From the Quad
3/28/2022 11:31:00 AM | General
Presented by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Good Afternoon Demon Deacon Nation!
A sunny Sunday afternoon baseball win over Virginia capped a historic weekend in Winston-Salem in which we celebrated the inauguration of Susan R. Wente, Ph.D. as the 14th president of Wake Forest University!
I was honored to participate in an incredible array of inauguration activities, including the 'Inauguration Ball' in a transformed Joel Coliseum on Friday night. Since Wake Forest has been blessed with tremendous presidential stability, we don't get to do this very often. I salute the entire Steering Committee and multitude of campus partners for producing a memorable series of commemorative events.
In a signature moment during her inaugural address, President Wente challenged the University community to continue its history of creating opportunities for deserving students and announced a special initiative to create 100 new scholarships by the end 2022. And, among the very first to answer Dr. Wente's challenge was head football coach Dave Clawson and his wife Catherine! Their gift of $250,000 will help Wake Forest achieve and sustain the diversity of its student body, with special consideration for first-generation students, and students from the Piedmont Triad.
This special gift is another example of Coach Clawson and Catherine's deep commitment to Wake Forest and the Winston-Salem community that stretches well beyond football. Their personal philanthropic commitments are significant and reflect their values of character, academic excellence, and access.
Closing the Book on 2022 Basketball
A revitalizing year of men's basketball came to an end in College Station as the Deacs fell to Texas A&M in the third round of the NIT last Wednesday. Over the last few weeks so many Demon Deacons fans have shared their appreciation for how ACC Coach of the Year Steve Forbes, his staff and this gritty group of student-athletes reignited passion for Wake Forest men's basketball. The strong performance of our league in the NCAA Tournament, including the ACC capturing the most wins of any Power Five conference, three teams making the Elite 8 and two in the Final Four, makes our 13-7 conference record this season even more remarkable. The 10-win increase from last season set an ACC record for the biggest year-to-year improvement in league history, while Wake Forest became the first ACC program to boast nine league victories by 15 points or more since Virginia did so in the 2018-19 season. Overall during the 2021-22 season, Wake Forest tied the single-season program record for ACC wins with 13 (2004-05, 2002-03) and set a program record with 18 home victories.
And a final accolade is due as Alondes Williams became the first Demon Deacon to receive the ACC Player of the Year award since 2003. He has been invited to participate in the Final Four All-Star game and Slam Dunk contest on Friday night in New Orleans.
Following our first 25-win season since 2004-05, exciting days are ahead. Fans are invited to establish priority for the 2022-23 men's basketball season by placing a $50 deposit now towards their season tickets for next year. New or existing season ticket holders can visit GoDeacs.com/Tickets to make their deposit online, or call the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336-758-3322 ext. 1 during normal business hours.
Additionally, our women's basketball program was postseason eligible for the third-straight season and made it to the second round of the WNIT after the Deacs defeated Akron. Coach Jen Hoover's squad competed all season long and also advanced in the ACC Tournament for the third-consecutive year and sophomore guard Jewel Spear led the conference in scoring and garnered first team All-ACC honors.
Football Set to Receive Winston-Salem City Council Honorary Resolution Tonight
In the midst of spring practice, the football Deacs are being welcomed by the city leaders of Winston-Salem for one last look back on the Demon Deacons' historic 2021 football season. At the invitation of Mayor Allen Joines, head coach Dave Clawson, along with his leadership committee of 16 student-athletes, will be welcomed at the Winston-Salem City Council meeting tonight to receive an Honorary Resolution recognizing the positive attention and impact of Wake Forest football for the city.
I am proud of our student-athletes, staff and coaches for their dedication to building a consistent winning program at Wake Forest that brings Value to Wake Forest, Winston-Salem and the Triad. Sharing the enjoyment of the most memorable seasons in program history, our community came out in record numbers to support Demon Deacons student-athletes, including the first back-to-back sellouts (Duke and NC State) since 2006. We are committed to grassroots community engagement and our goal of delivering The Best Fan Experience in North Carolina and we are grateful for the leadership and partnership of Mayor Joines and the City Council.
