Journal staff

RAPID CITY - Several Rapid City athletes were named to the Greater Dakota Conference spring all-academic team the conference announced Tuesday.

To qualify, the athlete must be a senior, have a cumulative 3.5 grade point average and be a member of a varsity team.

In tennis, Rapid City Central was represented by Cale Barber and Evan Sims, while Sturgis' Luke Lynass and Thomas Nettleton was also recognized.

In boys track and field, the Cobblers put three athletes on the team in Mike Krsnak, Adam Neumiller and Cedric Williams. Stevens was represented by Aaron Oestman, Gor Sargsyan and Saeed Sulaiman. P.J. Scheetz was Spearfish's representative and Sturgis' Drew Carwile and Brit Porterfield earned honors.

In girls track and field, Rachel Nilles, Michelle Sosa and Jennifer Wilber from Central were honored, while Stevens was represented by Tracy Bingaman, Elizabeth Burk, Brook Garner, Kayla Huether, Hannah Lehmann and Shiori Inoue. Spearfish had three honored in Shanna Quinn, Julie Williams and Tessa Aiken. Sturgis' Mikota Mikawa was also recognized.

In girls golf Steven's Paige Osterloo, Spearfish's Bridget Decker and Sturgis' Jamie Duprel, Megan McDougall and Shamra Byrne were all honored.

The state champion Rapid City Stevens boys tennis team put four players on the Greater Dakota Conference all-conference team.

Steven seniors Gib Moyle and J.J. Schultz, junior Billy Paluch and eighth-grader Jack Hamberg were all named to the team.

Rapid City Central landed three players on the team in seniors Barber and Sims as well as eighth-grader Jonathan Ries.

Spearfish was represented by seniors Josh Knutson and Alex Bakuta.

The GDC coaches of the year were Sioux Falls Washington's Doug Rinken (girls golf), Rapid City Central's Scott Sturlaugson (boys tennis), Central's Dave Dolan (girls track) and Sioux Falls Lincoln's James Jarvoski (boys track).