{KXLG – Milbank, SD} Milbank native Bennett Schwenn, the son of Rick and Miriam Schwenn and a junior at the University of South Dakota, has been named to the Academic All-Summit League team for the second time in his collegiate career. The conference office announced the honors Tuesday afternoon, recognizing student-athletes for their combined academic and athletic achievements.
Bennett Schwenn
Schwenn, who is pursuing a degree in Pre-Business, maintains an impressive 4.0 cumulative grade point average. His athletic contributions to the Coyote men’s track and field team include a fourth-place finish in the long jump and a sixth-place finish in the triple jump at the recent Summit League Championships.
In addition to his latest academic recognition, Schwenn’s career honors include being a Summit League Champion in the indoor long jump in 2024, earning All-Summit League honors in both indoor long jump and triple jump in 2023, and outdoor long jump in 2024. He has also been named to the Summit League Honor Roll for the 2022-2023 academic year.
A three-time state champion for Milbank High School, he swept the triple and long jumps at the 2021 South Dakota Class A State Track and Field Championships as a junior, in addition to winning the triple jump crown as a freshman in 2019, garnering five state medals heading into his senior season. He was the 2021 South Dakota Class A Field Event MVP and led the Bulldogs to a runner-up team finish. Schwenn owns personal bests of 46-3 ½ in the triple jump and 22-7 ¾ in the long jump, and he is a member of the National Honor Society. He also played both football and basketball for the Bulldogs.
Bennett Schwenn
To qualify for the academic all-conference team, student-athletes must hold a cumulative GPA of 3.30 or higher, have completed at least one academic year at their institution, and have participated in a minimum of 50% of their team’s competitions. Selections are made through voting by the sports information directors and faculty athletic representatives of the conference’s institutions.
Other University of South Dakota Academic All-Summit League Honorees:
- Sara Reifenrath (Hartington, Neb.): A Computer Science major with a 3.98 GPA, Reifenrath earned her third outdoor all-Academic honor and sixth career all-Academic team recognition. She claimed three Summit League titles this season in the 200- and 400-meters and as anchor of the 4×400 relay, also earning all-Summit League honors in the 4×100 relay. She advanced to the NCAA West Prelims in the 200 and 400, setting a school record in the 400 with a time of 51.91 to advance to the NCAA Championships.
- Averi Schmeichel (Hartford, S.D.): A senior Pre-Nursing student with a 3.91 GPA, Schmeichel received her third outdoor all-Academic honor and fourth overall. She swept the hurdle races at the Summit League Championships and ran on the winning 4×400 relay and all-Summit League 4×100 relay. Schmeichel competed at the NCAA West First Round in both the 100 and 400 hurdles, placing 13th in the 400 hurdles.
- Cassidy Mooneyhan (Pea Ridge, Ark.): A senior Psychology major with a 4.0 GPA, Mooneyhan earned her second outdoor all-Academic team honor and fourth overall. She earned all-Summit League honors by placing third in the pole vault and competed in the NCAA West First Round pole vault competition.
- Spencer Buley (McKinney, Texas): Buley, a Sport Marketing & Media major, holds a 4.0 GPA and received his second outdoor all-Academic honor. He was the Summit League runner-up in the pole vault and placed 14th at the NCAA West.