Eight Individuals Inducted into the Coyote Sports Hall of Fame on Sept. 11 VERMILLION, S.D. – Eight individuals with connections to The University of South Dakota were inducted into the Henry Heider Coyote Sports Hall of Fame on Saturday, Sept. 11 on the campus of USD.

The inductees include Courtney Clayborne, athlete/track and field, Rapid City, S.D.; Jenny Girard Clifford, athlete/softball, Hanson, Mass.; Susan Walsh Denevan, athlete/tennis, Sioux Falls, S.D.; John Lillibridge, athlete/special contributor, Burke, S.D.; Chul Schwanke, athlete/football, Burnsville, Minn.; Mike Slaton, athlete/football, San Diego, Calif.; Rod Tweet, athlete/football, McKinney, Texas; Diane Lutz Wilquet, athlete/women’s basketball, Appleton, Wisc. With the induction of these individuals the Coyotes Sports Hall of Fame now has 217 members. The inductees were honored at halftime of USD’s 51-3 football win over Minnesota State Moorhead on Sept. 11.

South Dakota Sports Hall of Fame Inductees

Courtney Clayborne, Track and Field (1981-86)
Clayborne, originally of Rapid City, S.D., is generally regarded as one of the top sprinters in school history. Now an attorney in Rapid City, Clayborne won three straight NCC indoor 500-meter titles from 1984-86. In 1984, he had a clocking of 1:04.19; 1:03.43 in 1985 and 1:04.65 in 1986 in the 500-meter dash. He was a member of the 1600-meter relay NCC outdoor champs in 1981 (3:19.07), 1985 (3:19.90) and 1986 (3:15.10). Clayborne was also a member of the 1985 NCC Indoor 1600-meter relay champs (3:18.72). He won the 400-meter title outdoors in 1985 (48.99). Clayborne earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from USD in 1986. He also received his law degree from USD in 1989.

Jenny Girard Clifford, Softball (1984-89)
Originally of Lincoln, Neb., Girard Clifford was selected All-NCC in both 1986 and 1988. Girard Clifford was named Academic All-NCC in 1988.A standout shortstop, Girard frequently reached base and was an outstanding defensive player. She hit .346, led the league in runs scored and was sixth in hits in the NCC in 1988. She earned a bachelor of arts degree in education in from USD in 1989. Gifford Clifford is currently the 6th-8th grade physical education and recreation instructor at Hanson Middle School in Hanson, Mass. For two years, she was head softball coach at NCAA Division II Stonehill College and currently serves as the junior varsity basketball coach at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School.

Susan Walsh Denevan, women’s tennis
A native of Sioux Falls, S.D., Walsh Denevan was the 1985 No. 1 singles champ in the North Central Conference (6-2, 6-1) while starring for South Dakota. She also was second at the NCC championships in 1986. Twice, she advanced to NCAA Championships. She dropped a first round match at the 1985 NCAA Championships at Bakersfield, Calif. She also advanced to the 1986 NCAA championships at Northridge, Calif., losing a first round match. Walsh prepped at O’Gorman High School. She lives in Sioux Falls, S.D., where she is a recreational therapist for Avera Health. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in recreation in 1989 from USD.

John Lillibridge, special contributor/athlete (1960-62)
Lillibridge serves as the chairman of the board for the First Fidelity Bank in Burke, S.D., and has worked for the bank since 1962. A two-sport standout at South Dakota from 1960-62, he transferred to USD after spending a year at Washington State. At USD, he lettered two-years in basketball. In track, he lettered three years (1960, 1961, 1962). A standout thrower, Lillibridge placed third as a sophomore, finished second as a junior and won the North Central Conference discus title as a senior. Lillibridge, who placed second in the NCAA Division II national meet in the discus, earned All-American honors. A graduate of the USD School of Business in 1962, he has received the USD School of Business South Dakotan of the Year, the USD Alumni Award and the South Dakota Philanthropist of the Year honor. He has been a major supporter of Coyote Athletics for many years. He held State of South Dakota, Howard Wood Dakota Relays and USD records in the discus. A prep star at Burke, he was first-team all-state in basketball as a junior and senior, scoring a school record 1,631 points. Lillibridge was named to the fourth team of the Sport Magazine High School All-American squad. He also won a state title in the discus in high school. Lillibridge has served on the Board of Director for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, including a term as treasurer. He also was the Mayor, a City Council member, and served on the School Board for the city of Burke.

