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Jul. 21—MITCHELL — Three Dakota Wesleyan University athletes have been honored by the Great Plains Athletic Conference as award nominees for NAIA national awards for the 2025-26 academic year.
Siblings Lizzie Tyler and Jagger Tyler have been selected as the GPAC's female and male nominees for the A.O. Duer Scholarship Award, which goes to a student-athlete following their junior season who has excelled in scholarship, character and citizenship.
DWU women's basketball standout Emma Yost has been named the GPAC's nominee for the Emil Liston Award, which goes to a junior basketball student-athlete who has shown high athletic and scholastic achievement.
"We constantly talk about how special a place Dakota Wesleyan is, and much of that is because of the people," DWU Athletic Director Ross Cimpl said in a statement. "This recognition confirms once again the quality of student-athlete we have at Dakota Wesleyan University. We could not be prouder of Emma, Jagger, and Lizzie for their accomplishments as student-athletes."
Lizzie Tyler is a member of the DWU volleyball team. A Mitchell High School graduate, Tyler is double majoring in elementary education and special education. She has a 4.0 grade-point average, is a two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete, and on the court, she was a third-team All-American and GPAC co-defender of the year in 2025, and a three-time all-GPAC honoree.
"We should all be so blessed to have a Lizzie Tyler on our campus," said DWU Faculty Athletic Representative Joel Reinesch. "Her dedication to all things — her God, her academics and her sport — are inspiring and show a character, spirit and maturity far beyond her 21 years."
Jagger Tyler is a member of the Tiger wrestling team. The Mitchell High School graduate is majoring in business administration with concentrations in agribusiness and finance. He was the GPAC wrestling champion at 174 pounds in 2026 and earned All-America honors at the NAIA wrestling meet, plus was a 2025-26 NAIA Scholar-Athlete with a 3.86 GPA. Tyler has decided to forgo his senior season and enlist in South Dakota National Guard to serve his country.
"Not only does he strive to improve his community, team and family, but also his country," said DWU wrestling head coach Martin Mueller of Tyler. "Jagger has changed my life in more ways than I can name. His presence lights up a room, and his work ethic makes my job a lot more fun."
Yost is majoring in nursing while excelling for the DWU women's basketball team. She has a 3.79 career GPA and is a two-time NAIA scholar-athlete. A two-time All-American on the court, three-time all-GPAC selection and GPAC freshman of the year in 2024, Yost helped DWU to a semifinal appearance in the 2026 NAIA tournament.
"Our program would not be there it is today without Emma Yost," Cimpl said. "She holds herself and her teammates to the highest possible standard, and she has a great deal of respect from her teammates and coaches."
The DWU student-athletes advance to the NAIA national awards ballot, with the winners to be announced Sept. 15. DWU has produced a national Duer Award winner in three of the previous five years, with Jeff Schuch winning it for the men in 2020-21, Ady Dwight for the women in 2022-23, and Landon Ruesink for the men in 2024-25.
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Siblings Lizzie Tyler and Jagger Tyler have been selected as the GPAC's female and male nominees for the A.O. Duer Scholarship Award, which goes to a student-athlete following their junior season who has excelled in scholarship, character and citizenship.
DWU women's basketball standout Emma Yost has been named the GPAC's nominee for the Emil Liston Award, which goes to a junior basketball student-athlete who has shown high athletic and scholastic achievement.
"We constantly talk about how special a place Dakota Wesleyan is, and much of that is because of the people," DWU Athletic Director Ross Cimpl said in a statement. "This recognition confirms once again the quality of student-athlete we have at Dakota Wesleyan University. We could not be prouder of Emma, Jagger, and Lizzie for their accomplishments as student-athletes."
Lizzie Tyler is a member of the DWU volleyball team. A Mitchell High School graduate, Tyler is double majoring in elementary education and special education. She has a 4.0 grade-point average, is a two-time NAIA Scholar-Athlete, and on the court, she was a third-team All-American and GPAC co-defender of the year in 2025, and a three-time all-GPAC honoree.
"We should all be so blessed to have a Lizzie Tyler on our campus," said DWU Faculty Athletic Representative Joel Reinesch. "Her dedication to all things — her God, her academics and her sport — are inspiring and show a character, spirit and maturity far beyond her 21 years."
Jagger Tyler is a member of the Tiger wrestling team. The Mitchell High School graduate is majoring in business administration with concentrations in agribusiness and finance. He was the GPAC wrestling champion at 174 pounds in 2026 and earned All-America honors at the NAIA wrestling meet, plus was a 2025-26 NAIA Scholar-Athlete with a 3.86 GPA. Tyler has decided to forgo his senior season and enlist in South Dakota National Guard to serve his country.
"Not only does he strive to improve his community, team and family, but also his country," said DWU wrestling head coach Martin Mueller of Tyler. "Jagger has changed my life in more ways than I can name. His presence lights up a room, and his work ethic makes my job a lot more fun."
Yost is majoring in nursing while excelling for the DWU women's basketball team. She has a 3.79 career GPA and is a two-time NAIA scholar-athlete. A two-time All-American on the court, three-time all-GPAC selection and GPAC freshman of the year in 2024, Yost helped DWU to a semifinal appearance in the 2026 NAIA tournament.
"Our program would not be there it is today without Emma Yost," Cimpl said. "She holds herself and her teammates to the highest possible standard, and she has a great deal of respect from her teammates and coaches."
The DWU student-athletes advance to the NAIA national awards ballot, with the winners to be announced Sept. 15. DWU has produced a national Duer Award winner in three of the previous five years, with Jeff Schuch winning it for the men in 2020-21, Ady Dwight for the women in 2022-23, and Landon Ruesink for the men in 2024-25.
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