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From the Quad
8/15/2024 4:19:00 PM | General
Presented by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Good Afternoon Demon Deacon Nation!
Let's GOOOOOOOOOOO! Our Wake Forest Athletics year starts tonight on ESPN+ as Coach Tony Da Laz & our women's soccer team kick off at Army at 6 p.m. in our first intercollegiate competition of the year before heading down the turnpike to Rutgers for a Sunday match at 1 p.m. And, we're just a week away from our first official home matches of the academic year as Spry Stadium hosts a women's & men's soccer doubleheader at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22 with both contests set for an ACC Network Extra telecast.
We also have home exhibition action with field hockey hosting App State inside Kentner Stadium on Tuesday next week at 6:30 p.m. and volleyball dueling with High Point on Friday, Aug. 23, at 7 p.m. in Varsity Arena. Additionally, our Demon Deacons cross country and football programs are working hard as they prepare for their fall seasons. These events begin our 150-plus home contests this year and we expect the total attendance to approach 500,000 for the first time in our history!
Getting into the flow of competition and the school year feels especially good this August given the seismic changes in the intercollegiate athletics landscape that have continued to reshape our enterprise this summer. Whether it's visiting with each team at a practice or meeting, jumping on a orientation Zoom calls with freshmen student-athlete parents as I did last night, or grabbing dinner with our football team and sitting with captains Luke Petitbon, Kevin Pointer, Jasheen Davis, Nick Andersen and DeVonte Gordon like I did last week, I'm always reinvigorated by being around our world-class coaches and student-athletes.
And, two weeks from tonight we'll be inspired by the Wake Forest Class of 2028 sprinting under the lights on Opening Night at Allegacy Stadium in the traditional "Deacon Dash" before our gridiron Deacs take the field against our neighbors from Greensboro, North Carolina A&T.
We have lots of updates in this edition of From the Quad, but first let's take one last quick look back at the 2023-24 academic year!
Championships & Big Moments Mark 2023-24
The 2023-24 academic year was highlighted by ACC Championships for both teams and individuals, record crowds, and an incredible run by the men's tennis team to reach the NCAA Tournament semifinals. All of this is recapped in our annual "Year in Review" document.
Additionally, since I last wrote to you From the Quad, we've announced the recipients of Wake Forest's two premiere athletic awards, marking the most outstanding male and female student-athletes of the year. Rachel Kuehn received the 2024 Marge Crisp Award for the third-straight year as she closed her illustrious career by leading our squad to the 2023 NCAA Championship, 2024 ACC title, and multiple individual victories. Meanwhile, Michael Brennan won the Arnold Palmer Award after capturing a second-consecutive ACC individual championship as he led our men's program back to the NCAA Championships. Additionally, women's golf's Macy Pate and men's cross country & track and field's Rocky Hansen made the award list as they were recognized as Wake's female and male freshmen of the year, respectively!
The experiences for those aforementioned Demon Deacons, as well as our 400-plus other student-athletes, are in-part made possible thanks to another remarkable year in which the cash gifts of 5,000 generous Wake Forest Athletics donors exceeded the $30 million mark for the fourth-consecutive year! That four-year total of $131 million in cash gifts represents a 19% increase from the previous four years. Those contributions have not only helped us set new records, but have also enabled the young men and women on our beautiful Reynolda campus to excel both competitively and academically.
On that note, it was great that two of our most loyal Demon Deacons, Bob McCreary and Ben Sutton, check in on our team at football practice last week!
It's GO TIME as another exciting year awaits us!
Two Weeks Until Opening Night at Allegacy Stadium!
Just before fall camp began, Coach Dave Clawson again represented Wake Forest with incredible class and wisdom on the ACC Network set with The Huddle crew during ACC Kickoff last month.
We are closing in on an Opening Night sellout for our Aug. 29, 7 p.m. tilt against the Aggies as our staff continues to roll out unique ticket options, like the Bojangles 4-Pack, which includes a $20 gift card per account! This ticket option comes with four tickets on the east side of Allegacy Stadium and one LJVM Coliseum Lot parking pass. Don't worry, if you have already purchased a single game four-pack of tickets for this fall, your account will be automatically credited for the Bojangles extra as a value add for our passionate fans!
