From the Quad
6/2/2023 8:51:00 AM | General
Presented by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Good Morning Demon Deacon Nation,
It's been just over a week since WGCA National Coach of the Year Kim Lewellen and our women's golf team won its first NCAA Championship and Wake Forest University's 10th national title in our history!
Wake Forest is now one of only seven ACC schools to win 10 or more national championships, along with Notre Dame, North Carolina, Virginia, Duke, Syracuse and Florida State.
Of course, achieving Goal No. 4 (Win Championships) would not have been possible without our extraordinary student-athletes as four Demon Deacons were named WGCA All-Americans last week. I know we are achieving our vision of being A Model Intercollegiate Athletics Program and our goal of providing a World Class Student-Athlete Experience and when I see comments like these from back-to-back ACC Player of the Year Rachel Kuehn about the week in Arizona being a dream come true and her gratitude for her teammates and the support of Deacon Nation.
We are blessed to have tremendous leadership that has created a vibrant culture that has allowed our aforementioned student-athletes to thrive on the course, in the classroom and in the community. Coach Lewellen and Lyons Family Associate Head Coach Ryan Potter, who was named the WGCA Assistant Coach of the Year 12 months ago, have made winning a way of life as they have led our program to a pair of ACC Championships, a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championship in 2019, this month's national title, and 20 overall team tournament titles in their five-year tenure leading the program.
We are grateful for all the Deacs (staff, alumni and loyal supporters) who were in Arizona to witness and chronicle this historic title, including the legendary Dianne Dailey whose trailblazing efforts at Wake Forest began in 1988 and spanned 40 years. Dailey, who was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2021, built the Deacs into a perennial NCAA women's golf powerhouse before passing the baton to Coach Kim Lewellen ahead of the 2018-19 academic year.
The joy of moments like this is shared by everyone in our University and Winston-Salem community, as evidenced by the welcome home reception for the team last Thursday. Many of those in attendance at the reception are Excellence Fund donors to the women's golf program. Because of their generosity, which includes a 219 percent increase in giving towards targeted needs in the women's golf program over the last two years, we were able to provide the winning edge that led us to that monumental moment last week. We thank everybody who is choosing to make a difference, not just to women's golf, but to all Demon Deacons programs, through Excellence Fund support.
Being No. 1 is fun, and we have had six ACC Coaches of the Year since Dec. 2021! Let's keep pushing forward together!
No. 1 National Seed Wake Forest Hosting Sold Out NCAA Regional; Deacs Up at 7 PM Tonight on ESPN+
Coach Tom Walter's ballclub was selected to the 2023 NCAA Baseball Tournament as the No. 1 national seed on Memorial Day earlier this week. He then joined the ESPN2 Selection Show broadcast to share his pride in his student-athletes for their season-long consistency and toughness!
This is the Demon Deacons' 15th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance and this spring marks the first time since 2017 that we're hosting an NCAA Regional at David F. Couch Ballpark.
In front of record-breaking crowds all season long, our top-ranked Diamond Deacs have an astounding home record of 29-3. The Couch will be packed all weekend long as we SOLD OUT of all-sessions tickets within a few hours of going on sale! Remember, being a season ticket holder and/or Deacon Club member is the best way to get access to the most high profile Wake Forest Athletics events. With that said, click here to make your deposit for 2024 season baseball tickets. Our Fan Experience staff, grounds and maintenance crew, loyal Rhino Sports & Entertainment Services ushers and security, and our dedicated concessions staffers are excited to deliver the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina as the only school in North Carolina to host a 2023 NCAA Baseball Regional!
In addition to the top-seeded Demon Deacons (47-10), the Winston-Salem Regional will include No. 2 seed Maryland (41-19), No. 3 seed Northeastern (44-14) and No. 4 seed George Mason (34-25). Wake Forest will open NCAA Tournament play against the Patriots tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN+ in the second game of the regional. The Terrapins and Huskies will open the regional at 1 p.m. this afternoon inside Couch Ballpark.
Meanwhile on Saturday, stop by Truist Field in the afternoon for the Brews, Bats & Bites event!
