five athletic moments of the school year is the opening of the Wellness Center’s Natatorium on Monday, April 14. This state of the art facility included a recreation pool, steam room, hot tub and more.

     “The biggest advance for us is being able to practice as one team,” Head Coach Jason Mahowald said. “We can have swimmers and divers in the pool at the same time. In 20 years, we have never been able to do that.”

Not only was this a huge asset to the community, but the doors have opened to give the USD swim and dive team opportunities that they have been awaiting for years.

     “It’s a huge commitment to the school, our team and the community,” Mahowald said. “We started working on this in 2019, so it was a six year process to get it done.” 

     For the fourth memorable event of the year, one Coyote proved the definition of dedication to the game of basketball: Grace Larkins. In her career as a Coyote, Larkins was named to athletic and academic conference teams, as well as receiving numerous awards and making her mark in the USD record books.

     One of her most notable achievements was her performance on Feb. 8 against North Dakota State University, where she broke the school record for most points in a single game after scoring 47. Larkins previous broke the record earlier in the season on Jan. 11 with 45 points against Omaha.

     Larkins finished her career with 2,089 points, putting her second in program history for most points in a career. She sits fourth in the record books with career rebounds (896), assists (519) and free throws made (460). 

     The 5 ‘10 guard from Altoona, Iowa was also named Summit League Player of the Year for her senior season, only being the fourth Coyote to do so.

     The fifth highlight of the 2024-2025 athletic year comes from the USD men and women’s track teams shattering numerous school records for the outdoor and indoor seasons.

     On the men’s side of the indoor meets, graduate student Caleb Rivera put his name at the top of the record books in the mile run with a time of 4:03.01. Redshirt junior Mason Sindelar has the top Coyote time in the 800 with a time of 1:49.34.

     Sindelar continued his rhythm going into the outdoor season by setting a new 800 meter record on saturday April 26 with a time of 1:48.56. Another performance by freshman Tommy Hensely, senior Thomas Nikkel, Rivera and Sindelar put their names at the top of the distance medley record book with a time of 9:46.63 back in March. 

     For the women’s indoor record books, senior Averi Schmeichel set a new school best in the 60 meter hurdles with a time of 8.28. 

     Graduate student Lydia Knapp climbed her way to the top of the charts by sealing the top throw in school history in the discus by throwing 180-0. She also claimed the top spot in the hammer throw with a length of 215-4.

     A running record in the women’s distance medley relay was set by graduate student Abrielle Jirele, sophomore Jade Ecoffey, and freshmen students Sydney Stodden and Berkeley Engelland earlier this year with a time of 11:40.66.

     From records crushed to triumphs being celebrated, USD athletics had many notable achievements during the 2024-2025 athletic season. These milestones set the stage for future competitors to come.