For Immediate Release
Thursday, May 1, 2025
NSIC Media Relations

SIOUX FALLS, S.D.  – The University of Minnesota Duluth's Nicole Schmitt was voted by the league coaches as the NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year in softball. A native of Verona, Wisconsin and graduate of Edgewood High School, Schmitt is a year senior infielder majoring in biochemistry while holding a 3.94 cumulative grade point average. 

The “NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year Award” is presented to a NSIC Softball student-athlete who participates at their institution for four years and is academically superior while making a positive contribution to their team and the University. The NSIC Outstanding Senior of the Year award was initiated in 2020-21 to honor an outstanding senior that exemplifies the attributes of the model NSIC student-athlete.

Schmitt is a 2025 NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award Winner, made the Dean's List every semester of her college career, is a two-time College Sports Communicators  Academic All-District Team member and is on pace graduate Summa Cum Laude.  

Schmitt is a three-time All-NSIC First Team performer. This season Schmitt ranked in the top-10 in nine statistical categories, tying for the league lead in runs scored (27) in NSIC play.  She was second in slugging percentage (.753), on-base plus slugging (1.222), home runs (9) and was tied for third in RBIs (23) and stolen bases (11).  Schmitt set the single-season program record for home runs (18), RBIs (68) and total bases (143) this season and had 12 multi-hit games including a pair of two bomb performances against Northern State and Minot State. 

When not on the field or in the classroom, Schmitt is a ubiquitous and visible presence on campus. She regularly volunteers at St. Luke's Hospital, Ruby's Pantry, and is a guiding force in AIA (Athletes in Action) at UMD. Her family also trains service dogs through OccuPaws Guide Dog Association in Madison, Wisconsin. 

"Nicole will leave a legacy of hard work, deep passion for softball, and a love of her teammates," stated Head Coach Nat Wagner. "She has endured three coaching changes at UMD in her four years and through each has demonstrated incredible grace and poise, leading by example in her commitment to team goals and team life. She has excelled in the classroom while majoring in Biology and Biochemistry, posting sterling grades. In addition to posting impressive statistics and grades, she exudes the intangible that lend her a rare and precious gravitas. Nicole is a giver; giving of her time and energy generously and making all those around her better through her high ethical standards, her deep love of softball, and her abiding care for others."

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 121 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 have the opportunity to 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.