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From the Quad
11/20/2025 10:32:00 AM | General
Presented by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Happy Thursday Demon Deacon Family!
It's time to buckle up as the Demon Deacon wins are coming so fast that it is hard to take a breath! Following back-to-back football victories over two of our ancient rivals – (I highly encourage you to watch the cinematic recaps of the UVA and UNC games produced by our talented creative team - I bet you can't stop watching!) – I'm braced for a huge Thursday of Wake Forest fun that includes NCAA tennis, NCAA women's soccer and both our basketball teams in action.
First up, Luca Pow and DK Suresh Ekambaram, have earned All-America honors and advanced to the NCAA Tennis Singles Round of 16 in Orlando beginning at 10 a.m.! With that, the doubles team of DK and Andrew Delgado won yesterday and competes in the Round of 16 at 4 p.m. this afternoon. Follow @WakeMTennis on social media for all the latest news and results from these exciting matches! Tonight, our women's soccer team is at Michigan State for a 6 p.m. second-round NCAA Tournament match on ESPN+ as they are battling to advance to face the winner of today's Colorado–Xavier matchup in East Lansing on Sunday.
Here in Winston-Salem, we have Dr. Susan R. Wente's annual Presidential Address at 4 p.m. and then please join me inside Joel Coliseum tonight as Coach Megan Gebbia's undefeated women's basketball team hosts NC Central at 8 p.m. on ACC Network. The Deacs are off to a 4–0 start — their best since 2021–22 — and after Sunday's 1 p.m. home game against WCU they'll head to Puerto Rico for three Thanksgiving week contests.
At 8:30 p.m., I'll be tracking Coach Steve Forbes and our men's basketball team via live stats – which is easy to find in our Wake Forest Athletics App – as we tip off against No. 15 Texas Tech on CBS Sports Network in the Baha Mar Championship. The Deacs will make a quick turn to play either No. 1 Purdue or Memphis tomorrow.
Our Demon Deacons volleyball team, which has won three of its last four matches including last weekend's triumphs at Syracuse and Boston College, will serve it up at Virginia Tech tomorrow and in Charlottesville against Virginia on Sunday on ACC Network Extra. Start your Thanksgiving celebration early next Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Varsity Arena, where admission is free as the Deacs host Duke in the home finale of a season of tremendous progress under first-year head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer.
Finally, both our men's and women's cross country programs will race in the NCAA championship meet in Columbia, Missouri on Saturday morning. The action will be live on ESPNU for the women's race at 10:20 a.m. ET and the men 11:10 a.m. ET. This is the first time since 2000 that both the men's and women's teams will compete at the national meet in the same season as our women's team earned its first NCAA finals berth since 2006 and 12th in program history after an outstanding performance at the Southeast Regional. The men enter off of winning the Regional title led by individual champion Rocky Hanson and are in their sixth-consecutive finals. Follow @WakeTrack on social media to keep up with the Deacs - they move fast!
Now, let's turn to Wake Forest Football's Senior Day and Educator Celebration Day, as we close out the home schedule inside Allegacy Stadium against Delaware!
Senior Day & Educator Celebration Day Highlight Saturday's Home Football Finale Inside Allegacy Stadium
Following that HUGE Big Four win over North Carolina last weekend, another exciting ACC home football season comes to a close on Saturday as we celebrate one of the most meaningful traditions in college athletics, Senior Day. We will honor 69 outstanding students that afternoon — including 30 football players, 19 members of the Spirit of the Old Gold & Black, 18 representatives of our spirit squads, and two student staffers — whose commitment, perseverance and passion have elevated both Wake Forest football and the entire Demon Deacons gameday experience. Their impact has been felt in classrooms, rehearsal halls, weight rooms, practice fields and, most importantly, in the way they have represented our University with class and integrity.
I'm incredibly proud of Coach Jake Dickert, his staff and this team for the way they have continued to build momentum throughout the season. With that, this season has also placed Coach Dickert in elite company within our program's history. His seven victories tie him for the most by any head coach in his inaugural season at Wake Forest, matching the mark set by Bill Dooley in 1987.
At Wake Forest, our distinction has always been — and will continue to be — our transformational approach to relationships and genuine connection. Nowhere was that more evident than the postgame scene after our huge win over the Tar Heels, when Bob McCreary ('61) danced with our players and spoke to them in the locker room.
