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HAPPY NEW YEAR



As we open our first Wildcat Wednesday email of 2022, I want to wish the Wildcat Family a very happy New Year! Arizona Athletics accomplished excellence in 2021 with a historically successful year in the classroom, in competition and in our Southern Arizona community. Our Wildcat Way mission was fulfilled as our student-athletes continue to proudly represent the Block A as academic, athletic and life champions.
 
A new year represents a new opportunity to continue living the Wildcat Way. Our Wildcat student-athletes will compete in their seasons, pursue their dreams of earning their college degree and represent the University of Arizona and Southern Arizona with distinction. We can't wait to cheer them on this year. Bear Down and Go Cats!
 
STUDENT-ATHLETE SPOTLIGHT



The profile series, "Who We Are", on ArizonaWildcats.com continues to tell the stories of our student-athletes and how they live the Wildcat Way. Recent features include freshman Carolina Melgrati of Arizona Women's Golf who has overcome the adversity of the global pandemic in her home country of Italy to flourish on the course in her first semester of college. Click here to read Carolina's story.
 
MASKING IN MCKALE CENTER



As we begin a new year, we'd like to offer another reminder for fans regarding masking in McKale Center. We continue to increase our communication on the University of Arizona's campus masking requirements for indoor facilities. The athletics department has reinforced these requirements by reminding fans through in-venue signage, social media posts, email communications, public service announcements and messages played on McKale Center's video scoreboard.
 
Those requirements, in conjunction with campus guidance, are that masks are required to enter McKale Center and must be worn at all times when inside the facility. Fans and patrons are only permitted to remove their mask if they are eating or drinking in their seats. While we can't guarantee compliance by all fans and patrons in the facility, we continue to make every effort to effectively communicate these requirements.
 
We understand that each fan needs to make a decision about whether they are comfortable attending a sporting event, and we encourage those who have concerns about their personal health not to attend.  As a resource, our ArizonaWildcats.com/GameDayHealth page has more health and safety information for fans. 
 
Thank you for your cooperation. Bear Down and Mask Up!
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL IN ACTION



Coach Barnes and the Wildcats will return to action when they host Washington State at 6 p.m. (MST) on Friday, Jan. 7 in McKale Center. The team checked in at fourth place in this week's national poll and received multiple first-place votes for the first time in program history.
 
Friday's game will be extra special as it will conclude with the official Ring of Honor ceremony for all-time great Aari McDonald. This will be a special moment for the entire Wildcat Family to see Aari's name officially join the other greats in the rafters of the storied McKale Center.
 
You can purchase your tickets for Friday's game by clicking here. We also have some great mini plan options available for the remainder of the season on sale as well.
 
BEAR DOWN WITH ARIZONA FOOTBALL



Since our final Wildcat Wednesday email of 2021, Arizona Football has continued to build the excitement buzzing around the program by signing one of its top recruiting classes ever. Ranked in the top 25 nationally and among the best in the Pac-12, Coach Fisch and the program took another step towards a future of excellence on the field, in the classroom and in the community.
 
The Pac-12 Conference also recently released its baseline 2022 schedule, so the Wildcat Family can open the calendars and make plans to Bear Down with the Cats in the fall. Fans can make a deposit on 2022 Arizona Football season tickets today by clicking here.
 
MEN'S HOOPS' WINNING WAYS



It was another exciting and emphatic victory for Arizona Men's Basketball on Monday night as the Wildcats defeated Washington, 95-79, in a win filled with highlight reel plays. Bennedict Mathurin, Kerr Kriisa and Christian Koloko all scored more than 20 points in the win over Washington giving the Cats its first game of three 20-point scorers since the 2008-09 season.
 
Arizona entered the week ranked eighth in the nation and improved its record to 12-1 with the win over Washington. Our mini plan ticket packages for men's hoops are still on sale and you can purchase your tickets to Bear Down with Arizona Men's Basketball in 2022.
 
ARIZONA SOFTBALL AND TEAM USA

Arizona Softball sophomores Janelle Meoño and Sharlize Palacios as well as alumna and Olympic Silver Medalist Dejah Mulipola are competing in Selection Trials for the 2022 USA Softball Women's National Team this week in Florida. The trio of Wildcats are vying for spots on the 18-player roster to play at the 2022 World Games in Birmingham, Alabama. Mulipola has been a member of the Women's National Team for three years, while Meoño and Palacios are hoping to make the team for the first time. Good luck to Janelle, Sharlize, and Dejah at Selection Trials as we cheer you on from Tucson.
 
ARIZONA EDGE



Our athletics department's NIL program, the Arizona EDGE, continues to grow with our EDGE Marketplace in conjunction with INFLCR's Local Exchange program. This is a tremendous resource for student-athletes to utilize their name, image and likeness and connect with the business community while following NCAA, state and University rules.
 
Arizona Athletics has also partnered with DYME to create NIL opportunities for student-athletes through content engagement directly from student-athletes.
 
We are committed to a first-class student-athlete experience for Wildcats and leading from the front in the new NIL space as part of our mission to provide opportunities for student-athletes to become athletic, academic and life champions.
 
ARIZONA MEN'S TENNIS IN NATIONAL RANKINGS

Congratulations to our men's tennis program on its national ranking of No. 15 in the ITA Preseason Coaches Poll. Arizona Men's Tennis has been on a meteoric rise over the last three seasons under head coach Clancy Shields' tutelage. Coming off another record-breaking season in 2020-21, the Wildcats have a strong core of decorated returners and talented newcomers on this year's roster. The program returns to the court for its first match of 2022 on Sunday, Jan. 16 at 2 p.m. (MST) versus Grand Canyon at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center.
 
SCHEDULING REMINDER

As games are cancelled and postponed due to COVID-19 protocols, it can be difficult to track upcoming Arizona sporting events. The ArizonaWildcats.com composite calendar is a great resource for up-to-date schedule changes for all our programs. This is updated regularly with cancellation and postponement announcements and can be integrated with other calendar applications.
 
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