TOGETHER WE STAND
social justice image collage

S.A.A.C. Executive Board Statement on What Saying "Black Lives Matter" Means to Us

As student-athletes of Wake Forest University we stand with the Black community. Racial injustices experienced by the Black community, not just recently but for centuries, have spurred us to action. When we say Black Lives Matter, we are acknowledging generations of racial injustice and embracing our differences across race, ethnicity and background. In spite of our differences, we are all Wake Forest student-athletes, and we are stronger together. Our motto, Pro Humanitate (For Humanity), is a call to action for each of us to better the lives of others—without exception. Until individuals unaffected by racial injustice cry out against it as passionately as those that bear its weight everyday, our work is not done. 


We have a responsibility to live up to and honor the legacy of those Demon Deacons leaders and trailblazers that came before us by doing all that we can to help those who come after us. Wake Forest student-athletes are Pro Humanitate and we want to ensure we are using the powerful platform that has been entrusted to us by Wake Forest University.

In keeping with Wake Forest University's commitment to lead, educate and inspire, Demon Deacon student-athletes and teams will be bringing awareness to issues of social injustice and racial oppression through a variety of messages, wearables and themes during the upcoming competitive seasons, including the Atlantic Coast Conference's new UNITY symbol which is a visual representation of solidarity among all 15 member institutions.
 
"Wake Forest student-athletes are smart, curious and caring about the world and issues beyond the locker room, playing courts and fields," Director of Athletics John Currie said. "Since my arrival in the spring of 2019, I have appreciated the initiative of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and the engagement of the leaders of each of our 18 sports in raising awareness of the impact of prejudice and speaking out, especially against anti-Black violence. I'm impressed with the unique and creative ways our teams are displaying their commitment to equality and working to build a stronger community."

The athletic department as a whole and each individual program have been working hard to make an impact. Take a look:
 
Wake Forest Athletics

Voter Registration
Actionable change comes through voting. Wake Forest teamed up with the Forsyth County Board of Elections for a voter registration drive. As of Oct. 8, 99% of Deacon student-athletes are now registered to vote.
 

Student-athletes and staff are encouraged to learn about the history which brought us here, such as this speech from Martin Luther King Jr.

The Athletic Department created its own RIDE (Realizing Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity) Committee, as has the University.


While the tragic killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor thrust the issue of social injustice back into the forefront of our minds, the issue started much longer ago. Wake Forest recognized this and invited NBA player Kyle Korver to campus to speak about his article regarding white privilege. He met with the greater campus community, as well as a smaller group of student-athletes about how to bring about change.
 

Jalen Johnson and Anaia Hoard are using their artistic ability to help create change in the Wake Forest community.



Director of Athletics John Currie met with Forsyth County Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough for an episode of "Off the Cuffs"
 
Gallery: (10-8-2020) Together We Stand
Football
The Wake Forest football program has been wearing special helmet decals each week, and also running onto the field with a Black Lives Matter flag.
 
The Deacs created a message surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement.
 
Men's Basketball
Members of the Wake Forest men's basketball team spoke out against racial injustice. Jalen Johnson has designed warm-up shirts the team will be wearing this season.
Women's Basketball
In the first practice back on campus, women's basketball head coach Jen Hoover wore a shirt with the word equality on the front. The team has also had a series of speakers throughout the offseason to foster off the court discussions.
Women's basketball also put out a statement, speaking out about racial injustice with each member of the team wearing shirts designed by Anaia Hoard which will be worn in warm-ups this season.
Men's Soccer
The men's soccer program created their own statement, "Different But United." They will wear Black Lives Matter armbands, and also wore uniforms with Breonna Taylor's name during the game at Louisville, the city where she was killed.
Women's Soccer
Together We Stand
Tony da Luz, head coach of the women's soccer program, wears a BLM hat during games. The teams share a moment of silence to protest injustices before games.
Volleyball
The volleyball program has also created special warm-up shirts with messages of unity and Black Lives Matter. 
Field Hockey
Together We Stand
Members of the field hockey program are wearing Black Lives Matter masks and also sharing the Unity logo inside Kentner Stadium.
Athletics Staff

Wake Forest Athletics RIDE Committee Statement (“Realizing Inclusion, Diversity and Equity”) 

Mission: To promote racial, gender and sexual equity in WFU Athletics through education, accountability, partnerships, engagement and advocacy. 

