Wittenberg University Athletics is celebrating the Senior classes from each of the spring sports that missed out on their Senior Day experience. Today we highlight the 10 members of the Wittenberg baseball team and hear about what they loved most about being a Wittenberg Tiger and more.
Name: Patrick Kenny
Hometown: Parker, Colorado
What is your favorite/best memory as a student-athlete at Wittenberg?
Michael Flynn hitting an absolute tater in the final game of 2020. No one could stop 'Electric Ave.', many tried.
What do you love most about being a Wittenberg Tiger?
My teammates and the campus support. I can't forget to mention Right Field Rowdies, bringing the energy for home games.
Outside of Athletics, who is the one campus staff or faculty member that had the most impact on you during your time at Wittenberg?
Jon Duraj has always been a great supporter both on and off the field.
What is one piece of advice you would like to leave for the underclassmen or any recruits looking to become a part of your team in the future?
The NCAC, other teams, and other people do not understand or like us, embrace that.
Why should a High School Prospect choose Wittenberg?
Top teams and top facilities.
Name: Ryan Probst
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
What is your favorite/best memory as a student-athlete at Wittenberg?
Senior Year Spring Break Trip
What do you love most about being a Wittenberg Tiger?
I can't say enough about the students that make up this university. While the faculty, staff, and administration are great, the friends I have made and relationships I've built over four years are what make this place so special.
Outside of Athletics, who is the one campus staff or faculty member that had the most impact on you during your time at Wittenberg?
Mike Mattison. One of the most genuine people I have ever met in my entire life. Truly grateful to have created and maintained such a strong relationship with him.
What is one piece of advice you would like to leave for the underclassmen or any recruits looking to become a part of your team in the future?
When adversity hits, don't take the easy road by not pushing yourself or giving up. There is light at the end of every tunnel, even if you can't see it yet. Work for what you want, and it will come, and it will be worth it.
Why should a High School Prospect choose Wittenberg?
Athletically, academically, socially, professionally... you name it. There are opportunities to succeed in whatever you wish to pursue. But above all else, the people you meet and bond with are there for you and care for you, which makes the hard days much easier to get through when you have people on your side.
Name: Michael Flynn IV
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
What is your favorite/best memory as a student-athlete at Wittenberg?
The times hanging out in hotel rooms or lobbies playing euchre with my teammates as we bicker, and trash talk each other. I will never forget the Witt Bench Mafia, Fan Club, Electric Avenue, and Right Field Rowdies that made our team the most energetic and exciting team to play for.
What do you love most about being a Wittenberg Tiger?
The amazing extended family that I have discovered!
Outside of Athletics, who is the one campus staff or faculty member that had the most impact on you during your time at Wittenberg?
Dr. Elizabeth George has always been the best adviser I could have ever asked for here at Witt. She has been nothing but supportive of my career here and has helped me countless times with my course work and decisions that influenced my future path and career. I could never thank her enough for what she has done to me being a Physics major and baseball player.
What is one piece of advice you would like to leave for the underclassmen or any recruits looking to become a part of your team in the future?
Especially being a part of the 2020 Senior Class and how time is of the essence being a Wittenberg Tiger. I cannot emphasize enough embracing the grind. There are going to be times when your body will not want to put the work in, or your head will be filled with doubts on whether this was the right decision. I promise you through making the game uncomfortable and challenging during practice, and through listening and trusting your coaches, once game time starts your instincts will take over and make the game easier. But remember, this doesn't start until you believe and begin to invest in yourself and your program. If you accomplish this, then your playoff appearances and the championships will come.
Why should a High School Prospect choose Wittenberg?
Why would you not pick Wittenberg? Go ahead and think about what we don't offer. I'll wait. The facilities, the weight room, the competition, the education, and your future family is what you are missing out on if you do not choose Wittenberg.
Name: Justin Bargar
Hometown: Chagrin Falls, Ohio
What is your favorite/best memory as a student-athlete at Wittenberg?
Senior Day in Florida. The energy was unmatched, and I've never seen a team so close and act as a family before.
What do you love most about being a Wittenberg Tiger?
Being a part of a family and helping build the baseball program.
Outside of Athletics, who is the one campus staff or faculty member that had the most impact on you during your time at Wittenberg?
Dr. Parsons always made class fun and interesting.
What is one piece of advice you would like to leave for the underclassmen or any recruits looking to become a part of your team in the future?
Buy-in, and don't take anything for granted. The time will fly by.
Why should a High School Prospect choose Wittenberg?
Top facilities in Division III sports, and a coaching staff that will treat you like you're their own child. The family bond cannot be broken.
Name: Chase Carpenter
Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
What is your favorite/best memory as a student-athlete at Wittenberg?
Getting closer with my teammate and building a culture that will forever be remembered.
What do you love most about being a Wittenberg Tiger?
What I love most about being a Wittenberg Tiger is the opportunity it provides you to be yourself.
Outside of Athletics, who is the one campus staff or faculty member that had the most impact on you during your time at Wittenberg?
Dr. Parsons was always a class I looked forward to.
