Gold Rush - November 2019

HOOPS: SENIORS READY FOR FINAL SHOT

6-foot-5 Scotty Washington and 6-foot-3 Sage Surratt putting up big numbers as bookend wide receivers in high-powered Deacon offense

NOVEMBER 2019

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VOL. 29 // ISSUE 3 (USPS 014-373) EDITOR

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CONTENTS

// N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 9

WELLMAN PLAZA/WELLMAN WAY: Among the honors recently bestowed upon retired athletics director Ron Wellman in honor of his nearly 27 years of service was the announcement that the Wake Forest Athletics Department will have its mailing address changed to 1 Wellman Way, and the road that leads directly to the Sutton Sports Performance Center and Shah Basketball Complex will culminate at Wellman Plaza.

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FROM THE AD INSIDE THE DEACON CLUB

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? COMPLIANCE CORNER

// 6 BIGGER IS BETTER Tall wide receivers Scotty Washington and Sage Surratt have used their size to create mismatches and put up numbers that rank high in the ACC and the nation as the Deacons enjoy a fast start in the 2019 season.

Learfield IMG College 540 N. Trade St. Winston-Salem, NC 27101 All material produced in this publication is the property of Wake Forest University and Learfield IMG College and shall not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission.

POSTMASTER: Please send all address changes to the attention of Stephanie Hudson, Wake Forest Athletics, 519 Deacon Blvd. Winston-Salem, NC 27105.

The appearance of advertising in this publication does not constitute an endorsement of the advertiser and/or the advertiser’s product or service

by Wake Forest or Learfield IMG College. The use of the name of the University or any of its identifying marks in advertisements must be approved by WFU and IMG.

ON THE COVER Wake Forest wideouts Scotty Washington and Sage Surratt could both easily end up being 1,000-yard receivers based on the numbers they have put up during the first half of the 2019 season.

// 10 FINDING HIS OWN WAY As the son of Randolph Childress, a Wake Forest legend and current assistant coach, Brandon has followed his own path to a senior season where he is a team captain and has high expectations for himself and this year’s team.

// 14 MAKING STRIDES Senior Ona Udoh takes pride in the fact that she is one of the better running inside performers in the ACC and hopes her experience will help lead the WFU women’s basketball team to a winning season.

NOVEMBER 2019

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FROM THE A.D.

// J O H N C U R R I E

A ‘Deacon Moment’ for the ages Demon Deacon Nation,

JOHN CURRIE DIRECTOR O F AT H L E T I C S

The Wellman AD tree: (front row, L-R) Mike Hamrick, Ron Wellman, Larry Lyons; (2nd row, L-R) John Currie, Mike Buddie, Perk Weisenburger, Hunter Yurachek, Michael Kelly, Samantha Huge, Joel Nielsen, Dan Hauser, Tom Kleinlein

Many years ago, a tradition was started for regular Wake Forest athletics staff meetings to begin with what is known as “Deacon Moments.” They are opportunities for staff members in attendance to rise and recognize a colleague for a special achievement, deed, or behind-the-scenes contribution that is impactful for Wake Forest.

We had a “Deacon Moment” for the ages on Thursday, Oct. 10.

From around the country, the 11 current NCAA Division I athletics directors who worked for Ron

we all yelled, ‘Surprise,’ the look on his face was priceless. After recovering from the initial shock, he looked around the room, taking it all in with a huge smile as he recognized who all was there, excitedly waiting to salute him.

He saw Mike Buddie (Army West Point), Mike Hamrick (Marshall), Dan Hauser (High Point), Michael Kelly (South Florida), Tom Kleinlein (Georgia Southern), Larry Lyons (Illinois State), Joel Nielsen (Kent State), Perk Weisenburger (Ferris State), and Hunter Yurachek (Arkansas), as well as ACC Commissioner

Wellman during their careers gathered in Winston-Salem to surprise and honor our mentor and friend.

It began with the (somewhat devious) assistance of the evening’s other hero, Linda Wellman, who lured Ron to a dinner that he thought would just be with Mary Lawrence and me. As the doors opened and

John Swofford. Although slightly delayed, Samantha Huge (William & Mary) exemplified how important it was to all of us to be there for Ron as she arrived just in time for dinner, unphased and undeterred by a tire blowout on the interstate just outside of Richmond.

For four hours, members of the “Wellman AD Tree” told stories,

shared memories, and recounted the many ways we learned from and were mentored and cared for

by Ron and Linda. Through a lot of laughter and even a few tears, we did our best to adequately convey to them just how much they have meant to so many staff members through the years, and to thank them for their unwavering and enduring love and support.

Knowing this incredible group of leaders the way I do, there is one thing that I can say for certain — all 11 of us genuinely understand our ongoing responsibility to perpetuate Ron’s values of integrity and commitment to the student-athlete experience in college athletics, and we will remain vigilant in making sure that Ron’s legacy of leadership endures as more and more talented leaders continue to grow the branches of the celebrated “Wellman AD Tree.”

-On a completely different topic, just a reminder that Wake Forest is hosting the 2019 NCAA Division I Field Hockey Championships at Kentner Stadium on Nov. 22 and 24. Hosting a national championship is an incredible opportunity for Wake Forest and the Winston-Salem community, so I encourage everyone who is able to come out and support this important event. Tickets are on sale now at GoDeacs.com/tickets.

Remember to continue sending me your feedback at wfuad@ wfu.edu, and check out my “From the Quad” updates by visiting GoDeacs.com and clicking on the “From the Quad” graphic.

Thanks again for your support of Wake Forest Athletics.

Go Deacs!

Ron Wellman and John Currie

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FOOTBALL

// S C O T T Y WA S H I N G T O N A N D S A G E S U R R AT T

LOFTY ST TALL RECEIVERS SCOTTY WASHINGTON AND SAGE SURRATT ARE THRIVING IN WAKE FOREST’S OFFENSE

By Sam Walker

I

n the sport of football, size isn’t everything, but having it does bring certain advantages. At the wide receiver position, it gives the quarterback confidence when his target overshadows the opposing defender and provides the option to throw the ball higher, knowing a taller receiver can shield and outleap coverage.

The mix of size, speed and strength is an asset, and head coach Dave Clawson sought it out as part of building the program he envisioned at Wake Forest.

