Gabe Peitz of Wayne State College earned the NSIC Elite 18 Award for men's outdoor track & field, presented the award following the NSIC Outdoor Track & Field Championships, which concluded Saturday from the Mark Schuck Outdoor Track and Field Complex in Mankato, Minnesota. It's the second NSIC Elite 18 Award for Peitz, who was selected as the NSIC Cross Country Elite 18 Award winner as a junior last year. 
            Peitz is a senior majoring in chemistry and holds a 3.97 grade point average. A native of Wakefield and graduate of Wakefield High School, Peitz competed in the 800m run at the 2024 NSIC Championships.  He ran a season-best time of 1:55.62 in the 800-meter run and finished ninth at this year's NSIC Outdoor Championships with a time of 1:58.95 and also finished ninth at last year's NSIC Outdoor Championships. Last season he also received NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence honors and was voted to College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Team. 
            As part of the NSIC 25th Anniversary celebration during the 2016-17 academic year, the NSIC Elite 18 Award was instituted to recognize the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the NSIC Championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The NSIC Elite 18 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NSIC's 18 Championships.