Wake Forest Athletics
.jpg&height=300&type=webp)
From The Quad
8/20/2026 3:50:00 PM | General
Presented by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
IT'S ON DEMON DEACON NATION!
Campus is buzzing as we welcome the largest, most academically accomplished, and highly selective class in Wake Forest history and we're having a blast interacting with new students and their families as they roll into Winston-Salem! Wake's special "move-in" tradition of everyone from President Rodriguez to university staff members, coaches and student-athletes turning out to help arriving families unload their cars and tote it all up to each student's new room is alive and well!
My week started with a big Monday, including appearing on the ACC Network road show, speaking to the dynamic Deacon Camp pre-orientation group from the Class of 2030 in Fox Family Commons, and President Rodriguez visiting our inaugural athletics all staff meeting of the year. Monday night we hosted Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist president Dr. Craig Greven, our athletics sports medicine staff, team physicians and orthopedic surgeons in the Shah Club at Joel Coliseum. This annual event serves to honor our caregivers who work tirelessly to take care of Deacon student-athletes as well as a moment to emphasize Wake Forest's commitment to unchallenged authority of our medical professionals for medical decisions! Through our incredible partnership with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist – Wake Forest Athletics' official healthcare provider – and the Wake Forest School of Medicine, the academic core of the Advocate Health system, Demon Deacon student-athletes have access to world-class care.
Tonight we have a big men's and women's soccer doubleheader at Spry with Coach Tony da Luz's No. 11 Deacs taking on Iowa at 5 p.m., followed by Coach Bobby Muuss' squad against San Francisco at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free for all Wake Forest students, faculty, and staff – so come out to Spry and help create an electric home-field advantage! Women's soccer has already scored two big wins over SEC foes to kick off the 2026 campaign beginning with a 2-0 victory over No. 16 LSU and defeating South Carolina 3-0 on Sunday.
Meanwhile, we are just two weeks away from Opening Night at Allegacy Financial Stadium, and Demon Deacon Nation is already showing up. All McCreary Tower, Field Suites, and Hill Suites are officially sold out for Sept. 3, while general admission seating on Deacon Hill is sold out for the season! But there's still time to grab a 4-Pack and bring your family, friends, or coworkers to the season opener. For just $76, the package includes four tickets, a parking pass, and a $20 concession credit – the perfect way to get your crew to Winston-Salem for the start of Year Two of the Jake Dickert Era. Let's pack the stadium, bring the noise, and make Opening Night one to remember!
Toronto 2027 Update: SOTOG&B and Wake Cheer Representing Up North This Weekend
This weekend, a group of Wake Forest staff, along with 22 members of the Wake Forest Spirit Squads and the Spirit of the Old Gold and Black, head north to Toronto for site visits and prep work for Wake Forest football's August 28, 2027 season opener with Syracuse at BMO Field – the first NCAA football game ever played at the venue. In addition to performing at the Canadian National Exhibition and Saturday night's Toronto Argonauts Canadian Football League game – our spirited students will be exploring from Yonge Street to the waterfront, building Demon Deacon visibility in the fourth largest city in North America, while also gathering local knowledge to share with fellow Wake students who will be making the trip next year. I had a fun visit with the group on Tuesday and look forward to seeing them in action on Saturday. Demon Deacon fans and alums in Ontario are all invited to join the delegation for a free pregame reception at Hotel X, Toronto this Saturday night at 5 p.m.
Demon Deacon Golfers on Grand Stage as Michael Brennan Wins the Wyndham!
Wake Forest golf alums are hot, with three Demon Deacons qualifying and advancing in the PGA's FedEx Cup Playoffs! Cameron Young ('19; 3rd in standings), Alex Fitzpatrick ('22; 20th in standings) and Michael Brennan ('24; 47th in standings) continue their play in the BMW Championship beginning today after advancing through last week's FedEx St. Jude Championship! Michael surprised us with a visit in the office Monday before his big win. Being at Sedgefield Country Club, just down the road in Greensboro, with a horde of Deacon fans to watch Michael became the fifth Deac to claim the annual tournament was awesome. The legendary Jim Nantz appropriately informed the national audience that both Michael and 2025 Wyndham champ, Cameron, are proud Wake Economics graduates!
