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BEAR DOWN WITH ARIZONA BASEBALL



The 2022 Arizona Baseball season got off to an incredible start over the weekend as the Chip Hale era began with a sweep of the College Baseball Showdown field of Kansas State, Oklahoma and No. 14 Texas Tech. The Wildcats' three victories were by a combined score of 35-12 as the team also swept the Pac-12 Conference's weekly honors.
 
Tanner O'Tremba was named Pac-12 Player of the Week after hitting 7 of 14 with two home runs, two doubles and a triple to go along with seven RBI. Dawson Netz earned Pitcher of the Week honors after his win over Texas Tech, which he threw five scoreless innings with six strikeouts while allowing only three hits.
 
The opening home series of the 2022 season at Hi Corbett Field begins with four games against the University of Milwaukee, beginning with a first pitch at 6 p.m. (MST) on Thursday, Feb. 24. The last decade at Hi Corbett Field has solidified its place among the best college baseball atmospheres in the country, and you can click here to be a part of it this week. Bear Down and Go Cats!
 
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SENIOR FINALE



Arizona Women's Basketball's final home games of the regular season will be held on Thursday and Saturday this week in McKale Center. The Cats will host UCLA and USC in a pair of games with special meaning. Thursday's 7 p.m. (MST) showdown with the Bruins will be First Responders' Night in McKale as we honor the heroes who proudly serve our Southern Arizona community. You can buy your tickets for that game now.
 
Arizona's meeting with the Trojans is set for 12 p.m. (MST) on Saturday, and it will be our Senior Day as we pay tribute to the outstanding young women who have proudly represented the University of Arizona during their careers as Wildcats. Tickets are available for Sunday's game.
 
The homecourt environment in McKale this season has been historic as the Wildcat Family has continued the legacy of this storied venue. Thank you all for your support all season of our program, and let's end the regular season with more attendance records.
 
STUDENT-ATHLETE PROFILE



ArizonaWildcats.com's ongoing feature series of our student-athletes living the Wildcat Way continues with the story of Alex Parkhurst of Arizona Beach Volleyball. Alex grew up in Tucson and idolized the Wildcats she saw on the street banners surrounding campus as a child. Her journey came full circle when she saw her own banner hanging on campus after overcoming a knee injury. Alex's story is one of the many of Wildcats who fulfill our mission by becoming academic, athletic and life champions.
 
GET YOUR 2022-23 SEASON TICKETS NOW



Season ticket renewals for football, men's basketball, women's basketball, soccer and volleyball for 2022-23 continue. The energy our fans bring to our venues on game days makes an immense impact on the experience of our student-athletes. Our environment for home games is something we can be proud of and helps make Arizona Athletics a first-class athletics department.
 
Purchasing season tickets is one of the foundational ways the Wildcat Family can support the 500 student-athletes of all programs and ensure a student-athlete experience that provides opportunities for Wildcats to become academic, athletic and life champions.
 
CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH



Our month-long celebration of Black History at Arizona Athletics continued this past week with more of our programs sporting our special gear, which you can purchase online from UA Bookstores. Our athletics department also held a unique "Lunch and Learn" for staff that included a terrific interactive and augmented reality presentation. Dr. Bryan Carter, Associate Professor of Africana Studies, held a symposium on Afro-Futurism.
 
At Arizona Athletics, we honor our strategic commitment to the core values of diversity and inclusion as we live the Wildcat Way every day. Black History Month, along with other cultural celebrations and holidays, are key recognitions by our entire athletics department that include wonderful collaborations with our campus partners as we harness the power of diversity in our everyday lives.
 
SWIMMING & DIVING POSTSEASON



It's championship week for Arizona Swimming & Diving with a pair of Pac-12 Championship events taking place, including one here in Tucson. We will host the Pac-12 Men's and Women's Diving Championships at Hillenbrand Aquatics Center, from February 23 to February 26.
 
Earlier today, star diver Delaney Schnell won the Pac-12 championship in 1-meter dive for the second consecutive year. Admission is free to attend, so come down and watch our student-athletes write more chapters of championship history.
 
The Pac-12 Women's Swimming Championships are being held on those same days in Federal Way, Washington. Our women's swimming team has posted a banner season thus far, which includes Aria Bernal being named Pac-12 Swimmer of the Week after her dominant performance in a win over Arizona State on Senior Day. Visit ArizonaWildcats.com for meet information or follow @ArizonaSwimDive on social media.
 
GYMCATS RETURN TO MCKALE



Fresh off a strong showing at Cal on Monday evening, Arizona Gymnastics returns home to host Utah at 6:30 p.m. (MST) on Friday, Feb. 25 at McKale Center. Six GymCats earned career highs in Berkeley earlier this week, including Malia Hargrove and Caroline Henry both earning 9.925 on floor exercise.
 
Friday's meet versus Utah will be broadcasted on the Pac-12 Networks, and it is our Wildcat Pride meet as we recognize and honor the diversity and inclusion of Arizona Athletics and the University of Arizona. The first 300 fans in attendance will receive a "Be Your Authentic Self" t-shirt to help recognize our Wildcat Pride. Click here to purchase your meet tickets for Friday night.
 
WILDCATS RETURNING TO MAUI



Arizona Men's Basketball is returning to the prestigious Maui Jim Maui Invitational next season as part of a loaded field that also includes Texas Tech, Ohio State, Arkansas, San Diego State, Cincinnati, Creighton and Louisville. The Maui Invitational is one of the marquee events in all of college basketball, and we know the Wildcat Family is excited about returning to the Hawaiian Islands in 2022.
 
The event begins on Monday, Nov. 21 at the Lahaina Civic Center in Maui, and our friends at Bon Voyage Travel have a travel package available for fans. Click here to learn more about the all-inclusive travel packages as we say Aloha to our friends and fans in Hawaii.
 
SPRING FOOTBALL PRACTICE DATES



Are you ready to Bear Down with Arizona Football this spring? Practices begin on Wednesday, March 2 and are open to the public with free admission. With practices throughout March and April, Coach Fisch and the Wildcats will wrap things up with our annual Spring Game on Saturday, April 9 at Arizona Stadium. Wear your colors, show off your Wildcat pride and support the team throughout the spring before the 2022 season officially begins this Fall.
 
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