Editor’s note: With several sports going on, Wildcat Wrap serves as a recap that focuses on the Arizona programs that we do not have the time to cover on a regular basis but are certainly worthy of recognition.
When Clancy Shields took over the Arizona men’s tennis program in 2016, the Wildcats were a bottom-feeder in the Pac-12 Conference lacking any meaningful postseason history.
Over the last decade, Shields has turned the program into one of the nation’s best. Arizona has won four straight conference championships and is a consistent threat in the NCAA Tournament.
Shields’ success turning around men’s tennis hasn’t always gotten the kind of attention it deserves, but with each year that the Wildcats are nationally competitive, it’s hard to not notice what Shields has created in Tucson.
This past weekend Shields became the winningest coach in program history with 183 victories, surpassing the previous mark held by longtime coach Bill Wright. It took Shields less than 10 seasons to set the record.
Arizona is 14-3 on the year and has won its last nine matches. The No. 15 Wildcats took down No. 28 Columbia 6-1 in Tucson on Tuesday.
Arizona has a big weekend ahead, hosting No. 8 Baylor on Friday and No. 2 TCU on Sunday. The homestand will go a long ways in deciding the Big 12 race and whether Arizona will once again host NCAA opening rounds as it’s done the last two seasons.
The Big 12 is loaded this season with five teams in the top 25 (UCF is No. 12 and ASU is No. 25). Arizona gets to play both UCF and ASU at home.
Arizona is led by senior All-American Jay Friend, who is ranked No. 3 nationally in singles.
Arizona men’s golf won the Arizona Thunderbirds Intercollegiate Title this week at Tucson Country Club. The Wildcats shot 25-under par, edging out runner-up Long Beach State by one stroke.
Filip Jakubcik led the way at 10-under final round to finish second individually. Taishi Moto and William Wistrand finished in a tie for third at 7-under.
Arizona, which is ranked No. 22 nationally, next competes at the Western Intercollegiate in Santa Cruz, Calif. from April 13-15.
Four Arizona divers qualified for NCAA Championships at the NCAA Diving Zones qualifying last week.
Luke Hernandez qualified in all three men’s events: the 1-meter, 3-meter and platform. Gage DuBois qualified in the meter-meter and platform, and Bo Bridges qualified in the 3-meter.
On the women’s side, Zara Ayazi qualified in the 1-meter, 3-meter and platform.
Eight women are heading to the NCAAs in total. Ayazi is joined by swimmers Eleni Gewalt in the 100 and 200 breaststroke, Riley Botton in the 50 and 100 free events, Kayman Neal in the 200 back and 200 free, and Lila Lillie, Julia Wozniak, Patricija Kondraskaite and Maryam Sheikhalizadehkhanghah in the 200 free relay.
The NCAA Women’s Championship gets underway Wednesday and runs through March 22, and the men’s competition runs March 25-28. Both events are held in Atlanta.