BY NATE KING
Salina Post
Wednesday morning, more than 200 members of the K-State Wildcat family gathered at a downtown Salina eatery to celebrate K-State athletics with K-State athletes, coaches, and Broadcast Hall of Famer and Voice of Wildcats Wyatt Thompson.
The celebration was held at Old Chicago, 214 S. Santa Fe Avenue, and was part of the 2023 Catbacker Tour. Before the event kicked off at 8:30 a.m., Thompson spoke with Salina Post about the purpose for the Catbacker Tour.
"The Catbacker Tour is athletics' way of going back out and thanking those people that come to Manhattan, whether it's six, seven times a year in football, and however many times for men and women's basketball," Thompson said. "We just love getting out there and being with fans to celebrate such a great year."
Thompson, who served as emcee, took time during the event to briefly interview K-State athletes in track and field, football and basketball.
Women's basketball
K-State Women's basketball guard and fifth year senior Gabby Gregory said she was looking forward to the upcoming season.
"There are a lot of challenges and you don't really know how things are going to be. The K-State coaching staff and my teammates welcomed me with open arms," Gregory said. "This last season I finally got back to having fun playing basketball. The atmosphere and energy at Bramlage was unlike anything that I had experienced at OU."
Another player who is more than ready for the 2023-2024 women's basketball season is graduate student, Ayoka Lee.
Last season Lee, center, underwent a season-ending knee surgery. This year she is back on the court and she is looking forward to finally playing with Gregory.
"Sitting out the season I knew my role would change, but I wanted to be really intentional about how I was with my teammates and making sure I was still present throughout the season," Lee said. "I tried to be as encouraging as I could and also I know how hard it is to play a season that is six months long. It is hard on you physically, emotionally and mentally. Just being there for my teammates and letting them know, whatever they need I support them."
K-State Women's Basketball Coach Jeff Mittie said he is always excited ahead of a new season, but this season there is an extra level of excitement.
"Yeah, I'm excited, but I'm always excited. I love the process of building the team. I love the process of the summer workouts and development," Mittie said. "But there's an extra level of excitement this year."
Last season K-State women's basketball players Gisela Sanchez, Ja'Mia Harris and Lee all suffered season-ending injuries.
"Sanchez just got cleared. She's 100 percent. Harris got hurt in the preseason. She's now 100 percent," Mittie said. "Lee will be back sometime in July. But we're right on track with her. So all those things are really, really good."
Men's Basketball Coach Jerome Tang
Coming off a 26-10 record last season, as well as an appearance in the NCAA Tournament Elite Eight, the K-State men's basketball team is ready to make it all the way to the championship game this upcoming season.
READ: K-State's Tang selected as Naismith Coach of the Year
Fans and alumni present at the event cheered and whistled their support for Tang, 2023 recipient of the Werner Ladder Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year Award. Tang became the first K-State head coach to earn the Naismith coaching honor and just the third to be selected as National Coach of the Year.
When asked about the team's Elite Eight appearance and the disappointment he and his team felt after not making it to the NCAA championship game, Tang said that he didn't come to K-State to "just" make it to the Elite Eight.
"Those guys were so much fun to be with," Tang said. "We really enjoyed living life with each other and getting better every day. Now The Elite Eight was great, but I didn't come to K-State to 'just' win the Elite Eight. We came here to win national championship."
Tang was asked what his biggest surprise was about coming to coach at K-State. His answer: the culture.
"How the K-State family would embrace us was one of my biggest concerns. Being a minority in Manhattan, Kansas, being the face of the program and how are you going to be embraced being a guy whose faith is very important to me, me at a state school how would that be embraced? And that has blown me away. I feel so loved and so appreciated," Tang said.
Tang, who previously coached at Baylor, has been open about his Christian faith. Last season, after the Wildcats won the nailbiter game against Michigan State in the Sweet Sixteen, Tang said, "That's what we call crazy faith."
Since then the phrase "crazy faith" has gone viral, now appearing on merchandise and men's basketball apparel.
In closing, Tang said the one thing that he dislikes more than cold temperatures is an empty gym.
