UMD Bulldogs "ALLETE" Moments: Competition
Throughout this year, UMD Athletics is partnering with Minnesota Power, ALLETE to highlight the Bulldogs accomplishments in the 3 C's: Classroom, Competition, Community.
The University of Minnesota Duluth softball's
Nicole Schmitt was named to the Division II Conference Commissioners Association (D2CCA) First Team All-Central Region announced on Monday.
Schmitt moves on to the All-America ballot along with first team members from the other seven regions, with those teams to be announced next week. The Central Region is comprised of teams from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association, and the Great American Conference.
After earning National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division II First Team All-Central Region the week prior, Schmitt was bestowed first team honors from the region's sports communications offices. The Verona, Wis. native becomes the second player in program history to be selected to both first team all-region teams joining Duluth native Tyra Kerr, who accomplished the similar feat in 2012.
The senior second baseman is the sixth Bulldog to receive honors from D2CCA, and the ninth overall. Jessica Bren was the last UMD player to earn the award, taking second team honors in 2021, while All-Americans Hannah Schmoll and Natalie Wright were the last first team distinctions winners in 2018.
Schmitt showcased one of the best individual performances the program has witnessed. The second baseman smashed four single-season program records as she holds the program records for home runs (18), RBI (69), total bases (148), and slugging percentage (.813). Named to the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference First Team already for a third time in her career, she was named UMD's Outstanding Senior Female Athlete of the Year and the NSIC Softball Outstanding Senior of the Year. The 2025 NSIC Myles Brand All-Academic with Distinction Award Winner is nationally ranked in Division II categories in RBIs (69; 5th), home runs (18; 6th), total bases (148; 7th), slugging (.813; 15th), runs scored (60; 16th), hits (79; 25th), batting average (.434; 35th), on-base (.510; 37th).
Schmitt paced the Bulldogs at the plate and was one of only two seniors on the squad that saw the Bulldogs go 39-17 and make it to the NSIC Postseason Semifinals in head coach Nat Wagner's first season at the helm.
About Minnesota Power, ALLETE:
Our bold vision centers on our commitment to climate, customers and communities. We're a clean-energy leader under our EnergyForward strategy, already delivering 50% renewable energy ahead of all other Minnesota utilities. Now we're doubling down on that with a vision to deliver 100% carbon-free energy to customers reliably and affordably by 2050. Learn more at: https://www.mnpower.com/CarbonFreeEnergyVision