The Deacons have sizable receivers twice over in redshirt senior Scotty Washington and redshirt sophomore Sage Surratt, which makes it doubly difficult for defenses to cover, doubly fun for Wake Forest coaches to game-plan, and it has been doubly fun to watch.

Washington is 6-5 and 225 pounds, and Surratt is 6-3 and 215 pounds. As dynamic as speedy Greg Dortch was at 5-9 and 160 pounds in the last two seasons, Washington and Surratt bring a different style of playmaking ability to the Deacon offense.

Washington did not play high school basketball, but his father, Tony, played basketball at St. Francis (Pa.). Surratt was named the N.C. Player of the Year in both football and basketball. Their body control while fighting off defenders, one-handed grabs, and a knack for coming up with the big catch is proving productive for the Demon Deacons.

“Those guys are great competitors that push each other,” said quarterback Jamie Newman. “When you have guys who can position themselves and get open like they can, it makes the game a lot easier for you. With the range those guys have, sometimes the

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Photos by Paul Rutherford

TANDARDS

NOVEMBER 2019

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FOOTBALL

// S C O T T Y WA S H I N G T O N A N D S A G E S U R R AT T

long ball might be back shoulder but with their range, those guys can go back there and get it.”

The big Deacon receivers have been at times overwhelming forces this season, and they have the numbers to prove it. Prior to the Oct. 19 Florida State game, the duo ranked one-two in the ACC in touchdown receptions (Surratt 9, Washington 7). Surratt led the league in receiving yards per game (118.5) while Washington ranked sixth (83.0). On the national level, Surratt was third in the country in TD catches through six outings with Washington standing 11th in the country. Surratt was also fourth nationally in receptions per game (7.7).

The long pass and the fade route are formidable weapons, and more often than not, a pass thrown their way is not only a reception but also a big play opposing defenses loathe giving up.

“With those positions in our offense, that’s intentional,” Clawson said. “We recruit big guys. We want to have size matchups, and Scotty and Sage have developed and are two of the best in the conference. We have a redshirt senior and a redshirt sophomore doing it, and now it’s time to get the next generation going with A.T. Perry (6-5, 190) and Waydale Jones (6-4, 200). And Donavon Greene (6-2, 200) also fits that mold. But the level that Scotty and Sage are playing at, it’s hard to take them out.”

Washington was named ACC Player of the Week after hauling in seven catches for 158 yards and two touchdowns against Rice,

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and Surratt has received the same honor three times following his seven catches for 158 yards and one touchdown in the win over Utah State, nine catches for 169 and a TD against North Carolina, and most recently his eye-catching performance versus Louisville (12 receptions for 196 yards and three scores). Surratt’s 157 yards receiving in the first half against UNC ranks as the most ever in Wake Forest history in the first half of a single game.

Against Elon, Washington had nine receptions for 141 yards and two touchdowns, and Surratt added eight receptions for 112 yards and two touchdowns – all delivered by Newman, a redshirt junior quarterback who finished with five passing touchdowns.

With his performance against Elon, Surratt surpassed the 1,000-yard receiving mark in just 17 career games, making him the second-fastest player in Wake Forest history to do so. The speedy Dortch surpassed that mark in just 11 career games.

Surratt has caught a touchdown pass in eight straight games, breaking the old school record set by Desmond Clark in 1998. Both Washington and Surratt had key touchdown catches in a 27-24 victory at Boston College. Then Surratt had another monster game in the 62-59 loss to Louisville with 12 catches for 196 yards and three touchdowns while Washington also had a TD catch.

“Every day in practice we treat it like a game, and that’s how we approach it, and I feel like it’s translating to Saturdays,” Washington

SCOTTY WASHINGTON

SAGE SURRATT

POSITION: Wide Receiver

POSITION: Wide Receiver

HEIGHT: 6-5

HEIGHT: 6-3

WEIGHT: 225

WEIGHT: 215

CLASS: R-Senior

CLASS: R-Sophomore

MAJOR: Communication

MAJOR: Economics

HOMETOWN: Washington, D.C.

HOMETOWN: Lincolnton, N.C.

HIGH SCHOOL: St. John’s

HIGH SCHOOL: Lincolnton

said. “We just have to take it as it comes. We both play with a lot of confidence, and Jamie is giving us a lot of great balls, so we just have to continue. It’s a ton of fun playing alongside Sage, and we have a competition between us to see who can get the most yards.

“My first few years here it was all about confidence, but you just have to take it like it comes. With us having bigger bodies, it’s a blessing having those God-given abilities. All the late nights we put in in the offseason in the indoor facility with Jamie (Newman) and Sam (Hartman) working on all kinds of routes – deep balls, fade ball, slants, posts – just have given us an advantage coming into this season. Then add all the work we did in camp; it’s just all paying off.

“Coach (Kevin) Higgins has been saying competition in our room, pushing each other and getting onto each other in positive ways, is good. I feel like we’ve all done that, and we all have positive things to say to each other.”

Both Washington and Surratt could easily end up being 1,000yard receivers this season. Surratt had 711 yards following the Louisville contest and Washington had 498.

The mix of big bodies at wide receiver and now at quarterback with the 6-4, 230-pound Newman has produced an offense capable of creating mismatches, big plays and high-scoring games. It was part of the overall plan for Clawson, now in his sixth season, and with Wake Forest off to a 5-0 start for just the fourth time in school history and a spot in the Top 25 before the tough loss to Louisville, it’s proving difficult to cover.

“Having another big guy out there who can make plays, it is kind of hard for anyone to favor one or the other as we complement each other well,” Surratt said. “Jamie is giving us great balls. He’s doing a great job spreading the ball around and making the right reads. He (Jamie) has worked hard in the offseason, so it is a testament to his hard work, too.”

NOVEMBER 2019

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MEN'S BASKETBALL

// B R A N D O N C H I L D R E S S

LESSONS

LEARNED 10

GOLD RUSH MAGAZINE

BRANDON CHILDRESS BLAZES OWN PATH TO EMERGE AS TEAM LEADER FOR DEACONS

By Marc Pruitt

C

ount on Brandon Childress being ready for the 2019-20 season. He expects that of himself. He knows his teammates expect that from him as one of the team captains. He knows his coaches expect that his leadership, finely tuned following three grueling seasons of playing ACC basketball, will shine through.

