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Wichita State's independent, student-run news source

The Sunflower

Wichita State's independent, student-run news source

The Sunflower

Wichita State's independent, student-run news source

The Sunflower

Rebekah Topham will compete in the J.K. Gold Invitational this week. Topham redshirted her junior year.

Star distance runner to return in cross country season-opener

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor August 30, 2018

Rebekah Topham, Wichita State’s best female distance runner, will return to competition after a year-long hiatus. Topham, a junior, is a two-time Missouri Valley Conference champion. Her success in...

New fences are installed at Wilkins Stadium. The new fence features safety padding that is said to lessen the potential for injury should a player collide with the fence.

Wilkins Stadium upgrades nearing completion

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor August 29, 2018

Stadium upgrades at Wilkins Stadium are nearing completion. This week, WSU started installing new safety pads to the fencing structure along the outfield. Safety pads were a necessity among stadium...

Wichita State freshman Giorgia Civita Shelton hits the ball back to Memphis. (Nov. 24, 2017)

Volleyball prepares for No. 1 Stanford

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor August 29, 2018

Wichita State volleyball has a schedule loaded with NCAA Tournament teams. Saturday, WSU (3-0) — who has won two grind-it-out games against opponents expected to be strong RPI teams — will face the...

Wichita State's Giorgia Civita (19) bumps the ball to her teammate against Iowa State on Sunday afternoon at Koch Arena. (Sept. 17, 2017)

Volleyball wins first two of weekend series

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor August 26, 2018

Volleyball claimed victories in the first two games of their three-game road stretch. Sophomore Giorgia Civita had a career-high 34 digs in the season opener against James Madison. WSU scored five of...

Wichita State's head coach Kristi Bredbenner encourages players at the top of the fourth against Newman University in Wilkins Stadium (Sept. 30, 2017)

Wichita State bankrolls Bredbenner into a five-year extension

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor August 25, 2018

Wichita State has locked Kristi Bredbenner, head coach of the softball team, to a long-term contract. Bredbenner came to terms for a 5-year-extension, WSU Athletic Director Darron Boatright said. Bredbenner...

Wichita State's Koch Arena (2017)

Selection committee will no longer favor RPI system

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor August 23, 2018

The NCAA is changing the way it evaluates college basketball teams. Announced Wednesday, the NCAA will scrap the rating percentage index, commonly known as RPI, and replace it with a new system. RPI...

Wichita State volleyball players celebrate after completing a successful play during practice in Koch Arena.

Volleyball starts season Friday

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor August 23, 2018

Wichita State volleyball returns to action Friday when they enter a three-game road stretch to open its season. They’ll travel to the East Coast to face James Madison before then traveling to Howard...

Wilkins Stadium awaits new safety pads before the new fence can be completed.

Outfield viewing may be a thing of the past with new softball fences

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor August 14, 2018

Hitting one out of the park may be slightly more challenging this year at Wilkins Stadium. Wilkins Stadium, home of the Wichita State softball team, will be upgraded with padded fencing. The updated...

Wichita State guard Conner Frankamp and Temple guard Nate Pierre-Louis hustle for a rebound during the second half at Koch Arena.

Frankamp signs overseas pro deal

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor August 14, 2018

Conner Frankamp joined the growing list of Shocker basketball alumni to sign a pro deal. Frankamp signed a contract with BC Beroe, a Bulgarian professional basketball club based in Stara Zagor, as...

Wichita State was ranked first in the AAC's Preseason Coaches Poll, released Wednesday. WSU finished 20-0 in their inaugural season in the American.

Shocker volleyball favored to win American

Evan Pflugradt, Sports Editor August 13, 2018

Wichita State volleyball could be set to dominate the American Athletic Conference for a second season. The Shockers were picked first in the AAC's Preseason Coaches Poll, released Monday. WSU went...

Shocker Sound performs Feb. 27 at Charles Koch Arena.

New marching band will play basketball halftime shows

Matthew Kelly, Editor in Chief July 19, 2018

Wichita State will have a marching band for the first time since 1986. The university announced Thursday that the Shocker Sound Machine will launch this fall, performing halftime routines at four men's...

Crowds begin to line up at Intrust Bank Arena for the Houston versus San Diego State game in downtown Wichita.

WSU to host 2022 women’s NCAA tournament regional rounds

Matthew Kelly, Editor in Chief July 18, 2018

Wichita State has been selected as a host university for the 2022 women's NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight. The regional games, which will be played at Intrust Bank Arena, are set for March...

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