Wayne State's Saffire Sayre earned the NSIC Elite 18 Award for women's golf as she held the highest grade point average of the participating members of the 13 women's golf playing schools. Sayre was presented the award during the pre-championship meeting Tuesday night in Blue Springs, Missouri where the NSIC Women's Golf Championship runs Wednesday-Friday, April 22-24 at Adams Pointe Golf Complex.  It's the second straight season a Wildcat golf has received the honor as Abigail Brodersen was presented the NSIC Elite 18 for women's golf last season.   
            Sayre, a native of West Des Moines, Iowa and graduate of West Des Moines Valley High School, is a senior and holds a 4.00 grade point average while majoring in applied math with an emphasis in mathematics and a minor in business administration.  Sayre holds an 80.0 stroke average over 21 rounds with a low round of 73 this season.  She had a top-5 finish at the Nebraska Intercollegiate Invite played in Fremont, Nebraska.  In her four-year Wildcat career, Sayre has one win, seven Top 5's and 11 Top 10 finishes.
            In the classroom, Sayre is a Presidential Scholar Athlete at Wayne State, a three-time NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence selection, received the NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award, is a two-time WGCA All-American Scholar Athlete and voted College Sports Communicators Academic All-District twice. 
            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.