Childress is ready. He’s ready to prove himself again. He’s ready to help show what this year’s team is capable of. He’s ready to leave his own mark at Wake Forest while playing under the watchful eye of his father, Randolph, a Wake legend and current assistant coach.

You don’t have to go too far down the list of all -time Deacon greats to find Randolph’s name.

Brandon Childress was ready for that pressure. He has embraced it, and he has found his own way.

And he is ready to embark on a senior season for a team that feels like it has something to prove.

“I’m excited. We’re excited,” Childress said. “We know we have a lot of people doubting us. We don’t have a bullseye on our back,

so we don’t have that pressure. We know there are people sleeping on us, and we have to prove them wrong. We look at it as another opportunity to prove ourselves. I promise you that Wake Forest will be back. All we have to do is trust the process.”

Childress established himself as a force last season while leading the team in scoring (14.7 ppg), assists (4 apg) and 3-pointers made (74).

He also established himself as a workhorse after starting every game and averaging 36 minutes, the second most in the ACC. Considering Childress made five starts as a sophomore while seeing action in 30 games and averaging 9.1 ppg and having no starts in 30 games played as a freshman while averaging 6.6 ppg, it was a huge leap — and a lesson learned.

“Playing 36 minutes every game? I mean, who wouldn’t want that?” Childress asked. “But I went from playing 20 minutes every game to playing 36. Not many would understand the toll that can take on your body night-in and night-out. It took a huge toll on me. I’m not complaining one bit because I felt like I performed at a high level. But my body was really sore after the games. And then the next morning. And then you have to get up and go to class. Or go to practice and then go to class and then tutoring.

“It taught me to listen to my body more, take advantage of training, make sure I get in the weight room. I learned that I needed to take smarter steps this season in my training. That’s something I’d definitely pass on to the younger guys.”

NOVEMBER 2019

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MEN'S BASKETBALL

BRANDON CHILDRESS POSITION: Point guard HEIGHT: 6-0 CLASS: Senior MAJOR: Communication HOMETOWN: Winston-Salem HIGH SCHOOL: Wesleyan Christian Academy FAVORITE WAKE FOREST MEMORY: “First game, freshman year against Radford. Check in the game, got a defensive stop, go down and make a 3-pointer.

Look over and see the expression and excitement on my dad’s face. He didn’t get to come to a lot of my high school games, so it was like he got to see me play for the first time again. And he wasn’t ‘Coach Childress’ in that moment. He was ‘dad.’ I’ll never forget that.”

The increased role as a scorer and playmaker was also new territory for Childress.

“I went from being No. 4 or No. 5 on the other team’s scouting report to the No. 1 guy,” Childress said. “That was new for me. I was never even the No. 1 guy on my high school teams (at East Forsyth or Wesleyan Christian Academy). I wasn’t even the No. 1 guy on my AAU team. That was a big adjustment for me, being the head of the snake. I was suddenly the head of the snake, and that wasn’t something I was accustomed to.”

This is one reason why Childress knows he is ready to lead.

“I want to make sure we show appreciation for all the guys who are

Proud to be a Demon Deacon!

Member, Women’s Golf ACC & East Regional Championship Teams 1994&1995

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coming back because we’ve lost a lot of personnel over the last few years for different reasons,” Childress said. “We have a great group of freshmen, and they are hungry, maybe the hungriest I’ve been around at Wake Forest. They are asking me a lot of questions, and they have shown how willing they are to get better.”

Childress also thinks that a change in routine will help the team this season.

The Deacons are rising early to practice every morning — usually starting between 6 and 6:30 a.m. — to change the dynamic.

“It’s a real wake-up call,” Childress said with a laugh. “I think it’s going to be good for us. It’s a way of preparing mentally for the season. It’s kind of flipped the switch for us a little bit.”

Childress feels confident that the Deacons can erase the sting of back-to-back 11-20 (4-14 ACC) seasons. He is hopeful for a return appearance in the NCAA Tournament like he experienced during his freshman season.

“I’m not a magician, and I can’t predict our future, but what I will say is that night-in and night-out, you will see this team give 100 percent on the floor,” Childress said. “We’ve been preaching do the little things the most because that’s something we can control that will allow us to compete at the highest level.”

Like Childress did last season. Like his father did throughout his career. Like the work ethic Randolph helped to instill in Brandon when he was younger.

“My father didn’t make me get up and go to the gym,” Childress said. “He wanted me to earn everything I got. He didn’t touch a thing during my recruiting. And when I made the decision to come to Wake Forest, I knew I had to keep my head down, work as hard as I could and show that I belonged in the ACC. Because I knew there would be doubters. I knew there would be people comparing me to my father. Since we share a last name, I decided that I needed to go out and be the best Brandon Childress I could be. And I’m not finished. I’m not satisfied yet because we haven’t won enough. This year, I want to change that.”

Childress is also grateful for the opportunities Wake Forest has provided him on and off the court.

“I’ve built so many relationships with my classmates, with my professors, and I can’t thank God enough for the chance to play the game I love at a great academic institution. I will continue to cherish this time and these moments, which is why I play my heart out every time I’m on the floor. It doesn’t matter how many points I score, or how many assists or steals I get. At the end of the day, it’s about playing for something bigger than me.”

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

// O N A U D O H

FINAL

RUN

SENIOR ONA UDOH HOPES TO USE HER SPEED AND EXPERIENCE TO HELP LEAD THE WAKE FOREST WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SQUAD

O

By Kyle Tatich

na Udoh began playing basketball in sixth grade after spending a few years taking jazz ballet. Dancing was her first love, but basketball quickly took its place as she developed a passion for the game throughout middle and high school.

“I tried out for basketball (in sixth grade) and was terrible,” Udoh says. “I moved to North Carolina in seventh grade and got a little better.”

It wasn’t until her eighth grade year that Udoh, a senior from Fayetteville, realized basketball was something she really wanted to pursue.

“I started playing AAU and was told by my coaches that I could maybe do something with this sport,” she says in recalling her newfound athletic interest.

