Passion is a key component that Division III student-athletes must possess if they choose to participate in athletics at the collegiate level.
Baldwin Wallace University is home to many passionate student athletes, even during a year where postseason play is obsolete. A prime example of this is senior utility baseball player Matt Kulick.
Kulick, a two-year varsity letter winner for the BW baseball team, has had passion for the sport since he was a kid.
“Baseball has always been my dad’s favorite sport and I just picked it up at a really young age and have loved it ever since,” Kulick said.
The accounting and finance major at BW is a rare breed when it comes to athletics. He comes from a small town and continued onto athletics at the next level.
Kulick said, “I’m one of few athletes to come from a small town that hasn’t had anyone accomplish anything great. I grew up in a town of less than 300 people and I’m one of two baseball players from my high school in the past 20 years to play collegiate baseball.”
His father not only got him started in the sport, but also continues to motivate him to this day.
“He was a very good football player in high school and had an opportunity to play beyond high school but because of some unfortunate reasons he wasn’t able to. He had to work hard out of high school to get where he is today and to give me the life that I have now. He has taught me a lot about being thankful for what I have been able to do and what I have,” Kulick added.
As a senior, Kulick has experienced a couple of significant changes in Baldwin Wallace baseball, including a coaching change and his team not being eligible for postseason play during his senior season.
“I’ve always enjoyed playing for coaches with a lot of tradition and Coach [Bob] Fisher definitely had that here at BW. Unfortunately, Coach Fisher retired after my freshman year here, but I have learned and gained a lot of valuable knowledge and experience from current head coach Brian Harrison. Coach Harrison has this program going in the right direction and there is no doubt in my mind that BW will win a conference title within the next couple years,” Kulick said.
Impressed by Kulick’s passion and determination, Coach Harrison said, “Matt is an unbelievable person on and off the field. He embodies all of the core values we are striving for as a program. He is disciplined, passionate, trustworthy and hard working. Matt’s influence in our success has been instrumental. He is a team leader that other players gravitate towards.”
Kulick was an impact player for the 2011-12 Yellow Jacket baseball team. According to the Baldwin Wallace Sports Information Department, Kulick had a .438 batting average with four runs scored, two doubles and four runs-batted-in in 12 games to help the team set the school single-season record in wins with 27. For his efforts in excellence on and off the diamond, Kulick was awarded the Yellow-Jacket Award.
“It is student-athletes like Matt, who have played a huge role in the development of our baseball program over the last few years. He characterizes the core values we live by on and off the field; our players look to him to provide discipline and relentless effort day in and day out,” senior left fielder Brendan Toughey said.
Toughey continued to say, “Matt has thrived as a leader by example, infusing the culture Coach Harrison wants to implement here at BW. Playing with Matt for four years, it is safe to say that he has made me a better player, as well as the rest of my teammates.”
Kulick is by no means a flashy baseball player. He does what his favorite baseball player did every game to keep a tradition not many baseball players do currently.
“I always like to wear my pants high. My favorite player of all time, Jim Thome, wore his pants up and I’ve done so every year since teeball,” Kulick said.
According to BW SID, Kulick is currently batting .222 this season with a double and two runs scored.
After this season, Kulick will be graduating from BW. He is looking to pursue a career in the front office of a Major League Baseball franchise.
