Joe Wendte of Wayne State College has been selected to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District VII First Team as voted on by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).  With the First Team selection, Wendte now advances to the national ballot and will now be considered for Academic All-American honors. It's the second straight year that Wendte has been honored for his academics as he was named Academic All-District VII Second Team last year as a junior.   

            Wendte, a senior outfielder from South Sioux City, Nebraska (Sioux City Heelan HS), has a 3.49 cumulative grade point average majoring in physical education.  On the field, Wendte hit .416 this season for the Wildcats with a team-high 11 homers and 41 runs batted in.  He also led the Wildcats in hits (74), runs scored (68) and total bases (124).  He leads the NSIC in walks with 40 and is second in on-base percentage at .538.  Wendte was the NSIC Freshman of the Year in 2007 and was named First Team All-NSIC the last three seasons.  He was named the 2009 NSIC Player of the Year and was a Second Team ABCA/Rawlings All-American last season as a junior.

            It's the fifth straight season that Wayne State College has had at least one player named Academic All-District.  Wendte and John Snyder were honored last season, Mitch Herrick in 2008, Dustin Jones (Academic All-American) and Scott Bidroski were selected in 2007 and Jones and Chris Pedroza in 2006.  Wayne State finished the 2010 season 26-23 overall, 21-10 in the Northern Sun Conference to finish sixth in league play.