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CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH



Our athletics department's annual celebration of Black History Month kicks off this week as we continue to harness the power of diversity. We are, once again, collaborating with campus partners that include African American Student Affairs (AASA) and having our student-athletes showcase our outstanding Black History Month gear. You may have noticed some student-athletes from our football and volleyball programs as models for the University of Arizona BookStores with their special attire for the month.
 
A plethora of festivities is planned for the month of February, and we will include our various celebrations and events throughout the month in upcoming Wildcat Wednesday emails. At Arizona Athletics, we honor our strategic commitment to the core values of diversity and inclusion as we live the Wildcat Way every day.
 
WOMEN'S HOOPS WELCOMES OREGON SCHOOLS



This is a busy week in McKale Center with four basketball games in four days with No. 8 Arizona Women's Basketball returning home after their trip to California. This marquee weekend of matchups in McKale this week as Coach Barnes and the Wildcats welcome No. 19 Oregon and Oregon State. The Wildcats tip off against the Ducks at 8 p.m. (MST) on Friday, Feb. 4 on Pac-12 Networks, and it will be a White Out in McKale. Bring your favorite white Wildcat gear for Friday night's game. Tickets for Friday's game are moving quick, so purchase yours now.
 
Arizona Women's Basketball will bookend the jam-packed weekend by welcoming the Oregon State Beavers to McKale Center at 12 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 6. This will be a rematch of our thrilling buzzer-beating victory in Corvallis three weeks ago. Click here to get your tickets for Sunday's game versus OSU.
 
MIKE CANDREA FIELD AT RITA HILLENBRAND STADIUM



The tremendous legacy of coaching icon Mike Candrea received another tribute last week when we made the official announcement of the naming of Mike Candrea Field at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium. This is a wonderful testament to the man who helped pioneer the game of softball around the globe and built Arizona Softball into the preeminent program in the nation. Coach Candrea's reaction to the announcement during halftime of Saturday's men's basketball game in McKale Center was a priceless memory we all enjoyed.


 
We held his official retirement party later that day as hundreds of softball alumni returned to Tucson to help us honor this legendary Wildcat. We reflected on his four decades of memories, milestones and championships as we heard from the many student-athletes who lived the Wildcat Way and became academic, athletic and life champions while playing for Mike Candrea.
 
Opening night of the 2022 Arizona Softball season at Mike Candrea Field at Rita Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium is just a week away! The Wildcats start the year with Southern Utah at 6 p.m. (MST) on Thursday, Feb. 10. Click here to purchase your tickets for opening day.
 
MEN'S BASKETBALL RETURNS TO MCKALE



With a national ranking of seventh, Arizona Men's Hoops primetime schedule continues with No. 3 UCLA coming to Tucson for a 6 p.m. (MST) tipoff on Thursday, Feb. 3 on ESPN and Wildcats Radio 1290 AM. Thursday's showdown with the Bruins is the first of four games in four days in McKale Center, which includes Coach Lloyd and the Wildcats' Saturday afternoon showdown with USC. There are a very limited number of tickets available for the UCLA game with a few more open for purchase for Saturday's 3 p.m. (MST) meeting with USC on FOX. It's going to be a fun-filled run of four games in McKale Center this week, so please make plans to join us for these outstanding events.
 
MASKING IN MCKALE CENTER

Earlier this year, the University of Arizona announced updated masking guidance for all indoor spaces. This requires that masks be worn in McKale Center. Surgical masks are three-ply disposable masks, and 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. 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.
 
TRACK FAST PASS



Want to catch Arizona Track & Field in action this spring? Our Fast Pass ticketing option allows fans to purchase a ticket to all home meets for just $25. Coach Harvey and the Wildcats host historically-significant meets every spring, so get your Fast Pass today and get ready to Bear Down with the Wildcats at Drachman Stadium.
 
SEASON TICKET RENEWALS



Today marks the first day fans can renew their season tickets for 2022-23 for a variety of our programs, including football, men's basketball, women's basketball, volleyball and soccer. Why hesitate locking in your seats for your favorite Wildcat teams and utilize the benefits of season ticket purchases, which can include parking, access to away game tickets, purchasing priority, special events and more, depending on the sport.
 
