AfterShocks coach Zach Bush joins the podcast to preview Saturday’s (11 a.m. on ESPN) game in The Basketball Tournament. He discusses Conner Frankamp’s joy, Markis McDuffie’s dance moves and Fred VanVleet’s coaching role from behind the bench. Bush also talks about roster moves entering the TBT quarterfinals, how his assistant coaches work together and a look at Florida TNT.
Third baseman Ryleigh Buck and shortstop Sydney McKinney discuss winning the conference title, their walk-up songs and the season’s top defensive plays. McKinney reveals her secret about Hi-Chew candy. They also talk about when they knew the Shockers had something special going and the big summer event in McKinney’s hometown of Norborne, Mo.
Senior Madison Perrigan is Wichita State’s career home run leader with 42 entering this week’s tournament at Wilkins Stadium. She joins the podcast to talk about Wichita State’s 11-3 record, a win over then-No. 23 Iowa State and the turnaround for the pitching staff. Perrigan also gives the background on her walk-up songs, cheers in the dugout and how she selected Wichita State for college.
The Shockers face SMU this weekend at Koch Arena and associate head coach Sean Carter discusses his team’s 7-0 start. We talk about the chemistry and energy returning to the Shockers, the competition at libero and why Nicole Anderson’s volleyball IQ can help her act as a coach on the floor. Carter also discusses how teams are defending Wichita State’s middles and why he will remember senior Brooke Smith as the ultimate teammate.
Dr. Brianna Ward is athlete mental health coordinator and staff psychologist at Wichita State, a position she has held since August 2020. Ward discusses how she moved into working with athletes as a career, how Wichita State is helping its student-athletes during these challenging times and the progress on removing the stigma of asking for help. Ward also reveals her favorite college football player and the restaurant she frequents during her short time as a Wichitan.
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.
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.
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.
Senior associate athletic director Becky Endicott is retiring after a career at Wichita State that started in 1993 as an intern. She helped steer Shocker women’s athletics to its successes of the past 20 years and earned a reputation as a wise guide through the NCAA manual and an effective advocate for women’s athletics. Endicott discusses her time at Wichita State, how athletics has changed, her best Grier Jones story, rooting for the Chiefs and advice for young people considering a career in athletics.