Core Values:

INTEGRITY

  • Create meaningful, lasting change in WFU Athletics culture by improving policies, practices, and attitudes on racial, gender and sexual equity

LEADERSHIP

  • Have representation at all levels that is reflective of the diversity of the student-athlete population

EXCELLENCE

  • To promote accountability and transparency in hiring, retention and promotion practices

TEAMWORK

  • The inclusion and empowerment of all individuals, especially those who are underrepresented

 

Core Goals: 

  • Utilize on-campus resources, speakers and engagement to develop a perennial education syllabus for staff and student-athletes on topics including, but not limited to: diversity, inclusion and belonging

  • Through consultation with the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and WFU HR, develop departmental guidelines and accountability metrics for equitable hiring, retention and promotion practices

  • Support designated student-athlete initiatives and community engagement

Unity Statement: 
We are committed to seeing each other as equals and treating each other with respect and dignity always; recognizing that each Unique Deac makes Wake Forest thrive.

Members:
Ashley Bastron                                                
Briana Brewer                                                 
Justin Campbell
Randolph Childress
Rachel Conway
Stephen Czarda
Bethany Davoll
Tony da Luz
Murphy Grant
Christy Lennon
Dwight Lewis
Roxann Moody
Kevin Smith
Ashley Wechter (Chair)

Black History Month -- Feb. 2023

Chase Oliver Reflects on Impactful Experience in Selma and Montgomery
Last summer, Wake Forest men's soccer junior Chase Oliver had the distinction of being selected to the ACC's traveling delegation to Selma and Montgomery, Ala., where the 48 student-athletes and administrators across the league's 15 member institutions took part in a three-day immersive journey to one of the centers of the Civil Rights Movement as part of ACC UNITE. 

After connecting with Wake Forest Associate Athletic Director for Community and Alumni Relations Dwight Lewis about joining him for the experience, Oliver knew it was a trip he wanted to take. 

"This specific trip was a big one in particular because it combined the ACC, the Big Ten and the PAC 12. So I already knew this was a big opportunity," Oliver said. "To get a great experience like that is not something that everyone gets to come in contact with. Whether it be the museums or the people that we met from the marches from back then. So as soon as I heard I said yes, absolutely." 

During the three days in Alabama, Oliver's social justice experience included hearing from Sheyann Webb-Christburg, visiting the Interpretive Center at Alabama State University, the Civil Rights Memorial Center, the Alabama Department of Archives and History, the award-winning Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) Legacy Museum and the First Baptist Church, the headquarters for the Dallas County Voters League, which was the student nonviolent coordination committee. 

Also known as "The Movement Church," it is where hundreds of students began their days' long journey from Selma to Montgomery in 1965.

"To hear from [Sheyann Webb-Christburg] and get her perspective on what happened and how impactful it was was just really impressive," Oliver said. "Then to leave First Baptist Church and walk over to the Edmund Pettus Bridge and across, that's where the confrontation began. So we were going through a city which hasn't changed much, it's a very historical city. They haven't really put in any restaurants and there's been no gentrification, nothing like that. Seeing that was grounding and emotional for a lot of people. It was certainly emotional for me." 

The Edmund Pettus Bridge was the site of the Bloody Sunday attack in 1965. Together, Oliver and the rest of the ACC representation marched across that same bridge where men and women showcased bravery and sacrifice in support of voting rights for all. 

"Once you get under that Edmund Pettus Bridge sign it's like, 'wow,' it really hits you. We were watching videos and little short films about what occurred on that day," Oliver said. "You're seeing the malice they were met with when they walked, you just think how far we've come, all these people of color from different universities, high-level education from across the nation are walking across Edmund Pettus Bridge, this is something that is monumental. 

"I think that really sunk in, especially when you get across the bridge, because you cross the bridge where they set up the police line with the horses, batons and tear gas. So to be able to complete that walk and cross that line, I mean you're crossing barriers that people before us couldn't do. It's very humbling."

