I hope you all had an enjoyable summer break, and I am excited for the upcoming year of Arizona Athletics. We have made several big announcements since our last Wildcat Wednesday emails with our future move to the Big 12 Conference being our biggest piece of news. I've reached out to the Wildcat Family already about the exciting future of our athletics department, and I want to reiterate to Wildcat Wednesday subscribers how important and vital our move to the Big 12 in 2024 is.
As we get things started, it goes without saying much has transpired in college athletics over the recent months and weeks. As such, I wanted to provide a brief update regarding our transition to the Big 12 Conference. We are looking forward to a bright and exciting future for Arizona Athletics. The Pac-12 Conference has been our home for nearly five decades, and we will continue to recognize the tremendous impact it has had on all Arizona Wildcats competitively and academically. However, as I stated
during our press conference, the decision to join the Big 12 was about providing a stable and sustainable future for our athletics program and University. One that will allow us to continue to compete for championships on a national stage.
Our entire athletics staff will be working diligently to ensure a smooth and efficient transition into our new conference. During this process, we will focus on providing as many updates as possible to our fans, alumni and supporters. These updates will include information on scheduling, television broadcasts, live streaming, ticketing, travel, conference championship events and much more. You will hear from me throughout the 2023-24 academic year through a variety of mediums highlighting new and pertinent information about our future. It's all part of my commitment to the Wildcat Family and continuing to keep you at the forefront of our vision moving forward.
In the meantime, there is much to look forward to with the upcoming seasons for all 22 of our athletic programs. Our final year as a full member of the Pac-12 Conference is shaping up to be an exciting chapter of the University of Arizona's history of championship excellence. This year promises to be a remarkable tribute to our legacy within the Pac-12.
Thank you again for all your ongoing support of Arizona Athletics and our "Wildcat Way" mission - developing academic, athletic and life champions. Our success is powered by all of you!
THE RITA STUBBS ERA BEGINS
This week not only marks the start of the academic year, but it is also the beginning of the 2023 Arizona Volleyball season with Rita Stubbs as head coach. A former student-athlete in the program and longtime assistant, Coach Stubbs takes over the helm of the program after the retirement of iconic head coach Dave Rubio.
The Wildcats will open their season with the Cactus Classic Tournament in McKale Center this week, welcoming North Carolina, UC Davis and Pacific to Tucson. The season begins with Rita Stubbs' first match as head coach on Friday, Aug. 25 at 10 a.m. (MST) versus the Aggies of UC Davis. The Cats will face the Tar Heels at 7 p.m. (MST) on Friday and the Pacific Tigers at 3:30 p.m. (MST) on Saturday. We've set a program record for season tickets for this year, and we can't wait to see a packed house all weekend. You can buy your tickets for this weekend's matches by
clicking here. Bear Down and Go Cats!
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BEAR DOWN DELANEY
The illustrious career of Wildcat legend Delaney Schnell continues to earn accolades during our summer break from Wildcat Wednesday emails. She medaled at FINA World Championships in the 10-meter synchronized dive
before being named the Pac-12 Woman of the Year for her incredible achievements in the pool, classroom and community. Delaney becomes the seventh Wildcat to earn this prestigious honor in department history and will be the conference's nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year award.
The Tucson native had one of the most decorated careers of any Wildcat in the history of the University of Arizona. She moves on to the next chapter of her life after winning a national championship, an Olympic medal, six Pac-12 titles and much more. Bear Down Delaney and thank you for proudly representing the University of Arizona and Southern Arizona with honor.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Soccer vs. GCU
Thursday, August 24th
7:00 PM, Murphey Field
Purchase tickets
Volleyball's Cactus Classic
Friday, August 25th - Saturday, August 26th
vs. UC Davis, North Carolina, and Pacific
Purchase Tickets
All non-arizona matches will be streamed through our partnership with
FloSports.
WILDCAT HEADLINES
WEAR THE COLORS - SHARE THE PHOTOS
Left to right
Karen Verwiel, Dan Verwiel (Class of 82), JP Almon (Class of 86), Cindy Klingberg (Class of 88), Dan Klingberg (Class of 93)
Verwiels and Klingbergs are a Silversea Cruise from Iceland to England. Met the ship's cruise director, JP Almon when he heard us talking about Tucson. He is a proud UA alumni who also was in the Revenge of the Nerds.
Peter Michael Kraushaar Class of 1985 in Prague photo taken June 30th 2023
Our daughter's surprise 30th birthday party in Trois Rivières Quebec. Jamie is an alum who graduated in May of 2016 with bachelors in physiology. She was also a tech for the football team for 3 years. She and Julien, her husband, are ardent supporters, streaming all the games possible, and attend games when they visit us from Quebec.
Send us your photos of you wearing the colors!
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.
Bear Down and Go Cats!
Dave Heeke
Vice President and Director of Athletics
University of Arizona
uofaad@arizona.edu
