Wayne State was listed fifth in the 2023-24 NSIC Men's Indoor Track and Field Preseason Coaches' Poll released Wednesday morning by the league office in Burnsville, Minnesota.  Seniors Dylan Kneifl and Gabe Peitz were listed as Wildcat Athletes to Watch in the NSIC this season.  The Wildcats received 59 points in voting by league coaches after posting a fourth-place finish at last year's NSIC Indoor Championships scoring 57 points.
            12-time defending champion Minnesota State was voted as the team to beat this season earning 96 points and nine first-place votes.  Augustana was second at 89 points and one first-place vote with University of Mary third collecting 75 points and the remaining first-place ballot.
            MSU Moorhead was fourth at 74 points followed by Wayne State with 59 in fifth and Minnesota Duluth sixth at 54 points.  Concordia-St. Paul (49), Northern State (40), Sioux Falls (38), Minot State (19) and Southwest Minnesota State (12) closed out the coaches' poll. 
            Dylan Kneifl, a senior from Pilger (Wisner-Pilger HS), was listed as Wayne State's Field Athlete to Watch this season.  Kneifl was a national qualifier in the high jump last season, earning Second Team All-American honors with a 12^th place finish.  He was All-NSIC in the event after taking second at the NSIC Indoor Championships (6' 9 ½") and set a new school record in the event last season clearing 6' 11 1/2" twice.
            Gabe Peitz is a senior middle distance runner from Wakefield (Wakefield HS) and selected as the Wildcat Track Athlete to Watch this season.  Last year Peitz earned a fifth place finish at the NSIC Indoor Championships in the 600-meter run (1:23.40) and ran a leg on the fourth place distance medley relay team.
            Wayne State is scheduled to open the 2023-24 indoor track and field this season Friday, December 1 competing at the SDSU Holiday Invite in Brookings, South Dakota at the Sanford-Jackrabbit Athletic Complex.