Appleby Finding Stride Leading Wake Forest
Tyree Appleby leads the Demon Deacons in scoring and assists, and doesn’t plan to slow down anytime soon.

Second in the ACC in scoring and first in the conference in assists, Wake Forest point guard Tyree Appleby is leading the surging Deacs while earning national acclaim for his play.
 
He's regarded as one of the favorites for ACC Player of the Year, is starting to pop on NBA Draft boards and is widely considered one of the top transfers this season. Despite this being Appleby's sixth year in college, he's avoided the "better late than never" approach to folks realizing his talent level, and instead just continues to focus on team first.
 
"I don't worry too much about the individual accolades," Appleby said. "When we're winning, everybody wins. I'm really a team-oriented player. I want to be a leader, and lead by example."
 
An unrated high school prospect from Jacksonville High School (Arkansas), Appleby played his first two seasons at Cleveland State before transferring to Florida — way back in 2019 when student-athletes had to sit out a year when changing schools. He shot 39 percent behind the arc as a sophomore at Cleveland State, a form he's found once again under coach Steve Forbes here at Wake Forest this season.
 
After playing two years at Florida in the SEC, Appleby hit the portal again, looking to take advantage of the opportunity afforded him with the free year of eligibility because of the Covid-19 pandemic.
 
"Coming into the portal, Wake Forest was one of the first ones to hit me up," Appleby said. "One of the coaches came down to Florida to visit me. That was genuine and showed Wake Forest really wanted me to come play here. That was one of the things that drew me here. When I got here, it felt like home. It was comfortable, and the teammates and staff here are amazing. The facilities were great and the people all around made me feel at home."
 
Specifically, Appleby enjoys the Mit Shah Basketball Complex and the Chris Paul Family Men's Basketball Clubhouse.
 
"I love it," he said. "It has everything literally in the building. It's one of the best things I love about Wake Forest.
 
"I think we have the greatest locker room ever. I'm not gonna lie. Just hanging out there with the team, bonding, playing pool and playing other games; it's a wonderful place to have fun with each other."
 
The clubhouse now features both a table tennis and pool table. Cam Hildreth and Bobi Klintman are the reigning ping pong champs, it appears, while head trainer Mark Armour is dominating the pool table. While the team bonding continues thanks to the Chris Paul Family Clubhouse, it got a massive jumpstart during a team summer trip to Europe. 
 
"I thought that was a big step for us getting to know each other outside of basketball," Appleby said. "We have so many new players, with true freshmen and transfers. I felt like when we got here together in the summer, everyone just clicked. We all loved each other and hung out together.
 
"The trip to Europe was just icing on the cake. We got to learn new cultures and learn about brotherhood. It was a great time for our team to bond and build chemistry."

Perry Put Stamp on Historic Career at Wake Forest
The Deacs all-time leader in touchdown receptions capped his career with another impressive performance in his home state of Florida, leading Wake Forest to a Gasparilla Bowl Championship.

Atorian (A.T.) Perry wrapped up his record-breaking Wake Forest career with an 11-reception, 116-yard performance in a 27-17 Demon Deacon Gasparilla Bowl Championship over Missouri at Raymond James Stadium. 

"I just wanted to play this last game with my brothers," Perry said after the game when asked if he considered opting out. Perry is rising up the NFL Draft boards and has been invited to the NFL Combine. "I tried to keep my emotions back all week. It was special being out there with them. I love my teammates and the coaching staff. I wanted to make those memories one last time."

Perry always seemed to shine in games against competition from the Sunshine State or when playing in Florida, such as his 15 catches for 246 yards and two touchdowns against the Seminoles the last two seasons or his 10-catch, 127-yard outburst in the Gator Bowl a season ago.  

"It was good being back in my home state," Perry said. "My family got to come. I just kept the main thing the main thing — being consistent in doing my job to make sure we came away with the win." 

