SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The South Dakota State Jackrabbits were deemed the recipient of the Summit League Sportsmanship award for the 2025-26 academic year, league officials announced Wednesday.

The award is given yearly to the school that is judged by its peers to be the best in the League for living up to the ideals of sportsmanship. Areas for evaluation include student-athlete conduct, staff/administrator conduct, coaches’ conduct and event management.

With its first sportsmanship honor since the 2010-11 academic year, SDSU captured the third award in department history.

Former member Southern Utah continues to own the League record with five Sportsmanship Awards. 

Sportsmanship Award History
1998-99 – Kansas City
1999-2000 – Southern Utah
2000-01 – IUPUI
2001-02 – Valparaiso
2002-03 – Southern Utah
2003-04 – Southern Utah
2004-05 – Southern Utah
2005-06 – Southern Utah
2006-07 – Centenary
2007-08 – Centenary
2008-09 – South Dakota State
2009-10 – Centenary
2010-11 – South Dakota State
2011-12 – Fort Wayne
2012-13 – Omaha
2013-14 – Omaha
2014-15 – Fort Wayne
2015-16 – South Dakota
2016-17 – South Dakota
2017-18 – South Dakota
2018-19 – Western Illinois
2019-20 – None selected due to COVID-19
2020-21 – Omaha
2021-22 – St. Thomas
2022-23 – St. Thomas
2023-24 – St. Thomas
2024-25 – Omaha
2025-26 – South Dakota State

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