"I love our fans. And I love the energy that you guys brought to Bramlage," Tang said. "It blew me away. I remember some great experiences there as an opponent, but these experiences just surpass all those. To see our students when they tear up the paper and toss it in the air. I just want everyone to know how much we appreciate them. We don't take it for granted. You guys deserve our very best. And when we don't perform at the level that I feel that you guys deserve, that's what's the most disappointing to me is that we don't give you the thing that you deserve. And that's all our effort and energy, and just everything that we have."
K-State football
All-American offensive lineman Cooper Bebe spoke about what it felt like for the Wildcats to win the Big XII championship game last season.
"It was super exciting. When we ran out there and got the goal line stands going, and we were going crazy on the sidelines, to have Ty kick that field goal, I didn't know what to say," Bebe said. " I just started running around. I was so excited just to know that everything that we put in throughout the offseason, during the season all came to fruition. All the hard work and sweats, all the long days, all the workouts paid off."
Bebe, a fifth-year senior, returns to K-State for one more year. His brother is also attending K-State starting this summer.
"He'll be out here June. One reason I came back was because I wanted to make sure he's on the right track and that he's set up for success," Bebe said.
When asked what K-State fans can expect following a Big XII championship win, Bebe simply replied "no days off."
"All it means is that we got a target on our back we got to come prepared every day," Bebe said. "There's no days off. We're chasing that back-to-back championships, something that hasn't happened in K State history."
Former K-State quarterback, Collin Klein, who now serves as offensive coordinator for the Wildcats, also spoke at the event, saying last season was a "heck of a ride."
"It's been a heck of a ride. As good as last season was, we left a lot on the table," Klein said. "It's about that process, it's about how hard you work, how hard they work, how close they are with each other and how they sacrifice for one another.”
Klein continued saying that he told the K-State football team at their senior banquet how proud he was of them, both as a coach and alumni.
"Through the highs and the lows, with everything throughout last year, that's as much what I'm proud of, and so proud as a K-Stater, and alumni and as a former player of our football team, how they are exemplifying those values so well, and continue to do so makes me incredibly proud," Klein said.
Amy Button Renz, K-State legacy
After more than 45 years of service to K-State, Alumni Association president and CEO, Amy Button Renz ’76, ’86 will retire from the K-State Alumni Association. Her last day will be at end of the Alumni Association’s fiscal year on June 30.
Renz, who also is participating in the Catbacker Tour, said one of the greatest accomplishments she had a part in was the establishment of the Powercat license plate.
"I have to say we have the most loyal alumni in the country, we continue to be number one in the Big XII, when it comes to the percentage of graduates that are members. And that's because of all of you here," Renz said. "But the thing I'm really, really proud of is that Powercat on the license plate. I saw a lot of those in the parking lot, but what is truly amazing is we've raised almost $7 million, since we started that program, $50 donation, we have almost 12,000 plates, we outnumber KU 2:1. We really appreciate the loyalty of our alumni, not only do you get out and support the Cats, but you really do a lot for the university."
READ: Renz to retire after over 45 years with K-State Alumni Association
Renz began her career with the Alumni Association in 1977. She was named president and CEO in 1994, becoming the first female alumni director in the Big Eight and later the Big 12 conference.
Renz was instrumental in the creation of many programming efforts including the Student Alumni Board and the K-State Student Ambassadors. She served as the lead fundraiser for the Alumni Center building campaign. The $12.7 million facility was dedicated in October 2002. Additionally, she chaired search committees that brought several administrators to K-State: two athletic directors, John Currie and Gene Taylor, respectively, and vice president for student life and dean of students, Thomas Lane.
When asked what she will do with her time, now that she is retired, Renz said she is spending more time with family and grandkids, but she will still be supporting the Wildcats.
"I'm planning on attending all the events," Renz said. "Because I'm not gonna miss basketball and football, but we are very fortunate at K-State because everybody works well together. It's just something very, very special. And I hope you all know that."
2023 Catbacker Tour schedule
May 17: Salina/Great Bend/Scott City
May 18: Liberal/Garden City/Dodge City
May 19: Colby/Hays
May 22: Manhattan
May 23: Hutchinson/Wichita
May 24: Chanute/Emporia/Kansas City
May 25: Seneca/Topeka