Field Hockey and Volleyball Ready to Go
Coach Jennifer Averill and the Demon Deacons have an exciting schedule starting with a highly anticipated home opener against Iowa next Friday at Kentner Stadium. Preseason All-ACC selections Mia Montag and Mia Schoenbeck will lead Wake Forest this season, though Schoenbeck will miss the opening competitions while representing Team USA at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup. She made an immediate impact just earlier this week, scoring the game-winning goal against Scotland! Be sure to visit Kentner this fall and follow Coach Averill's Deacs as they look to extend their ACC home winning streak!
Coach Jeff Hulsmeyer and Wake Forest volleyball, led by team captains Sanaa Williams, Patrycja Lagida, and Becca Bellows, are ready to build on a breakout 2025 campaign that included three Big Four victories. They'll make their Varsity Arena debut as part of Alumni Weekend festivities on Sept. 4 as they host Davidson, UCF and Georgetown!
Allegacy Financial Stadium Branding Updates Unveiled, New Video and Sound Ready Too!
Flow Lexus Club in McCreary Tower was the scene for a fun celebration this past Saturday morning with Allegacy Financial CEO Nathanael Tarwasokono, Wake Forest President Peter Rodriguez, Pepsi representatives, International Leadership Circle donors, suite holders and community leaders. Coach Jake Dickert fired up the crowd before heading down to the field to lead the Demon Deacon scrimmage. The new Allegacy Financial Stadium logo high on McCreary Tower and interior bowl branding really pop – befitting our tremendous partnership. And, fans will love the brand new state-of-the-art video screen on the Bob McCreary Video Board Honoring the Class of 1961! I'm especially excited for our first major speaker system overhaul in nearly 20 years which will ensure clearer and more consistent sound distribution throughout Allegacy Financial Stadium.
And – hot off the wire is the announcement of Wake Forest being selected for Progressive Insurance's national sideline logo deal! Wake Forest University and its fanbase bring value to our partners – and our partners are in turn helping elevate the Demon Deacon brand nationally, while also providing resources for NIL, upgrades benefiting our fans, and resources for our head coaches to deliver a World Class Student-Athlete Experience.
The Graylyn Estate named No. 1 Best Boutique Hotel in the nation by USA TODAY!
After rising from No. 2 a year ago, Graylyn was the only North Carolina hotel recognized on this year's USA Today Best Boutique Hotel list – recognizing the exceptional hospitality and history it brings to Wake Forest and Winston-Salem. As you all know, Graylyn also proudly served as the home base for the German Men's National Team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Congratulations to John Wise, Vice President for Hospitality and Auxiliary Services, and the entire Graylyn team on this tremendous and well-deserved accomplishment!
Wake Forest Women's Golf Sends FOUR To The U.S. Women's Amateur, Epson Update on Kuehn
Earlier this month, four women's golf student-athletes: Sarah Lydic, Chloe Kovelesky, Macy Pate and Morgan Ketchum – represented the Old Gold & Black at the 126th U.S. Women's Amateur Championship at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee. Nearly 1,400 players from across the country attempted to qualify for the event – with Wake Forest being one of only two university programs with four golfers in the 156-player field. Congrats to Macy Pate on her leading performance with these talented student-athletes for competing on one of golf's biggest stages!
On the same weekend – just up US-129 in Alcoa, Tennessee, Rachel Kuehn ('23,'24) narrowly missed her first professional win, falling in a playoff to finish 2nd at the Epson Tour's Smoky Mountain Championship. Currently 9th in the Epson standings and battling for a LPGA tour card, Rachel is on the course today in the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic in Pendleton, Oregon.
The Winston-Salem Open is Back for its Milestone 15th Edition
From August 22-29, the Wake Forest Tennis Center again welcomes world-class professional tennis and fans from across the region for one of only three ATP 250 events in the United States. We are grateful for Don Flow and all the leaders of The Winston-Salem Open, which continues to showcase Triad hospitality and bring thousands of visitors, energy, and a global spotlight to Wake Forest's Sports & Entertainment District. Follow the bracket here and we'll look forward to seeing you at the courts!
