Wichita State pitching coach Mike Pelfrey joins us to talk about Payton Tolle’s two-way brilliance, Grant Adler’s roaming and Clark Candiotti’s slider. We discuss statistical measurements for pitching and how a good catcher can steal strikes. We wrap up by arguing whether Pelfrey’s gone soft, or if he is smartly learning new ways to work with his pitchers.
Wichita State is in the national rankings and ready to play at Wilkins Stadium this weekend. Pitching coach Presley Bell and pitcher Lauren Howell join the podcast to discuss the staff’s hot start, how video plays a role in preparation and how the pitchers complement each other. We also talk about Jefferson City’s famed Central Dairy, how Howell chose to transfer to Wichita State and travel tips.
Wichita State’s Trajata Colbert and Jane Asinde discuss the convincing victory over Tulsa, how they work together on the court and why Colbert sometimes wants to tell Asinde to slow down in practice. We talk about Colbert’s love of “The Golden Girls” TV show and why coaches consider her an “old soul.” Topics also include senior memories, advice for freshmen and travel tips.
Outfielder Jordan Rogers and pitcher Caden Favors discuss uniform choices, falling in love with baseball and best and worst walk-up songs on the team. Favors explains his many roles on the staff, including last season’s run as the “opener.” Rogers talks about “energy vampires.” We also break down airplane comforts, newcomers to watch and how the Shocker coaches provided support during a time of transition.
Wichita State assistant coach Josh Gliege and sophomore Michael Winslow talk about playing in the U.S. Amateur, rooming together on road trips and picking music for Instagram posts. We break down Winslow’s progress as a Shocker, favorite golf courses and how the Shockers hope to rebound from a disappointing fall when the spring schedule begins. Winslow discusses growing up in a big golf family and how they handle the stress of watching him play.
Shocker softball seniors Zoe Jones and Sydney McKinney are on the mic to discuss their first impressions of each other, how Jones keeps the mood light in the locker room with her chatter and how she is trying to improve her ability to read the room. We talk about bamboo pillows, bus-trip candy, books and the team’s “culture of weirdos.” They reveal their most anticipated non-conference opponents, break down the rivalry with UCF and why they think Caroline Tallent is ready for a breakout season.
Ezinne and Chidera Okoro join the podcast with the indoor track and field season near to talk about their journey to Wichita State, the team atmosphere with the Shockers and how the high school track meet at Cessna Stadium introduced them to the university. We discuss the difficulty of learning the triple jump and learn which sister uses an agenda to stay organized and which relies on her memory. They describe the joy of the feeling when everything goes right during a jump and update on us what they’re reading and watching.
Wichita State interim baseball coach Loren Hibbs joins us with the season drawing near. We discuss returners such as Brock Rodden and Jordan Rogers and newcomers such as Clark Candiotti and David Herring. We talk about Hibbs’ plans to listen to players and use their ideas, while demanding effort and accountability. We spend a few minutes on 1991 Shocker nostalgia and the nightmares Billy Hall and Chris Wimmer caused pitchers. We wrap up with Hibbs revealing his favorite uniform top and his feelings on how combinations are selected for each game.
Bob Powers and Robert Litan are the co-authors of a new book about Wichita State All-American basketball player Dave Stallworth. Powers was a teammate of Stallworth’s with the Shockers and a member of the 1965 Final Four team. Litan grew up in McPherson and Wichita as a Shocker fan watching the great teams of the early 1960s. All royalties from the book will be donated to the WSU Foundation for the David Stallworth Memorial Scholarship.
In this episode of Wichita State University’s “Forward Together” podcast, President Rick Muma speaks with John Tomblin, senior vice president for Industry and Defense and executive director of WSU’s National Institute for Aviation Research. They discuss the evolution and advancement of research at Wichita State, including how Tomblin has grown WSU’s aerospace engineering R&D portfolio from $20 million in 2004 to more than $190 million today.
The “Forward Together” podcast celebrates the vision and mission of Wichita State University. In each episode, President Rick Muma will talk with guests from throughout Shocker Nation to highlight the people and priorities that guide WSU on its road to becoming an essential educational, cultural, and economic driver for Kansas and the greater good.
