CUSA Selects Wideman as League's Player and Newcomer of the Year

DALLAS – WKU Baseball outfielder Ryan Wideman was named Conference USA's Player and Newcomer of the Year, the league announced Tuesday afternoon.

Votes were compiled from the head coaches of the 10 CUSA teams, respectively.

Wideman, a junior from Marietta, Ga., becomes the ninth Conference Player of the Year in program history, the second CUSA Player of the Year in program history and the first in six seasons.

All-Time WKU Baseball Conference Players of the Year
1978 Ohio Valley Conference: Jim Atkinson, OF
1980 Ohio Valley Conference: Mike Murray, INF
1981 Ohio Valley Conference: Mike Williams, INF
1991 Sun Belt Conference: Chris Turner, OF
1993 Sun Belt Conference: Bill Weyers, 1B
1999 Sun Belt Conference: T.J. Freeman, 1B
2004 Sun Belt Conference: Matt Gunning, OF
2019 Conference USA: Jake Sanford, OF
2025 Conference USA: Ryan Wideman, OF

The transfer from Georgia Highlands College also becomes the third Hilltopper to earn Conference Newcomer of the Year, joining outfielder Chad Cregar, who was awarded this honor in the Sun Belt in 2008 and outfielder Jake Sanford, the 2019 Conference USA Newcomer of the Year.

Wideman is slashing .408 / .476 / .665 for the season with 89 hits, eight home runs, six triples, 20 doubles, 64 RBI, 66 runs scored and 42 stolen bases. With three stolen bags in the second game against Jax State, he broke the program's single-season record for stolen bases in a single-season, passing Carlos Akins, who had 41 in the 1995 campaign.

The junior finished the regular season leading CUSA in batting average (.408), hits (89), triples (6), total bases (145) and stolen bases (42). He ranks top five in the league in 12 offensive categories.

Midway through the season, he was named a Perfect Game USA First Team All-American, a D1Baseball Second Team All-American and he was selected the Golden Spikes Award Midseason Watch List.

The star outfielder was awarded CUSA Hitter of the Week on March 17 after an absurd four-game stretch. He went 11-for-21 (.524) at the plate with a grand slam, five doubles, two triples, 11 RBI, six runs scored and two stolen bases. He started the week on fire as he hit for the first recorded cycle in program history against Southern Illinois. He finished the night 4-for-6 with a grand slam, a double, a triple, a stolen base and a single-game program record nine RBI.

Wideman and the Hilltoppers hit the field for practice at Liberty Baseball Stadium on Tuesday afternoon in preparation for the 2025 CUSA Championship. #2 WKU faces #7 New Mexico State in the first round on Wednesday, May 21. First pitch is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. CT.

How to follow WKU Baseball: For complete information on WKU Hilltopper Baseball, visit WKUSports.com or follow the program via social media @WKU_Baseball on X and @WKUBaseball on Instagram.

CUSA Selects Wideman as League's Player and Newcomer of the Year

Players Mentioned

Ryan Wideman

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