John Wise is the assistant director of track and field and cross country. He joins the podcast to preview the Wichita State Open, which starts at noon Saturday at Cessna Stadium.
Wise discusses the rising optimism for the outdoor season after the indoor’s uncertainty. He talks about hurdler Joseph Holthusen’s path from lightly recruited high schooler to indoor All-American and Shockers off to a great start to the outdoor season, such as hammer thrower Michael Bryan and the women’s steeplechase crew.
We wrap up by talking about how movies theaters may or may not survive the pandemic, which movie might lure him back to the theater and his “Travel With a Wise Guy” video series on YouTube. Joyland alert!
Wichita State’s Garrett Kocis joins the podcast as the Shockers prepare for American Athletic Conference play with a 12-8 record and a four-game win streak. Kocis, a junior from Omaha, talks about watching the College World Series as a youngster, what he learned from Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm as a freshman and how he dealt with the disappointments of 2019. Kocis, who leads the Shockers with 10 home runs, also discusses his home run derby belt, chatting at first base and his favorite CWS star from his youth.
Wichita State opens American Athletic Conference play this weekend against ECU at Wilkins Stadium. Assistant coach Elizabeth Economon joins the podcast to discuss the team’s 17-4 start, wins over Iowa State and Oklahoma State and the performance of several Shocker freshmen. We talk about Neleigh Herring’s journey to the top of the conference batting list, how coaches can control for work ethic while recruiting and why Economon doesn’t use her two conference MVP’s as Truman State shortstop as a trump card around the softball office.
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.
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.
