An unfortunate weekend for the Wayne community as the Wildcat football and volleyball team qualified for the NCAA regional tournament, however, this weekend would be the last time the Wildcats would play until next season. 

The volleyball team started out the NCAA regional festivities competing at home in Rice Auditorium. Matching up against the Harding University Bison, the number eight seed in the tournament. In the first round on Friday, Nov. 18. the Wildcats walked away with a 3-0 win against the Bison, leading to a round two matchup against the St. Cloud State Huskies.  

The matchup of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) regular season champions and the NSIC tournament champions. After a long first set ending in a 30-28-point win for the Huskies the Wildcats would let the next set slip away with a 25-16 loss. The Wildcats took control in the third set, with eight kills from Maggie Brahmer and Kelsie Cada. St. Cloud would end the game in the fourth set with a 3-1 win over the Wildcats. 

On that same day, the WSC football team competed in the first round of the NCAA regional tournament for the first time in ten years. Traveling to Mankato, Minnesota to face the Minnesota State Mavericks for the second time this season after beating them 41-33 on homecoming day.  

A freezing day in Mankato resulted in a Maverick win to advance to the second round of the playoffs. A dull first half would result in two field goals, one 36-yard kick from Wildcats kicker Alex Powders and another field goal from the Mavericks kicker Damian Chowaniec ending the first half 3-3. Coming out of the half MSU would score on four straight possessions and get a safety on the Wildcats after a bad snap to Quarterback Nick Bohn. In the last minute of the game, Mason Lee would get the final touchdown on a 22-yard pass from Bohn. The Wildcats were sent home to a 9-26 loss in the first round. 

While the Wildcats fell short in the NCAA regional tournaments, there are many key moments in season that the wildcat community should recognize. The future is bright for the Wildcats.