Finally when you arrive at Couch Ballpark, please note that Premium Reserved Parking in the McCreary Tower Lot outside Truist Field is sold out. General public parking will be available at the Starry and Diet Pepsi Lots at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum for $10 and all fans are encouraged to enter from Deacon Blvd. Additionally, free parking is available in the Gold Lot outside Bridger Field House.
The Winston-Salem Regional is paired with the Tuscaloosa Regional, which features No. 16 national seed Alabama, Boston College, Troy and Nicholls State. The Winston-Salem and Tuscaloosa regional winners will meet in a best-of-three game Super Regional series next weekend (June 9-12) to be hosted by the highest-seeded advancing team.
See you at Couch Ballpark this weekend!
ACC Board of Directors Endorses Success Incentives
The Atlantic Coast Conference Board of Directors, including President Susan R. Wente Ph.D., has announced a success incentive initiative that will begin during the 2024-25 academic year. While the specifics of the plan will be solidified in the coming months, we welcome modernization of the ACC revenue distribution formula which is designed in part to recognize achievements and investments into championship success like we've made at Wake Forest. Our daily focus remains on driving Wake Forest forward by winning championships, going to bowl games, and packing our stadiums with passionate fans – all while ensuring academic achievement and excellence continue as the hallmark principle of a World Class Student-Athlete Experience for the young men and women on our Reynolda Campus.
Welcome to Wake Forest, Dean Andrew R. Klein!
Wake Forest University has named Andrew R. Klein as the next Dean of the School of Law beginning July 1. Currently interim chancellor of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and executive vice president of Indiana University, Klein served as dean of Indiana University's McKinney School of Law from 2013 to 2020. I encourage you to read the Wake Forest news website for more details about his experience and accomplishments. We salute President Wente, Provost Michele Gillespie and the search committee for bringing Professor Klein to Wake Forest. Additionally, we are all thankful for Nell Newton's leadership as interim dean, which included a leap up in the national rankings to Top-25 status for Wake Law!.
Pair of Demon Deacons Distance Runners Qualify for NCAA Outdoor Championships
Our Wake Forest men's and women's track & field teams competed at the 2023 NCAA East Preliminary Outdoor Track & Field Championships and turned in many great performances in a myriad of events from a multitude of student-athletes. With that, two student-athletes advanced to Austin, Texas for next week's NCAA Outdoor Championships as graduate student Zach Facioni and junior Luke Tewalt qualified in the men's 5,000 meter run. Facioni qualified with the sixth-fastest overall time, while Tewalt finished third in his heat.
Stay tuned to GoDeacs.com and our social media platforms for more information on how to watch and follow along with their performances next week in Texas!
Seven Wake Foresters Earn Fulbright Scholarships, Including Distance Runner Elise Wright
Seven Wake Forest students and alumni have been awarded Fulbright Scholarships to teach English and conduct research during the 2023-2024 academic year, including track & field / cross country student-athlete Elise Wright! The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the U.S. government's flagship international educational exchange program, and is designed to facilitate cultural exchange and increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and 160 other countries. Click here to read about the full list of Wake recipients!
Memorable Sweet Sixteen Run in NCAA Doubles for Anna Brylin/Brooke Killingsworth
Headlining the NCAA Women's Tennis Doubles Championships was a thrilling run by the No. 24-ranked duo Anna Brylin & Brooke Killingsworth as they upset No. 15-ranked Raquel Gonzalez/Ayumi Miyamoto from Oklahoma State en route to the Round of 16. The standout Demon Deacon duo competed hard against Southern California's No. 18-ranked tandem Eryn Cayetano/Maddy Sieg, but ultimately fell in two sets to conclude their season.
Mark Your Calendars! First Three Kickoff Times Set for 2023 Football Season
As we shared in our last edition of From the Quad, all single game, four-packs and mini-plan ticket options are on sale now! And earlier this week, the Atlantic Coast Conference and ESPN/ACC Network announced kickoff times for Wake Forest's first three fall games..
As Dave Clawson enters his 10th season as head coach of the Demon Deacons and national respect and interest grow for the Wake Forest football program, exposure is growing too, with all three of our early season games on linear national television (rather than "just" streaming, like many other ACC and Power Five team games in September).