President Rodriguez Names Dr. Norma Montague as Interim Dean of the School of Business
President Rodriguez is already racking up wins in his first few months on the job, including his wise selection of Dr. Norma Montague, Wake Forest's new interim dean of the School of Business. A highly respected scholar and award-winning educator, Dean Montague brings deep experience and a strong commitment to innovation and academic excellence. I had a great visit with Dean Montague in beautiful Farrell Hall last Friday morning. Wake Business and Athletics have a long history of collaboration, including a popular NIL class launched in 2025 and our sports business analytics collaboration among other initiatives. Great choice, Mr. President!
Update: Protect College Sports Act
The Protect College Sports Act, a bill that would help bring stability to the college athletics enterprise, has come out of committee but has not yet received unanimous consent in the U.S. Senate to proceed to a vote. The next step, once Congress returns from its August recess, is for a cloture vote (requiring 60 votes) so that it can be voted on by the Senate. We appreciate the bill's primary sponsors, Senators Cruz and Cantwell and continue to support its passage. Stay tuned for more updates, and for readers who want the best play-by-play of the action, I recommend following Yahoo's Ross Dellenger's X social feed.
Amidst the Storm, The College Sports Commission Gains Traction
Meanwhile, the nascent College Sports Commission (CSC) has now cleared more than 34,000 third-party NIL deals through the NIL Go clearinghouse since launching last summer. CEO Bryan Seeley and his team are ensuring that each agreement aligns with the terms of the settlement, while also resolving 41% of the deals submitted within 24 hours. Earlier this summer, the CSC streamlined a new approval process for review of small NIL deals. If a student-athlete's total third-party NIL deals at Wake Forest are under $50,000 for the academic year, individual deals of $15,000 or less can be now approved without a market value review, but must still be reviewed in NIL Go to demonstrate they support a valid business purpose as defined by the CSC. The CSC has now approved over 140 deals for Wake student-athletes since its launch. If you have questions or are interested in doing an NIL deal with a Wake Forest student-athlete, please contact Reigan Lines – Assistant AD, Licensing & NIL Strategies at linesr@wfu.edu.
Deacs Lead at ACC Unity Tour
I'm incredibly proud of student-athletes – Travis Smith Jr. of men's soccer, Madisyn Jordan of women's basketball and Aubrey Nisbet of women's tennis – for representing Wake Forest at this summer's ACC Unity Tour in Washington, D.C. Opportunities like the Unity Tour are an important part of a World-Class Student-Athlete Experience, helping our Deacs grow as competitors, students, and leaders.
Deacs Deliver - One Last Look at Another Memorable Year of Success
While we are full speed into a new year, I'd be remiss if I didn't bring to your attention one more time this excellent recap of the 2025-26 Wake Forest Athletics year produced by our crack communications staff. Along with 2025 ACC Field Hockey Coach of the Year Jennifer Averill, Coach Tony Bresky earned ACC Coach of the Year honors after leading men's tennis to Wake Forest's 60th ACC Championship and a third consecutive NCAA semifinal appearance. In his inaugural season in Winston-Salem, Coach Jake Dickert guided Wake football to just the fourth nine-win campaign in program history, capped by a Duke's Mayo Bowl victory over Mississippi State that moved the Deacs to 3-0 in recent bowls against SEC opponents. And under Coach John Hayes' leadership, Rocky Hansen produced one of the most remarkable seasons in Wake Forest history – finishing as the NCAA runner-up in cross country and in the men's 5,000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Let's go have another big year!
From the Quad Big 3
Finally, here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Vice President & Director of Athletics
Wake Forest University
IT'S ON DEMON DEACON NATION!
Campus is buzzing as we welcome the largest, most academically accomplished, and highly selective class in Wake Forest history and we're having a blast interacting with new students and their families as they roll into Winston-Salem! Wake's special "move-in" tradition of everyone from President Rodriguez to university staff members, coaches and student-athletes turning out to help arriving families unload their cars and tote it all up to each student's new room is alive and well!
