Faith Christian's Roupp commits to UNC Wilmington
By Foster Lander
Sports Writer ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Saturday, March 12, 2016
When UNC Wilmington extended a scholarship offer to Faith Christian junior pitcher Landen Roupp last Friday, the lanky right-hander wanted to jump the gun and commit immediately.
Michael Roupp, Landen’s father, wanted him to take time to mull over his options and inform other coaching staffs that had recruited him (Appalachian State, UNC Charlotte, Gardner-Webb and N.C. State, among others) of the latest in his process.
So Landen did take his time -- all of 48 hours -- before calling the UNC Wilmington coaches on Sunday afternoon to tell them he had decided to commit to the Seahawks.
“It’s a place I had wanted to go and been interested in for a long time,” Landen said on Saturday. “They made me feel wanted and let me know an offer probably was on the way and I knew if they did that it was pretty much over.”
The Roupp family along with Faith Christian coach Greg Clifton visited UNC Wilmington for a Seahawks scrimmage in February, and the program’s coaching staff spent the whole day -- from 10 a.m. to nearly 9 p.m. -- with their visitors.
“That was easily the best visit I had been on,” Landen said. “They got a chance to show us everything we needed to see and really didn’t leave our side the whole day.”
Seahawks pitching coach Matt Willams, who had seen Landen throw a bullpen session for the Dirtbags over the summer, then watched him pitch against Fayetteville Village Christian. He struck out seven and walked just one in that outing, and an offer soon followed.
Landen said he was glad to have his commitment out of the way prior to his junior season, but that that didn’t mean he could relax or shy away from doing his job for Faith Christian.
UNC Wilmington does not offer scholarships worth more than 30 percent of attendance to incoming freshman. The Seahawks promised Roupp the full 30 percent and added that, should he stick around for four years, that they typically make up the difference and offer a big scholarship for the senior season.
Appalachian State, where Roupp camped this summer and threw for Mountaineers coaches (topping out at 88 miles per hour on his fastball), offered a scholarship worth north of 50 percent, but UNC Wilmington’s draw simply was stronger.
Four Seahawks pitchers were drafted in the 2015 MLB Draft under Williams’ tutelage, including Jordan Ramsey, a first team All-Colonial Athletic Association honoree.
“They’ve done a really good job of developing their pitchers, and they’ve won a lot of games recently,” Landen said.
Landen was the Telegram’s 2015 All-Area pitcher of the year as a sophomore. He struck out 100 batters and pitched to a 1.01 ERA in 56 innings as the Patriots reached the second round of the NCISAA 2-A state playoffs.
By Foster Lander
Sports Writer ROCKY MOUNT TELEGRAM
Saturday, March 12, 2016
When UNC Wilmington extended a scholarship offer to Faith Christian junior pitcher Landen Roupp last Friday, the lanky right-hander wanted to jump the gun and commit immediately.
Michael Roupp, Landen’s father, wanted him to take time to mull over his options and inform other coaching staffs that had recruited him (Appalachian State, UNC Charlotte, Gardner-Webb and N.C. State, among others) of the latest in his process.
So Landen did take his time -- all of 48 hours -- before calling the UNC Wilmington coaches on Sunday afternoon to tell them he had decided to commit to the Seahawks.
“It’s a place I had wanted to go and been interested in for a long time,” Landen said on Saturday. “They made me feel wanted and let me know an offer probably was on the way and I knew if they did that it was pretty much over.”
The Roupp family along with Faith Christian coach Greg Clifton visited UNC Wilmington for a Seahawks scrimmage in February, and the program’s coaching staff spent the whole day -- from 10 a.m. to nearly 9 p.m. -- with their visitors.
“That was easily the best visit I had been on,” Landen said. “They got a chance to show us everything we needed to see and really didn’t leave our side the whole day.”
Seahawks pitching coach Matt Willams, who had seen Landen throw a bullpen session for the Dirtbags over the summer, then watched him pitch against Fayetteville Village Christian. He struck out seven and walked just one in that outing, and an offer soon followed.
Landen said he was glad to have his commitment out of the way prior to his junior season, but that that didn’t mean he could relax or shy away from doing his job for Faith Christian.
UNC Wilmington does not offer scholarships worth more than 30 percent of attendance to incoming freshman. The Seahawks promised Roupp the full 30 percent and added that, should he stick around for four years, that they typically make up the difference and offer a big scholarship for the senior season.
Appalachian State, where Roupp camped this summer and threw for Mountaineers coaches (topping out at 88 miles per hour on his fastball), offered a scholarship worth north of 50 percent, but UNC Wilmington’s draw simply was stronger.
Four Seahawks pitchers were drafted in the 2015 MLB Draft under Williams’ tutelage, including Jordan Ramsey, a first team All-Colonial Athletic Association honoree.
“They’ve done a really good job of developing their pitchers, and they’ve won a lot of games recently,” Landen said.
Landen was the Telegram’s 2015 All-Area pitcher of the year as a sophomore. He struck out 100 batters and pitched to a 1.01 ERA in 56 innings as the Patriots reached the second round of the NCISAA 2-A state playoffs.