We had an incredible atmosphere last weekend with a sellout crowd and over 4,000 students in attendance, and this Saturday offers an opportunity to add to that legacy while closing out the home schedule in front of our incredible fans.
We are counting on Deacon Nation to bring the energy early for our Senior Day ceremony and for a meaningful Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Educator Celebration Game. In partnership with Allegacy Federal Credit Union, Proof of the Pudding, Pepsi and Inmar Intelligence, Wake Forest is providing 3,000 sponsored packages — including a game ticket, complimentary stadium meal, parking and a celebratory t-shirt — for WSFCS teachers, staff and their families. This initiative reflects our Pro Humanitate commitment and comes at a particularly important moment as the district navigates significant financial challenges. We are honored to provide these dedicated educators a well-deserved day of appreciation at Allegacy!
As always, we encourage fans to arrive early, enjoy the DEACTOWN Fan Zone presented by Lowes Foods, and be in your seats by 11:30 a.m. to help us properly celebrate these remarkable seniors. This game, which is presented by Mountcastle Insurance, promises to be a special gathering and fun event for the entire community as we close the book on our home season.
Kings of Carolina
Here's a little water-cooler ammunition for Deacon fans in the region: Wake Forest is the only one of six North and South Carolina Power Four programs already bowl-eligible going into Saturday's action. At 7-3, the Deacs lead Duke (5-5), NC State (5-5), Clemson (5-5), North Carolina (4-6), and South Carolina (3-7) in the battle for Carolina supremacy.
Under Coach Jake Dickert's leadership and the Built in the Dark mentality, the Demon Deacons have established a culture of connection, discipline, and execution. Wake Forest did not allow a touchdown in back-to-back ACC wins over No. 12 Virginia and North Carolina, and — combined with our walk-off win over SMU (the now 7-3 Mustangs' only ACC loss) — the Deacs are reasserting our status as the best football program this century in North Carolina.
Make it a Priority! Men's Basketball ACC- SEC Challenge Comes to LJVM on Dec. 2
The ACC-SEC Challenge is right around the corner as in 12 days the Oklahoma Sooners come to Winston-Salem for a marquee men's basketball matchup. That night will be our "Light Up The Joel" game, with our Fan Experience team providing CrowdSync wristbands to every fan to elevate the atmosphere. The ACC is off to a tremendous start in 2025-26, compiling a 66-11 non-conference record so far. The Challenge — and the raucous atmosphere our fans can create — is especially important for national perception and positioning.
Before that showdown, Coach Forbes' squad returns home twice next week — hosting Campbell on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. and Northeastern on Black Friday, Nov. 28 at noon.
Wake Forest Golf Continues to Lead on the World Stage; Den Dunnen Makes LPGA Debut
Another great moment for Demon Deacons golf unfolded last weekend as senior Anne-Sterre den Dunnen made her first LPGA appearance at The ANNIKA—one of the premier events in women's golf. Anne earned her spot as a sponsor exemption following our team's victory at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate in September, and she made the most of the opportunity, finishing in a tie for 56th against one of the strongest professional fields in the world. Anne has already been part of many Wake Forest championships and we are excited to watch her lead the Deacs this spring in a quest for ACC and NCAA titles.
Adding to an already special week for Demon Deacons, alumna Jennifer Kupcho ('19) delivered a fantastic performance of her own with a runner-up finish in the same event. She also recently earned a come-from-behind victory in the season-long Aon Risk Reward Challenge, using an eagle-birdie finish on the 14th hole to secure the $1 million grand prize!
It's clear: Wake Forest golf continues to set the standard nationally and internationally!
Osborne Halverson and Davis Honored with ACC UNITE Award
Wake Forest proudly celebrates Roper Osborne Halverson and Charlie Davis as this year's ACC UNITE Award recipients. Roper, a trailblazer in women's athletics, and Charlie, a men's basketball legend, have each broken barriers while exemplifying Wake Forest's Pro Humanitate spirit both on campus and in the Winston-Salem community. Roper and Charlie represent the very best of Wake Forest—their impact is immeasurable, and it continues to resonate today. We look forward to celebrating this honor at our men's basketball game on Feb. 7 inside the Joel.
Before we move on, we remember the life and impact of Kenneth "Butch" Henry. A true trailblazer, Butch's courage, leadership, and pioneering spirit as one of the first Black student-athletes in the South forever transformed Wake Forest and the landscape of college athletics.