Additionally, we recently announced a new exclusive premium seating option atop Deacon Hill as our longtime partner, REVELxp has custom designed two open air suites on Deacon Hill for the 2024 season. Available on an individual game basis, each suite includes room for up to 24 guests, comfortable seating, an HD television, cooling fans and food and beverage packages. Contact Wake Forest Ticket office today to purchase this premium experience for Opening Night at Allegacy Stadium on Thursday, August 29 at 7 p.m. or for any of Wake's seven home games.
Finally, the Demon Deacon ticket office has launched a new initiative empowering fans to raise money for their own local non-profit groups by becoming ambassadors for group ticket sales. This innovative program allows fans to earn funds for their not-for-profit groups, organizations or companies they are affiliated with through sales of Wake Forest group tickets to select football games. The fan-driven group ticket sales initiative, which is known as "WFFans," encourages supporters to leverage support through their networks and enthusiasm for their organization by organizing group outings to Wake Forest football's exciting games inside Allegacy Stadium, while raising important funds for their affiliated organization.
For questions or assistance for any ticketing information, 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.
Winston-Salem Open Serving Up World Class Professional Tennis Starting Saturday
Another sign that football season is upon us is the 14th annual Winston-Salem Open, an ATP World Tour 250 Event held at the Wake Forest Intercollegiate Tennis Center, right behind the east stands of Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium! With world class athletes looking to tune up or earn their way into the US Open, the WSO is a fun event that attracts fans from all across the southeast. If you've never been, check out the center court stadium, great food, beverages and fellowship, you owe it to yourself to give it a try!
Quartet of Deacon Alumni Took Center Stage at 2024 Olympics
All of us in the Wake Forest and Winston-Salem community were bursting with pride as we celebrated four outstanding Wake Foresters (Dinos Mitoglou, Men's Basketball for Greece; Ines Laklalech, Women's Golfer for Morocco; Ivana Raca, Women's Basketball for Serbia; Dearica Hamby, Women's Basketball 3x3 Team for USA) competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics! They joined a long history of Demon Deacons success at the Olympics.
With that, join me in congratulating Dearica and her American teammates on earning a Bronze medal!
Additionally before we move on, I want to congratulate soon-to-be rising sophomore Samantha Heyison as she qualified and will be competing in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris that begin at the end of August! I can't wait to see our community cheer her on from afar and how that experience will help her as she moves forward in her career at Wake Forest!
Webb Simpson Named U.S. Vice Captain For 2025 Ryder Cup
Speaking of representing your country on the biggest stage, Wake Forest alum Webb Simpson has been chosen as Vice Captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup by captain Keegan Bradley. The seven-time PGA Tour winner and 2012 U.S. Open Champion has represented Team USA six times, including three Ryder Cups (2012, 2014, 2018). Webb, a former ACC Freshman of the Year, helped lead Wake Forest to a third-place NCAA finish in 2005. Did you see his wife (and fellow Wake grad) Dowd serving as his caddy last week at the Wyndham in Greensboro?
Meanwhile at the Haddock House, Coach Jerry Haas recently tabbed Wofford head coach Van Williams to the role of Lyons Family Associate Head Coach. His experience includes working in the ACC and winning an NCAA title as an assistant coach in the Pac-12.
Three Top 10 Picks Highlight Six Demon Deacons Selected in 2024 MLB Draft
While Coach Tom Walter is welcoming in a strong freshmen and transfer class to keep our Demon Deacons baseball program in the national mix, Wake Forest has developed an elite reputation for developing top talent. Highlighted by three top-10 picks for the first time in school history and just the second time in the history of the MLB Draft, six members of Wake Forest baseball were selected in the annual big league draft last month. With that, reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year Chase Burns (second to the Cincinnati Reds) became the highest draft pick in Demon Deacon history!
I was lucky enough to be at Truist Park in Atlanta last week as Parker Dunshee became the 43rd Demon Deacon to make his big-league debut for the Braves!
Remember to lock in your seats for next spring now for a deposit of just $50 to see the stars of tomorrow at The Couch!
