Greetings from the student-athletes, coaches and staff at Wichita State University,

Summer provides an opportunity to reflect on another outstanding year for Shocker Athletics, celebrate the accomplishments of our student-athletes and coaches, and look ahead with excitement to the opportunities that await us in 2026-27.

As I look across our department, I continue to be energized by the momentum we are building together. Guided by our strategic focus on Academics, Community Service and Competitive Excellence, Wichita State Athletics continues to make meaningful progress in all areas of our mission. From record-setting performances in the classroom and championship-caliber competition to transformational facility investments and community engagement, our trajectory is clear. None of that happens without the unwavering support of our fans, donors, sponsors and alumni, and community partners.

Academic Excellence
The foundation of Wichita State Athletics will always be the success of our student-athletes beyond competition, and this past year was one of the finest academic years in department history.

Our student-athletes achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.507, the highest annual GPA ever recorded by Wichita State Athletics. We also celebrated our 42nd consecutive semester with a departmental GPA above 3.0, while 83 percent of our student-athletes earned a 3.0 GPA or higher during the spring semester.

The consistency of our academic success is equally impressive. We have now achieved a departmental GPA of at least 3.3 in each of the last eight semesters, 3.4 or higher in five of the last six semesters, and 3.5 or higher in three of the last four semesters. These accomplishments reflect the discipline, commitment and culture our student-athletes and staff demonstrate every day.

Competing for Championships
Championships continue to be a defining characteristic of our department's progress. When we launched our strategic framework, we established an ambitious goal of winning 15 championships. Through the first three years of that plan, the Shockers have secured 12 championships, a testament to the commitment of our student-athletes, coaches and support staff.
That momentum continued throughout the 2025-26 academic year as the we posted a 61.4 percent winning percentage in head-to-head competition, our highest since joining the American Athletic Conference.

Our progress is also reflected nationally. After finishing No. 247 in the Learfield Directors' Cup standings in 2023-24 and No. 151 in 2024-25, Wichita State recorded its best finish in the Learfield Directors' Cup since 2018 by placing No. 146 out of 365 NCAA Division I schools.

Several programs delivered memorable championship performances this spring.

Softball captured a share of the conference regular-season championship and returns American Conference Player and Freshman of the Year Kinzey Woody, along with Ausha Moore and several key contributors from a championship-caliber roster. They return a significant portion of a team that established itself among the conference's elite and positioned the program for continued success.

Men's Track & Field claimed its third American Athletic Conference outdoor championship in the past five seasons, while three Shockers advanced to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore., and all three earned All-American honors. Jason Parrish (second team All-American for a second time) placed 11^th in the 400-meter hurdles. Twin brother Josh Parrish earned honorable mention All-American in the 110-meter hurdles and long jump. Jelese Alexander tied for 19^th to earn honorable mention All-American honors in the high jump.

Shocker Bowling continued its tradition of national excellence, advancing to the NCAA Championship match and finishing as the national runner-up in its second season as an NCAA program. Along the way, the Shockers won the Arlington Regional and placed four student-athletes on the NTCA All-America teams - Aleesha Oden (first team), Sara Duque Jimenez, Ashtyn Woods (second team) and Paige Wagner (honorable mention) earned All-American honors.

Both tennis programs continued their upward trajectory. Women's Tennis returns nationally ranked doubles standouts Xin Tong and Giorgia following the program's strongest season since 2018. Men's Tennis climbed as high as No. 54 nationally and finished among the ITA Top 75 programs for the first time since 2022.

Whether measured by conference championships, national rankings, postseason appearances or Directors' Cup performance, we continue to trend in a positive direction.

Making an Impact Beyond Competition
We rely on the community for support and continue to embrace the responsibility that comes with representing Wichita. In 2025-26, student-athletes from all sports and staff members contributed 2,169.13 hours to projects throughout Wichita and the surround region.
 
Our department helped at Ronald McDonald House, Kansas Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Starkey, Prairie Fire Marathon, and the Salvation Army, among many others. Team IMPACT matches children facing serious illness and disability with college teams, creating a long-term, life-changing experience. Track and field, baseball, softball, volleyball and baseball brought youngsters into practices, locker rooms and games in 2025-26.
 
