Vermillion, S.D.----The defending national champion Wingate University women's triathlon team has been voted first in the NCAA Division II portion of the Collegiate Triathlon Coaches Association's preseason poll. This recognition is the first preseason No. 1 ranking for the fifth-year Bulldog program.
Wingate won its first-ever title at last year's Collegiate Triathlon national championships in Clermont, Florida. The Bulldogs have had four podium placements in four tries, as Wingate finished second, third and second in its previous national championship appearances.
Fifth-year Wingate head coach
Nick Radkewich welcomes back three All-Americans from last year's national championship team. Junior
Grace Nolan earned first team honors in 2024, while sophomore
Paula Auschill was named to the second team. Sophomore
Irmak Şereflioğlu earned honorable mention All-American laurels.
What They Are Saying
Wingate head coach
Nick Radkewich
"I am thrilled for the team that the NCAA Division II coaches have recognized their potential for the 2025 season. Now it's time to start putting in the work, because other teams are going to have this ranking up on their locker room bulletin boards."
For this year's team…it's going to be about finding people to step up to fill positions we lost to graduation, including two scorers from nationals. The new Bulldogs are fitting in well with the squad. We look forward to seeing everyone race together for the first time Sunday, August 31 in the Bulldog SuperSprint Kickoff on campus."
Wingate takes care of business in the classroom as well
Each year, the Wingate women's triathlon team receives academic honors from the Collegiate Triathlon Coaches Association (CTCA). Following the 2024 season, four Bulldog student-athletes were recognized by the CTCA for excellence in the classroom.
Wingate earned '24 CTCA Scholar All-American team status, as the Bulldogs posted a 3.693 GPA in the fall 2024 semester, well above the 3.2 or higher requirement to receive the team honor. Six student-athletes compiled individual 4.00 GPAs for the fall semester.
Wingate University
Wingate University is a lab of difference-making that serves more than 3,400 students in North Carolina and offers 60 degree pathways, including 37 undergraduate majors, 10 pre-professional tracks and five dual-degree programs. Graduate students choose from seven master's and five doctoral programs. The University is home to the Cannon College of Arts and Sciences, the Levine College of Health Sciences, the Byrum School of Business, the Thayer School of Education and the School of Sport Sciences.
Founded in 1896, Wingate University is a leader in healthcare education where nearly one in five undergraduate students is preparing to be a pharmacist, physician assistant, physical therapist, occupational therapist or nurse. Student-athletes on Wingate's 30 teams compete in NCAA Division II and have brought home the SAC Echols Athletic Excellence Award the past 17 times it has been awarded. The University's motto is "Faith, Knowledge, Service." View current news and videos at
www.wingate.edu.
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CTCA NCAA Division II
Preseason top 10 poll
1. Wingate
2. Lenoir-Rhyne
3. Colorado Mesa
4. Drury
5. Cal Poly Humboldt
6. Indianapolis
7. Black Hills State
8. Emmanuel
9. Roberts Wesleyan
10. Newberry