After redshirting in 2018, Perry showed glimpses of what he was capable of in the 2019 Wake Forest Spring Game, but was largely a depth piece of that team, playing behind the likes of Kendall Hinton, Sage Surratt, Jaquarii Roberson and Scotty Washington. The Demon Deacons have certainly had a bountiful group of talented receivers over the last several years. That season, Perry had just four catches for 62 yards, and followed that up in the COVID-impacted 2020 campaign with 15 receptions for 211 yards. 

It was the offseason of 2021 where Perry showed his largest growth after presumed receiver-room leader Donavon Greene was ruled out of the season. 

"I really believe it was two summers ago, when Donavon Greene got hurt and even before then," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson said. "We always knew A.T.'s talent. He's long and fast, and has a great catch radius. When Donavon got hurt, Atorian had a chance to become a starter, and all that work really paid off."

Perry admits seeing his teammate down for the season gave him extra motivation entering the 2021 season. During that fall camp, Perry often remarked about wanting to get "one percent" better each day. 

"After Donnie went down, I was completely hurt," Perry said. "I wanted to play with him that season, but I knew I had to step up my game. I spoke with coach Higgins, who wanted to make sure we were all on the same page. I found a way to keep my body up to date each week, which only helped me as a player. 

"Each one of us all grew, which is one of the things I'm most proud of. That summer was special. It was tough, but we kept our heads high and kept working." 

The last two seasons Perry has established himself as one of the top receivers in Wake Forest history, and one of the top wideouts in the country. He owns the Wake Forest career touchdown reception record (28) passing Ricky Proehl (1986-89) who had 25. His 28 touchdown receptions ties him for seventh all-time in ACC history, along with Virginia's Tyrone Davis and Georgia Tech's Calvin Johnson. 

He finished his Wake Forest career sixth in all-time receptions (171) and third in all-time receiving yards (2,662). 

Black History Month -- Feb. 2022
 
Black History Month 2022
 

"I'm a giving person and a serving leader. People see me as a leader, but anybody who is close to me knows I'm there for my team."

"According to former Wake Forest defensive lineman and current Director of Player Development Wendell Dunn ('17, '19), many players found strength and motivation through Clawson's aspirational leadership. A large group of freshmen and sophomores saw an opportunity, realizing that it was a fresh start for everyone and the depth chart was wide-open, their hard work would be recognized with a chance to contribute on Saturdays."

"There was just something about the people, the place and the professionalism that I loved here," Dunn said. "That sold me big time. I went back home, talked to my parents and then committed. I wanted to go somewhere that was going to change me in ways beyond football."

"I won't sugarcoat it," Dunn said. "Coach Clawson and the way he structured his program has changed my life as a whole. Deacon time, planning and understanding that everything ties in together. You can't get one person over here and another person over there. You can't be an All-ACC football player and four-year starter, but fail classes. If you fail classes you can't accomplish those things. I came to understand I had to be a professional on and off the field. Coach Clawson taught me that."

"My image matters on and off the field, and that's one of the things I learned from this program."

"A little more than a year ago, Dunn got a call from Clawson that was a life-changing according to Dunn. 
 
"Clawson told him about the director of player development role opportunity, believing Dunn would be the perfect fit for what they were looking for. He returned to Wake Forest in that position last March."

"My job is to develop these players off the field and be there as a mentor, and make sure they know who to go to and how to make connections with alums and how to be involved in the community. The coaches ensure that is my only role. That's where I get my joy." 
 
 

“With my grandmother being a school teacher, the concept of being able to go to Wake Forest for free and graduate was really impactful.”

"After I went to Wake Forest, I verbally committed, which is early now that I look back at it," Jones said. "I only went to Charlotte and Wake Forest, and that was essentially it. I didn't take the time to look at different schools. I talked on the phone to different coaches, but didn't have anybody to help me navigate that process. I just went with what felt good and what felt right."

"I had to take a medical redshirt my freshman year, and that was probably a blessing," she said. "It gave me the opportunity to go to practice, watch, learn and get used to the structure. I had to be on time. I had the structure, but also had to learn how to balance a normal social college life. It was different than I thought, but was one of the best things that could have happened to me."

