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Here’s what WSU basketball fans may have missed with Shockers’ spring sports
Now that the men’s basketball season has come to a close, Shockers fans can turn their attention to spring sports.
Here’s a primer on what’s happened so far: SOFTBALL
What you missed: The Shockers were picked to finish second in the American, but a season-ending injury to their best player, pitcher-outfielder Bailey Lange, early in the season hurt. WSU sputtered in a tournament following Lange’s exit, lost a mid-week games Oklahoma State and Missouri and lost its first two AAC series, 2-1, but the Shockers did just rebound to beat conference-leading and previously unbeaten Central Florida back-to-back days on the road to win the series. The Shockers are 23-17 and 4-5, tied for fourth in the AAC.
Why to watch: WSU is playing for its third NCAA Regional in the last four years under coach Kristi Bredbenner. The Shockers have been an entertaining team to watch, as they feature the top offense in the American with the most hits, the most runs scored and the most home runs. Junior Madison Perrigan has become a must-watch: She leads the AAC with eight home runs to go along with a .325 batting average, a conference-best 75 total bases and a team-best 30 runs batted in.
What’s coming up: The Shockers head to Fayetteville on Wednesday for an afternoon game against the same Arkansas program that knocked them out last season in the NCAA regional championship game. WSU will be eying another series win when it heads to Memphis (21-19, 3-6) for a weekend AAC series. WSU returns home with a series against East Carolina (19-19, 1-7) from April 18-20.
TRACK AND FIELD
What you missed: The outdoor season is just two weeks old, but Winny Koskei has already taken down a 31-year-old program record. Koskei’s time of 9 minutes, 40.68 seconds in the 3,000 meters was a full six seconds faster than the previous record held by Kathryn Evans (9:46.90) in 1988. The women’s team is ranked No. 7 in the Midwest regional and third-best in the American.
Why to watch: Both teams are stocked with top-tier athletes and will be competing for AAC titles in front of a home audience later this season. The women’s team features one of the best distance duos in the country in Koskei and Rebekah Topham. Kelsey Slawson (shot put) and Carlea Holt (javelin) both hold school records and give WSU plenty of punch in the throws.
What’s coming up: The annual K.T. Woodman Classic is coming up Wednesday through Saturday this week at Cessna Stadium. The Shockers will also head to Lawrence for the KU Relays, Des Moines for the Drake Relays and Lubbock, Texas, for the Red Raider Shootout. But the crown jewel of the schedule comes May 10-12, when WSU will host the AAC Outdoor Championships at Cessna Stadium.
TENNIS
What you missed: The women’s and men’s programs have both spent time in the national team rankings this season. For the 13th season in a row, the women’s team found its way into the rankings and climbed as high as No. 36. While neither team is currently ranked in the latest ITA-Oracle poll, the women’s team is 11-9. TOn the women’s team, junior Fatima Bizhukova has returned to the lineup and recently defeated No. 7 Sophie Whittle of Gonzaga to register the third top-10 singles win of her career. After missing the start of the season due to eligibility issues, Bizhukova has already ascended to No. 106 in the singles rankings with a 3-1 record in the top slot. (Finally find out what was going on with Fatima).
Why to watch: The women’s team finally has its full lineup with Bizhukova back, and the Shockers will be looking to build off last season’s win in the first round of NCAA Tournament play — just the second NCAA tourney win in program history.
What’s coming up: The women’s team has a doubleheader at home to conclude its regular season this Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. against Tulsa and continuing at 3 p.m. against Saint Louis at Coleman Tennis Complex. The women’s team will head to Orlando for the AAC Championships on April 17-20. GOLF
What you missed: The women’s team recently broke the program record for the lowest 54-hole score (875) at the Red Rocks Invitational in Sedona, Ariz. Seniors Laine Evans (75.1) and Gavrilla Arya (75.5) and freshman Hana Mirnik (75.6) have each registered one top-10 finish and three top-20 finishes in seven events this season.
What’s coming up: The women’s final tune-up is Monday and Tuesday in Kansas City before they take part in the AAC championships in Palm Coast, Fla., from April 14-16.
