Good morning, Shocker Nation.

Wichita State held its 13th annual Wheaties awards ceremony Wednesday night, celebrating student-athletes from all 16 varsity sports for their achievements on the field and in the classroom. Elkana Kipruto (men's track & field/cross country) took home Male Athlete of the Year, while Sara Duque Jimenez claimed Female Athlete of the Year honors for bowling.

Women's Bowling earned Team of the Year, with Ausha Moore (softball) and Brady Pacha (baseball) named Female and Male Newcomers of the Year. Moments of the Year went to the women's tennis doubles duo of Giorgia Roselli and Xin Tong Wang for clinching the American Conference doubles championship, and the women's track & field Distance Medley Relay team for their American Conference indoor title.

What else are we mixing into today’s piping hot edition of the Shocker Brew? Find out below!

✈️ On The Road
🎾 Tourney Time
🌾 And much, much more!

🌾 ONE BIG THING

Wichita State University President Rick Muma sat down with Mike Kennedy to talk about his 46-year career as the Voice of Shockers and his future plans on the most recent episode of the Forward Together podcast. (Watch | Listen)

Wichita State Baseball celebrates Draft Day at their game against Rice on Friday, Apr. 24 at 6pm. The first 700 fans through the gates at Eck Stadium will receive a Wichita State football jersey presented by Dynamo Capital. Secure your seat and plan to arrive early to secure yours!

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 On The Road. Wichita State softball (24-15, 12-6) kicks off an eight-game road trip this weekend at Charlotte (26-19, 10-8), with games tonight at 5 p.m., Saturday at noon, and Sunday at 11 a.m. CT on ESPN+. Freshman Kinzey Woody leads the American Conference with a .491 average in conference play, eight home runs, and 23 RBIs, and is fresh off American Conference Player of the Week honors after going .500 with two homers and seven RBIs against UTSA. Ausha Moore leads the league in on-base percentage (.547) and ranks second in home runs (13), while Kammie Smith is riding an eight-game hit streak.

🔼 Tourney Time. No. 67 Wichita State men's tennis opens American Conference Championship play this morning at 10 a.m. CT in Tulsa against No. 63 South Florida. The Shockers enter as the No. 5 seed, their highest since 2021, and are riding a strong season that included an eight-match win streak and three victories over ranked opponents. Zaid Al Mashni and Pablo Roche Alcaya lead the team with 11 singles wins apiece, while Ilias Worthington and Alcaya pace the doubles column with 13 victories each. A win would send Wichita State to Saturday's semifinals at noon CT.

🔼 Staying Home. Wichita State men’s basketball forward Jaret Valencia announced he’ll return to the Shockers next season. The redshirt junior averaged 13.2 minutes per game last season.

🔼 Hall of Fame. Wichita State track and field legend Desiraye (Osburn) Speer is headed to the Missouri Valley Conference Athletics Hall of Fame as part of the 2026 class. A Shocker from 2002–06, Osburn set MVC all-time records in four indoor and outdoor events. Her standout senior year included MVC indoor titles in the mile, 3,000 meters, and 5,000 meters, plus MVP honors, before she swept MVC outdoor titles in the 1500 and 5,000 meters and finished fourth at the NCAA Outdoor Championship. After college, she was sponsored by New Balance and represented Team USA four times in cross country and track, and was inducted into the Pizza Hut Shocker Sports Hall of Fame in 2012.

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🌾 SHOCKER TRIVIA

How many times did Desiraye Osburn Speer earn All-America honors during her Wichita State career?

Think you know the answer? Scroll to the bottom to find out!

🤝 SHARE THE BREW

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📆 ON THE DOCKET

*All times CT


Friday, April 17
🎾 Men’s Tennis vs. South Florida @ 10 a.m. @ American Conference Championship (Tulsa, Okla.)
🎾 Women’s Tennis vs. UAB/Temple @ 10 a.m. @ American Conference Championship (Houston, Texas)
👟 Track & Field @ Oregon Team Invitational (Eugene, Ore.)
⚾️ Baseball @ East Carolina @ 5 p.m. (Greenville, N.C.) | Watch
🥎 Softball @ Charlotte @ 5 p.m. (Charlotte, N.C.)

Saturday, April 18
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ American Conference Championship (Tulsa, Okla.)
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ American Conference Championship (Houston, Texas)
👟 Track & Field @ Oregon Team Invitational (Eugene, Ore.)
🥎 Softball @ Charlotte @ 12 p.m. (Charlotte, N.C.)
⚾️ Baseball @ East Carolina @ 3 p.m. (Greenville, N.C.)

Sunday, April 19
🎾 Men’s Tennis @ American Conference Championship (Tulsa, Okla.)
🎾 Women’s Tennis @ American Conference Championship (Houston, Texas)
🥎 Softball @ Charlotte @ 11 a.m. (Charlotte, N.C.)
⚾️ Baseball @ East Carolina @ 12 p.m. (Greenville, N.C.)

Monday, April 20
⛳ Women’s Golf @ 2026 American Women’s Golf Championship (Brooksville, Fla.) 

Tuesday, April 21
⛳ Women’s Golf @ 2026 American Women’s Golf Championship (Brooksville, Fla.) 
⚾️ Baseball @ Oklahoma State @ 6 p.m. (Stillwater, Okla.)

Wednesday, April 22
⛳ Women’s Golf @ 2026 American Women’s Golf Championship (Brooksville, Fla.) 
🥎 Softball @ Kansas City @ 4 p.m. (Kansas City, Mo.)

Friday, April 24
🥎 Softball @ North Texas @ 6 p.m. (Denton, Texas)
⚾️ Baseball vs. Rice @ 6:05 p.m. | Tickets

Saturday, April 25
👟 Track & Field @ Hornet Invite (Emporia, Kan.)
🏐 Volleyball @ Premier Nebraska Showcase (Gretna, Neb.)
🥎 Softball @ North Texas @ 2 p.m. (Denton, Texas)
⚾️ Baseball vs. Rice @ 2:05 p.m. | Tickets

Sunday, April 26
🥎 Softball @ North Texas @ 12 p.m. (Denton, Texas)
⚾️ Baseball vs. Rice @ 12:05 p.m. | Tickets

🌾 Click here to see the full Wichita State Athletics Calendar

🤓 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: Four.

🌾 Have a great weekend, Shocker Nation!