Wayne State College has sixth–year seniors on their roster, but Alex Kowalczyk is the only one who has spent all six seasons with the Wildcats.
Kowalczyk is from Sioux Falls, South Dakota and started two years at O’Gorman High School where he also starred in powerlifting and started in track during his senior year. He led O’Gorman in tackles with 71 and a sack in a season where O’Gorman won the 11AAA State Championship in the state of South Dakota.
“I liked the coaching staff and being close to home and I felt confident in the direction the program was heading, and they have a good business department,” Kowalczyk said on why he decided to commit to Wayne State out of high school.
Kowalczyk’s first season with the Wildcats was canceled due to Covid–19 in 2020. In 2021, Kowalczyk started in all 11 games and made the NSIC South second team. He was named NSIC defensive player of the week October 11th after WSC’s road win vs #11 Minnesota State.
Kowalczyk finished the 2021 season with 85 tackles which had him tied for seventh in the NSIC.
He also was 16th in the NSIC with tackles for loss where he had 12.
The Wildcats went 9–3 in 2022 before ultimately ending their season with a 26–9 loss in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs at Minnesota State.
“Winning the 2022 NSIC championship and making it to the playoffs was my favorite memory at Wayne State,” said Kowalczyk.
In 2022 Kowalczyk started all 12 games and was named to the All NSIC South First Team and the All–Super Region First Team. Kowalczyk led the Wildcats in tackles with 106 which placed him second in the NSIC. Kowalczyk also received the NSIC defensive player of the week award twice during the 2022 season.
During the 2023 season Kowalczyk caught the injury bug and missed the entire year. 2024 was very similar, where he only made it through four games before having a season ending injury.
Kowalczyk recorded 28 tackles in his shortened 2024 season. Kowalczyk entered the 2024 season on the NCAA Division II Elite 100 watch list and All–American First Team watch list.
Kowalczyk’s 2024 season high in tackles came in a 35–28 loss to Minnesota State during week two of conference play.
Kowalczyk is from Sioux Falls, South Dakota and started two years at O’Gorman High School where he also starred in powerlifting and started in track during his senior year. He led O’Gorman in tackles with 71 and a sack in a season where O’Gorman won the 11AAA State Championship in the state of South Dakota.
“I liked the coaching staff and being close to home and I felt confident in the direction the program was heading, and they have a good business department,” Kowalczyk said on why he decided to commit to Wayne State out of high school.
Kowalczyk’s first season with the Wildcats was canceled due to Covid–19 in 2020. In 2021, Kowalczyk started in all 11 games and made the NSIC South second team. He was named NSIC defensive player of the week October 11th after WSC’s road win vs #11 Minnesota State.
Kowalczyk finished the 2021 season with 85 tackles which had him tied for seventh in the NSIC.
He also was 16th in the NSIC with tackles for loss where he had 12.
The Wildcats went 9–3 in 2022 before ultimately ending their season with a 26–9 loss in the first round of the NCAA Division II playoffs at Minnesota State.
“Winning the 2022 NSIC championship and making it to the playoffs was my favorite memory at Wayne State,” said Kowalczyk.
In 2022 Kowalczyk started all 12 games and was named to the All NSIC South First Team and the All–Super Region First Team. Kowalczyk led the Wildcats in tackles with 106 which placed him second in the NSIC. Kowalczyk also received the NSIC defensive player of the week award twice during the 2022 season.
During the 2023 season Kowalczyk caught the injury bug and missed the entire year. 2024 was very similar, where he only made it through four games before having a season ending injury.
Kowalczyk recorded 28 tackles in his shortened 2024 season. Kowalczyk entered the 2024 season on the NCAA Division II Elite 100 watch list and All–American First Team watch list.
Kowalczyk’s 2024 season high in tackles came in a 35–28 loss to Minnesota State during week two of conference play.
When asked what was so special about Wayne State to keep him around Kowalczyk said, “All the people along the way, everyone makes me feel like family, and you just work together as a team to win it together.” Kowalczyk has been a huge part to this defense for a long time for Wayne State.
Kowalczyk continues his sixth season of football at WSC on Saturday, September 20 where the Wildcats take on the MSU Moorhead Dragons.
Kowalczyk continues his sixth season of football at WSC on Saturday, September 20 where the Wildcats take on the MSU Moorhead Dragons.
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