Project Pumpkin Brings Halloween Fun to Winston-Salem Kids
Wake Forest students welcomed hundreds of local schoolchildren to campus for the annual Project Pumpkin fall festival last week at the Benson University Center. This beloved, student-led tradition—dates back to 1989—offers games, trick-or-treating, music, and entertainment for kindergarten through fifth-grade students, while bringing together the University and local community. Beyond the fun, Project Pumpkin supports a great cause: the Wake Forest Children's Defense Fund Freedom School, a free summer enrichment program for Winston-Salem children. This year, organizers aimed to raise $15,000 to support the program.
From the Quad Big 3
Finally, here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
As we close, please join me in giving a tip of the Deacon top hat to our game day event and operations staff, traffic, security and concessions workers! We are grateful for the synchronized effort of more than a thousand dedicated folks from these production partners all season long!
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Vice President & Director of Athletics
Happy Thursday Demon Deacon Family!
It's time to buckle up as the Demon Deacon wins are coming so fast that it is hard to take a breath! Following back-to-back football victories over two of our ancient rivals – (I highly encourage you to watch the cinematic recaps of the UVA and UNC games produced by our talented creative team - I bet you can't stop watching!) – I'm braced for a huge Thursday of Wake Forest fun that includes NCAA tennis, NCAA women's soccer and both our basketball teams in action.
First up, Luca Pow and DK Suresh Ekambaram, have earned All-America honors and advanced to the NCAA Tennis Singles Round of 16 in Orlando beginning at 10 a.m.! With that, the doubles team of DK and Andrew Delgado won yesterday and competes in the Round of 16 at 4 p.m. this afternoon. Follow @WakeMTennis on social media for all the latest news and results from these exciting matches! Tonight, our women's soccer team is at Michigan State for a 6 p.m. second-round NCAA Tournament match on ESPN+ as they are battling to advance to face the winner of today's Colorado–Xavier matchup in East Lansing on Sunday.
Here in Winston-Salem, we have Dr. Susan R. Wente's annual Presidential Address at 4 p.m. and then please join me inside Joel Coliseum tonight as Coach Megan Gebbia's undefeated women's basketball team hosts NC Central at 8 p.m. on ACC Network. The Deacs are off to a 4–0 start — their best since 2021–22 — and after Sunday's 1 p.m. home game against WCU they'll head to Puerto Rico for three Thanksgiving week contests.
At 8:30 p.m., I'll be tracking Coach Steve Forbes and our men's basketball team via live stats – which is easy to find in our Wake Forest Athletics App – as we tip off against No. 15 Texas Tech on CBS Sports Network in the Baha Mar Championship. The Deacs will make a quick turn to play either No. 1 Purdue or Memphis tomorrow.
Our Demon Deacons volleyball team, which has won three of its last four matches including last weekend's triumphs at Syracuse and Boston College, will serve it up at Virginia Tech tomorrow and in Charlottesville against Virginia on Sunday on ACC Network Extra. Start your Thanksgiving celebration early next Wednesday at 3 p.m. in Varsity Arena, where admission is free as the Deacs host Duke in the home finale of a season of tremendous progress under first-year head coach Jeff Hulsmeyer.
Finally, both our men's and women's cross country programs will race in the NCAA championship meet in Columbia, Missouri on Saturday morning. The action will be live on ESPNU for the women's race at 10:20 a.m. ET and the men 11:10 a.m. ET. This is the first time since 2000 that both the men's and women's teams will compete at the national meet in the same season as our women's team earned its first NCAA finals berth since 2006 and 12th in program history after an outstanding performance at the Southeast Regional. The men enter off of winning the Regional title led by individual champion Rocky Hanson and are in their sixth-consecutive finals. Follow @WakeTrack on social media to keep up with the Deacs - they move fast!
Now, let's turn to Wake Forest Football's Senior Day and Educator Celebration Day, as we close out the home schedule inside Allegacy Stadium against Delaware!
Senior Day & Educator Celebration Day Highlight Saturday's Home Football Finale Inside Allegacy Stadium
Following that HUGE Big Four win over North Carolina last weekend, another exciting ACC home football season comes to a close on Saturday as we celebrate one of the most meaningful traditions in college athletics, Senior Day. We will honor 69 outstanding students that afternoon — including 30 football players, 19 members of the Spirit of the Old Gold & Black, 18 representatives of our spirit squads, and two student staffers — whose commitment, perseverance and passion have elevated both Wake Forest football and the entire Demon Deacons gameday experience. Their impact has been felt in classrooms, rehearsal halls, weight rooms, practice fields and, most importantly, in the way they have represented our University with class and integrity.