Chul Schwanke, Football (1982-85)
Chul Schwanke left South Dakota as arguably the greatest running back in school history. He is the Coyotes career rushing leader with 3,427 yards on 753 attempts and 24 TDs. He is also the career all-purpose yardage leader with 4,449 yards, including 475 receiving yards and 547 kickoff return yards. Schwanke ranks eighth in career total offense with 3,643 yards on 757 attempts. An All-NCC selection in both 1983 and 1985, Schwanke was selected All-American in 1985. An honorable mention All-NCC selection in 1984, he led the NCC in rushing in 1983 with 859 yards on 200 carries in eight league games and left USD as the NCC’s career rushing leader with 2,557 yards. Schwanke, who was featured in a Sports Illustrated article in 1985, averaged 107.4 per game and 4.3 per carry during his career. As a junior, he had 989 yards rushing. Schwanke was a member of the 1985 Coyote football squad that advanced to the NCAA Division II semifinals. He was one of two Coyotes selected in the 1986 NFL draft (Mike Slaton). He was selected in the 10th round by the Los Angeles Rams. Now living in Burnsville, Minn., Schwanke is a social worker for the Minneapolis School System. He totaled 3,000 yards rushing and 36 touchdowns in three seasons at Hutchinson (Minn.) High. He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from USD in 1993.

Rod Tweet, Football (1983-85)
Rod Tweet, originally of Madison, S.D. but grew up in Austin, Minn., earned honorable mention Associated Press All-American honors in 1985. A first-team All-NCC pick in 1985, Tweet was a second-team all-league selection in 1985 and earned honorable mention all-league honors in 1983. Tweet owns eight school records, including career catches with 140 catches and 2,557 yards receiving (32 games). He is tied with Roger Larson (1967-69) and Dwight Duncombe (1972-74) with 16 career touchdowns. His 10 touchdown catches in a season is a school record. His other records include catches in a season (53), and average yards per game (79.2), single season reception yards (1,086), and consecutive games with a reception (22). A member of the 1985 Coyotes’ team that advanced to the NCAA Division II national semifinals, he had 40 receptions for 602 yards and 10 touchdowns as a senior. He also had 53 receptions for 869 yards and five touchdowns in 1983 and had 47 catches for a school record 1,086 yards and one touchdown in 1984, when he was 22nd in the NCAA Division II receiving rankings. He is the only 1,000-yard receiver in school history. Following his senior season, he was signed as a free agent by the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL. He now lives in McKinney, Texas, where he serves as a recreation superintendent for the city. Tweet earned a pair of degrees from USD including a Bachelor of Science Degree in recreation in 1987 and a Master’s Degree in health, physical education and recreation in 1993.

Mike Slaton, Football (1982-85)
Slaton, originally of Bellevue, Neb., was named All-North Central Conference in 1984 and 1985. Slaton ranks seventh all-time in career interceptions at USD with 11 for 160 yards and two TDs. His six interceptions in 1983 still ranks as the seventh best single season total in school history. As a senior, he had 38 tackles, including 13 solos, fumble recovery, seven pass breakups, one tackle for loss, and two interceptions for 54 yards and a TD. He helped lead South Dakota to the NCAA Division II national semifinals during 1985. In 1983, Slaton had a team-high 111 tackles, including six interceptions while starting all 11 games at free safety as a sophomore. He earned honorable mention all-league honors. In 1984, he had a team-high 85 tackles, including 26 solos, a fumble recovery, 11 pass breakups and three interceptions for 14 yards. Slaton, now living in San Diego, Calif., was one of two Coyotes picked in the 1986 NFL draft (Chul Schwanke). Slaton earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in business from USD. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the ninth round of the 1985 NFL draft. He played quarterback at Bellevue West High School, earning all-league and all-state honors.

Diane Lutz Wilquet Women’s Basketball (1984-89)
Now living in Appleton, Wisc., Diane Lutz Wilquet ranks as one of the all-time greats in women’s basketball history at South Dakota. A 6’1 point guard, she earned All-North Central Conference twice, despite a severe knee injury early in her sophomore season. As a freshman she was All-NCC in 1985-86, helping lead USD to an 18-10 record and 9-5 NCC mark. She again earned all-league honors in 1988-89, leading USD in scoring at 14.9 per game, free throw percentage (82.1 percent), blocked shots (1.10 per game) and three point shooting (35.5 percent). In both 1985-86 and 1988-89, she was named to the Academic All-NCC squad. Lutz Wilquet is a member of USD’s 1,000-point club with 1,009 points, which is 16th on the USD career scoring list. She is also eighth in career assists with 262 and third in career blocked shots with 68 at USD. Her 32 blocked shots in 1988-89 is the fifth best seasonal total in school history. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from USD in 1989.