Investing in the Future 
As proud as we are of our accomplishments, we remain equally focused on creating the resources, facilities and infrastructure necessary for sustained success.
 
This summer marks another significant milestone in the transformation of Crossland Stadium. Following the recent naming partnership with Crossland Construction, Phase III improvements are now underway as construction continues on a state-of-the-art venue designed to serve Wichita State student-athletes, the Kansas State High School Track & Field Championships and many future events serving the Wichita and Kansas community for years to come. The project reflects our commitment to creating a premier destination for competition while strengthening Wichita State's connection to prospective students and communities across Kansas.

We also officially broke ground on the Wadsworth Team Operations Center at Wilkins Stadium this summer, providing new operational space and enhancing the experience for our softball program while laying the foundation for future phases of the Wilkins Stadium master plan.

In addition, planning continues for a transformational tennis complex at Ignite K-96, made possible through the largest single gift commitment of any kind in Wichita State and Shockers Athletics history. Combined with ongoing discussions about enhancements for all of our student-athletes these projects represent our continued investment in providing a first-class student-athlete experience and positioning Wichita State Athletics for long-term success.

These investments are about more than facilities. They are investments in people, opportunities and the future of Shocker Athletics.

Investing in our Student-Athletes
While facility enhancements remain an important part of our long-term vision, today's collegiate athletics landscape also requires significant investment in the student-athlete experience. Through the We Fight For Wichita Fund, our supporters play a direct role in providing the resources necessary to recruit, retain and support championship-caliber student-athletes while positioning Wichita State Athletics for sustained success.

I am excited to share that an anonymous donor has made a transformational $500,000 commitment to the We Fight For Wichita Fund and has challenged Shocker Nation to match that gift dollar-for-dollar. Every contribution made during this campaign will be matched up to $500,000 doubling its impact and helping generate as much as $1 million to support revenue sharing and roster resources for Wichita State Athletics.

There has never been a more important time to invest in the future of Shocker Athletics. Whether your gift is $25 or $25,000, every dollar moves us closer to unlocking the full match and strengthening the future of our student-athletes.

I invite you to join this effort today by making your gift HERE.
 
Looking Ahead
With your continued partnership, and the momentum created through initiatives like the We Fight For Wichita Fund, we are well positioned to build upon what we've accomplished together as our focus remains firmly on the future.

Summer workouts are underway for a few of our programs, including men's and women's basketball as both teams continue preparing for the upcoming season.

Men's Basketball returns 10 players from last year's 24-win team and has added several talented newcomers who will complement one of the American Conference's most experienced rosters. The excitement surrounding the program is already evident, with 198 new season tickets sold to date and pacing towards a 90% season ticket renewal rate. We have also continued sharing several fan engagement initiatives, including our Community Tickets Program, Recent Graduate Program and Referral Incentive Program.

Women's Basketball enters an exciting preparation period featuring an entirely new roster under Head Coach Terry Nooner, who recently welcomed nationally respected coaches Melanie Balcomb and Rachel Swartz to his staff. Their leadership, experience and passion for student-athlete development further strengthen a program that plans to build significant momentum both on and off the court.

Volleyball has already announced its 2026 schedule and is preparing for another exciting season in Charles Koch Arena.

This summer also marks a significant moment in the history of Wichita State Athletics. After an extraordinary 46-year career behind the microphone, Mike Kennedy officially concluded his tenure as the Voice of the Shockers. As we honor Mike's remarkable career, we are equally excited to welcome Denning Gerig as our new Director of Broadcasting and Voice of the Shockers. Denning will help lead the next era of Shocker storytelling while continuing the traditions that have connected our fans to our student-athletes for decades.

Thank You, Shocker Nation
Every academic achievement, championship pursuit, facility enhancement and student-athlete opportunity described in this letter is made possible through the collective support of Shocker Nation.

Whether you support Wichita State Athletics through attendance, philanthropy, sponsorship, advocacy or simply wearing black and yellow with pride, you are an essential part of our success.

Thank you for your belief in our student-athletes, our coaches and our mission. Together, we continue to build a first-class student-athlete experience that reflects the pride, passion and spirit of Wichita State University.

The future of Shocker Athletics is bright, and I look forward to sharing even more of our accomplishments in the department's annual report, launching next month.