With that, get your tickets for Opening Night at Truist Field, which is slated to kickoff on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m., or for Week 2 (Saturday, Sept. 9) when we welcome the SEC's Vanderbilt Commodores for an early start at 11 a.m. for Unrivaled Weekend, leading off a four-game live slate that day on ACCN. While we know that kickoff time for Saturday, Sept. 9 is a bit earlier than usual, our talented and hardworking fan experience team will have many great promotions for our community to enjoy!
The most economical way to secure your seats is through season tickets - which just shot past last season's purchase total! For questions or assistance, please contact the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336-758-3322 ext. 1 or tix@wfu.edu. Regular office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
From the Quad Big 3
Finally, here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
Now, it's time for Demon Deacons baseball! I'll see 3,500-plus of you at the Couch tonight and know that the balance of DEACTOWN will be tuning in on ESPN+ or listening to Voice of the Demon Deacons Stan Cotten and Lary Sorensen via the free Wake Forest App! Have a safe weekend, pray for peace, and as always, please continue to send your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to me at wfuad@wfu.edu.
Happy Pride Month, and Go Deacs!
John Currie
Director of Athletics
Good Morning Demon Deacon Nation,
It's been just over a week since WGCA National Coach of the Year Kim Lewellen and our women's golf team won its first NCAA Championship and Wake Forest University's 10th national title in our history!
Wake Forest is now one of only seven ACC schools to win 10 or more national championships, along with Notre Dame, North Carolina, Virginia, Duke, Syracuse and Florida State.
Of course, achieving Goal No. 4 (Win Championships) would not have been possible without our extraordinary student-athletes as four Demon Deacons were named WGCA All-Americans last week. I know we are achieving our vision of being A Model Intercollegiate Athletics Program and our goal of providing a World Class Student-Athlete Experience and when I see comments like these from back-to-back ACC Player of the Year Rachel Kuehn about the week in Arizona being a dream come true and her gratitude for her teammates and the support of Deacon Nation.
We are blessed to have tremendous leadership that has created a vibrant culture that has allowed our aforementioned student-athletes to thrive on the course, in the classroom and in the community. Coach Lewellen and Lyons Family Associate Head Coach Ryan Potter, who was named the WGCA Assistant Coach of the Year 12 months ago, have made winning a way of life as they have led our program to a pair of ACC Championships, a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championship in 2019, this month's national title, and 20 overall team tournament titles in their five-year tenure leading the program.
We are grateful for all the Deacs (staff, alumni and loyal supporters) who were in Arizona to witness and chronicle this historic title, including the legendary Dianne Dailey whose trailblazing efforts at Wake Forest began in 1988 and spanned 40 years. Dailey, who was inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in 2021, built the Deacs into a perennial NCAA women's golf powerhouse before passing the baton to Coach Kim Lewellen ahead of the 2018-19 academic year.
The joy of moments like this is shared by everyone in our University and Winston-Salem community, as evidenced by the welcome home reception for the team last Thursday. Many of those in attendance at the reception are Excellence Fund donors to the women's golf program. Because of their generosity, which includes a 219 percent increase in giving towards targeted needs in the women's golf program over the last two years, we were able to provide the winning edge that led us to that monumental moment last week. We thank everybody who is choosing to make a difference, not just to women's golf, but to all Demon Deacons programs, through Excellence Fund support.
Being No. 1 is fun, and we have had six ACC Coaches of the Year since Dec. 2021! Let's keep pushing forward together!
No. 1 National Seed Wake Forest Hosting Sold Out NCAA Regional; Deacs Up at 7 PM Tonight on ESPN+
Coach Tom Walter's ballclub was selected to the 2023 NCAA Baseball Tournament as the No. 1 national seed on Memorial Day earlier this week. He then joined the ESPN2 Selection Show broadcast to share his pride in his student-athletes for their season-long consistency and toughness!
This is the Demon Deacons' 15th all-time NCAA Tournament appearance and this spring marks the first time since 2017 that we're hosting an NCAA Regional at David F. Couch Ballpark.
