Medical issue led to Wellington’s Ryleigh Buck transfer to Wichita State

Wichita State softball player Ryleigh Buck calls them episodes, periods of two or three minutes when she gets dizzy and her eyesight blurs, brought on by physical activity.

She’s lived with the condition — an undiagnosed genetic disorder, she said — since kindergarten. Until early fall, the condition never interfered with her softball.

“I sometimes explain it by saying my blood pressure and heart rate don’t work together,” she said. “As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned how to control them and take care of my body.”

Because of the condition, Central Florida did not clear Buck to play softball. She spent the fall semester in Orlando, watching practice, throwing batting practice, and working out on her own in a private facility.

She decided to transfer and narrowed her choices to WSU and Kansas, both schools she said cleared her, before choosing the Shockers. Schools such as Arizona State, LSU and Oklahoma State inquired. WSU announced her transfer last week. Central Florida released her from her national letter of intent, which allows her to play in the spring.

“I think they’re a family-oriented program,” Buck said. “Coach (Kristi) Bredbenner seems like she really cares about the players. All the girls had a tight bond, on and off the field.”

Buck played softball at Wellington High, earning 2016 Gatorade Player of the Year honors in Kansas, and for the Wichita Mustangs travel team. She played baseball for the USA women’s team in the Pan Am Games in 2015 and won a gold medal. The episodes, she said, don’t affect her game. She had one episode last spring during her high school season and one during the summer.

She doesn’t take medicine for the condition. She is careful to eat good foods, drink water and get regular sleep. Her father, T.D. and sister, Kaitlyn, also live with the disorder. Kaitlyn played softball at Butler Community College and Newman.

“They’re very unpredictable,” she said. “It might happen when I’m working out, or diving for a ball, something like that.”

Buck’s medical history includes a visit to the Mayo Clinic as an eighth-grader. That trip, like other visits to doctors, produced no answers. She provided WSU with all her medical records, the same ones that allowed her to play in high school, in the summer and for Team USA.

“She’s been able to play at the highest level for the last eight years with no problem,” WSU coach Kristi Bredbenner said. “She’ll do another physical to start the year, but she’s met the proper people here to completely clear her.”

Buck plays shortstop most of the time, but can also play third and second. She’s worked with former WSU baseball player Kevin Hooper in recent seasons on fielding and hitting. Hooper helped prepare her for baseball at the Pan Am Games.

“People will feed off her, because of her work ethic,” he said.

Where Buck fits isn’t set. The Shockers return sophomore Laurie Anne Derrico at shortstop and senior Kelli Spring at second base. Bredbenner sees her as a Missouri Valley Conference Freshman of the Year candidate.

“She can come in and make an immediate impact,” Bredbenner said. “Great, great hands. An excellent athlete. She’s a high-level kid who I feel can do it at any position on the infield. It’s really going to come down to offense and what’s the best formula we can put together.”

Brooks on the mend — Shockers pitcher Jenni Brooks underwent surgery to correct compartment syndrome in her right forearm and Bredbenner’s goal is to get her in the circle when MVC play begins in the spring.

“She hasn’t thrown any yet,” Bredbenner said. “I’ll be excited if we have her March first. We don’t want to push it too much. Maybe get some innings at the beginning of March to get herself ready for those conference games the third and fourth week.”

Brooks, a senior, went 18-7 with a 3.23 ERA last season. Until she returns, the Shockers will lean on senior Kaitlyn Malone and freshman Bailey Klitzke. Newcomer Morgan Palmer, a junior transfer, added pitching to her outfield duties in the fall.

No more tickets — WSU’s basketball game at Intrust Bank Arena on Dec. 17 is sold out.

The Shockers play Oklahoma State. It is the third straight year the annual game at the downtown arena is a sell-out, with 15,004 tickets sold.

WSU is 6-0 at Intrust Bank Arena.

Worth noting — Former WSU basketball player Chadrack Lufile signed with the Cape Breton Highlanders of the NBL Canada. … WSU volleyball setter Emily Hiebert was named MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week after helping the Shockers to the MVC Tournament title. She carries a 3.89 grade-point average in physical education.

This story was originally published December 3, 2016 at 2:52 PM with the headline "Medical issue led to Wellington’s Ryleigh Buck transfer to Wichita State."