RAPID CITY, SD (July 25, 2025) – The South Dakota Mines men's and women's track & field teams continue to impress athletically and academically, earning national recognition from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) for their academic performance.
Both teams were named USTFCCCA All-Academic Teams for 2025—a distinction awarded to programs with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. The Hardrocker women stood out nationally, ranking 25th among more than 140 NCAA Division II programs with a team GPA of 3.60. The men's team finished with a 3.16 GPA with two student athletes earning individual All-Academic honors.
- Cole Dobberstein, a sophomore mechanical engineering major from Gretna, Nebraska, who capped off his season with a 14th-place finish in the 400-meter hurdles at the NCAA Championships, earning All-American status.
- Aidan Thompson, a senior metallurgical engineering major from Deer Lodge, Montana, also received individual honors for his strong academic and athletic achievements.
To qualify for individual All-Academic status, athletes must maintain at least a 3.25 GPA and rank among the top 50 nationally in their event or top 35 on a relay team.
The recognition highlights the Hardrockers' ongoing commitment to excellence—both in athletic competition and in rigorous academic programs.
Check out the USTFCCCA news release with full list of honors here.
###
MEDIA CONTACT
Michelle Pawelski
Communications Manager
Marketing and Communications
Michelle.pawelski@sdsmt.edu
605-394-6082
About South Dakota Mines
Founded in 1885, South Dakota Mines is one of the nation's leading engineering, science and technology universities. South Dakota Mines offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees and a best-in-class education at an affordable price. The university enrolls 2,579 students with an average class size of 24. The South Dakota Mines placement rate for graduates is 97 percent, with an average starting salary of $77,067. For these reasons, South Dakota Mines is ranked among the best engineering schools in the country for return on investment. Find us online at www.sdsmt.edu and on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Snapchat.
About South Dakota Mines Athletics
South Dakota Mines is a member of the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) and NCAA Division II offering 13 men's and women's varsity intercollegiate athletic programs. The RMAC is a premier NCAA Division II conference with 15 members, as well as four associate members, located in the states of California, Colorado, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Utah.