My week started with a big Monday, including appearing on the ACC Network road show, speaking to the dynamic Deacon Camp pre-orientation group from the Class of 2030 in Fox Family Commons, and President Rodriguez visiting our inaugural athletics all staff meeting of the year. Monday night we hosted Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist president Dr. Craig Greven, our athletics sports medicine staff, team physicians and orthopedic surgeons in the Shah Club at Joel Coliseum. This annual event serves to honor our caregivers who work tirelessly to take care of Deacon student-athletes as well as a moment to emphasize Wake Forest's commitment to unchallenged authority of our medical professionals for medical decisions! Through our incredible partnership with Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist – Wake Forest Athletics' official healthcare provider – and the Wake Forest School of Medicine, the academic core of the Advocate Health system, Demon Deacon student-athletes have access to world-class care.
Tonight we have a big men's and women's soccer doubleheader at Spry with Coach Tony da Luz's No. 11 Deacs taking on Iowa at 5 p.m., followed by Coach Bobby Muuss' squad against San Francisco at 7:30 p.m. Admission is free for all Wake Forest students, faculty, and staff – so come out to Spry and help create an electric home-field advantage! Women's soccer has already scored two big wins over SEC foes to kick off the 2026 campaign beginning with a 2-0 victory over No. 16 LSU and defeating South Carolina 3-0 on Sunday.
Meanwhile, we are just two weeks away from Opening Night at Allegacy Financial Stadium, and Demon Deacon Nation is already showing up. All McCreary Tower, Field Suites, and Hill Suites are officially sold out for Sept. 3, while general admission seating on Deacon Hill is sold out for the season! But there's still time to grab a 4-Pack and bring your family, friends, or coworkers to the season opener. For just $76, the package includes four tickets, a parking pass, and a $20 concession credit – the perfect way to get your crew to Winston-Salem for the start of Year Two of the Jake Dickert Era. Let's pack the stadium, bring the noise, and make Opening Night one to remember!
Toronto 2027 Update: SOTOG&B and Wake Cheer Representing Up North This Weekend
This weekend, a group of Wake Forest staff, along with 22 members of the Wake Forest Spirit Squads and the Spirit of the Old Gold and Black, head north to Toronto for site visits and prep work for Wake Forest football's August 28, 2027 season opener with Syracuse at BMO Field – the first NCAA football game ever played at the venue. In addition to performing at the Canadian National Exhibition and Saturday night's Toronto Argonauts Canadian Football League game – our spirited students will be exploring from Yonge Street to the waterfront, building Demon Deacon visibility in the fourth largest city in North America, while also gathering local knowledge to share with fellow Wake students who will be making the trip next year. I had a fun visit with the group on Tuesday and look forward to seeing them in action on Saturday. Demon Deacon fans and alums in Ontario are all invited to join the delegation for a free pregame reception at Hotel X, Toronto this Saturday night at 5 p.m.
Demon Deacon Golfers on Grand Stage as Michael Brennan Wins the Wyndham!
Wake Forest golf alums are hot, with three Demon Deacons qualifying and advancing in the PGA's FedEx Cup Playoffs! Cameron Young ('19; 3rd in standings), Alex Fitzpatrick ('22; 20th in standings) and Michael Brennan ('24; 47th in standings) continue their play in the BMW Championship beginning today after advancing through last week's FedEx St. Jude Championship! Michael surprised us with a visit in the office Monday before his big win. Being at Sedgefield Country Club, just down the road in Greensboro, with a horde of Deacon fans to watch Michael became the fifth Deac to claim the annual tournament was awesome. The legendary Jim Nantz appropriately informed the national audience that both Michael and 2025 Wyndham champ, Cameron, are proud Wake Economics graduates!
Field Hockey and Volleyball Ready to Go
Coach Jennifer Averill and the Demon Deacons have an exciting schedule starting with a highly anticipated home opener against Iowa next Friday at Kentner Stadium. Preseason All-ACC selections Mia Montag and Mia Schoenbeck will lead Wake Forest this season, though Schoenbeck will miss the opening competitions while representing Team USA at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup. She made an immediate impact just earlier this week, scoring the game-winning goal against Scotland! Be sure to visit Kentner this fall and follow Coach Averill's Deacs as they look to extend their ACC home winning streak!
