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UPDATED MASKING IN MCKALE
The University of Arizona announced
updated masking guidance last week for all indoor spaces. This requires that masks be worn in McKale Center. Surgical masks are three-ply disposable masks. Higher grade masks include KN95 or KF94 masks. For more information regarding the
University of Arizona's masking guidance click here. Fans attending events at McKale, who do not have the correct type of mask, will be provided a surgical mask upon entry to the facility.
We want to continue welcoming the Wildcat Family to indoor events and providing a first-class experience for student-athletes and fans. With the recent spike in COVID-19 cases and other institutions closing events to spectators, we are asking for your commitment to our masking requirement. We will continue to make every effort to reinforce and educate our fans about the masking requirement before and during our events.
Please Bear Down and Mask Up so we can continue to welcome all of you to McKale and protect the health and safety of our student-athletes and the entire Southern Arizona community.
ANOTHER ACADEMIC RECORD
Our student-athletes' record-breaking ways in the classroom continued in the Fall of 2021 as Arizona Athletics posted its highest ever Fall overall semester GPA with a 3.157. Last semester marked the seventh consecutive Fall that our athletics department has broken its overall Fall semester GPA.
The academic success of Arizona student-athletes continues to reach new heights as they continue to
live the Wildcat Way by becoming academic, athletic and life champions. Arizona Wildcats have shined brighter and brighter in the classroom for the better part of a decade becoming points of pride for the University of Arizona and the Southern Arizona community.
To read more about last semester's academic success,
please visit our ArizonaWildcats.com announcement. Congratulations to our student-athletes and dedicated C.A.T.S. Academics staff for the continued success and raising the bar of academic success at Arizona Athletics.
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER IN MCKALE
I was honored to be in attendance and a part of Aari McDonald's Ring of Honor ceremony in McKale last week after Coach Barnes and the Wildcats defeated Washington State. Seeing Aari's name lifted into the rafters of McKale Center was a very special moment. The recognition of the tremendous career of an icon is a fitting way to remember one of our greatest Wildcats and seeing her and her family's reaction during the ceremony was truly a priceless memory.
Aari embodies what our Wildcat Way student-athlete experience is all about. She joined the program as a transfer and immediately helped lift Arizona Women's Basketball to national prominence while becoming an iconic figure in women's basketball. She truly developed into an athletic, academic and life champion while donning an Arizona uniform. Her name in the rafters of McKale Center, alongside other Wildcat greats, will serve as a reminder of this outstanding career and legacy.
ARIZONA EDGE MARKETPLACE
Our Arizona EDGE program for Name, Image and Likeness added another feature this week as Arizona
became one of the first schools in the nation to adopt the Local Exchange technology from INFLCR. This exciting and new component of our Arizona EDGE Marketplace will allow businesses to connect directly with student-athletes through a custom portal for NIL opportunities.
Arizona Athletics continues to be at the cutting edge of the NIL space with the Arizona EDGE as we continue to enhance our student-athlete experience through our
Wildcat Way strategic initiatives.
MEN'S BASKETBALL RETURNS TO MCKALE
Coach Lloyd and the Wildcats return to action in McKale Center this week for a pair of Pac-12 games versus the Mountain schools. Arizona checks in at No. 6 in this week's Associated Press poll after winning its Pac-12 opener over Washington. Bennedict Mathurin was included in the midseason watch list for the prestigious Wooden Award, which is another great honor for Benn this season.
This week's action begins with the Colorado Buffaloes on Thursday, Jan. 13 for a late-night tip off at 9 p.m. (MST) on FS1. McKale Center has been a tremendous atmosphere this season with the Wildcat Family filling the stands and bringing great energy to the venue. Tickets are still available for Thursday's game, which you can purchase by
clicking here. Bear Down, Go Cats and we will see you in McKale on Thursday!
CATS STUDENT-ATHLETE DEVELOPMENT
The holistic development of our student-athletes is a foundational piece of our Commitment to an Athlete's Total Success (CATS) and
Wildcat Way strategic plan. The Fall semester was full of terrific highlights of our Wildcats developing as academic, athletic and life champions. All our student-athletes combined to participate in 26 different programs or events last semester with 1,261 hours spent in community outreach. Our programming also included four separate Pac-12 Conference career readiness events and 22 new matches in our Cats Connect Mentor Program.
