WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Innovative, creative and artistic, freshman Tayler Wullenweber is used to creating and designing things, whether drawing or making graphics. With dreams of being a head graphic designer at the professional sports level, she knows the importance of developing new skills and staying up with the latest trends and technology.
A two-time state all-state honoree as an infielder, Wullenweber has done the same thing on the diamond in an effort to earn playing time and she has fully adopted that role. Her favorite thing about playing in the outfield is that it is "new to me. It is a challenge and that is what I like about it. It is never too easy for me and I am always learning new things with it."
She can still use the infield skills needed to make a diving catch up the middle to turn a double play in her new home in the outfield, where she says the best feeling is making a diving catch and throwing someone out.
"Tayler has been working mostly in the outfield," head coach Boo De Oliveira said. "Throughout the fall, she was a consistent offensive threat for us. She has the potential to get on base a lot and also hit for power. Look to see Tayler come up with some big hits for us this season."
The East Central school record-holder for career hits, doubles, batting average and assists batted .568 with 45 RBI, 32 runs and 20 extra-base hits, while boasting a .634 on-base percentage and .991 fielding percentage as a senior en route to first team all-state, Eastern Indiana Athletic Conference MVP and Deabron County Player of the Year honors.
The passionate player gets her drive for success from her parents. Tayler says they have pushed her and motivated her to do the best she can at anything in life and have always been there for her.
Hitting a home run in her final at bat at home her senior year checks in as Wullenweber's most memorable sports moment so far. With the fans cheering her on at Bittinger Stadium and across the country, who knows what memory may overtake that in her Boilermaker career?
Learn more about Tayler below.
Fun Facts
Sweet or salty: Sweet
Chocolate or vanilla: Chocolate
Dogs or cats: Dogs
Cooking or eating: Both
Vacation: To the quiet country or to the big city: Quiet country
Coolest place I've ever been/or most unique locale: Montana
Place I dream of visiting someday: Italy
Person I look up to most & why: The people I look up to most are my parents. They have pushed me and motivated me to do the best I can at anything in life. They have always been there for me through anything I have went through.
Best feeling in the field (defensively): The best feeling in the outfield is making a diving catch and then throwing someone out. The best feeling in the infield is making a diving catch up the middle to get a double play.
Best Feeling at the plate (offensively): The best feeling at the plate is to drive in a winning run.
Favorite thing about my position (s): My favorite thing about my position is that it is new to me. It is a challenge and that's what I like about it. It is never too easy for me and I am always learning new things with it.
Three words that describe me: Innovative, Creative, Artistic
One word to describe my game: Passionate
Team I am most excited to play in 2017: Arizona
My most memorable sports moment: Hitting a home run my last at-bat at home my senior year.
Celebrity crush: Bryce Harper
Celebrity who would play me in a story of my life: Emma Stone
Person I would like to have dinner with: Will Ferrell
Best non-athletic talent: Drawing, Designing Graphics
My stupid human trick is: I can pop chewing gum really loud.
Dream job: Head graphic designer at the professional sports level.
Song I have to listen to before a game: March Madness by Future
Favorite thing about playing at Bittinger Stadium: Being able to walk up to home plate and hear all our fans behind me cheering me on. I also love being out on the field and being able to see our whole stadium and how beautiful it is. We are truly blessed to have the stadium we have.
My favorite place to play in the Big Ten, besides home: Nebraska
Place I am most excited to play in 2017: Hawaii
Person who has impacted my life/made me who I am: My parents. They have taught me everything I know and have shaped me into the person I have become.
Favorite things
Favorite sweet treat: Reese's Cups
Favorite ice cream flavor: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Favorite holiday: Christmas
Favorite sport besides softball: Baseball
Favorite sports team: Reds
Favorite Athlete: Joey Votto
Favorite TV show: Big Bang Theory
Favorite Movie: Stand by Me
Favorite Book: The Fault in Our Stars
Favorite Musical Artist: Future
Favorite type of pizza: Pepperoni
Favorite Actor: Will Smith
Favorite Food: Seafood
Favorite place on campus: The Engineering Fountain
Favorite city: Panama City
Favorite outdoor activity: Hiking
Favorite animal/furry friend: Dogs
Favorite class at Purdue: My art and design classes.
Favorite Purdue professor: Derek Sherman