Tonight's City Council meeting will be streamed live on the City of Winston-Salem's YouTube channel and the WSTV 13 Government Channel.
Celebrate Excellence Weekend on Deck
As part of our yearlong celebration of 50 Years of Intercollegiate Women's Athletics at Wake Forest, presented by Blue Cross NC, Athletics will host the Celebrate Excellence Weekend on April 1-3, 2022.
Friday, April 1, will feature an exclusive networking event for current female student-athletes and Wake Forest women's alumni and supporters, hosted by ESPNW. ESPN personality Jen Lada, who told Sam Hartman's moving story on College GameDay last fall, will lead a special panel discussion including alumnae Tina Thornton, Ashlee Davis Brooks, Kelly Dostal and Jordan Banks. Saturday and Sunday will feature more celebratory events honoring the history, present, and future of Wake Forest Women's Athletics, culminating with our home women's tennis match at Jim Leighton Courts on Sunday, April 3.
Join the fun by clicking here to register for more information and to register for any of the events.
Here's a powerful video of many of our female student-athletes sharing what the opportunity to compete in intercollegiate athletics means to them. Additionally, I encourage you to read this special Deacon Sports Xtra on how former director of athletics Dr. Gene Hooks, Marge Crisp and Dot Casey helped start our female varsity teams a half-century ago.
We are grateful to all the foundational efforts and support that helps provide a World Class Student-Athlete Experience for current and future Demon Deacons!
Women's Golfers Take Center Stage at Augusta National
The 2022 Augusta National Women's Amateur tees off this week and Wake Forest will be one of only two schools in the country with four or more participants! Graduate student and 2021 ANWA runner-up Emilia Migliaccio is one of just 10 competitors in the 71-player field to score an invite in each of the prestigious event's existence.
Junior Rachel Kuehn, who recently won her second individual title of the season, and freshman Carolina Chacarra will be going for the second year and junior Lauren Walsh will be making her first appearance at the event. Saturday's championship round at Augusta National will be televised live by the Golf Channel!
Mark Your Calendars! Ultimate Deacon Weekend Set for April 15-17
Come join the fun at the 2022 Wake Forest Football Spring Game on Saturday April 16 at 2 p.m. at Truist Field. The game will be broadcast live on ACC Network for the first time in program history. The football game headlines 10 home events that includes baseball and tennis across Ultimate Deacon Weekend from April 15-17. Admission for Wake Forest football's spring game at Truist Field on Saturday, April 16, is FREE for all fans. Additionally, all home tennis matches for both our nationally ranked tennis programs at Jim Leighton Courts are free to all patrons. Tickets for the Deacs big baseball series against Clemson at David F. Couch Ballpark are available for as low as $10 at GoDeacs.com/Tickets. Bring your family and friends out to all three venues for great competition, cold Deacon Brew and The Best Fan Experience in North Carolina!
Speaking of ACC Network, Deacon Nation can check out 12 former Demon Deacons as they show off their skills and athleticism in front of NFL teams at Pro Day, live Wednesday at noon on ACC Network Extra.
2022 Wake 'N Shake
Just over a week ago, Wake 'N Shake, which is an important initiative created by Wake Forest students in 2006 to benefit the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund, rocked the Sutton Center. This year, Wake Forest students raised more than $300,000 to help fight cancer. Coach Clawson provided this impassioned speech at the event last Saturday. Check out @wfuwakenshake for inspiring content or to make a gift.
2022 Commencement Ceremonies Coming Back to the "Quad"
For the first time since 2019, Wake Forest's Commencement undergraduate ceremonies will return to Hearn Plaza on Monday, May 16. We'll be celebrating the perseverance of the Class of 2022 on GoDeacs.com and all our social media accounts as many Demon Deacon student-athletes earn their degrees!
