Wayne State is picked 13^th in the 2024 Northern Sun Conference Softball Preseason Coaches' Poll released Wednesday morning by the league office in Burnsville, Minnesota.  The Wildcats received 59 points in voting after placing 14^th last season with records of 13-39 overall and 8-21 in league play.  Junior outfielder Lauren Laudick and junior pitcher Sami Felt were listed as Wildcats to Watch in the NSIC this season.
            Defending NSIC regular season champion Augustana was voted as the team to beat in NSIC softball this season collecting 11 first-place votes and 193 points followed by last year's NSIC Tournament champion Minnesota Duluth in second at 186 points and the remaining four first-place votes.  Winona State was third at 168 points with Minnesota State (155) and St. Cloud State (144) rounding out the top five teams.
            MSU Moorhead edged Concordia-St. Paul 123-119 for sixth place with Bemidji State, Southwest Minnesota State and Minot State closing out the top 10 teams. 
            Sioux Falls was 11^th with 72 points followed by Northern State (62), Wayne State (59), Minnesota Crookston (28) and University of Mary (15) filling out the coaches' poll.
            Laudick, a junior outfielder from Phoenix, Arizona (Sandra Day O'Connor HS), is listed as Wayne State's Player to Watch this season.  She is the team's top returning hitter from last season with a .296 average recording six home runs and 23 RBI while starting all 52 games. 
            Felt, a junior pitcher from Waukee, Iowa (Waukee HS), was listed as the Wildcat Pitcher to Watch.  She led the Wildcat staff in wins last season with five while throwing seven complete games with a 5.57 ERA.  Felt worked a team-leading 117.2 innings last year and recorded 49 strikeouts. 
            Wayne State is scheduled to open the 2024 softball season on Friday, February 9^th in Bentonville, Arkansas at the Alvy Early Memorial Tournament.  NSIC games are slated to start on Saturday, March 23^rd.
 
2024 NSIC Preseason Softball Coaches' Poll
1.         Augustana (11)              193 pts.
2.         Minnesota Duluth (1)      186 pts.
3.         Winona State                168 pts.
4.         Minnesota State            155 pts.
5.         St. Cloud State              144 pts.
6.         MSU Moorhead             123 pts.
7.         Concordia-St. Paul        119 pts.
8.         Bemidji State                 87 pts.
9.         Southwest Minn. State   85  pts.
10.        Minot State                   79  pts.
11.        Sioux Falls                    72  pts.
12.        Northern State              62  pts.
13.        Wayne State               59  pts.
14.        Minnesota Crookston    28  pts.
15.        University of Mary         15  pts.