Wayne State College senior shortstop Nate Cunningham was named to the 2026 College Sports Communicators Academic All-America Baseball Team announced Tuesday morning, earning First Team honors.  He becomes just the second Wildcat player, joining WSC and NSIC Hall of Famer Dustin Jones (2007), as the only other baseball player in program history to be named Academic All-American First Team. 
            A graduate of Elkhorn North HS, Cunningham maintained a 4.00 grade point average this season pursuing a master's degree in international business.  He is a two-time recipient of the NSIC Elite 18 Award (2024, 2025) that is given to the top scholar athlete at a conference championship event.
On the field this season, Cunningham was voted NSIC Player of the Year and NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year following a sensational senior campaign.  He ended the 2026 season ranked in the top 10 in nine major statistical categories thanks to a .359 batting average with 15 home runs and 54 RBI while being the only Wildcat to start all 52 games.  Cunningham tied for second in the NSIC with four triples, was fifth in hits (71) and slugging percentage (.682), sixth in average and home runs, seventh in at bats (198) and OPS (1.107), eighth in runs scored (53) and 10^th in runs batted in.
            Cunningham had 24 multi-hit games this season and a team-high 15 games with multiple RBI.  He was named NSIC Player of the Week March 16^th after going 9 for 15 (.600) at the plate with two homers, one triple and 11 RBI in a three-game sweep over Minnesota Crookston. 
            Other post-season honors for Cunningham this season include NCBWA All-Central Region First Team, D2CCA All-Central Region First Team and ABCA/Rawlings All-Central Region First Team along with CSC Academic All-District First Team. 
            Wayne State finished the 2026 season at 29-23 overall and was fifth place in the NSIC with a 21-16 league mark.