Spring Sports Updates
With yesterday's win over the No. 10 ranked Virginia Cavaliers, Wake Forest baseball has earned five wins over teams ranked inside the top-15 so far this season! Coach Tom Walter's club has climbed into the Top 25 and has outscored their opponents 230-104, and so far sports a team batting average of .313, a .436 on-base percentage and team ERA of just 3.48.
It was an exciting weekend in Raleigh for our men's and women's track & field teams! Our Demon Deacons collected a school record, six top-10 marks in school history, three podium finishes, and 12 personal bests.
Coach Jeff Wysher's No. 23 ranked women's tennis squad stormed through the northeast sweeping Syracuse and Boston College over the weekend and is back in Winston-Salem for home matches this weekend against Big 4 rivals UNC (Friday at 5 p.m.) and Duke (Sunday at 12 p.m.).
Meanwhile, our No. 8 ranked men's tennis team fell at No. 11 Virginia yesterday after capturing a road win at Virginia Tech on Friday. The Deacs remain on the road next weekend and their next home match at Leighton Courts is on Friday, April 8 at 4 p.m. against Clemson.
Coach Jerry Haas and our men's golf team are competing in two tournaments this week as they get set for next month's ACC Championships. Following a third place finish in the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic yesterday, Coach Kim Lewellen's squad looks forward to the ACC Women's Golf Championship at the Reserve Golf Club in Pawleys Island, S.C. from April 14-17.
From the Quad Big 3
Here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Director of Athletics
Good Afternoon Demon Deacon Nation!
A sunny Sunday afternoon baseball win over Virginia capped a historic weekend in Winston-Salem in which we celebrated the inauguration of Susan R. Wente, Ph.D. as the 14th president of Wake Forest University!
I was honored to participate in an incredible array of inauguration activities, including the 'Inauguration Ball' in a transformed Joel Coliseum on Friday night. Since Wake Forest has been blessed with tremendous presidential stability, we don't get to do this very often. I salute the entire Steering Committee and multitude of campus partners for producing a memorable series of commemorative events.
In a signature moment during her inaugural address, President Wente challenged the University community to continue its history of creating opportunities for deserving students and announced a special initiative to create 100 new scholarships by the end 2022. And, among the very first to answer Dr. Wente's challenge was head football coach Dave Clawson and his wife Catherine! Their gift of $250,000 will help Wake Forest achieve and sustain the diversity of its student body, with special consideration for first-generation students, and students from the Piedmont Triad.
This special gift is another example of Coach Clawson and Catherine's deep commitment to Wake Forest and the Winston-Salem community that stretches well beyond football. Their personal philanthropic commitments are significant and reflect their values of character, academic excellence, and access.
Closing the Book on 2022 Basketball
A revitalizing year of men's basketball came to an end in College Station as the Deacs fell to Texas A&M in the third round of the NIT last Wednesday. Over the last few weeks so many Demon Deacons fans have shared their appreciation for how ACC Coach of the Year Steve Forbes, his staff and this gritty group of student-athletes reignited passion for Wake Forest men's basketball. The strong performance of our league in the NCAA Tournament, including the ACC capturing the most wins of any Power Five conference, three teams making the Elite 8 and two in the Final Four, makes our 13-7 conference record this season even more remarkable. The 10-win increase from last season set an ACC record for the biggest year-to-year improvement in league history, while Wake Forest became the first ACC program to boast nine league victories by 15 points or more since Virginia did so in the 2018-19 season. Overall during the 2021-22 season, Wake Forest tied the single-season program record for ACC wins with 13 (2004-05, 2002-03) and set a program record with 18 home victories.
And a final accolade is due as Alondes Williams became the first Demon Deacon to receive the ACC Player of the Year award since 2003. He has been invited to participate in the Final Four All-Star game and Slam Dunk contest on Friday night in New Orleans.
