Northwest Wayne News

DETROIT -- During the annual Wayne State University Department of Athletics fall kickoff meeting earlier today, the women's cross country squad was awarded the Warrior Plate for being the sports team that best combined academic achievement, community service, and competitive success.

This is the second consecutive year the women's cross country program has won the Warrior Plate. Last year, it was shared with the men's tennis squad.

The women's cross country team placed second at the GLIAC Championships and fourth at the NCAA Regionals before competing at the NCAA Championships.

Academically, the women's cross country squad had the top GPA for winter semester (3.745 GPA) after placing fourth for the fall term (3.655 GPA). They were near the top in both total community service hours and community service hours per student-athlete.

Women's Cross Country finished with 1,450 points to outscore women's tennis (1,292.5), men's tennis (1,197.5), women's swimming/diving (1,177.5), women's track & field (1,160), baseball (1,030) and women's basketball (1,005). Rounding out the top 10 were men's cross country (980), softball (917.5), and women's golf (872.5).

Recent Warrior Plate Award Winners:

2022-23 -- shared by Men's Tennis and Women's Cross Country

2021-22 -- Women's Basketball

2020-21 (combined with 2019-20) -- Women's Tennis

2018-19 -- Softball

2017-18 -- Men's Tennis

2016-17 -- Softball

2015-16 -- Men's Tennis

2014-15 -- Women's Fencing

2013-14 -- Softball