Books, bats, and big futures, Wayne State baseball leads on and off the field

DETROIT – At Wayne State University, baseball players like Gabe Zeldes and Keegan Pulford-Thorpe are showing that academic motivation runs just as deep in the team's DNA as hitting, pitching and fielding.

Zeldes, a junior outfielder, is majoring in exercise and sport science with a double minor in public health and business administration, all while preparing for medical school. Pulford-Thorpe, a San Diego Padres draft pick in 2019, has returned to campus to pursue his master's in exercise and sport science while continuing to contribute on the mound.

Their academic drive mirrors a larger story: the 2025 Wayne State baseball team finished the winter term with a jaw-dropping 3.706 grade-point average. Sixteen non-first year players maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher, earning them Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Academic honors.

The team's level of across-the-board performance is rare, and it's intentional.

Wayne State baseball has become a flagship example of the university's Prosperity Agenda, particularly through its College to Career initiative, which focuses on turning academic achievement into long-term economic mobility. The baseball program embodies that mission, developing athletes who are prepared to lead in their chosen professions – on the field and far beyond.

"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."

The program's academic impact is bolstered by dedicated faculty mentors. Dr. Shane Perrine, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral neurosciences in the School of Medicine and part of the WSU Athletics Faculty Liaison program, was instrumental in Zeldes' research experience, guiding him through a student-research assistantship and his eventual presentation at a university symposium. Similarly, Dr. Tamara Hew-Butler, recently retired associate professor of exercise and sports science, played a key role in supporting Pulford-Thorpe, helping facilitate his research presentation at a national symposium in Atlanta. Both professors extended the classroom beyond the lab or lecture hall, creating real-world experiences that reinforced Wayne State's commitment to academic excellence.

Helping steer the ship behind the scenes is athletics academic advisor Kim Clexton, who works tirelessly to help student-athletes balance their rigorous schedules. Whether arranging class conflicts around travel or coordinating with faculty across departments, Clexton is the logistical backbone of the team's academic operation.

"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."

Off the field, the team's commitment to service has also made an impact. In 2025, the Warriors contributed approximately 630 community service hours through partnerships with the Team Impact program, the Detroit Tigers Community Foundation, Southeast Michigan elementary school visits, as well as meal prep and book drive initiatives.

Wayne State has earned a reputation for producing pro-level talent, including Houston Astros All-Star pitcher Hunter Brown and 12-year MLB veteran Anthony Bass, who retired in 2023. Several Warriors have signed professional contracts over the years. But the program's true strength lies in its dual commitment to athletic and academic development.

Athletics Director Erika Wallace said the baseball team is setting up a model not just for Wayne State, but for collegiate athletics overall.

"This is what the student-athlete model should look like," 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 says "there's no magic formula" that the 2025 Wayne State baseball team finished the winter term with a jaw-dropping 3.706 GPA and 16 non-first year players maintained a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Wayne State's combination of GPA performance, community service and on-field excellence stands well above national expectations for Division II programs. While most teams nationwide aim to break into the low 3.0s, the Warriors set an elite standard.

"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."

That culture is paying off. With players like Zeldes preparing for medical school and Pulford-Thorpe advancing through graduate education, the team is proving that high performance in college baseball doesn't have to come at the expense of long-term success.

Wayne State baseball isn't just chasing championships; it's preparing its student-athletes to win at life.

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Players Mentioned

#44 Keegan Pulford-Thorpe: LHP; 6' 2"; Graduate Student; R/L

#29 Gabe Zeldes: OF; 5' 11"; Junior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#44 Keegan Pulford-Thorpe
: 6' 2"; Graduate Student; R/L
: LHP

#29 Gabe Zeldes
: 5' 11"; Junior; R/R
: OF

Players Mentioned

#44 Keegan Pulford-Thorpe

#29 Gabe Zeldes

Players Mentioned

#44 Keegan Pulford-Thorpe

#29 Gabe Zeldes