I'm incredibly proud of Coach Jake Dickert, his staff and this team for the way they have continued to build momentum throughout the season. With that, this season has also placed Coach Dickert in elite company within our program's history. His seven victories tie him for the most by any head coach in his inaugural season at Wake Forest, matching the mark set by Bill Dooley in 1987.
At Wake Forest, our distinction has always been — and will continue to be — our transformational approach to relationships and genuine connection. Nowhere was that more evident than the postgame scene after our huge win over the Tar Heels, when Bob McCreary ('61) danced with our players and spoke to them in the locker room.
We had an incredible atmosphere last weekend with a sellout crowd and over 4,000 students in attendance, and this Saturday offers an opportunity to add to that legacy while closing out the home schedule in front of our incredible fans.
We are counting on Deacon Nation to bring the energy early for our Senior Day ceremony and for a meaningful Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools Educator Celebration Game. In partnership with Allegacy Federal Credit Union, Proof of the Pudding, Pepsi and Inmar Intelligence, Wake Forest is providing 3,000 sponsored packages — including a game ticket, complimentary stadium meal, parking and a celebratory t-shirt — for WSFCS teachers, staff and their families. This initiative reflects our Pro Humanitate commitment and comes at a particularly important moment as the district navigates significant financial challenges. We are honored to provide these dedicated educators a well-deserved day of appreciation at Allegacy!
As always, we encourage fans to arrive early, enjoy the DEACTOWN Fan Zone presented by Lowes Foods, and be in your seats by 11:30 a.m. to help us properly celebrate these remarkable seniors. This game, which is presented by Mountcastle Insurance, promises to be a special gathering and fun event for the entire community as we close the book on our home season.
Kings of Carolina
Here's a little water-cooler ammunition for Deacon fans in the region: Wake Forest is the only one of six North and South Carolina Power Four programs already bowl-eligible going into Saturday's action. At 7-3, the Deacs lead Duke (5-5), NC State (5-5), Clemson (5-5), North Carolina (4-6), and South Carolina (3-7) in the battle for Carolina supremacy.
Under Coach Jake Dickert's leadership and the Built in the Dark mentality, the Demon Deacons have established a culture of connection, discipline, and execution. Wake Forest did not allow a touchdown in back-to-back ACC wins over No. 12 Virginia and North Carolina, and — combined with our walk-off win over SMU (the now 7-3 Mustangs' only ACC loss) — the Deacs are reasserting our status as the best football program this century in North Carolina.
Make it a Priority! Men's Basketball ACC- SEC Challenge Comes to LJVM on Dec. 2
The ACC-SEC Challenge is right around the corner as in 12 days the Oklahoma Sooners come to Winston-Salem for a marquee men's basketball matchup. That night will be our "Light Up The Joel" game, with our Fan Experience team providing CrowdSync wristbands to every fan to elevate the atmosphere. The ACC is off to a tremendous start in 2025-26, compiling a 66-11 non-conference record so far. The Challenge — and the raucous atmosphere our fans can create — is especially important for national perception and positioning.
Before that showdown, Coach Forbes' squad returns home twice next week — hosting Campbell on Tuesday, Nov. 25 at 7 p.m. and Northeastern on Black Friday, Nov. 28 at noon.
Wake Forest Golf Continues to Lead on the World Stage; Den Dunnen Makes LPGA Debut
Another great moment for Demon Deacons golf unfolded last weekend as senior Anne-Sterre den Dunnen made her first LPGA appearance at The ANNIKA—one of the premier events in women's golf. Anne earned her spot as a sponsor exemption following our team's victory at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate in September, and she made the most of the opportunity, finishing in a tie for 56th against one of the strongest professional fields in the world. Anne has already been part of many Wake Forest championships and we are excited to watch her lead the Deacs this spring in a quest for ACC and NCAA titles.
Adding to an already special week for Demon Deacons, alumna Jennifer Kupcho ('19) delivered a fantastic performance of her own with a runner-up finish in the same event. She also recently earned a come-from-behind victory in the season-long Aon Risk Reward Challenge, using an eagle-birdie finish on the 14th hole to secure the $1 million grand prize!
It's clear: Wake Forest golf continues to set the standard nationally and internationally!