Coach Jeff Hulsmeyer and Wake Forest volleyball, led by team captains Sanaa Williams, Patrycja Lagida, and Becca Bellows, are ready to build on a breakout 2025 campaign that included three Big Four victories. They'll make their Varsity Arena debut as part of Alumni Weekend festivities on Sept. 4 as they host Davidson, UCF and Georgetown!
Allegacy Financial Stadium Branding Updates Unveiled, New Video and Sound Ready Too!
Flow Lexus Club in McCreary Tower was the scene for a fun celebration this past Saturday morning with Allegacy Financial CEO Nathanael Tarwasokono, Wake Forest President Peter Rodriguez, Pepsi representatives, International Leadership Circle donors, suite holders and community leaders. Coach Jake Dickert fired up the crowd before heading down to the field to lead the Demon Deacon scrimmage. The new Allegacy Financial Stadium logo high on McCreary Tower and interior bowl branding really pop – befitting our tremendous partnership. And, fans will love the brand new state-of-the-art video screen on the Bob McCreary Video Board Honoring the Class of 1961! I'm especially excited for our first major speaker system overhaul in nearly 20 years which will ensure clearer and more consistent sound distribution throughout Allegacy Financial Stadium.
And – hot off the wire is the announcement of Wake Forest being selected for Progressive Insurance's national sideline logo deal! Wake Forest University and its fanbase bring value to our partners – and our partners are in turn helping elevate the Demon Deacon brand nationally, while also providing resources for NIL, upgrades benefiting our fans, and resources for our head coaches to deliver a World Class Student-Athlete Experience.
The Graylyn Estate named No. 1 Best Boutique Hotel in the nation by USA TODAY!
After rising from No. 2 a year ago, Graylyn was the only North Carolina hotel recognized on this year's USA Today Best Boutique Hotel list – recognizing the exceptional hospitality and history it brings to Wake Forest and Winston-Salem. As you all know, Graylyn also proudly served as the home base for the German Men's National Team during the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Congratulations to John Wise, Vice President for Hospitality and Auxiliary Services, and the entire Graylyn team on this tremendous and well-deserved accomplishment!
Wake Forest Women's Golf Sends FOUR To The U.S. Women's Amateur, Epson Update on Kuehn
Earlier this month, four women's golf student-athletes: Sarah Lydic, Chloe Kovelesky, Macy Pate and Morgan Ketchum – represented the Old Gold & Black at the 126th U.S. Women's Amateur Championship at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee. Nearly 1,400 players from across the country attempted to qualify for the event – with Wake Forest being one of only two university programs with four golfers in the 156-player field. Congrats to Macy Pate on her leading performance with these talented student-athletes for competing on one of golf's biggest stages!
On the same weekend – just up US-129 in Alcoa, Tennessee, Rachel Kuehn ('23,'24) narrowly missed her first professional win, falling in a playoff to finish 2nd at the Epson Tour's Smoky Mountain Championship. Currently 9th in the Epson standings and battling for a LPGA tour card, Rachel is on the course today in the Wildhorse Ladies Golf Classic in Pendleton, Oregon.
The Winston-Salem Open is Back for its Milestone 15th Edition
From August 22-29, the Wake Forest Tennis Center again welcomes world-class professional tennis and fans from across the region for one of only three ATP 250 events in the United States. We are grateful for Don Flow and all the leaders of The Winston-Salem Open, which continues to showcase Triad hospitality and bring thousands of visitors, energy, and a global spotlight to Wake Forest's Sports & Entertainment District. Follow the bracket here and we'll look forward to seeing you at the courts!
President Rodriguez Names Dr. Norma Montague as Interim Dean of the School of Business
President Rodriguez is already racking up wins in his first few months on the job, including his wise selection of Dr. Norma Montague, Wake Forest's new interim dean of the School of Business. A highly respected scholar and award-winning educator, Dean Montague brings deep experience and a strong commitment to innovation and academic excellence. I had a great visit with Dean Montague in beautiful Farrell Hall last Friday morning. Wake Business and Athletics have a long history of collaboration, including a popular NIL class launched in 2025 and our sports business analytics collaboration among other initiatives. Great choice, Mr. President!
