BURNSVILLE, Minn. – The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference released the 2020 Spring Elite 18 winners earlier today, with Northern State's Shayla Steinley honored as the softball recipient. She is the fourth Wolf to earn the NSIC Elite 18 Award, joining DJ Pollard (2017 & 2018 - Men's Basketball)  Sasha Hovind (2017- Indoor Track & Field and 2017- Cross Country ) and Joe Gomez (2017 - Wrestling).
 
Steinley holds a 4.0 grade point average as she majors in biology. She is a 3-time NSIC All-Academic Team member, a 2-time NSIC All-Academic Team of Excellence recipient, and a 2020 NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award honoree. During the 2020 season, Steinley was selected as a team captain, appearing in 13 games, with a .300 average, eight runs scored, and three stolen bases.
 
"Shayla has had a profound impact on the Wolves softball team," noted head coach Jenny Fuller. "The respect her team had for her leadership culminated in her being selected team captain this year. On the field, Shayla was a versatile player that we could count on in the box and would dive for every ball in the outfield.  Off the field her drive for success has resulted in numerous awards: graduating Honoribus, NSIC All-Academic, recipient of the Myles-Brand Award and selected to present research to the South Dakota House of Representatives.  Shayla has been accepted to PA school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and we are excited for her future!"
 
As part of the NSIC 25th Anniversary celebration during the 2016-17 academic year, the NSIC Elite 18 Award was instituted to recognize the true essence of the student-athlete by honoring the individual who has reached the pinnacle of competition at the NSIC Championship level in his or her sport, while also achieving the highest academic standard among his or her peers. The NSIC Elite 18 award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative grade-point average participating at the finals site for each of the NSIC's 18 Championships.