BURNSVILLE, Minn. - The Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) released the 2025-26 preseason indoor track and field athletes to watch and coaches' poll with Sophia Taarud and MacKenzie Wissbroecker being selected as the athletes to watch in distance events and athlete to watch in jumps for Winona State University. 

Minnesota State was picked as the number one overall going into the indoor season with 196 points in the coaches' poll. Winona State was tabbed at fourth place with 150 points. 
 
Head coach, Mason Rebarchek's remarks going into the 2025-26 season, "We have a great group of talented returners that work hard and bring a great attitude every day plus a very large group of freshmen that have a lot of talent an bring fresh energy into the team."
 
For the Warriors, Taarud and Wissbroecker are set to lead the way for WSU in the indoor track and field season under the helm of head coach Mason Rebarchek. Sophia Taarud, a graduate student from Farmington, Minn., led the way for Winona State in the 2025 cross country season, earning two first place finishes during regular season, a first-place finish at the NSIC Championship, and a third-place finish at the NCAA Regionals and collected a 34th place finish in the NCAA Cross Country Championship. Taarud's performances earned the team five first place finishes and outright winning the NSIC and being ranked #1 in the Central Region in the 2025 season. Head coach, Mason Rebarchek stated, "Sophia has worked so hard in her time here. Working through injuries, she has trained and battled her way to the top of the NSIC and is a real contender at the national level. She leads the way on and off the track."
 
MacKenzie Wissbroecker, sophomore from Antigo, Wis., rounded out her 2024-25 indoor track and field season with an impressive start to her Warrior career. She was 2nd in the long jump at the Bearson/Gathje Classic, 1st in the long jump at the Pat Healy Classic, 1st in the long jump at the Mark Guthrie Invite, 3rd in the long jump at the Maverick Premier #2, 2nd in the long jump at the NSIC Indoor Championships, 8th in the long jump at the NCAA Division II Indoor National Championships, 2nd in the long jump at the Minnesota State Open, 1st in the 4x100m at the Phil Esten Challenge, 1st in the long jump at the Maverick Open #1, 12th in the long jump at the NCAA Division II Outdoor National Championships. Head coach Mason Rebarchek statement on Wissbroecker, "MacKenzie is coming off an All-American freshman year and continues to learn how to improve herself in practice and out. Even as a sophomore she's a great leader and is always working to improve."

Taarud and Wissbroecker, along with the rest of the Winona State track and field team will start their 2025-26 indoor season at the Chuck Peterson Open hosted by Minnesota State, on December 5th in the Myers Fieldhouse. The 2025-26 NSIC Indoor Track and Field Championships are set to take place on February 27th through February 28th hosted by Minnesota State in the Myers Fieldhouse.