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It was the encouragement of Udoh’s high school coaches and her experience with the AAU team, Hoop Dreams, that gave her the confidence to work hard to make it to the collegiate level.

Udoh eventually developed into a four-star recruit and had a plethora of college offers. With her family in mind, she realized staying closer to home would give her the best opportunity to remain close with those who cared about her most.

“When Wake Forest popped up, I just thought it was perfect,” she says. “It was a great school academically, a great program in the ACC, and I thought it was a perfect fit. My parents could come to pretty much every home game, as could my friends that live in Greensboro and in other parts of the state.”

Maintaining her support group was important to Udoh’s transition to the collegiate game, especially since the first year can be somewhat of a learning curve.

“The big transition every freshman experiences from high school to college is that you’re not the star anymore,” Udoh says.

“You have to sit there and adjust and realize that it takes time to get a feel for the flow of the game.”

NOVEMBER 2019

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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

// O N A U D O H

Coming primarily off the bench, she played in 30 games as a freshman before a sophomore season that was still one of growth but one that came with increased responsibility.

“I was still learning (in my second season), although I started playing a lot more minutes,” she remembers. “I developed a role and found my place in the flow of the offense.”

Udoh says she is most comfortable when she has the paint to herself, giving her the option to post up on either block with the opportunity to go right or left. Having found a more defined role in her sophomore season, she built upon that foundation and emerged as one of the Deacs’ go-to players last year as a junior. “(Last year) was, I think, the best year so far,” Udoh says. “I had multiple breakout games and felt more and more comfortable.

“I got to the point where it felt like I had been in this role for a long time. My mindset last year became one of why can’t I be this beast that I know I can be.”

As a frontcourt player, Udoh takes pride in the fact that she is one of the better running inside performers in the ACC. “I take pride in running the floor,” she states. “I like to think that one of my strengths is being a post player that likes to run in transition. I can get down the court really fast. I can grab a defensive rebound, find my outlet pass and sprint to be the first one down the court.”

Udoh doesn’t limit this strength to games, however. This ability is on full display each day in practice.

“I love to try to beat the guards up and down the court in practice. It’s fun to irritate them in that way.”

While she is optimistic that the best memories of her playing career at Wake Forest are to come, two of Udoh’s favorites to this point as a Demon Deacon include the team’s upset victory over Miami in 2018 and last season’s dramatic “School Day” win over James Madison.

ONA UDOH POSITION: Power forward HEIGHT: 6-1 CLASS: Senior MAJOR: Health and Exercise Science HOMETOWN: Fayetteville, N.C. HIGH SCHOOL: Terry Sanford FAVORITE WAKE FOREST MEMORY: Beating Miami as a sophomore and winning in dramatic fashion during the 2018 "School Day" game

"I TAKE PRIDE IN RUNNING THE FLOOR. I LIKE TO THINK THAT ONE OF MY STRENGTHS IS BEING A POST PLAYER THAT LIKES TO RUN IN TRANSITION." —ONA UDOH “We were the underdogs and showed out,” Udoh says of the Deacs’ 61-50 road victory over Miami in January of the 201718 campaign.

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WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

// O N A U D O H

She also fondly recalls the 50-49 triumph over JMU last December, played before the second-largest crowd (9,786) in program history.

“Last year during the ‘School Day’ game when Elisa (Penna) hit that free throw (to give Wake Forest the win with 0.9 seconds remaining), it was deafening. It was the craziest thing — the best experience ever.”

Udoh enjoys the annual School Day game, which brings children from local schools to fill the LJVM Coliseum, because of the environment.

“The kids just cheer for every bucket, no matter which team it is, but at the end of the day it’s great to have so much noise.

The environment is just so lively. It’s something we look forward to every year.”

Off the court, Udoh has discovered her passion in the classroom, one that could potentially lead to a career after basketball.

A health and exercise science major, she has decided to pursue a career as a doctor with an expertise in sports psychology.

“That’s not something I knew I wanted to do at first,” she explains, “but ever since Wake hired (sports psychologist) Rachel Conway, I realized it’s something I would love to do someday.”

Udoh says that while it would not only keep her close to the game of basketball, and sports more broadly, it would also allow her to

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OFF THE COURT, UDOH HAS DISCOVERED HER PASSION IN THE CLASSROOM, ONE THAT COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A CAREER AFTER BASKETBALL. apply the education she’s received at Wake Forest into a meaningful career. Conway has played a significant role in helping her realize her aspirations, she adds.

“I just interviewed her for one of my classes,” Udoh says. “She started off as my major and then later realized that she wanted to do sports psychology. It made me comfortable with knowing that we have the same path.”

Some of the on-court exercises conducted by Conway have also helped Udoh focus on her future path.

“One time she had us play H-O-R-S-E. The loser had to answer a question asked of them by one of their teammates. It was a fun way to communicate and learn about each other. We felt comfortable because we were casually playing a game.”

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“AS A WHOLE, WE ALL HAVE TO BE TOGETHER AND KNOW EACH OTHER’S STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES. WHEN THE TEAM IS TOGETHER, IT MAKES EVERYONE WORK HARDER AND BRING THE BEST OUT OF ME. FOR ME TO PROGRESS, THE TEAM HAS TO PROGRESS.” —ONA UDOH As Udoh approaches her senior season she does so with confidence, knowing that the team is the most together it has been since she arrived on campus.

“As a whole, we all have to be together and know each other’s strengths and weaknesses,” she points out. “When the team is together, it makes everyone work harder and brings the best out of me. For me to progress, the team has to progress.”

With one final fun as a Demon Deacon, Udoh will look to follow that mindset, making the most of her remaining time at Wake Forest – and hopefully lead the Demon Deacons to a winning season in the process.

Kyle Tatich is a 2018 Wake Forest graduate and former sports editor of the “Old Gold & Black” newspaper. He is now enrolled in the Wake Forest Law class of 2022 and is a frequent contributor to “Gold Rush.”

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100% COTTEN

// S TA N C O T T E N

Full Moon S TA N COTTEN VOICE OF THE DEMON DEACONS

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A few weeks back, Wake Forest was coming off of an open date (when did we begin using the term ‘bye’ for when we had a week off?), and I was ready to get back on the air and continue the 2019 season.

