Today we head to the Hoosier State to learn about a power-hitting infielder who is headed to the Big Ten, but was initially recruited by the coaches she’ll play for when they were at another school.

And this junior, who plays for an out-of-state club team, will get to play for a program that’s in-state… learn more about her now!

 

***

 

Name: TAYLER WULLENWEBER
Grad Year: 2016
Pos: second baseman
High School: East Central (St. Leon, Ind.)
GPA: 3.7 GPA
Club: Cincy Static ’97                                                                             
Stats: .478 batting average; .710 slugging percentage, .561 on-base percentage, 1.271 OPS, 25 RBI, eight doubles and two home runs
Honors: EIAC Newcomer of the Year (2013); EIAC All-Conference (2013 and 2014); 1st Team All-County (2013 and 2014); Indiana All-State Nominee (2014); USSSA All-Tournament Team (2011) and participated in Banditfest (2013)
College: Purdue

 

StudentSportsSoftball.com: Playing in Indiana, do you feel softball is overshadowed by football and basketball and that you have to go the “extra mile” to get seen?
Tayler Wullenweber: No, I feel that the tournaments we played in and the camps I went to got the looks that I needed to be seen.

 

SSS.com: How did you come to be a part of the Cincy Static and what do you think of the program? 
TW: I became part of the Cincy Static program when I was nine years old and our team has been together ever since.  The program has always put my best interest first to make sure I play at a high level of softball.

SSS.com: Tell us how you were first seen by the Purdue coaches, then how long until they offered? 
TW: In the fall of 2012, Coach Kim Schuette and Coach Jason Dorey were the coaches at Eastern Illinois and that’s where I attended my first camp with them.  They also saw me at Banditfest in the winter of 2013 and I continued to attend camps at Eastern Illinois in the winter and early summer of 2013.

In the summer of 2013, Coach Schuette and Coach Dorey moved to Purdue and I began attending camps and watching games at Purdue.  They watched me play at a few tournaments in the fall of 2013 and I continued to attend camps at Purdue through the early summer of 2014.  I received my offer in July 2014 which was about a year and a half after they first seen me.

 

SSS.com: When did you decide to commit and what led into the decision? 
TW: I decided to commit to Purdue on the day the offer was made to me.  While I had narrowed down my schools down to four, Purdue was always my No. 1 and the decision to commit to Purdue was a no-doubter.  Wanting to play for Coach Schuette and Coach Dorey was a major factor that led to my decision.  The fact that Purdue is a high academic school and close to home also led to my decision.

 

SSS.com: How did you tell the coaches, in person, on the phone, on an unofficial visit? 
TW: The offer was made to me and I accepted the offer over the phone.

 

SSS.com: Describe your emotions around telling them, were you more nervous or more excited? 
TW: I was more excited than nervous because I was going to get to play for the coaches I wanted to play for and the school I wanted to attend!

 

SSS.com: You’re pretty close to the university, being in-state… was distance a factor in your decision at all? 
TW: Distance did play a small factor in my decision.  Being close to home is nice and will make it easier for my family and friends to come watch me play.

 

SSS.com:  What do you think (or have others said) are your strengths as a softball player? 
TW: I feel that as a 5-foot-2 player with home run capability and high slugging percentage, my hitting strength is deceptive.  My speed is also my strength. Others will tell you that my work ethic is definitely one of my assets.

 

SSS.com: What’s been a top memory or two for you in your softball career? 
TW: Playing in the 2013 Denver Sparkler All-Star game and also being a part of my 2014 high school team when we broke the team record for home runs which was set in 1994 at 14 (we hit 15 home runs this year and I hit four of the 15).

 

Quick Hitters (short answers)

 

Where do you see yourself being in 10-15 years? 
Working in the graphic design field and possibly having a family.  I also hope to still be a part of the fastpitch world possibly coaching at some level.

What’s one thing you’re proud of, being from the Hoosier State?
It feels like being from a small town.  Travel teams all know each other and have respect for each other.

What do you think is the No. 1 issue in the world today? 
People not being tolerant of each other.

If there was a song title that described you best, what would it be? 
It’s my time by FABOLOUS.

Favorite get-away place: 
The Rocky Mountains.

What’s your dream vacation? 
Camping out on second base after hitting a double in the Big 10 championship!

What is the best thing about playing second base?
Diving for a ball and throwing someone out from my knees.

What’s something unusual or different about you that few know? 
I was born in Montana.

How would your friends describe you in one word?
Exciting.

If you were stranded on a desert island and could only take one thing with you, what would it be? 
My bat.

What’s been your most embarrassing moment on or off the field?
When I first got my driver’s license and went to get gas, I didn’t know how to work the gas pump and had to call my mom to figure it out!

Do you see yourself as a role model? Why or why not? 
Yes, because I help teach young kids how to hit and I talk to them about work ethic.