Athletes must be a Junior or a Senior, have a GPA of 3.0 or higher, be involved in community and school activities, be an elite athlete, and be nominated by their coach or administration. The Elite Eight Committee votes on the nominations based on criteria.
22nd Annual Elite Eight Athlete of the Year Award made possible by KORN News Radio, Q107-3 and KORN Country 92-1.
Bentley Bates – Mitchell (Sr.), Gymnastics
Bates set a South Dakota state high school gymnastics meet record this past February, scoring 9.917 on the uneven bars to win her second-Class AA state individual title in a row. The senior also placed second in the all-around competition and on balance beam, along with a top-five finish on floor exercise. Bates became Mitchell’s first repeat champion in an individual event since Amelia Rew on vault in 2008 and 2009. She led the Kernels to a second-place finish at the 2025 Class AA state meet, while ending her career being part of three state championship teams and three runner up finishes. Bates also started the season ranked number one in the nation by the National Gymnastics Coaches Association on beam and bars. Bentley has finished her high school classes and has continued her education by earning her Associate’s degree in business and cosmetology degree, concurrently.
Trinity Bietz – Scotland (Sr.), Track & Field
Bietz is a two-time Class B Shot Put champion winning at the 2024 state track and field meet with a throw of 40 feet, 6 ¼ inches. This season, Bietz leads Class A with a shot put of 39 feet, 2 ¼ inches, the discus at 129 feet, and third in the javelin at 119 feet, 5 inches. The Scotland senior is also an all-conference volleyball, basketball and softball player, along with being the President of the student council.
Liz Boschee – Sanborn Central/Woonsocket (Jr.), Basketball
The Class B girls basketball player of the year, Boschee led Sanborn Central/Woonsocket to a runner up finish at the state tournament this past month in Huron. She averaged 20.3 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game as a junior and currently sits in third place on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,309 points, behind only Myah and Shelby Selland. This past spring, Boschee won the inaugural Class A girls’ javelin competition at the state track meet with a thrown of 126 feet, 2 inches. Liz also excels in the classroom with an overall GPA of 3.97.
“She is one of the hardest working players that I have coached during my 16 seasons as a head coach. She comes every day with a great attitude and her teammates love being around her. Liz is a very coachable young lady, as she is always striving to get better and help her team be successful. Liz is also the first to congratulate a teammate on one of their successes. She has become a great leader on and off the court.” – Sanborn Central/Woonsocket head girls basketball coach Rob Baruth.
Peyton Hellmann – Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon (Sr.), Wrestling
Hellman became South Dakota’s first five-time state girls wrestling champion taking home the 145-pound title this past season in Rapid City. The senior was 45-0 this season and ended her career with 128 consecutive victories. She was also named the Mitchell Republic’s girls wrestling of the year for a third straight season. Hellman accomplished all this despite an ACL tear at a national tournament last May. She finishes her academic career with a 4.09 GPA.
“One thing I will always remember and that is after her final match at state, her teammates huddled around her, and they were crying. They did so because they just witnessed a great career coming to an end, but also they realized that she would not be in the practice room next season. Peyton was a great leader and was successful in getting local girls to start the sport. Even with all the success she has had, she remains very humble. She is just a great athlete, and her friendly attitude is an asset to her character.” – Bon Homme/Scotland/Avon girls wrestling coach Jim Kocer
Ashlyn Koupal – Wagner (Jr.), Basketball
The Class A girls basketball player of the year, Koupal averaged 21.5 points, 10.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game, along with 67 blocks in leading Wagner back to the state tournament in 2024. She is a three-time Class A first-team all-state selection and a two-time winner of the Mitchell Republic Player of the Year. Koupal has received over 34 Power 4 college offers from across the country including Duke, Baylor, North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Clemson, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oregon, Miami, Maryland, Illinois, Louisville, Michigan, Alabama and Iowa.
“Ashlyn is a coach’s kid, a gym rat, and wants to play at an elite level in college, and then there after college whether in the WNBA or overseas. She then wants to continue her basketball career after playing by coaching basketball. Basketball is her life 365 days a year. No matter if she is in another sport or if it’s game day, she is either in the gym before school doing workouts or at home on the court. Ashlyn is a great role model for our younger players on our team and students in our school. On and off the court she carries herself in a manner which makes her school, community, teammates, and family proud.” – Wagner head girls basketball coach Michael Koupal
Olivia Prunty – Mitchell (Jr.), Gymnastics
Prunty finished third in the all-around competition this past February at the Class AA state individual gymnastics meet being named to the all-tournament team. She place fourth in vault, sixth on floor and seventh on bars, helping Mitchell to a runner-up finish at state. The National Gymnastics Coaches Association awarded Prunty Elite All American status in the all-around, vault, floor, and bars. She was ranked second in the nation with her 5-score average. Her 5-score average in the all-around ranked her fifth and her floor ranking was third in the nation. Prunty also participates in HOSA, where she has competed in the state competition and will be traveling to nationals this summer. Olivia is on the Mitchell student council and is a member of the National Honor Society. With a 4.0 GPA, Olivia is focused on school while she competes at the highest level in the gymnastics arena.
Reagan Rus – Mt. Vernon/Plankinton (Sr.), Basketball and Volleyball
The Class A Spirit of Su winner, Rus led Mt. Vernon/Plankinton to the basketball and volleyball Class A state tournaments. The senior averaged 19.4 points and 7.5 rebounds per game as was a Class A first-team all-state selection. Rus led MVP volleyball this past fall, ending her career with 1,477 kills and 1,130 digs. She was also named the Mitchell Republic Volleyball Player of the Year and a Class A all-state selection after having 473 kills and 332 digs as a senior. Rus has committed to play basketball starting next season at Northern State and has compiled a 4.1 high school GPA.
“As a physical education teacher and coach in the Mt. Vernon School system, I have had the pleasure of working with Reagan Rus for 13 years. Reagan is a self-driven athlete and an asset to our school and to our community. She is a hard worker, dedicated, passionate and has great character. Her court sense, ability to work with others toward a common goal and positive encouragement has made her a superb team leader. She leads from the heart with honesty and integrity. Reagan’s hard-nosed approach to success is proven in the classroom, on the field, on the court and in the weight room. I love working with Reagan, she is an energy source for everyone. She makes coaching FUN!” – Mt. Vernon/Plankinton head volleyball coach Darcy Deinert
Emerson Smith – Mitchell (Sr.), Swimming and Gymnastics
Smith is a three-sport athlete, but she will head to USD in the fall to compete for the Coyotes swimming team. She concluded her high school swimming career as a nine-time individual state champion and was a member of seven state relay championship teams. Emerson is also a USA Swimming Sectionals and Futures qualifier. Emerson also anchored the 400 IM relay team that won USA Sectionals and holds the current South Dakota State record. Smith kept up her high level of gymnastics on floor exercise. Her 5 meet average was 9.634, which qualified her for elite all-American status. She finished seventh on floor while helping her team to a runner up finish, while being a five-time state qualifier on floor. Along with swimming and gymnastics, Emerson is also a member of the Mitchell High School track team. Last year Emerson anchored three relay teams that medaled at Howard Wood, ESD and State. Emerson also qualified individually to compete at state in the 800 meters, both in her sophomore and junior years. Currently, Smith is ranked fourth all-time in Mitchell history in the 800 meters. She maintains a 3.98 GPA and is also a member of National Honor Society. Smith plans on majoring in medical biology at USD.