For Immediate Release
Saturday, November 5, 2022
NSIC Media Relations
NSIC Elite 18 Award 

WAYNE, Neb. – Wayne State junior Gabe Peitz earned the NSIC Elite 18 Award for men's cross country as he held the highest grade point average with the most credits earned among the 14 men's cross country schools competing at the NSIC Cross Country Championships. Peitz was presented the award during the post championship ceremony at the cross country championships, which were held at Wayne Country Club in Wayne, Nebraska and hosted by Wayne State College. 

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 their sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among their 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.

Peitz is a junior majoring in pre-med and chemistry and holds a 4.00 grade point average. The Wakefield, Nebraska native has competed in all six meets during the 2022 season.  Peitz has a season-best finish of 21st at the Wildcat Classic and recorded a personal best time of 27:37.8 in the 8K at the Defender Holiday Inn Express Classic at Dordt University on October 8, 2022.  He is also in his second year serving on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee at Wayne State College. Peitz ran a time of 29:14.20 at this year's NSIC Championships. 
 
About the NSIC
The NSIC is a 16-team, 18-sport, NCAA Division II conference with institutions located in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. The NSIC is a model Division II conference that uses high-level athletics competition to develop champions in the classroom and community while empowering student-athletes to be impactful and positive leaders. Formed in 1992 by the merger of the Northern Intercollegiate Conference (men’s league) and the Northern Sun Conference (women’s league), the NSIC has flourished over the past quarter century, maturing into a 16-team union of Upper Midwest colleges and universities. The NSIC has won 25 team national championships and crowned 96 individual national champions. For additional information, visit NorthernSun.org.

About NCAA Division II
The NCAA, the national governing body for college athletics, is a volunteer association of more than 1,000 colleges and universities that classify their athletics programs in one of three membership divisions. The 300+ institutions in NCAA Division II support a balanced approach in which student-athletes can earn scholarships based on their athletic ability, pursue their desired academic degree, and participate in all the campus and surrounding community have to offer. Division II student-athletes annually graduate at rates higher than their student body peers, and they have access to the best championships-participant ratio among the NCAA’s three divisions. Division II gives student-athletes the unique opportunity to compete in the classroom, on the field, in their career, for their causes, and on their terms. For additional information, visit NCAA.org.