Good morning! The Shocker track and field meet, previously named the Herm Wilson Invitational, will be called the Wilson Invitational starting this year, to honor Wichita State's longtime pole vault coach Pat Wilson as well as longtime head cross country and track and field coach Herm Wilson.

Before stepping away from the program last fall, he helped coach six NCAA All-Americans, seven conference champions, and 18 all-conference athletes.

What are we mixing into today’s Brew?

🥎 Barnard named to the Top 50 watch list
🏀 Men’s and women’s basketball recaps
🌾 ​ And much, much more!

🌾 ONE BIG THING

For the second time in two seasons, Addison Barnard was named to USA Softball’s Top 50 Collegiate Player of the Year Watch List. The three-time First Team All-Conference selection is the only student-athlete on the list from a school outside the Power-5.

Barnard enters her senior season fully healthy after battling injuries for most of the 2023 season. Despite the significant injury early in the season, Barnard still powered through 52 games, hitting .369 with nine doubles, four triples, 14 home runs, 36 RBI, and stole 22 bases. Entering the 2024 season, Barnard ranks second on the NCAA DI active career home run list with 69.

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Day Ones. The Shockers started off the Wilson Invitational with a pair of standout performances. Destiny Masters shined in the indoor pentathlon after she finished her day with first-place finishes in the 60m hurdles, high jump, and shot put. Sophomore Sadie Millard raced out to a third-place finish in the 60m hurdles. The meet will continue Friday with day two of the multis, weight throw, triple jump, women's pole vault, and the 5,000 meters, and will conclude Saturday with the remainder of the events.

🔼 Two More In The Hall. As we wrap up the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame features, the spotlight shines now on Shocker softball’s Cacy Williams and Shocker women’s golf’s Taryn Torgerson. The two, alongside baseball’s Charlie Giaudrone and basketball’s Alexis Harden, will be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame as members of the Class of 2024.

🏅 Read more about Taryn Torgerson, the Shocker golf legend

🏅 Read more about Cacy Williams, the Shocker softball standout

🔼 Sent To OT. The Shockers were able to force overtime against the No. 2 team in the AAC but fell 83-81 in the final seconds of the game. Salese Blow extended the game for Wichita State after hitting a fadeaway jumper as time expired.

🗣️ "Overall, it was a great effort for our team. We played with a lot of passion and emotion tonight. Offensively, it was one of our best games of the season." - head coach Terry Nooner

Daniela Abies recorded her third-straight double-double and fifth of the season with a career-high 23 points and 10 rebounds and scored 19 of her 23 points after halftime. Salese Blow and Tre'Zure Jobe finished with 21 and 18 points, respectively, Blow's second game over 20 this year. Next up, the Shockers return to Charles Koch Arena on Saturday at 5 p.m. to take on Florida Atlantic.

🔼 Defensive Battle. Going up against East Carolina, Shocker men’s basketball was unable to come away with a victory after falling 54-52 at The Roundhouse on Wednesday night. Despite the offensive woes, Harlond Beverly tied a season-high with 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, while adding six rebounds and three assists, and on defense, Quincy Ballard tied his career-high of seven blocked shots with five of them coming in the second half.

Next up, Wichita State will host SMU for the final time as members of the American Athletic Conference on Sunday at 2 p.m.

🔼 The Roundhouse Podcast. In the latest episode of The Roundhouse Podcast, Shocker softball pitchers Alison Cooper and Alex Aguilar join the show to talk about the new members on the pitching staff and how they are looking to carry more of the load heading into the 2024 season. Plus, Cooper tells why she wears the uniform number she has and the two reveal the coach whose mantra is “it’s going to be fine”.

🎙️ Listen to this episode of The Roundhouse Podcast

🤔 SHOCKER TRIVIA

Shocker Nation Showed Out. Wichita State volleyball had a season to remember after finishing the 2023 season with an NIVC Championship under its belt, and it couldn’t have been done without Shocker Nation showing up and supporting.

22,000 fans showed up to matches this past season, so our question today is: do you know the last time that many Shocker fans attended volleyball matches?

Think you got it? Scroll down to the bottom of this email for the answer!

📬 STICK WITH US

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📆 LOOKING AHEAD

Friday, Jan. 26

👟 Track and Field @ Wilson Invitational in Wichita, KS | Schedule

🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. Omaha @ 1:00pm in Wichita, KS | Live Stats

🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. Kansas State @ 4:00pm in Wichita, KS | Live Stats

Saturday, Jan. 27

👟 Track and Field @ Wilson Invitational in Wichita, KS | Schedule

🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Florida Atlantic @ 5:00pm in Wichita, KS | Listen | Live Stats

Sunday, Jan. 28

🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. SMU @ 2:00pm in Wichita, KS | Tickets | Watch | Listen | Live Stats

🌾 Click here to see the full Wichita State Athletics Calendar

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: 2017!

The 2023 season marked the first time since the 2017 season that 22,000+ Shocker fans showed up to support Wichita State volleyball.

🌾 Have a great weekend, y’all!