The Deacons were then still undefeated, ranked in the Top 20 of both major polls and beginning a stretch of weeks that would see Wake play three straight home games with another open date (when did we…) mixed in. Louisville was in town, and the Deacs were looking to win their third straight game over the Cardinals in the short but interesting series that had reached just its seventh meeting all-time.

Before our countdown reached its final seconds to bring us on the air, as I often do, I sat in my chair atop the west stands at BB&T Field looking out over the stadium – taking it all in.

I really love what I do.

I could see the carnival that is the Dixie Classic Fair rolling along in full gear, and up in the heavens a not quite but just about full moon cast its light over the entire place. I’ve been calling college football games on the radio now for 40 years (yikes, is that possible?) with over half of them, 24 now, at Wake Forest. In my time at Carson-Newman, Marshall and now Wake, I’m guessing I’ve called in the neighborhood of 500 football games.

But I’ve never seen one quite like the Wake Forest-Louisville game of

GOLD RUSH MAGAZINE

Oct. 12, 2019, in Winston-Salem.

The late Skip Prosser, who was a huge football fan, used to laugh about the game because, he would say, “…footballs aren’t round, they bounce funny, you just never know.” No, no you don’t, Skip.

Had you told me before kickoff that Wake Forest would amass 668 yards of offense, at the time 153 yards MORE than its ACC leading and 10th in the country average of 515 yards a game, pass for 423 yards and five touchdowns but lose the game, I would have laughed you off of the Ferris wheel. If you had suggested that Christian BealSmith would rush for 123 yards, for the first time since 1971 giving Wake a fourth different player to top the century mark in a season but not win, I would have said you had taken too many spins on the Tilt-A-Whirl. And I would have rolled my eyes in the back of my head if you had promised that, in a loss, Kendall Hinton and Sage Surratt would combine for 25 receptions, 330 yards and three touchdowns.

But that’s exactly what happened.

And it proved what we all should know and what Athletics Director John Currie and I were discussing on the air before kickoff – it’s very hard to win a game. Very hard.

When the dust had settled, even though it hadn’t rained in these parts for two months, Louisville had won the game by the improbable score of 6259. Unbelievably, that was all

in regulation. There were no overtimes, and nobody fouled out.

It was just one of those nights where the Cardinals were always a step ahead, and the Deacons were always behind. And it stayed that way until the final video review of an onside kick that bounced around like a pinball under a tent across the road that Wake seemed to recover but in the end was told it hadn’t.

That is sport. And if you can’t take the bad with the good, you’d better get another hobby. Coach Clawson rightly commented after the game that his team should not have been in that position, hoping for a second onside recovery in the waning minutes of a game so that it could somehow find a way to win despite the errors it had committed in the hours leading up to the finish.

I have no idea how much longer I’ll have the job that I have. I certainly hope it’s for many more years. I do know that the longer I do what I do, I’m not that surprised about the things I see. Coach Prosser, as usual, was right. About the football and its unpredictable bounces. “…you just never know.”

I remember vividly the moon that night with just barely a whisker hidden from view. Nearly imperceptible. But come to think of it, when I signed off and said goodnight it was past midnight. It was then Sunday, Oct. 13.

Full moon. Now that explains a lot.

INSIDE THE DEACON CLUB

It is all about being a good teammate

BA R RY FA I R C L O T H SENIOR A S S O C I AT E AT H L E T I C DIRECTOR, DEVELOPMENT

A couple of years ago at an athletics department senior leadership team meeting, Ron Wellman handed out a book by John Trautwein called “My Living Will: A Father’s Story of Loss and Hope.”

At the time, I could not have predicted what an impression that book would make on me. It is a gut-wrenching story of John Trautwein, a retired Major League Baseball player turned successful corporate executive, who was residing in Atlanta with his beautiful family living out the American Dream.

One seemingly normal day, John’s oldest son, a 15-year-old successful lacrosse player and musician tragically took his own life. There were no obvious signs signs of trouble, and the family was obviously devastated. But what has transpired since that tragic day is nothing short of remarkable. John started the Will To Live Foundation, which focuses on mental health education and signs of suicide training for youth in America. Through his work, he has touched

countless lives through his message and the funds raised for his foundation.

Trautwein’s book and the work of his foundation hold special meaning for Ron Wellman because John is more than just an author — he is someone very close to Ron. As a baseball player at Northwestern, John played for Ron when he was

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the head baseball coach there. John and his teammates developed an enduring bond with Ron, and they all remained in close contact following their time at Northwestern.

After our senior leadership team finished reading and discussing the book, Ron informed us that he would like to bring John Trautwein to campus to share his message. We all recognized what an important message this was, not only for our student-athletes, but also for the entire University and local community, so we got to work. We wanted to find the best way to reach the broadest audience and have the greatest impact on our community which meant we also needed to reach all of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, so we joined forces with superintendent Bev Emory, whose support was instrumental in getting the word out and making the event so successful.

The culmination of weeks of planning occurred on April 16, 2018, with a series of speaking engagements on campus and in the community during which John shared his important message with thousands of people. John met with local school counselors as well as Wake Forest students, faculty, staff, coaches and studentathletes. We then opened up LJVM Coliseum to the entire community and welcomed nearly 7,000 people who came to hear John speak. Among other things, he spent some time talking about the importance of finding Life Teammates. He says that we all have Teammates in our lives — someone we share or have shared a dream with — someone we go through successes and failures with, and it is vital that kids (and adults) learn to recognize those Teammates. They are friends for life who are always there for you — and you for them.

John’s message that day was truly eye-opening, thought-provoking, educational, hopeful and inspiring, and so many people were touched by his compelling story. The reaction from the community certainly validated our belief that suicide awareness and prevention is important and worthy of more attention.

Given the critical importance of the message, Emory was intent on using the event as a catalyst to develop an ongoing program that could live on and continue to impact our community. Over the course of the last year we have been working with the WS/FCS to support their efforts to implement a suicide awareness program for all middle and high schools in the system. This year, I’m proud to say that the Signs of Suicide training program will be implemented system-wide in Winston-Salem and Forsyth County.