Congratulations to our Wildcats and CATS Student-Athlete Development staff for empowering our student-athletes to develop as leaders, community members and future professionals. This is one of the important paths to continue living the Wildcat Way.
MEN'S GOLF AT THE COPPER CUP
Arizona Men's Golf will hit the links for the first time in 2022 this weekend with the second annual Copper Cup at Southern Dunes Golf Course in Maricopa, Arizona. This unique competition mimics the Ryder Cup with match play as the Wildcats square off with Arizona State for two days, beginning on Sunday, Jan. 16.
Our men's golf program, the 2021 Pac-12 Champions, will look to continue their strong play from the Fall. You can follow along this weekend on ArizonaWildcats.com as well as @ArizonaMGolf on all social media platforms. We want to wish our student-athletes and coaching staff the best of luck! Bear Down and Go Cats!
INDOOR TRACK & FIELD SEASON BEGINS
Arizona Track & Field will officially begin their indoor season with the annual Corky Classic on the campus of Texas Tech University, beginning on Friday, Jan. 14. Indoor season is one of the many highlights for our program as last season we saw numerous All-Americans from indoor competition, which included Samantha Noennig (women's shot put), Lillian Lowe (women's high jump), Jordan Geist (men's shotput) and Israel Oloyede (men's hammer throw).
You can follow the action on
ArizonaWildcats.com as well as
@ArizonaTrack for all information and coverage. On behalf of the Wildcat Family, we want to wish all our competitors the best of luck this weekend in Lubbock, Texas.
SWIMMING & DIVING SENIOR DAYS
Arizona Swimming and Diving will be honoring its seniors Saturday afternoon when they take on Utah at the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center. The Wildcats being honored that Saturday will be Ty Coen, Brooks Fail, Aldan Johnston, Ty Wells, Brendan Santana, Marti Erlam, Colin Gwiazdowski, Daniel Namir, Alayna Connor and manager Casey Shalla.
Arizona's men's team is coming off a win against SMU at home and hold a 1-1 record on the season and look for their first conference win against Utah. The women's side defeated UCLA earlier this season for the first win over the Bruins since the 2017-2018 season.
Fans can attend Arizona Swimming & Diving meets for free at the Hillenbrand Aquatic Center. Saturday's action against the Utes begins at 12 p.m. (MST).
SOFTBALL AND BASEBALL SEASON TICKETS REMINDER
We are a month away from the start of the season for Arizona Baseball and Arizona Softball, and the excitement continues to pique for these two decorated programs. Our softball program will open the year at home with the
Mike Candrea Classic at Hillenbrand Stadium as we pay tribute to our iconic coach with a new event. The season opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 10 versus Southern Utah as Alabama and New Mexico round out the field for the tournament. If you haven't purchased your season tickets yet to Bear Down with Coach Lowe and the Cats,
then buy them now.
The
Chip Hale era of Arizona Baseball is set to begin at the State Farm College Baseball Showdown in Arlington, Texas with a loaded field that includes Kansas State, Oklahoma and Texas Tech. The marquee event begins on Friday, Feb. 18 before the team's home opener versus Grand Canyon at 6 p.m. (MST) on Tuesday, Feb. 22. Arizona Baseball has a phenomenal home schedule this season, and we want to see you at Hi Corbett Field all season long. Join us at the diamond
by buying 2022 season tickets now!
CALENDAR DATES FOR FOOTBALL SEASON
We know the Wildcat Family is eager to make their plans to Bear Down with Arizona Football at Arizona Stadium later this year. In conjunction with campus partners, we have some key weekend dates and celebrations to provide you now for your calendars. Family Weekend is scheduled for the weekend of Saturday, Oct. 8, which will be our home game versus Oregon. Homecoming is set for the weekend of Saturday, Oct. 29 as we host USC.
If you don't have ticketing plans for the 2022 season, you can put down your deposit now to lock in your seats for next season.
Click here to make your deposit and Bear Down!
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
