The Wayne State College women and men were recently listed in the 2025 NSIC Cross Country Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
The Wildcat women return all but one runner from last year’s team that was 13th at the NSIC Championships and collected 63 points in voting by league coaches.
Defending women's champion Augustana was voted as the team to beat in NSIC cross country this year receiving 217 points and 10 first-place votes.
The Wildcats were listed 14th with 63 points in 2025.
Wayne State’s Athlete to Watch was sophomore Kaitlyn Bloomenrader (Sequim, Washington). Last season she was the top runner for WSC at four of six meets, highlighted by a season-best ninth place finish at the Wildcat Classic (9/28/24) and a 22nd place finish at the Dordt Classic (10/12/24).
The Wildcat men earned 68 points in voting conducted by league coaches and lost two runners from last year’s team that finished 10th at the NSIC Championships. WSC was voted 10th in the 2025 coaches poll.
Augustana, the defending NSIC men’s champion, was selected as the team to beat this season with 165 points and 10 first-place votes.
Sophomore Ethan Walters was listed as Wayne State’s Athlete to Watch this season. The graduate of Elkhorn High was Wayne State’s top runner at last year’s NSIC Championships and was the #2 runner at four other meets. He posted a top-10 finish placing ninth at last year’s WSC Wildcat Classic.
WSC is scheduled to open the 2025 cross country season on Friday, September 5 at the Augustana Twilight Invitational at Yankton Trails Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