Julie Wayne Awarded 2024 Kanter Award for Excellence in Work-Family Research
Also in national news, Julie Wayne, Wake Forest's Darnell Presidential Chair in Principled Leadership, has won the 2024 Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Excellence in Work-Family Research. This award, recognizing her pioneering work on the invisible family load, is presented by the Center for Families at Purdue University and the Boston College Center for Work & Family. It highlights her significant contributions to work-life balance, gender, and belonging.
Graylyn Estate & Conference Center Named a National Top Four 'Best Boutique Hotel'
A tip of the Deacon top hat is in order for Wake Forest vice president John Wise and our good friends at Graylyn Estate & Conference Center! This Winston-Salem gem recently landed in the Top 4 of the 'Best Boutique Hotel" category in USA TODAY's Readers' Choice Awards.
Completed in 1932 as the private residence of then RJR president Bowman Gray and his wife Nathalie, Graylyn was eventually donated to Wake Forest University, serving multiple purposes and then restored to its original splendor and transformed into a boutique hotel and conference center in the early 1980's. Graylyn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of Historic Hotels of America. Graylyn's Conference Center has been named "Best Conference Center" by Smart Meetings, but my favorite part of Graylyn is the personal and professional welcome I always receive from Allie, Richard, Thad, and the rest of the front door staff!
Wake Forest School of Medicine Awarded $28.2 Million Federal Grant
The Wake Forest School of Medicine has received a $28.2 million NIH grant for its Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) to advance patient care research. This is the third CTSI award for the school, highlighting its role in translational research. We are grateful for Dean Ebony Boulware's transformative leadership benefiting our community and students!
From the Quad Big 3
Here's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs,
Thank you for your continued support of our student-athletes and University community and please continue to send your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to me at wfuad@wfu.edu.
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Vice President & Director of Athletics
Good Afternoon Demon Deacon Nation!
Let's GOOOOOOOOOOO! Our Wake Forest Athletics year starts tonight on ESPN+ as Coach Tony Da Laz & our women's soccer team kick off at Army at 6 p.m. in our first intercollegiate competition of the year before heading down the turnpike to Rutgers for a Sunday match at 1 p.m. And, we're just a week away from our first official home matches of the academic year as Spry Stadium hosts a women's & men's soccer doubleheader at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 22 with both contests set for an ACC Network Extra telecast.
We also have home exhibition action with field hockey hosting App State inside Kentner Stadium on Tuesday next week at 6:30 p.m. and volleyball dueling with High Point on Friday, Aug. 23, at 7 p.m. in Varsity Arena. Additionally, our Demon Deacons cross country and football programs are working hard as they prepare for their fall seasons. These events begin our 150-plus home contests this year and we expect the total attendance to approach 500,000 for the first time in our history!
Getting into the flow of competition and the school year feels especially good this August given the seismic changes in the intercollegiate athletics landscape that have continued to reshape our enterprise this summer. Whether it's visiting with each team at a practice or meeting, jumping on a orientation Zoom calls with freshmen student-athlete parents as I did last night, or grabbing dinner with our football team and sitting with captains Luke Petitbon, Kevin Pointer, Jasheen Davis, Nick Andersen and DeVonte Gordon like I did last week, I'm always reinvigorated by being around our world-class coaches and student-athletes.
And, two weeks from tonight we'll be inspired by the Wake Forest Class of 2028 sprinting under the lights on Opening Night at Allegacy Stadium in the traditional "Deacon Dash" before our gridiron Deacs take the field against our neighbors from Greensboro, North Carolina A&T.
We have lots of updates in this edition of From the Quad, but first let's take one last quick look back at the 2023-24 academic year!
Championships & Big Moments Mark 2023-24
The 2023-24 academic year was highlighted by ACC Championships for both teams and individuals, record crowds, and an incredible run by the men's tennis team to reach the NCAA Tournament semifinals. All of this is recapped in our annual "Year in Review" document.
Additionally, since I last wrote to you From the Quad, we've announced the recipients of Wake Forest's two premiere athletic awards, marking the most outstanding male and female student-athletes of the year. Rachel Kuehn received the 2024 Marge Crisp Award for the third-straight year as she closed her illustrious career by leading our squad to the 2023 NCAA Championship, 2024 ACC title, and multiple individual victories. Meanwhile, Michael Brennan won the Arnold Palmer Award after capturing a second-consecutive ACC individual championship as he led our men's program back to the NCAA Championships. Additionally, women's golf's Macy Pate and men's cross country & track and field's Rocky Hansen made the award list as they were recognized as Wake's female and male freshmen of the year, respectively!