Update: Protect College Sports Act
The Protect College Sports Act, a bill that would help bring stability to the college athletics enterprise, has come out of committee but has not yet received unanimous consent in the U.S. Senate to proceed to a vote. The next step, once Congress returns from its August recess, is for a cloture vote (requiring 60 votes) so that it can be voted on by the Senate. We appreciate the bill's primary sponsors, Senators Cruz and Cantwell and continue to support its passage. Stay tuned for more updates, and for readers who want the best play-by-play of the action, I recommend following Yahoo's Ross Dellenger's X social feed.
Amidst the Storm, The College Sports Commission Gains Traction
Meanwhile, the nascent College Sports Commission (CSC) has now cleared more than 34,000 third-party NIL deals through the NIL Go clearinghouse since launching last summer. CEO Bryan Seeley and his team are ensuring that each agreement aligns with the terms of the settlement, while also resolving 41% of the deals submitted within 24 hours. Earlier this summer, the CSC streamlined a new approval process for review of small NIL deals. If a student-athlete's total third-party NIL deals at Wake Forest are under $50,000 for the academic year, individual deals of $15,000 or less can be now approved without a market value review, but must still be reviewed in NIL Go to demonstrate they support a valid business purpose as defined by the CSC. The CSC has now approved over 140 deals for Wake student-athletes since its launch. If you have questions or are interested in doing an NIL deal with a Wake Forest student-athlete, please contact Reigan Lines – Assistant AD, Licensing & NIL Strategies at linesr@wfu.edu.
Deacs Lead at ACC Unity Tour
I'm incredibly proud of student-athletes – Travis Smith Jr. of men's soccer, Madisyn Jordan of women's basketball and Aubrey Nisbet of women's tennis – for representing Wake Forest at this summer's ACC Unity Tour in Washington, D.C. Opportunities like the Unity Tour are an important part of a World-Class Student-Athlete Experience, helping our Deacs grow as competitors, students, and leaders.
Deacs Deliver - One Last Look at Another Memorable Year of Success
While we are full speed into a new year, I'd be remiss if I didn't bring to your attention one more time this excellent recap of the 2025-26 Wake Forest Athletics year produced by our crack communications staff. Along with 2025 ACC Field Hockey Coach of the Year Jennifer Averill, Coach Tony Bresky earned ACC Coach of the Year honors after leading men's tennis to Wake Forest's 60th ACC Championship and a third consecutive NCAA semifinal appearance. In his inaugural season in Winston-Salem, Coach Jake Dickert guided Wake football to just the fourth nine-win campaign in program history, capped by a Duke's Mayo Bowl victory over Mississippi State that moved the Deacs to 3-0 in recent bowls against SEC opponents. And under Coach John Hayes' leadership, Rocky Hansen produced one of the most remarkable seasons in Wake Forest history – finishing as the NCAA runner-up in cross country and in the men's 5,000 meters at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Let's go have another big year!
From the Quad Big 3
Finally, here are today's Big 3 ways to help the Deacs:
- Deacon Nation is invited to join us at 9 p.m. on September 2 for our FREE annual pre-Opening Night WAKE THE DEMONS pep rally on the Quad! Come ready to jam with the Class of 2030, the Spirit of the Old Gold and Black, spirit squads and student-athletes, hear from Head Coach Jake Dickert and welcome President Rodriguez before we light up the night with fireworks and officially WAKE THE DEMONS!
- The Coach Jake Dickert Show Returns Tuesday, Sept. 1! Mark your calendars as the Coach Jake Dickert Show is back, Tuesday, Sept. 1 at Miller's on Robinhood – the first of 12 opportunities to connect in-person with Coach Dickert and our football student-athletes. We have a new 6 p.m. start this fall – so be sure to arrive early, grab a Deacon Ale and listen to Coach and Voice of the Demon Deacons Stan Cotten talk ball!
- Welcome Coach Hickey! Please join me in welcoming Rachel Hickey to Coach Hayes' track & field coaching staff. Rachel brings recruiting expertise and impressive credentials including a silver medal for Team USA at the Under-20 Pan Am Championships!
Go Deacs!
John Currie
Vice President & Director of Athletics
Wake Forest University
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Golf
Wednesday, August 19
Tuesday, August 18
Tuesday, August 18
Tuesday, August 18