"It was a very long season," Jones recalled. "It was difficult. Being this local star and being in the newspaper, I probably started every game I'd ever played. Going from that to going to practice and games and not being able to do anything — I had to sit on the bench the entire season. It was difficult, but it built character. It helped me be a better teammate, a better student at Wake Forest and ultimately a more well-rounded adult."

"Pro Humanitate is huge at Wake Forest and that's something I've tried to base my life around, to use my passion and talents to be able to help myself and others. I'm thankful for the things I learned at Wake Forest."

 

"That's an example of a guy that just worked so hard and was ready and to take advantage of his opportunity."

"Perry entered the season with 19 career receptions for 273 yards and finished last fall with his name all over the Demon Deacons record book. He set the record for most touchdown receptions in a season (15) and finished second for most receiving yards in a single season (1,293)."

"One of my goals was for me as an individual to be great," he said. "So when I heard that our lingo was "Good to Great," I felt it was a sign. I knew this team was special. My goal of being great did not just apply to football, as I want to be great in everything I do, whether it's school, football itself, outside of school with family, and other stuff like that." 

"Donovan Green went down this year and he got hurt, A.T. knew he was going to have a chance to not just play, but have an impact," Clawson said. "That's an example of a guy that just worked so hard and was ready and to take advantage of his opportunity, and what a phenomenal season."

"He gets better every week and every year, and it's going to be really exciting to get him back next year," Clawson said. "I think there's a whole other level that he is capable of getting to, and if he buys in and makes that step, we're going to have a lot more fun next year."
 
 

"A lot of athletes would have given up," he said. "She's not that kind of character. She's a strong, mature athlete. She's really grateful for the opportunity she's had here and she shows it everyday."

"Smart arrived at Wake Forest in 2018 as one of the top women's soccer recruits out of the state of Florida. She had competed on the Jamaica National U-17 and U-20 teams which competed in World Cup Qualifiers, and finished her high school career with 68 goals and 52 assists while claiming state championships, MVP honors and player of the year awards."

"My time here at Wake Forest hasn't been the smoothest," Smart admitted. "I had pretty major knee injuries both my freshman and sophomore seasons. It was really difficult to come to the school and not be able to play the first two years. But to be able to rehab here, get better and be an impact player is really special, especially with this being my last year." 

"Being injured is the part of sports you don't see, but it's much harder than being at practice," she said. "I had study hall, class and rehab. Balancing all those things was really difficult, and it has probably helped my time management skills now."

"A lot of athletes would have given up," he said. "She's not that kind of character. She's a strong, mature athlete. She's really grateful for the opportunity she's had here and she shows it everyday."

 

"Led by powerful big man Len Chappell and guard Billy Packer, the Demon Deacons became the first (and only to this date) Wake Forest team to advance to the NCAA Tournament Final Four."

"They beat us, but it was a competitive game," Packer recalls. "They went on to win the national championship. For it being our first game together, you figure if they're going to be the national champions, we must be pretty good because we hung with them the whole game."

"That set the stage for our senior year when they beat us (84-62) at home. Then we went down to play at Florida. It was a letdown, and they upset us. We had a poor December. Nobody other than maybe Lenny was playing their best. Once we got into conference play, we did pretty well. Beating a really good Duke team later in the season reminded us of what we were capable of, and that we just needed to play our best basketball."

"Dave Wiedeman started playing well, and got his game back together," Packer said. "Everything was falling into shape. Bob Woollard and Bill Hull were doing well on the inside. Our overall play was pretty darn good. We won the ACC Tournament and that set the stage for going into the NCAA Tournament."

"There was an awful lot of pressure," Packer said. "You realized every game in the ACC Tournament would be your last if you didn't win. We liked that pressure and played well in the ACC Tournament. The ACC Tournament was the only major conference with a postseason tournament."

"We were just taking things for granted and the next thing you know we were in Louisville playing in the Final Four," Hassell said."

 

"Wake Forest men's soccer alum Lyle Adams bet on himself, turning a walk-on offer into a prolific playing career that etched his name into the program record book while being part of the 2007 NCAA Championship team."

"He's developed Spry Payment Systems Incorporated as a platform to help current student-athletes across the country bet on themselves in the name, imagine and likeness space while also helping athletic departments successfully navigate the changes brought about by NIL legislation."

