'I want to provide for my team': Hannah Wulf on commitment to South Carolina
After a standout summer, pitcher Hannah Wulf gained attention from many coaches including South Carolina assistant coach Jody Davidson.
Going into summer 2024, Wulf was flying under the radar and didn’t have any offers from any SEC or ACC schools. She had to rely on playing well and letting the rest take care of itself.
“My process was a little unique,” Wulf said. “I have no rankings, like I’m not on any lists for like top recruits or anything like that. But I solely just had a really good summer this year.”
The Gamecocks called as soon as they were eligible to have Wulf take a visit. As a result of her commitment, Wulf became the first member of the class of 2026 to commit to first-year head coach Ashley Chastain.
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“Sept. 1 rolled around and my coach had told me like, ‘Yeah, they [South Carolina] are planning to call you Sept. 1, just a heads up. I was like, ‘Okay, great,'” Wulf said. “So, I got a call from them right at 12 (p.m.) along with NC State. So, offer wise I had an offer from Creighton, I had an offer from Boston University, and then I also had an offer from Illinois.”
After stepping foot on South Carolina’s campus, Wulf decided she did not need to take her three other planned visits. The Gamecocks stood out to her as the place to be.
“I was possibly going to get offers from Penn State and NC State and I already had one from Boston University,” Wulf said. “So those were the other three visits I was planning on going on. But when I got to the visit, just realized it was the perfect fit.”
South Carolina stuck out to Wulf not only for the resources that come with an SEC program but because of the players.
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“Obviously SEC softball facilities are amazing, and all the resources are mind blowing,” Wulf said. “But I think honestly the difference maker was the girls I met there. The current player and the recruits I will be playing alongside with. Along with Coach Ashley and all her staff just felt like a family, they are all like best friends, so it just felt like a really fun environment to be part of.”
Despite having a brand-new coaching staff at South Carolina, the coaches are already making an impact on the recruits.
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“Coach Ashley, when I first met her, she like gave all of us big hugs,” Wulf said. “I was like, ‘Oh my gosh, she’s the sweetest.’ I kept saying this the whole visit, I was just like she gives such mom vibes, I feel like she genuinely cares about each and every one of us,” Wulf said.
“And Coach Katie (Browder) like similar way, she’s just a really fun, empowering women to look up to. And Coach Jody is like a fun guy. For me, I really didn’t want to be coached by male coaches, so that’s why I liked how Coach Ashley was the head coach. But Coach Jody has such a different side of coaching, he’s almost like a refreshing vibe for men coaches.”
On the mound, Wulf describes herself as a fun and lighthearted player. However, when the time comes, she can provide for her team.
“I’m not a pitcher who can have a straight face on the mound,” she said. “I’m going to smile, there’s pictures of me smiling because I’m just happy on the mound. But obviously I can dial in and get serious when it comes down to it.”
When she arrives on campus and begins her college career, Wulf recognizes the knowledge she can learn from veterans. But she also knows the contributions she can make as a team player.
“I really want to look up to the upperclassman because I think it’s obviously a really important piece of it. But I also understand we are going to have a staff of pitcher; we are going to have a lot of pitchers. So, when it comes down to it and Coach Ashley does need me to come in, I want to provide for my team.”
