Dear Shocker Nation, 
 
We are excited that more of our student-athletes are competing this spring and we can't wait for you to help us encourage them throughout this semester during successful seasons!
 
We always strive to do things The Shocker Way by instilling our core values, developing our student-athletes and creating an environment of competitive excellence. We have already reached a few of our lofty strategic objectives from an academic and community service perspective.
 
Academically - beginning the Fall of 2022 semester and concluding the Spring of 2027 semester - Wichita State Athletics aspires to achieve a department-wide 3.0 GPA all 10 semesters and a department-wide 3.30 GPA five out of the next 10 semesters. The Fall of 2022 accomplished both of these objectives, while almost reaching the third academic strategic objective, achieving a "never been done before" department-wide GPA of 3.4.
 
We have already totaled almost 1,100 hours in community service work since the fall semester. Our goal for the year was 1,000 hours so we are proud of our coaches, staff and student-athletes for already reaching that mark and we are challenging them to continue supporting our Wichita community.
 
Here are some exciting things happening at Wichita State: 
 
It was a very exciting competition this last weekend in Birmingham, Alabama, for the AAC Indoor Track and Field Championships. Our men ended up finishing fourth (just a half of a point behind third) and our women 10^th. Individually, Adria Navajon won the heptathlon, finished third in the 60m hurdles, and eighth in the long jump. Teammate Nathan Vann was third in the heptathlon and Destiny Masters finished second in the pentathlon. In the men's high jump, Brady Palen and Weston Lewis earned podium finishes in an extremely tough competition. Palen cleared 2.20m/7'2.5" for second place, and Lewis joined the seven-foot club with a personal-best clearance of 2.14m/7'0.25" for third. Congratulations to all of our track and field student-athletes for their accomplishments at the AAC Championship!
 
Jennifer and I are excited to be part of the first annual RV Club Weekend! It is scheduled for April 21-23 during Wichita State baseball and softball series against East Carolina. For just $30, non-season ticket holders receive admission to six games (three baseball/three softball) and a tailgate on Friday evening. Season ticket holders to either baseball or softball receive admission to all six games as well as the Friday evening tailgate for $12. Click here for more information and to register. We hope to see you there!
 
There were many preseason accolades for our Shocker baseball and softball student-athletes. Pitcher Cameron Bye, outfielder Chuck Ingram, designated hitter Payton Tolle and second baseball Brock Rodden were all named to the AAC preseason all-conference baseball team, while Rodden was also named the Preseason Player of the Year. Shocker All-Americans Addison Barnard and Sydney McKinney were both named to the USA Softball Top 50 watch list. WSU was one of just 14 schools with multiple selections.
 
Men's and women's tennis started their spring seasons in January and we are eager to see them compete outside at home as it gets warmer this spring. Men's and women's golf played their first tournaments in February and will continue playing on the road through the AAC Championships in April.
 
Star Lumber President and Shocker supporter Patrick Goebel recently worked with Armchair Strategies for a Name, Image and Likeness event with our men's basketball program. Click here to learn more about how you can set up your own event to support our student-athletes through NIL.
 
Support your Wichita State student-athletes in a unique and exciting way by making a Home Run Pledge. Fans can pledge to donate their own customized dollar amount for every homer that Wichita State Baseball and/or Wichita State Softball hit in 2023. To participate, select a dollar amount that includes $1, $5, $10, $25, $50 or $100. At the end of the season, donors will be charged their pledge amount multiplied by the total number of home runs hit by WSU players. For reference, the baseball team hit 67 home runs last season, while the softball team hit 121. Click here to participate.
 
Our men's and women's basketball teams are both battling for seeds for the AAC Tournament. We enjoyed honoring our women's basketball seniors, Trajata Colbert and Curtessia Dean, at their last home regular-season game over the weekend. We look forward to doing the same for our men's basketball team on March 5 when we honor Craig Porter Jr., Gus Okafor, Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler and James Rojas.
 
We understand that you have high expectations for our team success. We are working diligently to improve in all areas. We cannot do it without your encouragement.
 
Letter From the AD Big 3
Here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Shockers: 

1. Bring your family or a friend to Eck Stadium or Wilkins Stadium for baseball and softball! Wichita State is set to open up its home season in baseball on March 3 and softball on March 4. Click here for tickets to be part of the excitement! Here is the list of promotions for all of our March home games:

March 3 – BSB vs. Oakland: Opening Day – Schedule Magnet Giveaway
March 4 – SB vs. Western Illinois: Home Opener – Schedule Magnet Giveaway
March 5 – SB vs. Bradley: Save Your Stub – FREE admission with your MBB vs. USF ticket stub
March 9 – SB vs. Stanford: Decal Sticker Giveaway
March 11 – BSB vs. Stetson: ICT Day - $3.16 General Admission Tickets
March 12 – SB vs. Missouri State: Scout Day – FREE admission for all scouts and patch giveaway
March 12 – BSB vs. Stetson: Junior Shocker Kids Club Day and Postgame Run the Bases
March 14 – SB vs. Arkansas: Invest in Women Night – T-Shirt Giveaway
March 14 – BSB vs. Oklahoma: Coca-Cola Family Day Ticket Bundle – 4 tickets, 4 cokes, 4 small popcorns for $32
March 17 – SB vs. Northern Colorado: St. Patrick's Day Celebration - $5 admission for fans wearing GREEN
March 21 – SB vs. Kansas: Rally Towel Giveaway – First 300 fans receive rally towels
March 22 – BSB vs. Oklahoma State: Retro Night - $30 Ticket & Hat Bundle
March 24 – BSB vs. UMass: Kids Education Day – We have more than 6,000 USD 259 kids that will be in attendance
March 29 – SB vs. Omaha: Softball Team Night – High School/Travel Teams (9^th-12^th Grade) receive FREE admission by submitting rosters before the game
March 31 – SB vs. South Florida: Fireworks Friday and Hometown Heroes Night – FREE admission for all Military, Police, Fire, EMS and Healthcare Personnel

2. Check out our exciting facility masterplan updates! On January 24, we announced lead gifts for Phase 1 of the Facility Masterplan for Wilkins Stadium. The Linda Parke estate and Ricky and Jeanie Brotherton have showed tremendous support for our softball program and we are thankful for their generosity. The project includes state of the art training and playing facilities including a team complex and indoor practice facility. Click here for more information on this huge project.

On February 23, we announced lead gifts for our Charles Koch Arena weight room renovation. We are so thankful and appreciative for the donations made by Fred VanVleet, Steve and Regine Feilmeier and Ricky and Jeanie Brotherton. This project represents a clear commitment to recruitment, development and retention of elite talent within our basketball and volleyball programs. Click here for more information on this exciting project.

3. Support our basketball teams in Fort Worth! Our men's and women's basketball teams are getting ready to compete in the American Athletic Conference Championships, March 6-12, in Fort Worth, Texas. Seeding will be determined at a later time, but we are ready to support both of our teams on their postseason journey! Help send off our teams at their hotel, the Embassy Suites, before each game with Shocker Sound, Wu and our Spirit Squad. Contact our ticket office at (316) 978-FANS for ticket information.

Thank you for being a loyal supporter and we hope to see you at a Shocker event this spring!
 
Go Shocks!
 
 
 
Kevin Saal
Director of Athletics