"Just a few months after the legislation that forever changed the collegiate sports landscape, Adams is working to better refine the experience for both parties."

"We've heard a lot of feedback from people in this space, so we're consolidating the workflows into one," he said. "It's exciting. It's been really positive to see and hear the reactions so far. We're wanting to help make athletic departments more efficient to scale. This is one step toward achieving this goal."

"We're approaching 60 institutions on the platform. I'm really happy with our progress so far, and it's still early. We're only seven months into this new world. To be able to listen to and utilize the feedback from our partners to fine-tune the features to become more proficient is a great next step."

"The biggest surprise for many folks, though not myself, is just how many student-athletes are benefiting from NIL," he said. "Everyone assumed only the revenue generating sports would profit. But we're seeing all types of athletes, upperclassmen and underclassmen, make substantial amounts of money. For me, it's an exciting thing in the space when you think about that."

"How do you benefit all athletes, whether Olympic Sports, gymnastics, track & field, cross country or tennis? Seeing all those student-athletes make money on this platform is really encouraging to see. That's a positive development."

 

After playing in junior college and division one, Joe Hugley earned the trust of Steve Forbes for his first full time position.

"Hugley's journey to Wake Forest started once he entered the NCAA Transfer Portal after two seasons at Central Connecticut State."

"I knew what I was looking for, because I'd transferred previously from JUCO," he said. "I knew what to look for and dissected the recruiting process. I looked into Coach Forbes, the history of the program. I saw they were bringing a bunch of guys back and had a winning program."

"Coach Forbes allowed me to play the game. He always says that every time I touched the ball, I shot it, but he let me do it. He let me play my game and get shots up that my teammates believed were the best shots."

In late February, right before the penultimate game of the regular season against Wofford, then-ETSU coach Forbes summoned Hugley and dug into his future. Was he interested in playing professionally overseas or was he interested in other opportunities?"
 
"If you don't play overseas, you're somebody I would love on my staff," Forbes told Hugley."

But then fate intervened in that process. By May 1, Forbes was introduced as the new head coach at Wake Forest. 
 
"We had an understanding I was going to be on his staff at East Tennessee State," Hugley said. "We never talked about Wake Forest. So, a month or so went by and I still hadn't talked with Coach. I'd talked to (B.J.) McKie and Savage, who told me I should be fine, but I was nervous because the big dog still hadn't called me yet."

He gets a mid-May call from Forbes at 8 a.m.

"I believe in you, and you bring unbelievable value to my staff," Forbes said, according to Hugley. "I want to offer you a full-time position at Wake Forest."
 
"It didn't take more than two seconds to accept," Hugley said. "I had made the decision to not play overseas and begin my coaching career, so why not start in the ACC? You don't offer these positions to just anybody, so him offering the position showed how much he trusts and believes in me."

 

Hayes, who coached the Deacs running backs from 1973-75, was the first Black assistant football coach in Wake Forest and Atlantic Coast Conference history.

"Bill Hayes began his college coaching career as a Wake Forest running back coach under Chuck Mills in the mid-70s. He then carved out a legacy of service first as a head coach at Winston-Salem State and North Carolina A&T then as an athletic director at North Carolina Central, Florida A&M and WSSU."

Although it's been nearly 40 years since he was on the sidelines with the Demon Deacons, Hayes has not been a stranger.  
 
"I was over here when they opened up the new facilities a couple of years ago, and come back often for basketball games," he said. "I have been away, but have not been away. I have been around the Winston-Salem area, even when I was an athletic director at other places, I would always take an opportunity to come back."

"His original purpose on campus was to gain support for the Winston-Salem Sportsman's late-August meet and greet. He met with basketball coach Steve Forbes, who pledged to attend, then stopped by football practice."

"I told them a little bit about my journey," he said. "But mostly I advised them to not cheat the game of football. It seems like every time you cut a corner in football, it comes back to haunt you. You drop a pass, miss an interception, fumble the ball or jump offsides. 
 
"Every time you cheat the game, it will come back to haunt you in some way that will hurt the team. That's what I have always lived by." 

