WINONA, Minn. - Eight members of the Winona State University football team earned a spot on the 2025 College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District Team announced on January 6th.

Winona State University football team had eight players receive a spot on the 2025 CSC Academic All-District list: James Durst, Conner Haggerty, David Nies, Delshawn Petrosky, Blake Schraufnagel, Joe Sikma, Joseph Staff, and Griffin Wiegel.

The 2025 Academic All-District football teams, selected by College Sports Communicators, recognize the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances on the field and in the classroom. The CSC Academic All-American program separately recognizes soccer honorees in four divisions — NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III and NAIA. 

Durst, a junior tight end from Byron, Minn., hauled in 38 passes for 365 yards and four touchdowns. His 38 receptions and four touchdowns were good for T-second on the Warriors squad. He racked up a season-high eight receptions for 97 yards and a TD in a 36-29 comeback victory over UMary on November 8, 2025.
 
Haggerty, a senior defensive lineman from Onalaska, Wis., was named to the 2025 NSIC First Team All-NSIC South Division. He was T-first in the NSIC with seven sacks and second in the conference with three forced fumbles. Haggerty spearheaded the defensive unit that led the NSIC with 34 sacks. In addition, he led WSU with 8.5 TFLs and recorded 41 tackles (17 solo) on the 2025 campaign.

Nies, a senior defensive lineman from Patch Grove, Wis., was T-first with 8.5 TFLs on the Warriors to go along with 48 tackles (24 solo) and four sacks. Nies recorded four QB hurries, two fumble recoveries, and one blocked kick. He earned eight tackles, 2.5 TFLs, one sack, and recovered a fumble in a tight loss to Augustana on September 27, 2025.

Petrosky, a senior defensive back from Youngstown, Ohio, recorded 32 tackles (21 solo) with two TFLs and one sack in his 2025 campaign. His ball hawking talents were on full display as he was T-first on the team with five pass breakups and leading the squad with two interceptions.

Schraufnagel, a sophomore linebacker from Mayville, Wis., earned Second Team All-NSIC South Division honors. He tallied a team-high 74 tackles (40 solo) with seven TFLs and one sack. Schraufnagel also collected three pass break ups. Schraufnagel recorded a season-high 10 tackles with two TFLs in a 21-14 win over Wayne State on October 4, 2025.

Sikma, a graduate student from Waukesha, Wis., led WSU is receptions (47), receiving yards (572), and receiving touchdowns (5). Sikma was the focal point for the Warriors passing game all season having at least five receptions in five separate games. He finished off his WSU career in style hauling in four passes for 118 yards and a TD in the 30-6 season finale win over SMSU on November 15, 2025.

Staff, a sophomore long snapper from Brookfield, Wis., appeared in all 11 games for Winona State. Staff was crucial to the special team's unit that wreaked havoc for opposing teams all season.

Wiegel, a graduate student defensive back from Combined Locks, Wis., was third on WSU with 50 tackles (30 solo). In addition, he tallied three pass breakups, two forced fumbles with one recovery. Wiegel put on a clinic with a career-high 15 tackles (seven solo) in a 21-14 win over Wayne State on October 4, 2025.