What is one piece of advice you would like to leave for the underclassmen or any recruits looking to become a part of your team in the future?
You must be willing to fail and know how to take it and process that. Using your failure to get better with each day.
Why should a High School Prospect choose Wittenberg?
The campus is big enough to give it the feel of a larger university, but the small class sizes provide a better learning environment for engaging with professors and any on campus.
Hometown: Dublin, Ohio
What is your favorite/best memory as a student-athlete at Wittenberg?
Our spring trip to Nashville, Tennessee, and spending our off day downtown was a great experience.
What do you love most about being a Wittenberg Tiger?
The culture that spans throughout campus.
Outside of Athletics, who is the one campus staff or faculty member that had the most impact on you during your time at Wittenberg?
Dr. Bode was always a great supporter and made the class interesting.
What is one piece of advice you would like to leave for the underclassmen or any recruits looking to become a part of your team in the future?
Your coaches and teammates are here to help you, to guide you, and to always have your back. That is the culture. Embrace it and the rest will come.
Why should a High School Prospect choose Wittenberg?
The community and the culture make you feel like you're a part of something more.
Name: Andrew Hammond
Hometown: Granville, Ohio
What is your favorite/best memory as a student-athlete at Wittenberg?
The immediate acceptance of ability and brotherhood within the baseball team.
What do you love most about being a Wittenberg Tiger?
I love that I was able to make something special of myself, something that few people aren't able to do.
Outside of Athletics, who is the one campus staff or faculty member that had the most impact on you during your time at Wittenberg?
Dr. Brannan is always encouraging and pushing us to be our best off the field as much as we push ourselves on the field.
What is one piece of advice you would like to leave for the underclassmen or any recruits looking to become a part of your team in the future?
Grow close with your team members, because they will be the people that will be by your side for years to come, and the closest thing you will have as a family.
Why should a High School Prospect choose Wittenberg?
The small university environment, with a big university appeal.
Name: Adam Mays
Hometown: Tucson, Arizona
What is your favorite/best memory as a student-athlete at Wittenberg?
Taking down Wooster when they were a Top 10 in the 2019 season.
What do you love most about being a Wittenberg Tiger?
Being a part of the Wittenberg community
Outside of Athletics, who is the one campus staff or faculty member that had the most impact on you during your time at Wittenberg?
Jon Duraj is a great supporter and has always been around to lend a helping hand.
What is one piece of advice you would like to leave for the underclassmen or any recruits looking to become a part of your team in the future?
You only have four years so make the most of those years and don't leave any regrets out on that field
Why should a High School Prospect choose Wittenberg?
Wittenberg will give you the opportunity to do it all. You have the ability to be a successful student, successful athlete, and be involved in other clubs and organizations
Name: Andrew Shanor
Hometown: Roswell, New Mexico
What is your favorite/best memory as a student-athlete at Wittenberg?
I don't have one specific memory, but a collection of all the bus rides to baseball games full of stories, jokes, and fun!
What do you love most about being a Wittenberg Tiger?
I love that my school has truly become a home away from home; I have friends that I would consider family, but beyond that, I love the passion and love that myself and the other Tigers have for Wittenberg.
Outside of Athletics, who is the one campus staff or faculty member that had the most impact on you during your time at Wittenberg?
Dr. Phillips, my advisor, has always been there for me as a student and as an athlete. There isn't a thing he wouldn't do for me or any of his students to ensure their success on the field or in the classroom.
What is one piece of advice you would like to leave for the underclassmen or any recruits looking to become a part of your team in the future?
Make the most of every single minute you have with your teammates and the game. Before you know it, you all will be moving off of campus for the last time and for most people, will be hanging up the cleats and you will really look back wishing you had stayed up an extra hour to keep talking, or didn't take that nap to take some extra swings in the cage. Just take advantage of every single minute you're given.
Why should a High School Prospect choose Wittenberg?
Wittenberg isn't just any other school that you show up to to play your sport and go to class. Both aspects are far more involved than that. As far as athletics, you won't find better facilities and you definitely won't find coaches who care more about you as a player, as an individual, or as a student than those at Wittenberg. Furthermore, the professors are incredible. They are very accessible and I have yet to meet a professor at Wittenberg who doesn't genuinely care about your success and won't go the extra distance to ensure you get the help you need.
Name: Aaron Fasano
Hometown: Mason, Ohio
What is your favorite/best memory as a student-athlete at Wittenberg?
Running 14 miles with my teammates which at the time was a punishment... but now I can see the benefits I reap from it.
What do you love most about being a Wittenberg Tiger?
How close-knit the community is, making it easy to build friendships
Outside of Athletics, who is the one campus staff or faculty member that had the most impact on you during your time at Wittenberg?
Dr. Jackson, because he is a highly intelligent human being with lots of great advice to give. Just have to ask.
What is one piece of advice you would like to leave for the underclassmen or any recruits looking to become a part of your team in the future?
Be willing to go through difficult times with your chin up, it builds character.
Why should a High School Prospect choose Wittenberg?
The family environment Wittenberg provides is unmatched and the campus is beautiful, the people are great, and you can make a name for yourself and not just feel like a number.