Three players from the Wayne State College beach volleyball team were named to the 2025 College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Women's At-Large Team announced Tuesday morning and selected by College Sports Communicators.  The trio includes seniors Brooklyn Kusler and Rhianna Wilhelm and junior Taylor Bunjer.
            The program recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in competition and in the classroom.  To be eligible for the award a student-athlete must maintain a 3.50 grade point average or higher and compete in 90 percent of the team's contests or must start in at least 66 percent of matches.
            Kusler, a senior from Aberdeen, S.D. (Aberdeen Central HS), carried a 3.76 grade point average this season majoring in pre-optometry and business.  She played with Molly Romano in the 3's pairing this season and recorded a 12-6 record that included a 7-1 record on the team's spring break trip to Arizona.  Kusler was a two-time NSIC All-Academic selection.
            Wilhelm, a senior from Henderson, (Heartland HS), recorded a 3.96 grade point average majoring in sport management.  On the court she teamed with Brooke Peltz in the 5's pairing for an 11-3 record this season while also going 1-2 with JoLee Ryan in the #5 pairing.  Wilhelm and Peltz had a thrilling 21-13, 13-21, 16-14 win over Tusculum's Nyah Gross and Katie Murphy to help WSC win a 3-2 match at the AVCA Small College Beach Championships April 17^th.
            Bunjer, a junior from Elkhorn (Elkhorn HS), maintained a 3.52 grade point average this season majoring in applied human and sport physiology.  She paired with Ava Spies this season at the #1 pairing for Wildcat beach volleyball and is a two-time NSIC All-Academic honoree. 
            The Wayne State beach volleyball team finished the 2025 season with a record of 14-6, tying the 2022 team for the most wins in a season for the Wildcat program.