"I take so much from Wake Forest," Hayes said. "Wake Forest gave me the opportunity to learn how to coach from some of the best. I cut my coaching teeth as a high school coach and thought I knew a lot until I got around Jim LaRue and all those guys, who were football legends on the staff."
 

Barclay found success in the classroom, community and on the field during his time in Winston-Salem.

"Put in the running back position by his first coach, his father Larry Barclay, in pee-wee flag football; Barclay sought a collegiate destination that would allow him to chase his dreams from the backfield."

"When Wake Forest offered the opportunity to play running back, especially at my stature, it showed a lot of faith. I became dedicated to giving it my all for the institution and I think it all worked out pretty well."

"Barclay rushed for 703 yards and nine touchdowns on 144 carries as a freshman, the only sub-1,000 yards season for the future Demon Deacon career rushing leader. He went for 1,192 yards and 12 touchdowns, statistically his best season, as a sophomore despite being hobbled with an injury."

"There was certainly a transition, but that was one of the reasons I chose Wake Forest," Barclay said. "I wanted to be challenged in the classroom and the football field, and wanted to experience the best of both worlds. That was the appeal. Then the class sizes and size of the enrollment — it was intimate, and I was attracted to that."

 

“Wake Forest does such a great job of building up students and providing them the tools to succeed. You’re so well prepared to succeed in the real world, because I don’t think anyone works harder than a Wake Forest student.”

"I went to visit a few schools — Texas, Notre Dame and others," Hopkins explained. "I just wasn't in love. I decided to take a visit to Wake Forest and see it from a student's perspective, which is something I've never seen. I'd always been there as a sports fan or there walking around with my mother."
 
"I fell in love with the school in a whole different way. The accessibility to the teachers in the classroom, and the closeness of the team — it seemed very much like a family. Wake Forest just in general has a family feel. That resonated with me. From there, it was all she wrote."

"There's always going to be challenges when you're stepping into a new environment, being on your own for the first time and going to college," Hopkins said about adjusting to college life at Wake Forest. "My experience in that respect is no different than anyone else. But I think it was how the support system for Wake Forest came around and delivered when I was going through any trouble or challenges. I never felt like I was by myself."
 

Former Demon Deacons linebacker Jaboree Williams has traveled the country and world to find happiness and success, on and off the field.

After graduating from Wake Forest and finishing his football career with a team-high 11 tackles in a Belk Bowl victory over Texas A&M, linebacker Jaboree Williams took a shot at an NFL career. 
 
Picked up as an undrafted free agent by the Philadelphia Eagles, Williams made it through rookie minicamp and then fall camp before being cut. 
 
After joining a team in the Alliance of American Football, the league was unable to complete a full season before being disbanded. He joined an XFL roster only to see it suffer the same fate. Next up was the Oakland Panthers in the Indoor Football League. Unfortunately COVID-19 ended that season as well for the recent Demon Deacon grad."

"But Williams got a call from Wake Forest director of recruiting Chris Coulter. Both are Florida natives and had built a strong connection during Williams' four years in the program."
 
"Man, I know somebody who's willing to do anything to play ball again," Coulter said when asked if he knew of anyone willing to play professional football in Japan. 
 
"Yeah, sure. I'll talk to him," Williams told Coulter when he called. "You know, I'm open to anything."
 
"In his first full season in the X-League in Japan, Williams won the Most Valuable Player award, contributing eight sacks, four blocked punts, two blocked field goals, a dozen tackles for loss, two interceptions and two forced fumbles."

"I feel like I just never got a fair chance," Williams said. "And truthfully, I just kept going. I told myself that I will never give up. I'll just go, and go, and go, until I can't anymore. I was just locked in. I figured that at some point my opportunity would come and I'll actually be able to ball out and do everything I dreamed of doing."
 

 The Wake Forest graduate continues to be a consistent contributor for Minnesota United while also working to create opportunities with Black Players for Change.

"Leaving high school I knew I wanted to go into engineering, and Wake Forest didn't have an engineering program at the time, but they do now," Hayes explained. "So I was going to major in physics with the plan to work in renewable energy technology. I remember my first test in Physics II, my first semester, and I got a 60 or a 61. I thought I might have to change majors."

