Follow Dave Heeke on Twitter | Sign Up for the Wildcat Wednesday

PLANS FOR CAPACITY CROWDS AT FOOTBALL

I'd like to open this week's Wildcat Wednesday email with some exciting news regarding football season. In conjunction with the University of Arizona and Pima County Health, Arizona Athletics is planning for 100 percent capacity at Arizona Stadium for all home games for the 2021 football season.
We've worked methodically and diligently this spring to safely welcome fans to outdoor sporting events in phases. Our phased approach this spring culminated with 100 percent capacity for NCAA postseason games for Arizona Baseball and Arizona Softball.


 
Welcoming the Wildcat Family to our venues is a key part of what makes Arizona Athletics special. Fans in the stands cheering on the Wildcats is the foundation of our fan and student-athlete experiences. The dynamic energy that fills our stadiums and arenas not only unites our community, but it creates lifelong memories for all.
 
You can purchase your 2021 Arizona Football season tickets now by clicking here.  Flex plans and mobile ticketing options are also available for fans to utilize for games this season.
 
I can't wait to see Arizona Stadium come to life again this fall as Southern Arizona shows what it means to Bear Down! Please be on the lookout for more information on game days in emails, social media and on ArizonaWildcats.com in the future as we get closer to kickoff.
 
SETTING MORE RECORDS IN THE CLASSROOM



For over six years, Arizona Athletics has achieved unparalleled excellence in the classroom by nearly every metric. Spring 2021 was the latest chapter in this record-breaking history as the athletics department posted its highest overall GPA in a single semester with an impressive mark of 3.172. Last semester marked the seventh consecutive semester that Arizona Athletics posted an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher.
 
Academic excellence is truly a point of pride for our Wildcat Way student-athlete experience. Our Wildcats are not only successful as champions in their sport and in the community but are achieving championship success in the classroom as well. What a privilege it is to see our student-athletes' continued unrivaled academic achievement while representing this great University.
 
Congratulations to our student-athletes for continuing to raise the bar of academic excellence and for achieving greatness in the classroom. I'd also like to commend our dedicated C.A.T.S Academics staff who continue to support our 500 student-athletes in their academic pursuits as Wildcats in the face of unprecedented challenges of the global pandemic.
 
WILDCATS BACK IN OKLAHOMA CITY



Arizona Softball has advanced to the Women's College World Series for the 24^th time in program history in pursuit of its ninth national championship. The Wildcats swept Arkansas in dramatic fashion to become one of the eight programs in the nation to punch their ticket to Oklahoma City.
 
Coach Candrea and the Wildcats will open world series play in OKC with No. 3 seed Alabama at 4 p.m. (MST) on Thursday, June 3 on ESPN. You can visit ArizonaWildcats.com and @ArizonaSoftball on social media for exclusive content from Oklahoma City ahead of the team's first game.
 
The Women's College World Series is one of the headlining events in all of college athletics, and it's an honor to see our softball program competing on the sport's biggest stage yet again. Hats off to the entire program for this tremendous accomplishment and best of luck this week in Oklahoma City. The entire Wildcat Family will be cheering you on. Bear Down and Go Cats!
 
NCAA BASEBALL REGIONALS



NCAA postseason baseball is coming to Tucson as Arizona Baseball hosts Grand Canyon, Oklahoma State and UC Santa Barbara for regionals at Hi Corbett Field. The Pac-12 Champion Wildcats earned a top-five seed in this season's NCAA Tournament and are ready to begin their postseason.
 
Hosting a baseball regional is a marquee event for our athletics department, and we are ready to safely welcome our fans to Hi Corbett Field to cheer on the Wildcats. As we announced in previous Wildcat Wednesday emails, we will be at 100 percent capacity for NCAA baseball postseason just as we were for Arizona Softball's regional two weeks ago. I am excited to welcome our loyal fans and supporters to our venue to create one of college baseball's top atmospheres.
 
The Wildcats open play with GCU at 7 p.m. (MST) on Friday, June 4. You can purchase your regional tickets by clicking here. Please be sure to check out our game day information page before making the trip down to Hi Corbett to Bear Down. See you there this weekend!
 
ACADEMIC ALL-AMERICAN



We are closing in on the end of one of the most successful years in Arizona Athletics history in competition, the classroom and community. Many of our programs and student-athletes have achieved excellence in all facets of our Wildcat Way experience, but Sam Thomas of Arizona Women's Basketball keeps adding to her awards list. Sam was named a CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American for the first time in her illustrious career. She joins the prestigious company of Wildcats who have earned this top academic honor. Congratulations Sam and thank you for proudly representing our athletics department, university and community in everything you do. We can't wait to watch you take the court again next season!
 
#COMMUNITYCATS



Student-athletes volunteering to serve our community is a hallmark of our Wildcat Way mission of providing opportunities for our student-athletes to become academic, athletic and life champions. Many of our Wildcats are #CommunityCats who volunteer in a variety of ways, but Merle Weidt of Arizona Volleyball has taken community service to another level. Merle is a native of Germany and quickly immersed herself in Southern Arizona during her first year in Tucson. Check out this ArizonaWildcats.com profile on Merle and her extensive volunteer work in our community.
 
ARIZONA AND THE NCAA TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS



Congratulations to the ten Wildcats who have qualified for the NCAA Track & Field Championships next week in Eugene, Oregon. The program put on some spectacular performances at the NCAA Regionals at Texas A&M last weekend, which included our 4x400-meter men's relay team setting a school record with a blistering time of 3:04.10. The program has been a dominant force in the high jump all year, and it continued as Justice Summerset and Lillian Lowe both qualified for championships for the men and women.
 
Throwers Samantha Noennig, Israel Oloyede and Jordan Geist will represent our University in Eugene as well in the shot put and hammer throw. Umajesty Williams and Johnnie Blockburger, who are a part of our record-breaking 4x400 relay team, will also compete as individuals in the 400-meters.
 
Shannon Meisberger will Bear Down in Eugene in the 400-meter hurdles, and Skylar Sieben will also compete in the heptathlon.
 
The 2021 NCAA Championships begin on Wednesday, June 9 and run through Saturday, June 12. Follow @ArizonaTrack on social media and check ArizonaWildcats.com for all the content and updates from Eugene. Bear Down and Good Luck Cats!
 
WEAR THE COLORS – SHARE THE PHOTOS

Send us your photos of you wearing the colors while staying safe!

Thank you for wearing the colors and sharing your Arizona pride! Make sure to take a picture the next time you are wearing the colors and send it to us, we just might include it in next week's Wildcat Wednesday! And even if your photo submission doesn't make  next week's edition, please check our "Wear the Colors" album at facebook.com/ArizonaAthletics on Fridays.
 
NOTE: Please submit photos for Wildcat Wednesday with an original email to uofaad@arizona.edu using the subject line 'Wildcat Wednesday photo.' Also, please ensure all submissions are clear and properly lit. We also ask that you identify everyone in the photo so we can highlight them accordingly.

Stay Safe, Bear Down and Mask Up!
 
Dave Heeke
Director of Athletics
University of Arizona
uofaad@arizona.edu