The experiences for those aforementioned Demon Deacons, as well as our 400-plus other student-athletes, are in-part made possible thanks to another remarkable year in which the cash gifts of 5,000 generous Wake Forest Athletics donors exceeded the $30 million mark for the fourth-consecutive year! That four-year total of $131 million in cash gifts represents a 19% increase from the previous four years. Those contributions have not only helped us set new records, but have also enabled the young men and women on our beautiful Reynolda campus to excel both competitively and academically.
On that note, it was great that two of our most loyal Demon Deacons, Bob McCreary and Ben Sutton, check in on our team at football practice last week!
It's GO TIME as another exciting year awaits us!
Two Weeks Until Opening Night at Allegacy Stadium!
Just before fall camp began, Coach Dave Clawson again represented Wake Forest with incredible class and wisdom on the ACC Network set with The Huddle crew during ACC Kickoff last month.
We are closing in on an Opening Night sellout for our Aug. 29, 7 p.m. tilt against the Aggies as our staff continues to roll out unique ticket options, like the Bojangles 4-Pack, which includes a $20 gift card per account! This ticket option comes with four tickets on the east side of Allegacy Stadium and one LJVM Coliseum Lot parking pass. Don't worry, if you have already purchased a single game four-pack of tickets for this fall, your account will be automatically credited for the Bojangles extra as a value add for our passionate fans!
Additionally, we recently announced a new exclusive premium seating option atop Deacon Hill as our longtime partner, REVELxp has custom designed two open air suites on Deacon Hill for the 2024 season. Available on an individual game basis, each suite includes room for up to 24 guests, comfortable seating, an HD television, cooling fans and food and beverage packages. Contact Wake Forest Ticket office today to purchase this premium experience for Opening Night at Allegacy Stadium on Thursday, August 29 at 7 p.m. or for any of Wake's seven home games.
Finally, the Demon Deacon ticket office has launched a new initiative empowering fans to raise money for their own local non-profit groups by becoming ambassadors for group ticket sales. This innovative program allows fans to earn funds for their not-for-profit groups, organizations or companies they are affiliated with through sales of Wake Forest group tickets to select football games. The fan-driven group ticket sales initiative, which is known as "WFFans," encourages supporters to leverage support through their networks and enthusiasm for their organization by organizing group outings to Wake Forest football's exciting games inside Allegacy Stadium, while raising important funds for their affiliated organization.
For questions or assistance for any ticketing information, 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.
Winston-Salem Open Serving Up World Class Professional Tennis Starting Saturday
Another sign that football season is upon us is the 14th annual Winston-Salem Open, an ATP World Tour 250 Event held at the Wake Forest Intercollegiate Tennis Center, right behind the east stands of Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium! With world class athletes looking to tune up or earn their way into the US Open, the WSO is a fun event that attracts fans from all across the southeast. If you've never been, check out the center court stadium, great food, beverages and fellowship, you owe it to yourself to give it a try!
Quartet of Deacon Alumni Took Center Stage at 2024 Olympics
All of us in the Wake Forest and Winston-Salem community were bursting with pride as we celebrated four outstanding Wake Foresters (Dinos Mitoglou, Men's Basketball for Greece; Ines Laklalech, Women's Golfer for Morocco; Ivana Raca, Women's Basketball for Serbia; Dearica Hamby, Women's Basketball 3x3 Team for USA) competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics! They joined a long history of Demon Deacons success at the Olympics.
With that, join me in congratulating Dearica and her American teammates on earning a Bronze medal!
Additionally before we move on, I want to congratulate soon-to-be rising sophomore Samantha Heyison as she qualified and will be competing in the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris that begin at the end of August! I can't wait to see our community cheer her on from afar and how that experience will help her as she moves forward in her career at Wake Forest!