Now that the men’s basketball season has come to a close, Shockers fans can turn their attention to spring sports.
Here’s a primer on what’s happened so far: SOFTBALL
What you missed: The Shockers were picked to finish second in the American, but a season-ending injury to their best player, pitcher-outfielder Bailey Lange, early in the season hurt. WSU sputtered in a tournament following Lange’s exit, lost a mid-week games Oklahoma State and Missouri and lost its first two AAC series, 2-1, but the Shockers did just rebound to beat conference-leading and previously unbeaten Central Florida back-to-back days on the road to win the series. The Shockers are 23-17 and 4-5, tied for fourth in the AAC.
Why to watch: WSU is playing for its third NCAA Regional in the last four years under coach Kristi Bredbenner. The Shockers have been an entertaining team to watch, as they feature the top offense in the American with the most hits, the most runs scored and the most home runs. Junior Madison Perrigan has become a must-watch: She leads the AAC with eight home runs to go along with a .325 batting average, a conference-best 75 total bases and a team-best 30 runs batted in.
What’s coming up: The Shockers head to Fayetteville on Wednesday for an afternoon game against the same Arkansas program that knocked them out last season in the NCAA regional championship game. WSU will be eying another series win when it heads to Memphis (21-19, 3-6) for a weekend AAC series. WSU returns home with a series against East Carolina (19-19, 1-7) from April 18-20.
TRACK AND FIELD
What you missed: The outdoor season is just two weeks old, but Winny Koskei has already taken down a 31-year-old program record. Koskei’s time of 9 minutes, 40.68 seconds in the 3,000 meters was a full six seconds faster than the previous record held by Kathryn Evans (9:46.90) in 1988. The women’s team is ranked No. 7 in the Midwest regional and third-best in the American.
Why to watch: Both teams are stocked with top-tier athletes and will be competing for AAC titles in front of a home audience later this season. The women’s team features one of the best distance duos in the country in Koskei and Rebekah Topham. Kelsey Slawson (shot put) and Carlea Holt (javelin) both hold school records and give WSU plenty of punch in the throws.
What’s coming up: The annual K.T. Woodman Classic is coming up Wednesday through Saturday this week at Cessna Stadium. The Shockers will also head to Lawrence for the KU Relays, Des Moines for the Drake Relays and Lubbock, Texas, for the Red Raider Shootout. But the crown jewel of the schedule comes May 10-12, when WSU will host the AAC Outdoor Championships at Cessna Stadium.
TENNIS
What you missed: The women’s and men’s programs have both spent time in the national team rankings this season. For the 13th season in a row, the women’s team found its way into the rankings and climbed as high as No. 36. While neither team is currently ranked in the latest ITA-Oracle poll, the women’s team is 11-9. TOn the women’s team, junior Fatima Bizhukova has returned to the lineup and recently defeated No. 7 Sophie Whittle of Gonzaga to register the third top-10 singles win of her career. After missing the start of the season due to eligibility issues, Bizhukova has already ascended to No. 106 in the singles rankings with a 3-1 record in the top slot. (Finally find out what was going on with Fatima).
Why to watch: The women’s team finally has its full lineup with Bizhukova back, and the Shockers will be looking to build off last season’s win in the first round of NCAA Tournament play — just the second NCAA tourney win in program history.
What’s coming up: The women’s team has a doubleheader at home to conclude its regular season this Saturday, starting at 11 a.m. against Tulsa and continuing at 3 p.m. against Saint Louis at Coleman Tennis Complex. The women’s team will head to Orlando for the AAC Championships on April 17-20. GOLF
What you missed: The women’s team recently broke the program record for the lowest 54-hole score (875) at the Red Rocks Invitational in Sedona, Ariz. Seniors Laine Evans (75.1) and Gavrilla Arya (75.5) and freshman Hana Mirnik (75.6) have each registered one top-10 finish and three top-20 finishes in seven events this season.
What’s coming up: The women’s final tune-up is Monday and Tuesday in Kansas City before they take part in the AAC championships in Palm Coast, Fla., from April 14-16.