Continued on Page 30

INSIDE THE DEACON CLUB

REMINDER: METAL DETECTOR PROGRAM IN PLACE AT BB&T FIELD AND LJVM COLISEUM In an effort to proactively foster a safer environment for fans, coaches and student-athletes, Wake Forest Athletics has implemented a metal detector program for all events at BB&T Field and the LJVM Coliseum. When attending events at these locations, please arrive early to avoid delays.

Keep up with the Deacon Club on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

For the latest news and information from the Deacon Club and to connect with other members, be sure to find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram! @WFUDeaconClub Facebook.com/DeaconClub @WFUDeaconClub | @DeacOnTheRun @BarryFaircloth

BASKETBALL TICKET PACKAGES NOW AVAILABLE Ticket packages for the 2019-20 men’s basketball season are now on sale! The Big 4 Package starts at $105. The Best Darn package starts at $175 and includes UNC, NC State, Duke, Virginia and Notre Dame. For season ticket or package information, please visit GoDeacs.com or contact the Wake Forest Sales Team at (336) 758-3322, ext. 1.

IS WAKE FOREST ATHLETICS IN YOUR WILL? Planned giving ties your legacy with the future of Wake Forest Athletics. To learn more about the many ways you can support Wake Forest Athletics through planned giving, please contact Paul Kennedy at (336) 758-3875 or kennedpj@wfu.edu.

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DONOR PROFILE

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MIKE HAMLAR

Mike Hamlar establishes new endowment to provide networking, career services opportunities

M

ike Hamlar’s (’04) journey with Wake Forest began as a standout studentathlete at Cave Spring High School in Roanoke, Va. Mike committed to play football for the Demon Deacons under then-Coach Jim Caldwell.

“Coach Caldwell and I had developed an instant connection from the first time we met. After meeting Coach – and then visiting campus – Wake Forest instantly felt like home for me. It really wasn’t until the last few years that I’ve realized what a profound impact the school has had on my outlook and career.”

When Jim Grobe took over the football program in 2001, Hamlar took over as starting outside linebacker, starting the

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first four games of his sophomore season before suffering a season-ending injury.

The nagging injuries carried over into the next fall, when Hamlar faced a whole different kind of life-altering setback.

After battling multiple sclerosis for several years, Hamlar’s father passed away with Mike still just a college junior.

“My father’s passing changed my perspective on life. I was ultimately faced with the decision of staying in school to pursue my football dreams or going back home to run our family business.”

In 2004, Hamlar graduated Wake Forest early to return home, run his family’s funeral home business, and help provide for his mother and younger brother. Choosing not to stop his education, though, Hamlar

persevered forward to earn an MBA in Leadership from Liberty University in 2008, a Political Leadership Candidate Training Program certificate in 2010, and is currently a doctoral candidate at Walden University in business administration.

Meanwhile, in 2009, Hamlar started Hamlar Enterprises, a business brokerage firm managing transactions across Southwest Virginia. In 2012, along with his wife Katina, Hamlar established Hamlar Properties, a commercial real estate firm headquartered in Roanoke. In 2017, Hamlar and his wife founded BallyComm Telecommunications, a cell tower and telecommunications company. Hamlar is also the host of the “New Virginia Economy with Mike Hamlar.”

PA G E H E A D E R

In recent years, Hamlar has dedicated a growing portion of his time to service. A former Virginia Senate Candidate, Hamlar served on Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s transition team. He currently serves as a governor-appointed member on the Virginia Military Institute’s Board of Visitors and on Wake Forest University’s Athletics Advisory Council, among several other boards and committees. In the spring of 2019, Hamlar was a featured speaker at the Football Networking Event the night before the Spring Game.

“There were a few things that stood out to me when I first got to Wake Forest. First, my family and I looked at the value of the scholarship I received from Wake Forest – and all that went along with it – and saw that the total value of education I received at Wake Forest was $250,000. And that was 20 years ago! I’ve always known I needed to commit myself to pay that opportunity forward to a new generation.”

One way that Hamlar has provided for a new generation is by serving on the board of a private, Christian school in Roanoke that serves elementary school children, even helping to sponsor a college tour to Wake Forest University. He and his wife also established a collegiate scholarship in memory of their grandmothers. Eight students have been awarded the scholarship since its inception in 2016.

More recently, another growing interest has begun tugging at Hamlar’s heart: the desire to provide the same kind of networking and career opportunities that he was able to benefit from at Wake Forest.

“I love Coach Caldwell. He would constantly tell us, ‘You are all going to go pro in something; it just might not be in professional football.’ So being able to develop as a professional at Wake Forest was just a tremendous opportunity for me.”

While Hamlar realized tremendous educational gains in the classroom at Wake Forest, he relied on his family’s business connections to prepare him for his professional career. Hamlar

sought a way to do more to allow fellow student-athletes to gain greater exposure to professional life outside of football.

In fall 2019, Hamlar established the Student-Athlete Development Excellence Fund – a new Wake Forest Athletics endowment that will permanently provide networking and career services opportunities to generations of future Wake Forest student-athletes.

“For years, I had considered getting more involved with Wake Forest, but I constantly thought there wasn’t a significant enough impact I could make. The opportunity here to produce something new that will immediately create a life-changing impact at my alma mater is such a special experience for me.”

It isn’t lost on Hamlar that the timing coincides with his children beginning to reach the point in their lives where they are actively seeking help and mentorship. Katina and he have three children, daughters Simone (13) and Michal (9) and son Micah (6).

“Our focus now is on providing for the future. For us, that future is our kids, and they live with us in our house, but the future is all around us as well. It’s our entire surrounding community.”

That community, Hamlar hopes, will feel inspired to continue to serve each other.

“I am so proud to be a Demon Deacon and to be able to provide a permanent difference for our student-athletes. It’s my sincere hope that this is only the beginning – that others participate and contribute into this fund. Wake Forest helped shape me into who I am, but we can all do more. I hope this can be a start that allows our excellent Wake Forest Athletics career development staff to host the nation’s premier career services center.”

For more information on Wake Forest Student-Athlete Development/Career Development, please visit https://deacs. info/2Mxm43d . To learn more about participating within the Student-Athlete Development Excellence Fund, please contact the Deacon Club at deacclub@wfu.edu or by phone at 336-758-5626.

deacon club photos Deacon Club members are encouraged to submit photos for publication in the Gold Rush. Send your photos in digital format to DeacClub@wfu.edu. Submission of a photo does not guarantee that it will be published. Thanks for showing off your Demon Deacon pride!