In front of record-breaking crowds all season long, our top-ranked Diamond Deacs have an astounding home record of 29-3. The Couch will be packed all weekend long as we SOLD OUT of all-sessions tickets within a few hours of going on sale! Remember, being a season ticket holder and/or Deacon Club member is the best way to get access to the most high profile Wake Forest Athletics events. With that said, click here to make your deposit for 2024 season baseball tickets. Our Fan Experience staff, grounds and maintenance crew, loyal Rhino Sports & Entertainment Services ushers and security, and our dedicated concessions staffers are excited to deliver the Best Fan Experience in North Carolina as the only school in North Carolina to host a 2023 NCAA Baseball Regional!
In addition to the top-seeded Demon Deacons (47-10), the Winston-Salem Regional will include No. 2 seed Maryland (41-19), No. 3 seed Northeastern (44-14) and No. 4 seed George Mason (34-25). Wake Forest will open NCAA Tournament play against the Patriots tonight at 7 p.m. on ESPN+ in the second game of the regional. The Terrapins and Huskies will open the regional at 1 p.m. this afternoon inside Couch Ballpark.
Meanwhile on Saturday, stop by Truist Field in the afternoon for the Brews, Bats & Bites event!
Finally when you arrive at Couch Ballpark, please note that Premium Reserved Parking in the McCreary Tower Lot outside Truist Field is sold out. General public parking will be available at the Starry and Diet Pepsi Lots at Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum for $10 and all fans are encouraged to enter from Deacon Blvd. Additionally, free parking is available in the Gold Lot outside Bridger Field House.
The Winston-Salem Regional is paired with the Tuscaloosa Regional, which features No. 16 national seed Alabama, Boston College, Troy and Nicholls State. The Winston-Salem and Tuscaloosa regional winners will meet in a best-of-three game Super Regional series next weekend (June 9-12) to be hosted by the highest-seeded advancing team.
See you at Couch Ballpark this weekend!
ACC Board of Directors Endorses Success Incentives
The Atlantic Coast Conference Board of Directors, including President Susan R. Wente Ph.D., has announced a success incentive initiative that will begin during the 2024-25 academic year. While the specifics of the plan will be solidified in the coming months, we welcome modernization of the ACC revenue distribution formula which is designed in part to recognize achievements and investments into championship success like we've made at Wake Forest. Our daily focus remains on driving Wake Forest forward by winning championships, going to bowl games, and packing our stadiums with passionate fans – all while ensuring academic achievement and excellence continue as the hallmark principle of a World Class Student-Athlete Experience for the young men and women on our Reynolda Campus.
Welcome to Wake Forest, Dean Andrew R. Klein!
Wake Forest University has named Andrew R. Klein as the next Dean of the School of Law beginning July 1. Currently interim chancellor of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) and executive vice president of Indiana University, Klein served as dean of Indiana University's McKinney School of Law from 2013 to 2020. I encourage you to read the Wake Forest news website for more details about his experience and accomplishments. We salute President Wente, Provost Michele Gillespie and the search committee for bringing Professor Klein to Wake Forest. Additionally, we are all thankful for Nell Newton's leadership as interim dean, which included a leap up in the national rankings to Top-25 status for Wake Law!.
Pair of Demon Deacons Distance Runners Qualify for NCAA Outdoor Championships
Our Wake Forest men's and women's track & field teams competed at the 2023 NCAA East Preliminary Outdoor Track & Field Championships and turned in many great performances in a myriad of events from a multitude of student-athletes. With that, two student-athletes advanced to Austin, Texas for next week's NCAA Outdoor Championships as graduate student Zach Facioni and junior Luke Tewalt qualified in the men's 5,000 meter run. Facioni qualified with the sixth-fastest overall time, while Tewalt finished third in his heat.
Stay tuned to GoDeacs.com and our social media platforms for more information on how to watch and follow along with their performances next week in Texas!
Seven Wake Foresters Earn Fulbright Scholarships, Including Distance Runner Elise Wright
Seven Wake Forest students and alumni have been awarded Fulbright Scholarships to teach English and conduct research during the 2023-2024 academic year, including track & field / cross country student-athlete Elise Wright! The Fulbright U.S. Student Program is the U.S. government's flagship international educational exchange program, and is designed to facilitate cultural exchange and increase mutual understanding between the people of the United States and 160 other countries. Click here to read about the full list of Wake recipients!