Osborne Halverson and Davis Honored with ACC UNITE Award
Wake Forest proudly celebrates Roper Osborne Halverson and Charlie Davis as this year's ACC UNITE Award recipients. Roper, a trailblazer in women's athletics, and Charlie, a men's basketball legend, have each broken barriers while exemplifying Wake Forest's Pro Humanitate spirit both on campus and in the Winston-Salem community. Roper and Charlie represent the very best of Wake Forest—their impact is immeasurable, and it continues to resonate today. We look forward to celebrating this honor at our men's basketball game on Feb. 7 inside the Joel.
Before we move on, we remember the life and impact of Kenneth "Butch" Henry. A true trailblazer, Butch's courage, leadership, and pioneering spirit as one of the first Black student-athletes in the South forever transformed Wake Forest and the landscape of college athletics.
Project Pumpkin Brings Halloween Fun to Winston-Salem Kids
Wake Forest students welcomed hundreds of local schoolchildren to campus for the annual Project Pumpkin fall festival last week at the Benson University Center. This beloved, student-led tradition—dates back to 1989—offers games, trick-or-treating, music, and entertainment for kindergarten through fifth-grade students, while bringing together the University and local community. Beyond the fun, Project Pumpkin supports a great cause: the Wake Forest Children's Defense Fund Freedom School, a free summer enrichment program for Winston-Salem children. This year, organizers aimed to raise $15,000 to support the program.
From the Quad Big 3
Finally, here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
- Black Friday is Demon Deacon Friday! Get your family off the couch, out of the house, and over to Joel Coliseum on Nov. 28 at noon as the Deacs take on Northeastern in a Black Friday matinee special. The expanded Deacon Shop in the Joel atrium will be fully stocked with fan favorites — including the all-new tie-dye collection launching next week — and don't forget that tickets to Wake Forest events make great stocking stuffers! Sign up for emails through the official Wake Forest Athletics store at WakeForestShop.com for 10 percent off and all the latest gear.
- Wake Forest baseball will take on Clemson at Truist Field in Charlotte on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, as part of the multi-year Wake Charlotte Series. Wake Forest represents Charlotte's largest ACC academic presence, and we love bringing more big-time Demon Deacons action to the Queen City. We've had some incredible games with the Tigers over the last several years, and since we don't have a 2026 regular season series, I appreciate the partnership with Clemson Athletics Director Graham Neff to create this matchup.
- Building momentum toward an exciting 2026 football season, now is the perfect time to lock in your seats at Allegacy Stadium. Fans can secure the new $99 Built in the Dark season ticket plan — available only until Wake Forest's bowl game — or place a $50 season ticket deposit to guarantee priority access when sales open in January. Act now to claim exclusive perks, including a Built in the Dark t-shirt or a Jake Dickert bobblehead, while supplies last.
As we close, please join me in giving a tip of the Deacon top hat to our game day event and operations staff, traffic, security and concessions workers! We are grateful for the synchronized effort of more than a thousand dedicated folks from these production partners all season long!
- Legends Global Wake Forest
- BeatGig
- Bee-Newtiful Cleaning
- The Budd Group
- Carolina Balloons
- City of Winston-Salem Fairgrounds
- Comer Sanitary Services, Inc.
- Dash City Gaming
- Deacon Shop by Follett
- Forsyth County Emergency Medical Services
- Forsyth County Sheriff's Office
- Golden Event Solutions
- Guilford County Sheriff's Office
- Harvest Table Culinary Group
- Holiday Ice
- Sunway Charters
- Learfield
- Magic Castle Entertainment
- McTron Inc.
- Piedmont Disposal
- Proof of the Pudding
- Pyro Shows East Coast
- Random Task Management
- Rhino Sport and Entertainment Services
- REVELXP
- Special Event Services
- Triad Industrial
- Winston-Salem Department of Transportation
- Winston-Salem Fire Department
- Winston-Salem Police Department
- Zekos 2 Go
- Wake Forest Facilities, Real Estate & Planning
- Deacon Onecard Office
- Wake Forest Facilities and Campus Services
- Wake Forest University Marketing and Communications
- Wake Forest Office of Student Engagement
- Wake Forest Police Dept. and Emergency Management
- Wake Forest University Advancement
- Wake Line
- Allegacy Federal Credit Union
- Truist
- Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
- Pepsi
- Kelly Office Solutions
- Lowes Foods
- Parrish Tire Company
- NC Education Lottery
- Mountcastle Insurance
- Strickland Brothers 10 Minute Oil Change
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Vice President & Director of Athletics
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