Northwest Wayne News

At Wayne State University, the baseball program is gaining attention for its strong academic achievements as well as athletic performance. Players such as Gabe Zeldes and Keegan Pulford-Thorpe are leading examples of this dual commitment. Zeldes, a junior outfielder, is studying exercise and sport science with minors in public health and business administration while preparing for medical school. Pulford-Thorpe, who was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2019, has returned to campus to pursue a master's degree in exercise and sport science.

The team recorded a 3.706 grade-point average during the winter term of 2025. Sixteen non-first year players maintained cumulative GPAs of 3.5 or higher, earning Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic honors. This level of academic performance is unusual among collegiate baseball teams.

Wayne State's baseball program aligns with the university’s Prosperity Agenda and College to Career initiative, which aim to support students’ long-term economic mobility through academic achievement.

"This year was pretty exceptional in terms of how they performed," said head coach Ryan Kelley. "We've done well in the past, but this winter semester was the highest team GPA I can recall in 17 seasons. That says a lot about our guys and the culture we've built."

Faculty mentors have played an important role in supporting student-athletes' academic development. Dr. Shane Perrine from the School of Medicine guided Zeldes through research experiences that led to presentations at university events. Dr. Tamara Hew-Butler supported Pulford-Thorpe’s research presentation at a national symposium.

Athletics academic advisor Kim Clexton coordinates schedules and provides ongoing support for student-athletes balancing academics with athletics.

"Kim Clexton is one of the hardest working professionals at Wayne State," Kelley said. "She doesn't travel with us, but she's in constant communication with our guys – nights, weekends, whenever they need help. Her name probably comes up every day. You can't get a 3.7 team GPA without someone like Kim in your corner."

In addition to their work on campus and on the field, team members contributed about 630 community service hours during 2025 through partnerships with organizations such as Team Impact and Detroit Tigers Community Foundation.

Wayne State has produced professional-level talent including Houston Astros pitcher Hunter Brown and MLB veteran Anthony Bass, but program leaders emphasize their broader mission.

"This is what the student-athlete model should look like," Athletics Director Erika Wallace said. "These student-athletes are winning games, setting academic records, and preparing themselves for meaningful futures. Wayne State's College to Career initiative is more than just graduation – it's about launching students into a life of purpose. Coach Kelley's program is doing that."

Head coach Ryan Kelley noted: "There's no magic formula," Kelley said. "It's character, discipline and a lot of work. We recruit players who are hungry in every part of their lives. The GPA is a byproduct of the culture.

"There's always the mindset that we're going to do the very best we can to help our baseball student-athletes turn professional on the field. If that doesn't matriculate, we are definitely going to help put them in a position to be professional at something other than baseball."

With athletes advancing toward careers beyond sports—such as medicine or graduate education—the Warriors continue setting high standards both academically and athletically among Division II programs nationwide.