Joe Wendte

Inducted: 2021

Joe Wendte was a standout baseball player at Wayne State from 2007-10. The Sioux City Heelan graduate was a three-time All-NSIC selection (sophomore, junior and senior) and was named the 2009 NSIC Player of the Year as a junior and the NSIC Freshman of the Year in 2007. Wendte hit .416 during his senior season (2010) with 11 homers and 41 RBI. As a junior, he set several single season school records with a .396 average, 14 HR, 67 RBI, scoring a single season record 83 runs. Wendte ranked third in NCAA Division II in runs scored and sixth in walks (51) that season and capped his junior season being named First Team ABCA/Rawlings All-American and NCBWA Third Team All-American. Wendte finished his WSC career ranked first in walks (138), first in total bases (431), second in runs scored (229), second in home runs (34), third in hits (261), fourth in at bats (653), fifth in RBI (177), fifth in triples (10) and sixth in doubles (48). Wendte played on three NSIC regular season championship and three NCAA Tournament teams at WSC, including the 2009 team that was 45-15 and tied the school record for wins while reaching NCAA Central Region title game. He played in 201 career games with 189 starts and had win-loss record of 148-67 (.688). Joe currently teaches at Wakefield High School and is boys’ basketball and golf coach. He was inducted into the WSC Athletic Hall of Fame on April 30, 2022.