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Award-winning columnist Tom Archdeacon — an old-school storyteller in a brand-new venue — writes about sports, the city, southwest Ohio and anything else that catches his fancy… or yours.Home > Blogs > Through the Arch > Archives > 2009 > May > 28 > Entry
The fairy tale of Wright State’s season
In his 17 years as a college assistant and head coach, six of his teams have made the NCAA Tournament. In his five seasons at Wright State, 34 of his players have won All League honors and nine have signed pro contracts.
Yet, for all that talent that has played for Rob Cooper over the years, the Wright State coach said no one eclipses Kory Twede.
“I couldn’t be prouder of any player than I am of him,” Cooper said. “As coaches we always talk to our guys about overcoming challenges.
“Whether it’s a scout telling them they’re not good enough or it’s me as a head coach saying it or it’s them putting a mental block in front of themselves, we always tell them to hang in there and keep fighting and they can make it.
“Well, he did just that.”
And he did it, Cooper said, in almost fairy tale fashion.
A year ago the Wright state coaches figured Twede — a junior college transfer who had ended up a little-used, back-up infielder — to be a bust and suggested he might want to transfer to someplace else to play this season.
Instead, Twede is now the hottest hitter on the Wright State team and, as Cooper put it, “THE reason we’re in the NCAA Tournament.”
The Raiders — winners of the Horizon League Tournament — play 14th-ranked Texas Christian Friday night, May 29, in Fort Worth. And while he’s glad all of his players are getting this opportunity. Cooper said he’s especially happy for Twede:
“This kid really deserves to go to a regional, get a championship ring and finally get some recognition. Deep down he knew he was this good and once he let himself show it, everybody else is seeing it, too.”
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