Our renewal deadline is Monday, May 2 but don't wait until then to renew. Our first-class gameday atmosphere at our venues is powered by the tremendous energy from our loyal supporters filling the stands and cheering on the Wildcats. The future is bright at Arizona Athletics, so renew your season tickets now and get ready for more seasons of excitement and excellence. Haven't purchased season tickets in the past? New season ticket sales for our ticketed sports are also now on sale.
 
BEAR DOWN WOMEN'S TENNIS



Arizona Women's Tennis opened their spring season with a pair of sweeps over UTEP and New Mexico State on Monday in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Standout junior Kayla Wilkins led the way for the Wildcats with a pair of singles wins in the No. 1 spot as well as winning two more points as a doubles partner with Lexi Ryngler and Parker Fry. Freshman Midori Castillo-Meza, from Mexico, was also dominant on Monday in her first spring action as a college tennis player. Midori won both of her singles matches and a pair of doubles points.
 
Coach Stotland and the Wildcats return home to the friendly confines of the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center for their first home match of 2022 when they host San Diego State at 11 a.m. (MST) on Saturday, Feb. 5. Admission is free for all home tennis matches, so come down to our beautiful campus for some great tennis action this weekend.
 
BEACH VOLLEYBALL PREVIEW



The Arizona Beach Volleyball team will return to Bear Down Beach on Friday, Feb. 18 for the Red-Blue Scrimmage for the unofficial start of the 2022 season. The regular season is set to start a week later in Phoenix at the GCU Invitational against Grand Canyon and Boise State.
 
The Sand Cats are welcoming back 13 returners that include three 2021 All-Pac-12 Second Team honorees, two 2021 AVCA Top Flight recipients, and one 2021 All-Pac-12 All-Freshman honoree. These five, Alex Parkhurst, Sarah Blacker, Mady Noble, Dana Parker, and Alana Rennie, along with the rest of the returning Sand Cats are welcoming eight new members with six being freshmen. Joining the six freshmen will be graduate student Maja Kaiser and Arizona Volleyball outside hitter Dilara Gedikoglu will make their debut at Bear Down Beach.
 
Head Coach Steve Walker is entering his ninth year as Head Coach along with Assistant Coach Emily Kiser, who is entering her fifth year. The newest addition to the coaching staff is former Sand Cat Makenna Martin who has picked up a Volunteer Assistant coaching position. Bear Down and Go Cats! We can't wait to watch these Wildcats compete in 2022.
 
SWIMMING AND DIVING SENIOR DAYS



Our men's and women's swimming and diving programs welcome Arizona State to the Hillenbrand Aquatics Center for the final home meet of the year. Saturday afternoon's meet is Senior Day for over a dozen Wildcat swimmers and divers who are competing in Tucson for a final time.
 
We will recognize these outstanding seniors on Saturday and celebrate their Wildcat journeys as athletic, academic and life champions. Saturday's meet against the Sun Devils is scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. (MST) with free admission for fans at the Hillenbrand Aquatics Center. Bear Down and Go Cats!
 
BASEBALL ALUMNI WEEKEND



Our A-Club was proud to have welcomed over 100 baseball alumni letterwinners back to Tucson for our Baseball Alumni weekend. Letterwinners reconnected at our alumni dinner inside the Terry Francona Hitting Center on Friday night and enjoyed watching our Men's Basketball team beat the Sun Devils at a game watch event inside the beautiful Arizona Sands Club on Saturday afternoon. We were excited to celebrate the 30^th anniversary of our 1992 Pac-10 championship team as well as the 10-year anniversary of our 2012 NCAA National Championship team. It was terrific seeing so many baseball alums back in Tucson celebrating the program's storied history and bright future. We hope to see more of our Wildcat family cheering on Chip Hale and the current team this season!
 
COMPLIANCE CORNER

A quick reminder to our fans that you may not give student-athletes or their friends and family members extra benefits. This includes things like giving them your personal tickets to athletics contests, providing free or reduced cost housing, allowing them to use a vehicle, etc. Doing so can render a student-athlete ineligible. We tremendously appreciate your support to our student-athletes and ask that you contact the Compliance Office at (520) 621-4796 with any questions prior to providing a student-athlete with any potentially impermissible extra benefits.

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