Trinity Allen and Mickayla Tosch, two junior college transfers, come to Wichita State after both having successful careers at McLennan Community College in Texas.
“Coming from McLennan, I liked the culture that surrounded Wichita and Coach B (Kristi Bredbenner),” Allen said. “When I came on my visit, she told me that (the program) was very blue collar, and we work for everything we get.”
Allen played in 122 games for the Highlanders and hit .510, with 47 home runs, 192 RBI and stole 46 bases. In her sophomore year, Allen was named a First Team All-American and was the NJCAA and NFCA National Player of the Year.
“It was great, it was awesome,” Allen said. “At the same time, this is a different level (with) different expectations. I think that in mind, ‘Yes, I am good. I was the best at that level.’ But at the same time, it’s just a new journey, and it’s a fresh start.”’
So far, coach Kristi Bredbenner has seen Allen come into her own after the fall season.
“I think it took her a little while in the fall,” Bredbenner said. “I think she was disappointed with her performance and kind of nervous. Then, all of a sudden, it started clicking for her.
“Just in this last month, the at bats, the barrels that she’s had, the confidence that you’re seeing with her swing — I think that she’s going to be an impact for us offensively.”
Tosch played in 115 games across two seasons at McLennan, received two Rawlings NJCAA Division I Gold Glove Awards and was named to the NJCAA Second Team All-American in her sophomore season.
“Coming from McLennan, I had high expectations of where I wanted to go next,” Tosch said. “Meeting Coach E (Elizabeth Economon) and Coach B just kind of felt like home and like a family. That’s a big thing that I strive to be a part of, just a family, and they were going to push me to be my best.”
Tosch comes from an athletic background: her mother and father both played Division I athletics at the University of Texas-Pan American (now Texas Rio Grande Valley).
“Sports have been my life since I was three years old,” Tosch said. “Both my parents are also coaches, so that’s all I’ve ever known. I’ve always played plenty of sports, and just being a competitive person is just something that’s part of my personality.”
Bredbenner said she appreciates the competitive side of Tosch, but has had to “reign” her in.
“She’ll run through a brick wall six times and be completely dizzy from doing it until you say, ‘Hey, calm down a little bit. 90% is good for you right now,’” Bredbenner said. “That’s awesome. That’s something that I think can kind of spread throughout our culture in a really positive way.”
During their time at McLennan, Allen and Tosch roomed together, and still do at Wichita State.
“It’s amazing that we’ve been roommates for three years now, and just being with her, she makes me work hard and just makes me a better person,” Tosch added, “having someone that knows me through and through. Just being in a new spot is really comforting. I think we get along great and we play ball together. So it’s just good to have our energy bounce back and forth between each other.”
“They’re well coached, they’re coached hard, they’re loved harder,” Bredbenner said about Allen’s and Tosch’s time at McLennan. “There’s a lot of similarities between our programs and theirs. It’s a different level and they’ve had a lot of success, and they’re bringing a very confident mindset, a very successful two years at a McLennan program. They’re bringing that in and bringing that culture.”
Allen and Tosch will travel back to Waco when the Shockers play in the Getterman Classic to open the season from Friday to Sunday. In fact, they’ll be six miles away from where their collegiate careers started.
“I’m looking forward to a lot of our tournaments in Texas, especially our Baylor tournament,” Allen said. “Just going back to Waco and just seeing all the familiar faces in that city, and just being able to see my old coaches and my family and my sister that now plays in McLennan.
“That’s going to be a fun opening weekend.”
Tosch echoed Allen’s sentiment.
“I think it’s something that’s super exciting, seeing our coaches (and) family,” Tosch said. “Just being in a place that I know well.”