Following our first 25-win season since 2004-05, exciting days are ahead. Fans are invited to establish priority for the 2022-23 men's basketball season by placing a $50 deposit now towards their season tickets for next year. New or existing season ticket holders can visit GoDeacs.com/Tickets to make their deposit online, or call the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336-758-3322 ext. 1 during normal business hours.
Additionally, our women's basketball program was postseason eligible for the third-straight season and made it to the second round of the WNIT after the Deacs defeated Akron. Coach Jen Hoover's squad competed all season long and also advanced in the ACC Tournament for the third-consecutive year and sophomore guard Jewel Spear led the conference in scoring and garnered first team All-ACC honors.
Football Set to Receive Winston-Salem City Council Honorary Resolution Tonight
In the midst of spring practice, the football Deacs are being welcomed by the city leaders of Winston-Salem for one last look back on the Demon Deacons' historic 2021 football season. At the invitation of Mayor Allen Joines, head coach Dave Clawson, along with his leadership committee of 16 student-athletes, will be welcomed at the Winston-Salem City Council meeting tonight to receive an Honorary Resolution recognizing the positive attention and impact of Wake Forest football for the city.
I am proud of our student-athletes, staff and coaches for their dedication to building a consistent winning program at Wake Forest that brings Value to Wake Forest, Winston-Salem and the Triad. Sharing the enjoyment of the most memorable seasons in program history, our community came out in record numbers to support Demon Deacons student-athletes, including the first back-to-back sellouts (Duke and NC State) since 2006. We are committed to grassroots community engagement and our goal of delivering The Best Fan Experience in North Carolina and we are grateful for the leadership and partnership of Mayor Joines and the City Council.
Tonight's City Council meeting will be streamed live on the City of Winston-Salem's YouTube channel and the WSTV 13 Government Channel.
Celebrate Excellence Weekend on Deck
As part of our yearlong celebration of 50 Years of Intercollegiate Women's Athletics at Wake Forest, presented by Blue Cross NC, Athletics will host the Celebrate Excellence Weekend on April 1-3, 2022.
Friday, April 1, will feature an exclusive networking event for current female student-athletes and Wake Forest women's alumni and supporters, hosted by ESPNW. ESPN personality Jen Lada, who told Sam Hartman's moving story on College GameDay last fall, will lead a special panel discussion including alumnae Tina Thornton, Ashlee Davis Brooks, Kelly Dostal and Jordan Banks. Saturday and Sunday will feature more celebratory events honoring the history, present, and future of Wake Forest Women's Athletics, culminating with our home women's tennis match at Jim Leighton Courts on Sunday, April 3.
Join the fun by clicking here to register for more information and to register for any of the events.
Here's a powerful video of many of our female student-athletes sharing what the opportunity to compete in intercollegiate athletics means to them. Additionally, I encourage you to read this special Deacon Sports Xtra on how former director of athletics Dr. Gene Hooks, Marge Crisp and Dot Casey helped start our female varsity teams a half-century ago.
We are grateful to all the foundational efforts and support that helps provide a World Class Student-Athlete Experience for current and future Demon Deacons!
Women's Golfers Take Center Stage at Augusta National
The 2022 Augusta National Women's Amateur tees off this week and Wake Forest will be one of only two schools in the country with four or more participants! Graduate student and 2021 ANWA runner-up Emilia Migliaccio is one of just 10 competitors in the 71-player field to score an invite in each of the prestigious event's existence.
Junior Rachel Kuehn, who recently won her second individual title of the season, and freshman Carolina Chacarra will be going for the second year and junior Lauren Walsh will be making her first appearance at the event. Saturday's championship round at Augusta National will be televised live by the Golf Channel!
