Wheeling, W. Va. - The American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) awarded some of the top defensive players across NCAA DII college baseball this week with the announcement of their Regional All-Defensive Teams. The Wheeling University Baseball team had a representative on the list, with outfielder Nic Ancelet earning ABCA Atlantic Region All-Defensive Team honors. Ancelet is the first Wheeling Baseball player to win the award since the ABCA started announcing the Regional Defensive teams back in 2023. 

Ancelet would start 45 games for the Cardinals in centerfield and distinguished himself as one of the top defenders in the conference. He would finish the year with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage, picking up 110 putouts and three outfield assists across 113 chances. He was one of just eight qualifying fielders in the Mountain East Conference (MEC) to finish with a 1.000 fielding percentage, while also leading the Cardinals with three outfield assists. He also added one double play to his fielding record and made acrobatic catches in the outfield throughout the season. He has been the pillar of strong defense for the Cardinals throughout his career, committing just two errors in three seasons for the Cardinals, putting together a .991 career fielding percentage. He has posted 1.000 fielding percentages in two of those three seasons, being awarded for his defensive success in 2025. 

Along with his success in the field, Ancelet was also a key part of the team's offensive success throughout the year. Across 148 at-bats, Ancelet would hit .277 with 19 RBI. OF his 37 total hits, he would pick up eight extra base hits and regularly used his speed to get into scoring position. He was the team's leader in stolen bases, swiping 17 of the 19 bags he tried to steal, and finished his career as the team's all-time stolen base leader with 47 stolen bases across three seasons. His biggest performance of the 2025 season came in the final home game against Fairmont State as the Cardinals earned a 10-9 walk-off win. Ancelet doubled home two runs early in the game to give the Cardinals the lead and would eventually score the winning run on a walk-off single by Jacob Lentz, as he finished 2-4 with a pair of RBI. 

The ABCA honored the top defensive player at every position across the Atlantic Region, with nine total honorees. Ancelet was one of two MEC players honored with the distinction, joining Frostburg State's third baseman Mike Guy. A complete list of the Atlantic Region All-Defensive Team is listed below: 

The Wheeling University Baseball team now heads into the offseason as they look to grow towards 2025.