1 A group of alumni

1

return to Spry Stadium in celebration of 25 years of the Wake Forest women’s soccer program.

2 2 Director of Athletics John Currie welcomes former Wake Forest swimmers and divers back to campus at a special reunion.

3 Wake Forest football’s 1979 Tangerine Bowl team celebrates its 40-year reunion during Varsity Club and Homecoming Weekend 2019.

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PA RH E Y N O W ?

W HGEER H E EAARDEE T

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BESS HARRINGTON CARTER

I

n each issue, Where Are They Now showcases a former Wake Forest student-athlete. Bess Harrington Carter ('10) was a four-year letterwinner on the Wake Forest women's soccer team from 2006-09. She was one of the senior leaders on the 2009 team that reached the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time in program history and finished with a 16-6-2 overall record. In fact, she scored the game-winning goal against South Carolina in the third round, which sent the Deacons to that quarterfinal game, with her goal coming with exactly one second left in regulation – still the latest goal scored in program history. She played in 67 games over her four-year career and totaled four goals and two assists, helping the Deacons reach the NCAA Tournament all four years. Two of her four goals came in the NCAA Tournament as she also scored in a 2008 win over Morehead State.

BESS HARRINGTON CARTER When did you graduate from Wake Forest? May 2010 What was your major and/or minor?

Communication What does being a Demon Deacon mean to you?

Being a Demon Deacon is a source of pride for me. I love our school and the education and experiences that it provided me. They were definitely some of the best years of my life! I was so fortunate to be a part of the women's soccer team.

Not only was I fortunate enough to enjoy success on the field, but this is also how I met my lifelong best friends. We are coming up on our 10-year reunion next year, and we all still make a point to see each other every year and as much as possible! To sum it up, being a Deac means being part of a family.

My time at Wake Forest shaped my entire life and the people in it, and for that I am so, so grateful.

Why are you still involved in Wake Forest Athletics?

I am still involved in Wake Forest Athletics because it was such an integral part of my life as a student-athlete. Staying involved financially as well as participating in events and reunions helps me stay connected to something very close to my heart.

Why do you feel it is important to give back to the University?

A big part of my positive experience was due to the generosity of alumni that came before me, and I think being able to give back, no matter how big or small, allows others an opportunity to have that same, special experience that I did as a studentathlete. I thought we had it really good back in 2010, but seeing the new facilities, uniforms, etc. that the teams get to use now...they are so amazing, and while I'm a

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little jealous, I'm so proud of all that Wake has to offer! I love that the University is always improving for the sake of both the current students and alumni alike. Wake Forest has a strong tradition of giving back, and I’m proud to help continue that tradition.

What is your current occupation?

After working for a major hospital system in Charlotte for almost five years, I left my corporate job in June of 2018 to work for myself as a full-time blogger/podcaster/ entrepreneur. I have been blogging on the side since I graduated from Wake Forest and have been able to turn my passion into my full-time job. The way social media is these days, there are tons of opportunities to make a living and while it may seem unconventional now, I think those types of careers are going to become more and more normal! You can find my blog at www.bessharringtoncarter.com and find me on Instagram (username is @ besshcarter). My podcast is called the "Strong is She" podcast and you can find it on iTunes or Spotify. In many of the episodes, I am interviewing other women that have succeeded in business, fitness, motherhood, or just life in general, and they all have a compelling and inspiring story to tell. My blog is a lifestyle website and the goal is to help women find resources and develop mindsets to enrich their lives, whether that be from an at-home workout, an easy recipe, a travel guide, or style inspiration for themselves or their homes!

I cover a lot of topics and love to interact with my community on Instagram as well.

In addition to that, I just had a baby in July, so add "mom" to that list!

What is your favorite memory of your time at Wake Forest?

This is a tough one. I have so many favorite memories! I loved always being with my team. I loved going to other games and supporting the other teams.

Having breakfast in The Pit after practice.

The way the campus looks in the fall is for sure a favorite. The night we beat South Carolina in the Sweet 16 to go to the Elite 8 for the first time definitely ranks up there pretty high as well! I wish I could go back and do it all again.

What makes you most proud of Wake Forest?

I am most proud of Wake Forest's integrity. I am proud that the University nurtures an environment for students to be successful both on and off the field.

When you come back to Wake Forest, you always…

Drive through the campus and stop by Spry Stadium!!

I was there when…

The football team won the ACC Championship and went to the Orange Bowl!

Who is your favorite coach at Wake Forest, current or past?

Tony da Luz, obviously! Tony does such a great job keeping the women's soccer alumni in touch with the current program, so we still feel really close knit. He cares about his players as individuals long after we've left our soccer days and cares to still have us all come back each year to stay connected. It's very special because not every coach or every program is like that. Tony does a really great job with it.

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Field Hockey vs. Richmond 1pm

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Field Hockey vs. Virginia 6pm

Football vs. NC State TBA

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Women’s Basketball vs. UNCW 7pm

NOVEMBER // DECEMBER 2019

WAKE FOREST ATHLETICS

Women’s Basketball vs. College of Charleston 7pm

SPORTS MARKETING (336) 758-5011 TICKET OFFICE (336) 758-3322 GROUP TICKETS (Football & Basketball) (336) 758-4030 DEACON CLUB (336) 758-5626 www.DeaconClub.com DeacClub@wfu.edu

FAMILY WEEKEND

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Men’s Basketball vs. Columbia

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2019 WAKE FOREST FAMILY WEEKEND This year’s Family Weekend will be held November 1-3. Wake Forest football will take on NC State on Saturday, November 2 and we hope to see you there! For more information, please visit FamilyWeekend.wfu.edu.

THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY DEACON CLUB OFFICES: The Deacon Club offices will be closed November 28-29 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

TICKET OFFICE: The Ticket Office will be closed November 28-29 in observance of the Thanksgiving holiday.

