For Immediate Release
Wednesday, April 29, 2020
NSIC Elite 18 Award

BURNSVILLE, Minn. - Wayne State's Aaron Ras repeated as the NSIC Elite 18 Award winner for baseball as he held the highest grade point average with the most credits earned among the 15 baseball playing schools. Ras was the first Wildcat to earn the NSIC Elite 18 Award since its inception in 2016-17 when he was honored last spring. He now joins Brock Hegarty (2019- ODTF) as the only Wildcats to earn the award. 

Ras is a junior majoring in interdisciplinary studies and holds a 4.00 grade point average. The Bancroft, Nebraska native was named WSC's Male Freshman Athlete of the Year after a standout rookie season in 2018 where he was 5-2 in 10 starts.  Ras is a two-time NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence award winner. 

“Aaron is a player that puts in the work, on and off the field, even when no one is looking. He is a genuine kid that takes pride in his hard work and dedication on the field as well as in the classroom. He is more than deserving of this award and I am proud to say he is a Wayne State Wildcat,” said Wayne State Head Baseball Coach Alex Koch.

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.