2025 Prairie Fire Spring Race
Volunteers Needed!
This years Spring Prairie Fire Marathon takes place on Sunday, May 4th. If you’d like to compete or get involved with the Prairie Fire Race Series click the links below to register to run in the event or volunteer!
Our most needed volunteer position is Course Monitors, course monitors must be 18 years or older. To volunteer click the link below.
Signup to Volunteer, for more information about volunteering email Marshall Whitworth at marshall@wichitasports.com
Local Sports News
Wind Surge Season Opener & Home Opener
This week the Wichita Wind Surge’s season gets under way with a three game series in Springfield against the Springfield Cardinals. They then return home for their Home Opening Series against the Midland RockHounds for six games. This will also include the first time the public lays eyes on the ballpark since it’s renaming to Equity Bank Park!
Home Opening Series Promotions:
4/8 – Silver Sluggers
4/9 – Pups at the Ballpark
4/10 – Thirsty Thursday
4/11 – Fireworks Spectacular
4/12 – Wind Surge Mittens
4/13 – Family Fun Days
Final Push to Kelly Cup playoffs
The Thunder currently sit 3rd in the Mountain Division with 67 points close behind the Tahoe Knight Monsters with 85 points with 5 games a piece remaining. Including a chance to make up some big points on the Knight Monsters in a three game series to finish off the regular season. Behind them though are the Tulsa Oilers at 80 points with 5 games remaining and the Idaho Steelheads with 77 points with 6 games remaining still in striking distance.
Currently the Thunder’s would be the #3 Seed in the Mountain Division and would face the Knight Monsters in the 1st Round of the Kelly Cup Playoffs.
Thunder Remaining Schedule:
4/4 – Thunder @ Tulsa Oilers
4/6 – Thunder vs Allen Americans
4/9 – Thunder @ Tahoe Knight Monsters
4/11 – Thunder @ Tahoe Knight Monsters
4/12 – Thunder @ Tahoe Knight Monsters
March Madness in Wichita
This year the Wichita State Men’s team finished with a 19-15 record with an 8-10 record against conference opponents. The season featured some big wins against opponents like K-State, old Missouri Valley Conference rival Northern Iowa, and an overtime win against #14 Memphis. WSU entered the American Athletic Conference Tournament as the #8 Seed and won their first game in the 2nd Round of the AAC Tournament against South Florida. They advanced to face #1 Seed Memphis and lost in a close battle with the Tigers. WSU earned a NIT bid and faced Oklahoma State University where they lost 79-89.
Heading into next year Head Coach Paul Mills will have the tough challenge of replacing a graduating class of eight Seniors.
WSU Women’s Bowling 1st Round Matchup
After winning their first conference title in school history, Wichita State Women’s Bowling is heading to Lansing Michigan as the #1 Seed in the Lansing Regional. There first match is against #4 Seed Felician University.
Wichita Sports Commission News
Letter from the WSC President, Kevin Jenks
Congratulations Wichita for being such gracious hosts and supporters of the Men’s NCAA Tournament! It truly was a community effort, led by our friends at the City of Wichita, Wichita State University, Visit Wichita and INTRUST Bank Arena. We were just one win away (Sorry, Texas Tech) from seeing two of the teams that played in Wichita make the Final Four! Good luck to the Houston Cougars!
Like most, the first quarter of 2025 has been extremely busy for the Sports Commission. In early February we moved to much larger and more inviting office space at the Garvey Center (250 W. Douglas). Huge thanks to WSC Board Director Nick Bonavia for helping make it happen. Please help us welcome new team members; VP/Director of Community Partnerships, Jeff Deitchler and a newly created position, Prairie Fire Race Series Director, Angela Stateler. We are fortunate to have Jeff and Angela join our team. They’re passion and energy has already made a huge impact on the organization.
This time of year, we are preparing and planning for all our events. The first one on the calendar is Sunday, May 4. The Prairie Fire Spring Half Marathon, 5K & Mayor’s Friendly 5K presented by Davis-Moore Automotive Group. There are numerous ways to be involved with the event. You can register and participate (see information below), be a spectator along the course and help cheer runners to the finish line, or be a volunteer. For our events to be successful, we will need almost 1000 volunteers this year. If you’re interested and want more information, please contact Marshall Whitworth, marshall@wichitasports.com
We hope you enjoy the newsletter and if you have recommendations, drop us a line at info@wichitasports.com
If you’re ever in the area, drop by the new digs and say hello!