"Ultimately he was able to finish the class with an A, but he also had to make adjustments breaking into the Wake Forest soccer rotation."

"On the field it was definitely an adjustment," Hayes said. "I wanted to walk in and be a starter from Day One. It took me a while to start and have an impact on the field. It wasn't a seamless transition. There were some bumps in the beginning. But I feel like I was prepared to handle that and achieve what I wanted at the end of the day. It was a little tough both on and off the field to begin."

"I wanted to be at a place where I could play soccer at the highest level, but also push myself in the classroom," Hayes said. "I knew by then I wanted to go pro, but your professional life only lasts so long. You still have to do something with yourself. I thought Wake Forest was the best spot for me because it was one of the best soccer programs in the country and one of the best academic institutions as well. That was the tipping point for why I chose Wake Forest."

"Hayes led the Demon Deacons in points and goals in 2016 as they claimed the ACC Tournament and advanced all the way to the College Cup Finals." 

"It was a lot of fun," he reflects. "We were winning games. We won the ACC Tournament and carried the trophy back on the bus home from Charleston. We got back to campus and there was a little parade for us. We were taking pictures with the trophy. It was a great time with friends from school."

"Being a part of the Wake Forest men's soccer program as it evolved from relevant to dominant remains special to Hayes, who is in his sixth season in the MLS."

 
 

Throughout February, the team shared stories of 34 different individuals from wide-ranging backgrounds.

"Throughout the month of February, Wake Forest men's soccer student-athletes, coaches and support staff came together to spotlight 34 different individuals for Black History Month as part of continued discussions about diversity and inclusiveness."

"In 2020, the program created Different But United, which has become the ethos of the program. The team continues to follow that message and wear a patch on their uniforms as a reminder of the commitment."

"During the team's month-long Black History Month initiative, some told stories of famous politicians, others were trailblazers such as program legend Stef Hamilton a 1985 graduate of Wake Forest who broke barriers as the first Black player in program history."

"But together, the stories allowed for the opportunity to hear of the journey so many people went through to make a difference and open doors. 

"Just to hear all the stories was really enlightening because a lot of the men and women I hadn't known about before, and it's always good to hear about and learn about new people that inspire the Black community and people all around the world," said sophomore Colin Thomas. "Another big thing for me was learning about some of the athletes that competed during difficult times." 

 
Black History Month -- Feb. 2021

Track & Field standout Cydney Delley has helped push for change within the Wake Forest community on three fronts:

  1. Start resident advisor education on biases, prejudices, privileges and racism.
  2. Begin an online learning module that addresses those topics --  similar to what is currently in place for sexual assault and alcohol use. 
  3. Develop a four credit hour class on the subject of biases, prejudices, privileges and racism. 
 

Men's Basketball graduate transfer Jalen Johnson  finally lands at Wake Forest and makes an impact in different ways in helping establish the foundation of a building program.

Football remembers a transformational figure in its program history and a trailblazer in the Winston-Salem community in Dr. Larry Hopkins. Hopkins still holds the Wake Forest record for rushing yards in a single season with 1,228 in 1971.

Women's Basketball has had a number of influential alumni come through its program over the years and one such leader is Porsche Jones. She leaving her #ProHumanitate spirit on her community through her BOND (Building on New Development) Center of Excellence.

Not only during her time leading the Demon Deacons but her entire lifetime, former women's basketball head coach, Charlene Curtis has been a trailblazer. When she was hired at Wake Forest, she became the first African-American head coach in ACC women's basketball.

Charlie Davis was the first black player to win the ACC Player of the Year award for men's basketball. 

Trina Maso de Moya is the best volleyball player in Wake Forest program history and is also the only volleyball player to be inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame.
As part of ESPN’s celebration of “Black History Always,” and in conjunction with the ACC’s Unity Week, ACC Network aired ACC Unite: No Struggle, No Progress Monday night. The one-hour virtual roundtable examined how the social justice struggle has manifested itself in society, what progress needs to be made and the path forward.