LOVELAND - An offer from Wright State came nearly a year ago. After careful consideration, it is the perfect fit for Nate Manley, who recently made a commitment official.

“I started talking with Wright State after the Future Games last year,” reflected the Moeller incoming junior. “They didn’t wait at all, they offered me right away. But at that point I wasn’t ready to make a college commitment. I was just a freshman in high school.”

Although numerous schools showed interest in the 28th-rated 2023 in Ohio, Wright State won out over the likes of Georgia Tech, West Virginia, Central Florida, Kent State, Miami of Ohio, Appalachian State and Campbell.

“As time went on I continued to talk with (head) coach (Nate) Metzger and learn what Wright State was all about,” explained Manley about a program that has won the Horizon League tournament four of the past six seasons. “I learned what kind of player plays at Wright State and the more I saw myself in those guys. My end goal is to get drafted and a lot of guys at Wright State end up getting drafted.”

The distance from home proved to be another plus in the eyes of the 16-year-old.

“My parents will be able to come watch me play,” pointed out Manley, who lives an hour from the Wright State campus. “As time went on that was important.”

Wright State saw a lot to like in the 5-9 175-pound catcher.

“I’m physical,” Manley noted. “I’m not the tallest guy in the world but I fill out my frame. I’m a tough kid and they think I’m a winner. They like how I go about my business.”

The fourth-ranked catcher in the state’s 2023 class believes he can help the cause behind the plate at the Horizon League school.

“I’ve been a catcher since I was nine-years-old,” related Manley. “I love doing it. It’s not for everybody, but it sure is for me. I enjoy being involved in every pitch. It all goes through me.”

The third Wright State commit out of Ohio’s 2023 class feels he has the right mentality for the job at the Division I level.

“I’ll bring a lot of energy, that’s a given with me,” Manley said. “If you need to win baseball games I can help with that. I’ll work hard to do what’s best for the team. But the biggest thing is energy and the non-tangibles I can bring no matter what.”

A 4.0 student with a 4.4 weighted GPA, Manley has had a goal of playing college ball since he can remember.

“I grew up wanting to be a baseball player,” Manley said. “College baseball has always been something I had to do to get to where I want to be. It’s good to see that dream pan out.”

It all started to become a reality after Manley joined the Cincinnati Spikes in 2019.

“Before that I was on a local team,” Manley related. “I joined them and it was a bunch of studs going to D-I or that had D-I offers. After that, I looked at myself and said I belong and the dream became a reality.”

Manley pointed to a number of people that have been beneficial along the way.

“The coaches with the Spikes, coach Ryan (Arrington) in particular, have been a huge help,” Manley said. “The guys at PBR where I got seen, they were also a huge help. Chirs Booth at Moeller is another who donated a lot of his time to help me out.”

Recent improvement has also been vital in reaching the goal of playing at the next level.

“The biggest thing I’ve improved on is my mentality,” Manley said. “I’ve learned to be a baseball player instead of just being an athlete. I’ve learned to be a smart player with different situational things. I’ve also gotten in the weight room and I’m stronger.”

While the time between an offer and commitment was long, Manley has no doubts it is the right decision to make.

“When I called coach Metzger I was 100 percent decided,” Manley noted. “After I talked to him I was 200 percent sure. It was just a great feeling with a mixture of happiness and a lot of other emotions. It’s super exciting.”