Baseball season is near and broadcaster Shane Dennis joins the podcast to discuss the 2021 Shockers. We talk about newcomers to the pitching staff, the impact of a healthy Paxton Wallace on the lineup and how the Shockers might navigate four-game weekend series. Dennis also details how coaches Gene Stephenson and Jim Thomas handled losing spades games on baseball bus trips in the 1990s, his favorite teammate nicknames and the case for playing Cooper Elliot at all nine positions in a tribute to former Shocker Mike Jones.
Bartlett, a senior outfielder on the baseball team, is a transfer from Saint Louis University. He talks about his first impressions of the coaching staff, talking hitting with his teammates, why he keeps a journal and the Shocker pitcher who causes him the most headaches. Bartlett also discusses dealing with failure in baseball, a future in school psychology and which teammate is the best hunter/fisherman.
Chad Gibney coaches one of the best women’s junior college basketball teams in the country at Western Nebraska Community College. He talks about his path to coaching, his season coaching both men’s and women’s basketball at Western Nebraska and which Shocker coaches he borrows from. Gibney, a manager at Wichita State for the men’s team from 2010-16, discusses his favorite Shocker memories, what made practices special and why Steve Nash is his favorite NBA star.
Taylor Eldridge, a 2011 communications graduate from Wichita State, is the Shocker athletics beat writer for The Wichita Eagle, a position he has held since 2017. Eldridge joins the podcast to discuss his popular video breakdowns, how his job changed over the years and his advice for young journalists. He discusses the Shockers, the impact of Morris Udeze and Tyson Etienne’s rise. We wrap up by talking about his favorite stories, his favorite pickup basketball spots and how he handled the time-honored tradition of a sportswriter locked in a stadium late at night.
Seniors Murkel Dellien and Marius Frosa are preparing for their final season and a chance to add to the accomplishments of one of Wichita State’s greatest doubles teams. They reached the quarterfinals of the 2019 NCAA Doubles Championships to earn All-American honors, becoming the second Shocker duo to earn that honor. They talk about their teamwork, their goals for this season, favorite Grand Slam tournament and plans after college.
Sean Johnson played catcher at Wichita State from 1996-98 and worked as director of operations before embarking on a career in professional baseball. Johnson, who attended South High School, became scouting director for the Minnesota Twins in 2016. He talks about the Double A team that will play in Wichita this summer, how the Twins rebuilt their organization after a 103-loss season and the differences between AA and AAA baseball. Johnson also discusses how his time as a Shocker influenced his career, the time he threw out Randy Young in practice and cooking during the pandemic.
Steve Strain and Bob Hull join the podcast to break down the early results for Wichita State women’s and men’s basketball. The women are off to a 3-1 start and Strain details the improvements he sees and how the Shockers can improve. Wichita State’s men are 1-1 and Hull talks about the new faces and how they might help as the roster returns to full strength.
Seniors Emma Wright (volleyball) and Marta Bellucco (women’s tennis) are two of the leaders for Wichita State’s diversity and inclusion outreach. They discuss their motivation for getting involved in the athletic department’s educational efforts and what they’ve learned about navigating the discussions that issues such as social justice, race, cultural differences and sexuality bring about.
Javelin thrower Taran Taylor and John Wise, assistant director of track and field, discuss workouts during a pandemic and prospects for an indoor season. Taylor, from Ark City, details his rise as a standout thrower, his return from elbow surgery and how his engineering major might relate to the javelin.
Shockers assistant Chester Nichols – a former pass-rushing defensive lineman – updates us on the 2020-21 season. He discusses Wichita State’s newcomers and leadership progress by returners such as Carla Bremaud and Seraphine Bastian. We wrap up with Nichols recommending some of his favorite books.
