Three players from the Wayne State College beach volleyball team were named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Women's At-Large Team and selected by College Sports Communicators. The trio includes seniors Brooklyn Kusler and Rhianna Wilhelm and junior Taylor Bunjer.
The program recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in competition and in the classroom. To be eligible for the award a student-athlete must maintain a 3.50 grade point average or higher and compete in 90 percent of the team's contests or must start in at least 66 percent of matches.
Kusler, a senior from Aberdeen, S.D. (Aberdeen Central HS), carried a 3.76 grade point average this season majoring in pre-optometry and business. She played with Molly Romano in the 3's pairing this season and recorded a 12-6 record that included a 7-1 record on the team's spring break trip to Arizona. Kusler was a two-time NSIC All-Academic selection.
Wilhelm, a senior from Henderson, (Heartland HS), recorded a 3.96 grade point average majoring in sport management. On the court she teamed with Brooke Peltz in the 5's pairing for an 11-3 record this season while also going 1-2 with JoLee Ryan in the #5 pairing. Wilhelm and Peltz had a thrilling 21-13, 13-21, 16-14 win over Tusculum's Nyah Gross and Katie Murphy to help WSC win a 3-2 match at the AVCA Small College Beach Championships April 17th.
Bunjer, a junior from Elkhorn (Elkhorn HS), maintained a 3.52 grade point average this season majoring in applied human and sport physiology. She paired with Ava Spies this season at the #1 pairing for Wildcat beach volleyball and is a two-time NSIC All-Academic honoree.
The Wayne State beach volleyball team finished the 2025 season with a record of 14-6, tying the 2022 team for the most wins in a season for the Wildcat program.
