Five members of the Wayne State College baseball team were selected to the College Sports Communicators Academic All-District Baseball Team announced Tuesday morning, recognizing the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom.  The group includes seniors Nate Cunningham, Clement Febus and Gabe Monosmith, junior Max Heard and sophomore Brooks Kneifl.  Heard was a repeat selection while Cunningham advanced to the All-American ballot with All-American selections announced June 23.
            Cunningham, a senior shortstop from Elkhorn (Elkhorn North HS), carries a 4.00 grade point average majoring in international business.  This season, he was voted NSIC Player of the Year and Outstanding Senior of the Year thanks to a .359 batting average recording 15 home runs and 54 RBI.  Cunningham ranked in the top 10 in nine major statistical categories in the NSIC, leading the league in hits (71) and at bats (198), tied for third in home runs and was fifth in slugging percentage (.682).  He was also named NCBWA, D2CCA and ABCA/Rawlings All-Central Region First Team.
            Febus, a senior pitcher from Sarasota, Fla. (Rochester Tech), maintained a 4.00 grade point average majoring in exercise science.  He was 2-2 with a 7.13 ERA this season in 11 games with seven starts, pitching 35.1 innings with 22 strikeouts.  Febus fired a season-high seven innings vs. Sioux Falls on April 15^th, allowing just two hits and one run in a 5-1 win.  He also closed the season with a 7-4 win over Jamestown working six innings and giving up just three hits and three runs in a 7-4 victory.
            Monosmith is a senior first baseman from Ankeny, Iowa (Ellsworth CC) who produced a 3.975 grade point average majoring in business administration.  On the field he ranked second on the Wildcat team in batting with a .333 average accounting for six home runs and 38 RBI.  Monosmith started 49 games and was tied for second on the team in hits with 58.  He had a season-best five RBI, going 2 for 4 including a three-run homer in an 11-9 win over Minnesota Duluth February 27^th and had a 3 for 4 game with a double and triple in a 7-4 win over Jamestown May 2^nd.
            Heard is a junior outfielder/designated hitter from Millard South HS who carries a 3.987 grade point average majoring in accounting.  On the field he started 51 games this season and posted a .309 batting average with three home runs and 26 RBI.  Heard tied for second on the team in hits (58) and was third in runs scored (39) while recording 12 doubles.  He went 3 for 4 with a season-high four runs scored vs. Bemidji State March 28^th and had a season-best four RBI including a three-run homer in a 9-7 win over Concordia-St. Paul March 21^st.
            Kneifl is a redshirt sophomore pitcher/first baseman from Wayne (Wayne HS) carrying a 3.983 grade point average majoring in physical education.  This season, he made 17 relief appearances (2^nd on team) and had a 1-1 record with a 6.11 earned run average.  Kneifl worked 28 innings and had 25 strikeouts for the season.  He worked a season-high 3 1/3 innings to get the win over Bemidji State March 28^th and fired three innings of hitless relief vs. Minnesota Duluth February 26^th and St. Anselm (NH) March 6^th. 
            Wayne State finished the 2026 season at 29-23 overall and was fifth place in the NSIC with a 21-16 league mark.