Webb Simpson Named U.S. Vice Captain For 2025 Ryder Cup
Speaking of representing your country on the biggest stage, Wake Forest alum Webb Simpson has been chosen as Vice Captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup by captain Keegan Bradley. The seven-time PGA Tour winner and 2012 U.S. Open Champion has represented Team USA six times, including three Ryder Cups (2012, 2014, 2018). Webb, a former ACC Freshman of the Year, helped lead Wake Forest to a third-place NCAA finish in 2005. Did you see his wife (and fellow Wake grad) Dowd serving as his caddy last week at the Wyndham in Greensboro?
Meanwhile at the Haddock House, Coach Jerry Haas recently tabbed Wofford head coach Van Williams to the role of Lyons Family Associate Head Coach. His experience includes working in the ACC and winning an NCAA title as an assistant coach in the Pac-12.
Three Top 10 Picks Highlight Six Demon Deacons Selected in 2024 MLB Draft
While Coach Tom Walter is welcoming in a strong freshmen and transfer class to keep our Demon Deacons baseball program in the national mix, Wake Forest has developed an elite reputation for developing top talent. Highlighted by three top-10 picks for the first time in school history and just the second time in the history of the MLB Draft, six members of Wake Forest baseball were selected in the annual big league draft last month. With that, reigning ACC Pitcher of the Year Chase Burns (second to the Cincinnati Reds) became the highest draft pick in Demon Deacon history!
I was lucky enough to be at Truist Park in Atlanta last week as Parker Dunshee became the 43rd Demon Deacon to make his big-league debut for the Braves!
Remember to lock in your seats for next spring now for a deposit of just $50 to see the stars of tomorrow at The Couch!
Julie Wayne Awarded 2024 Kanter Award for Excellence in Work-Family Research
Also in national news, Julie Wayne, Wake Forest's Darnell Presidential Chair in Principled Leadership, has won the 2024 Rosabeth Moss Kanter Award for Excellence in Work-Family Research. This award, recognizing her pioneering work on the invisible family load, is presented by the Center for Families at Purdue University and the Boston College Center for Work & Family. It highlights her significant contributions to work-life balance, gender, and belonging.
Graylyn Estate & Conference Center Named a National Top Four 'Best Boutique Hotel'
A tip of the Deacon top hat is in order for Wake Forest vice president John Wise and our good friends at Graylyn Estate & Conference Center! This Winston-Salem gem recently landed in the Top 4 of the 'Best Boutique Hotel" category in USA TODAY's Readers' Choice Awards.
Completed in 1932 as the private residence of then RJR president Bowman Gray and his wife Nathalie, Graylyn was eventually donated to Wake Forest University, serving multiple purposes and then restored to its original splendor and transformed into a boutique hotel and conference center in the early 1980's. Graylyn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a member of Historic Hotels of America. Graylyn's Conference Center has been named "Best Conference Center" by Smart Meetings, but my favorite part of Graylyn is the personal and professional welcome I always receive from Allie, Richard, Thad, and the rest of the front door staff!
Wake Forest School of Medicine Awarded $28.2 Million Federal Grant
The Wake Forest School of Medicine has received a $28.2 million NIH grant for its Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) to advance patient care research. This is the third CTSI award for the school, highlighting its role in translational research. We are grateful for Dean Ebony Boulware's transformative leadership benefiting our community and students!
From the Quad Big 3
Here's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs,
- Join me in congratulating President Susan R. Wente on her appointment to the Arnold and Mabel Beckman Foundation Board, which supports advances in chemistry and life sciences.
- Wake Forest men's and women's soccer bonded with the Winston-Salem community at Fan Fest a few weekends ago. Both Coach Da Luz and Coach Bobby Muuss' teams are gearing up for exciting seasons, so secure your tickets now for Spry Stadium! Single game tickets start at $5 for non-conference bleacher seats and $10 for reserve chairbacks; ACC games are $10 and $15, respectively. Order at GoDeacs.com/Tickets or call 336.758.3322.
- Capacity crowds packed Varsity Arena last year for Wake Forest volleyball, so we are providing an opportunity for our fans to reserve one of 28 premium floor seats for all matches! Fans will be able to purchase one of these courtside seats for the season for just $150, either online or by calling the Wake Forest Athletics Ticket Office at (336) 758-3322 ext. 2, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thank you for your continued support of our student-athletes and University community and please continue to send your thoughts, ideas and suggestions to me at wfuad@wfu.edu.
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Vice President & Director of Athletics
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