Mark Your Calendars! Ultimate Deacon Weekend Set for April 15-17
Come join the fun at the 2022 Wake Forest Football Spring Game on Saturday April 16 at 2 p.m. at Truist Field. The game will be broadcast live on ACC Network for the first time in program history. The football game headlines 10 home events that includes baseball and tennis across Ultimate Deacon Weekend from April 15-17. Admission for Wake Forest football's spring game at Truist Field on Saturday, April 16, is FREE for all fans. Additionally, all home tennis matches for both our nationally ranked tennis programs at Jim Leighton Courts are free to all patrons. Tickets for the Deacs big baseball series against Clemson at David F. Couch Ballpark are available for as low as $10 at GoDeacs.com/Tickets. Bring your family and friends out to all three venues for great competition, cold Deacon Brew and The Best Fan Experience in North Carolina!
Speaking of ACC Network, Deacon Nation can check out 12 former Demon Deacons as they show off their skills and athleticism in front of NFL teams at Pro Day, live Wednesday at noon on ACC Network Extra.
2022 Wake 'N Shake
Just over a week ago, Wake 'N Shake, which is an important initiative created by Wake Forest students in 2006 to benefit the Brian Piccolo Cancer Research Fund, rocked the Sutton Center. This year, Wake Forest students raised more than $300,000 to help fight cancer. Coach Clawson provided this impassioned speech at the event last Saturday. Check out @wfuwakenshake for inspiring content or to make a gift.
2022 Commencement Ceremonies Coming Back to the "Quad"
For the first time since 2019, Wake Forest's Commencement undergraduate ceremonies will return to Hearn Plaza on Monday, May 16. We'll be celebrating the perseverance of the Class of 2022 on GoDeacs.com and all our social media accounts as many Demon Deacon student-athletes earn their degrees!
Spring Sports Updates
With yesterday's win over the No. 10 ranked Virginia Cavaliers, Wake Forest baseball has earned five wins over teams ranked inside the top-15 so far this season! Coach Tom Walter's club has climbed into the Top 25 and has outscored their opponents 230-104, and so far sports a team batting average of .313, a .436 on-base percentage and team ERA of just 3.48.
It was an exciting weekend in Raleigh for our men's and women's track & field teams! Our Demon Deacons collected a school record, six top-10 marks in school history, three podium finishes, and 12 personal bests.
Coach Jeff Wysher's No. 23 ranked women's tennis squad stormed through the northeast sweeping Syracuse and Boston College over the weekend and is back in Winston-Salem for home matches this weekend against Big 4 rivals UNC (Friday at 5 p.m.) and Duke (Sunday at 12 p.m.).
Meanwhile, our No. 8 ranked men's tennis team fell at No. 11 Virginia yesterday after capturing a road win at Virginia Tech on Friday. The Deacs remain on the road next weekend and their next home match at Leighton Courts is on Friday, April 8 at 4 p.m. against Clemson.
Coach Jerry Haas and our men's golf team are competing in two tournaments this week as they get set for next month's ACC Championships. Following a third place finish in the Liz Murphey Collegiate Classic yesterday, Coach Kim Lewellen's squad looks forward to the ACC Women's Golf Championship at the Reserve Golf Club in Pawleys Island, S.C. from April 14-17.
From the Quad Big 3
Here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
- Check out of work a little early and come to the Couch on Wednesday at 4 p.m. with tickets for our rematch with Coastal Carolina starting just $5! We'll be saluting our colleagues in Wake Forest Facilities & Campus Services who do such an incredible job keeping our campus buildings and grounds in beautiful shape all year long.
- Please join me in welcoming Annette L. Ranft as the new Dean of the Wake Forest School of Business, effective July 1! Among the many student-athlete "Biz Deacs" are current MBA students Michael Jurgens and Isaiah Wingfield, and Masters in Business Analytics student Virunpat Olankitkunchai.
- Wake Forest is one of six schools in the country to win a postseason game in football, men's basketball and women's basketball! Forward these links to a friend today and invite them to secure their seats inside Truist Field this fall or Joel Coliseum next winter!
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Director of Athletics
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