Hall of Fame
Wolcott, a native of Lincoln Park and graduate of Lincoln Park HS was a two-sport star for Wayne State, lettering in baseball and basketball in 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1965, earning six varsity letters and two freshman numerals. On the baseball diamond, Wolcott was a standout catcher, outfielder and pitcher, but spent most of his latter years behind the plate, earning All-Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) First Team honors in 1964 and 1965. Wolcott captained his junior and senior teams, and was named the Tartars' Most Valuable Player in 1965. Wolcott set single season and career records for stolen bases, and one still stands today. In 1964 Wolcott stole a record 21 bases, and was perfect on 21 attempts, that stolen base completion percentage of 1.000 is still the record. Wolcott's 37 career stolen bases were also a record. He compiled a .358 batting average during his career, still good for ninth on the career list, and led WSU in batting his junior season with a .400 average, becoming only the fifth regular player at that time to bat for .400 or above in a season. In his first year of varsity competition, Wolcott also set a single season record with four home runs. In his senior year Wolcott finished second in PAC batting with a .411 average, as the Tartars finished second in the conference with a 4-2 mark. As a guard in men's basketball, Wolcott earned All-PAC First Team honors in 1964 and 1965, and was the team's Fred Fisher MVP both years as well, becoming only the third player at that time to achieve that distinction. Wolcott also co-captained his junior and senior teams. Wolcott's best season in basketball would be his senior year, when he led the Tartars to the 1965 PAC title with a 9-3 conference mark. The Tartars finished 11-7 overall, capping off a two-year rebuilding program under Hall of Fame coach Joel G. Mason. His 17.0 scoring average topped the Tartars' championship squad, as did his 53 assists and .790 free throw completion percentage, converting on 94 of 119 attempts. Wolcott led all three years in free throw percentage, the only player in WSU history to do so, and his Career Free Throw Percentage of .799 (258 of 323) was the Tartar record for almost two decades, and is the second-best career mark today. Wolcott had a 16.5 career scoring average, which at the end of his career placed him third on the all-time list. His scoring average is now fifth on that list, and his 842 career points places him currently 13th on that all-time list. After graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Education in 1966, Wolcott spent six years in professional baseball. Signed as a catcher by the Boston Red Sox, Wolcott spent his first pro year with the Oneonta Red Sox, earning the team's MVP award. In 1967 with the Winston-Salem Red Sox, Wolcott was named MVP, and to the Carolina League All-Star Team. He was again Winston-Salem's MVP in 1968, and was also named the team's Most Popular Player. In his last year in the Boston farm system, 1969, with the Pittsfield Red Sox, Wolcott again was named MVP. Traded to the Detroit Tigers in 1970, Wolcott played with the Class AAA Toledo Mud Hens, one step below the majors, in 1970-71. But after being traded to the Montreal Expos in 1972, Wolcott retired from professional baseball. During the off-seasons of his baseball career, Wolcott spent the winters coaching youth basketball, and upon retirement began his teaching and coaching career full time with Southgate High School from 1970-75, coaching varsity basketball and track and junior varsity football. In 1975 Wolcott moved to Grayling High School as head varsity basketball coach, a position he held until 1979. The following year Wolcott became Grayling's varsity baseball coach, a position he still holds, along with assisting in varsity football. After the 1987 season, Wolcott was named the Class C District 48 Baseball Coach-of-the-Year. A teacher in health sciences and physical education at Grayling Middle School, Wolcott and his wife, Barbara, have one daughter, Stacey, and two sons, Jeffrey and Christopher.