Memorable Sweet Sixteen Run in NCAA Doubles for Anna Brylin/Brooke Killingsworth
Headlining the NCAA Women's Tennis Doubles Championships was a thrilling run by the No. 24-ranked duo Anna Brylin & Brooke Killingsworth as they upset No. 15-ranked Raquel Gonzalez/Ayumi Miyamoto from Oklahoma State en route to the Round of 16. The standout Demon Deacon duo competed hard against Southern California's No. 18-ranked tandem Eryn Cayetano/Maddy Sieg, but ultimately fell in two sets to conclude their season.
Mark Your Calendars! First Three Kickoff Times Set for 2023 Football Season
As we shared in our last edition of From the Quad, all single game, four-packs and mini-plan ticket options are on sale now! And earlier this week, the Atlantic Coast Conference and ESPN/ACC Network announced kickoff times for Wake Forest's first three fall games..
As Dave Clawson enters his 10th season as head coach of the Demon Deacons and national respect and interest grow for the Wake Forest football program, exposure is growing too, with all three of our early season games on linear national television (rather than "just" streaming, like many other ACC and Power Five team games in September).
With that, get your tickets for Opening Night at Truist Field, which is slated to kickoff on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 7 p.m., or for Week 2 (Saturday, Sept. 9) when we welcome the SEC's Vanderbilt Commodores for an early start at 11 a.m. for Unrivaled Weekend, leading off a four-game live slate that day on ACCN. While we know that kickoff time for Saturday, Sept. 9 is a bit earlier than usual, our talented and hardworking fan experience team will have many great promotions for our community to enjoy!
The most economical way to secure your seats is through season tickets - which just shot past last season's purchase total! For questions or assistance, please contact the Wake Forest Ticket Office at 336-758-3322 ext. 1 or tix@wfu.edu. Regular office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
From the Quad Big 3
Finally, here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
- Join me in congratulating Jen Averill on signing a long-term contract extension as head coach of the three time NCAA champion field hockey program at Wake Forest. Coach Averill leads our program with integrity and by developing student-athletes on and off the field. We are excited about the future of our field hockey program and are looking forward to a spectacular reunion for all our alumnae this fall as we mark the 20th anniversary for those aforementioned national championship teams. Field hockey alums should contact April Bass (abass@wfu.edu) to get all the details and make plans now!
- No matter where you are, represent the Deacons with your Old Gold & Black every Friday, including today! #WFFriday is an easy way to show the global spirit of Demon Deacons Nation!
- For all women in the Wake Forest, Winston-Salem and Triad Community, the Wake Forest football program will host the 23rd Ladies Football Clinic on Wednesday, June 21 at Truist Field. This unique (and active!) event focuses on the fundamentals and strategy of the game and features one-on-one interaction with Wake Forest's football staff, including head coach Dave Clawson. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. and conclude around 9 p.m. and tickets are $55. Proceeds from the camp benefit the Coaches Kids Program, which gives many local, underprivileged youth the opportunity to attend Wake Forest football, men's and women's basketball, and other Olympic sporting events.
Now, it's time for Demon Deacons baseball! I'll see 3,500-plus of you at the Couch tonight and know that the balance of DEACTOWN will be tuning in on ESPN+ or listening to Voice of the Demon Deacons Stan Cotten and Lary Sorensen via the free Wake Forest App! Have a safe weekend, pray for peace, and as always, please continue to send your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to me at wfuad@wfu.edu.
Happy Pride Month, and Go Deacs!
John Currie
Director of Athletics
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Players Mentioned
/ Women's Tennis
Distance
/ Track and Field
/ Women's Tennis
Distance
/ Track and Field
/ Cross Country
Football Media Availability (9/18/25)
Thursday, September 18
Matt Barrie SportsCenter at Wake Forest with Demond Claiborne
Wednesday, September 10
Matt Barrie SportsCenter on Wake Forest Campus (Arnold Palmer Complex)
Wednesday, September 10
Football Media Availability (9/9/25)
Wednesday, September 10