Kevin Jenks
President/CEO
Wichita Sports Commission
Local Teams & College’s Upcoming Events
Wichita Thunder
4/4 – Thunder @ Tulsa Oilers
4/6 – Thunder vs Allen Americans
4/9 – Thunder @ Tahoe Knight Monsters
4/11 – Thunder @ Tahoe Knight Monsters
4/12 – Thunder @ Tahoe Knight Monsters
Wichita Wind Surge
4/4 – Season Opener @ Springfield Cardinals
4/5 – Wind Surge @ Springfield Cardinals
4/6 – Wind Surge @ Springfield Cardinals
4/8 – Home Opener Wind Surge vs Midland RockHounds
Wichita State
4/2 – Baseball vs Kansas State
4/3-4/5 – Track & Field @ Friends Spring Open
4/4 – W Bowling vs Felician University (Lansing Regional)
4/4 – W Tennis vs North Texas
4/4 – M Tennis vs Creighton
4/4 – W Tennis vs Creighton
4/4-4/6 – Baseball @ Charlotte
4/4-4/6 – Softball @ UAB
4/5 – W Bowling @ Lansing Regional
4/5 – Volleyball vs Kansas
4/6 – W Tennis @ SMU
4/6 – M Tennis @ Tulsa
4/6 – M Tennis @ Oral Roberts
4/7-4/8 – W Golf @ The “Mo” Morial Invitational
4/8 – W Tennis @ Rice
4/8 – Baseball vs Newman
Newman University
4/4-4/6 – Baseball vs Pittsburg State
4/5 – W Tennis @ Central Oklahoma
4/5 – Softball @ Washburn
4/6 – W Tennis vs Southeastern Oklahoma State
4/7-4/8 – W Golf @ 2025 Spring Regional Preview
4/7-4/8 – M Golf @ Firekeeper Open
4/8 – Baseball @ Wichita State
Friends University
4/2 – Softball @ Saint Mary
4/3-4/5 – M&W’s Track & Field vs Friends University Spring Open
4/3-4/6 – M&W’s @ Powerlifting Collegiate Nationals
4/3 – M&W’s Tennis @ Sterling College
4/3 – JV Baseball @ Ottawa University
4/4-4/5 – Baseball vs York University
4/5 – M&W’s Tennis vs Tabor College
4/5 – Softball vs Tabor College
4/6 – Cheer @ Wichita State Showcase
4/6 – Dance @ NCA Showcase Wichita State University
4/6 – JV Baseball @ Bethany College
4/7 – JV Baseball @ KCAC Tournament
4/7-4/8 – M Golf @ Midwest Spring National Invite
4/7-4/8 – M&W’s Tennis @ Avila University
4/8 – Softball @ Oklahoma Wesleyan University
4/8 – M&W’s Tennis vs Ottawa University
4/8 – Baseball vs Ottawa University
Butler Community College
4/3 – Baseball @ Seward County
4/4-4/5 – M&W’s Track & Field @ Friends University Spring Open
4/4 – Softball vs Hutchinson CC
4/5 – Baseball vs Seward County
4/8 – Baseball vs Neosho County
Cowley College
4/2 – M Track & Field @ Friends University
4/3 – W Track & Field @ Friends University
4/3 – Baseball @ Fort Scott CC
4/3 – Softball @ Johnson County CC
4/5 – M&W’s Track & Field @ Gorilla Classic Pitt State
4/5 – W Soccer vs Southwestern University
4/5 – Baseball vs Fort Scott CC
4/5 – Softball @ Independence CC
4/6 – Baseball @ Seminole State
Hutchinson Community College
4/2 – Softball vs Fort Hays Tech Northwest
4/3 – Baseball vs Cloud County CC
4/4 – M&W’s Track & Field @ Emporia State Midstate Classic
4/4 – Softball @ Butler CC
4/5 – Baseball @ Cloud County CC
4/7-4/8 – M Golf @ Firekeeper Open
4/8 – Softball @ Labette CC