DEACONS IN THE PROS BASEBALL

MEN’S BASKETBALL

COACHES/SCOUTS Ross Atkins Neil Avent TJ Barra Adam Bourassa Dave Bush George Greer Michael Holmes Bill Masse Matt Price Mike Rikard Eric Schmitt Adam Wogan

MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB MLB

Toronto Blue Jays Oakland A’s New York Mets Pittsburgh Pirates Boston Red Sox St. Louis Cardinals San Francisco Giants Seattle Mariners Kansas City Royals Boston Red Sox New York Yankees Chicago Cubs

General Manager Area Scout Director of Baseball Research & Development Area Scout Pitching Coordinator, Performance Hitting Coach Amateur Scouting Director Area Scout Area Scouting Supervisor Vice President of Amateur Scouting Director of Player Development Area Scout

MINOR LEAGUE RANKS Johnny Aiello Carter Bach Ben Breazeale Will Craig Parker Dunshee Stuart Fairchild Aaron Fossas Patrick Frick Connor Johnstone Garrett Kelly Morgan McSweeney Nate Mondou Colin Peluse Griffin Roberts Donnie Sellers Gavin Sheets Bruce Steel Rayne Supple Mac Williamson

Toronto Blue Jays (A) Tampa Bay Rays (Rookie) Baltimore Orioles (High A) Pittsburgh Pirates (AAA) Oakland Athletics (AAA) Cincinnati Reds (AA) Cincinnati Reds (AA) Seattle Mariners (Short Season A) Atlanta Braves (AA) Chicago Cubs (High A) Baltimore Orioles (A) Oakland Athletics (AA) Oakland Athletics (Short Season A) St. Louis Cardinals (High A) Toronto Blue Jays (High A) Chicago White Sox (AA) Kansas City Royals (A) Colorado Rockies (Short Season A) Samsung Lions (South Korea)

WOMEN’S GOLF Laura (Philo) Diaz Nannette Hill Olafia Kristinsdottir Jennifer Kupcho Cheyenne Woods Jean Chua Marissa Dodd Allison Emrey Natalie Sheary Sierra Sims

LPGA LPGA LPGA LPGA LPGA Symetra Symetra Symetra Symetra Symetra

MEN’S SOCCER Luis Argudo Jon Bakero Corben Bone Sam Cronin Austin da Luz Brad Dunwell Chris Duvall Omir Fernadez Sam Fink Akira Fitzgerald Michael Gamble Logan Gdula Ian Harkes Jack Harrison Jacori Hayes Tolani Ibikunle Collin Martin Mark McKenzie Ike Opara Sean Okoli Michael Parkhurst Hayden Partain Kevin Politz Sam Raben Jalen Robinson Brandon Servania Emu Twumasi

Columbus Crew Toronto FC/Phoenix Rising FC FC Cincinnati Free Agent North Carolina FC Houston Dynamo/Rio Grande Valley FC Houston Dynamo New York Red Bulls Saint Louis FC Richmond Kickers Deportes Santa Cruz (Chile) FC Cincinnati/Phoenix Rising FC Dundee United (Scotland) Manchester City/Leeds United FC Dallas Ekenas Sport Club (Finland) Minnesota United FC Philadelphia Union Minnesota United FC Free Agent Atlanta United FC Sacramento Republic Greenville Triumph SC Colorado Rapids/Colorado Springs Switchbacks D.C. United FC Dallas FC Dallas/Austin Bold FC

COACHES/MLS FRONT OFFICE James Riley Kurt Schmid Zack Schilawski Stephen Keel Ryan Martin

MLS Director of Player Relations Seattle Sounders (Head Scout) North Carolina FC U23s (Assistant Coach) MLS Social Media Manager DC United Academy Director

WOMEN’S SOCCER Aubrey Bledsoe Bayley Feist Ally Haran Katie Stengel Sarah Teegarden Maddie Huster

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Washington Spirit (NWSL) Washington Spirit (NWSL) NC Courage (NWSL) Utah Royals FC (NWSL) Lille Olympique Sporting Club (Ligue 1 – France) Kvarnsvedens IK (Swedish Premier League)

GOLD RUSH MAGAZINE

Al-Farouq Aminu John Collins James Johnson Chris Paul Ishmael Smith Jeff Teague Jaylen Hoard Doral Moore Austin Arians Bryant Crawford C.J. Harris Darius Leonard Jamaal Levy Nikita Mescheriakov Codi Miller-McIntyre Dinos Mitoglou Troy Rike Aaron Rountree Devin Thomas Terrence Thompson Ty Walker Andre Washington David Weaver Mitchell Wilbekin Coron Williams L.D. Williams Keyshawn Woods

NBA NBA NBA NBA NBA NBA NBA/G-League NBA G-League Germany Lithuania China Argentina Argentina Russia Slovenia Greece Philippines Qatar Argentina Georgia Canada Bahrain Turkey Turkey Mexico Egypt Netherlands

Orlando Magic Atlanta Hawks Miami Heat Oklahoma City Thunder Washington Wizards Minnesota Timberwolves Portland Memphis Hustle Schalke Juventus Guangzhou LL Sportivo America Bahia Basket Spartak SP Cedevita Olimpija Panathinaikos AMA Qatar Sports Club Penarol Kutaisi Windsor Al-Hala Ankara DSI Konyaspor Dorados Sporting Rotterdam

Ass’t Coach

Milwaukee Bucks

COACHES/STAFF Frank Johnson

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Dearica Hamby Sandra Garcia Chelsea Douglas Amber Campbell

WNBA Puerto Rico Romania Ireland

FOOTBALL Jessie Bates III K.J. Brent Greg Dortch Duke Ejiofor Phil Haynes Kevin Johnson Marquel Lee Joe Looney Mike Weaver Kyle Wilber John Wolford Willie Yarbary

NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NAFL NFL NFL NAFL

S WR WR DE OL CB LB OL PK LB QB DL

Las Vegas Aces and Italy Indias De Mayaguez Phoenix Constanta Ambassador UCC Glanmire Cork

Cincinnati Tampa Bay Carolina Houston Seattle Buffalo Oakland Dallas Massachusetts Oakland LA Rams Massachusetts

COACHES/STAFF Chad Alexander Joe Kenn John Spanos Brad White James MacPherson Brad Idzik Teryl Austin

NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL

NY Jets Carolina Chargers Indianapolis Chargers Seahawks Bengals

Dir Player Personnel Strength Coach Executive VP of Football Operations OLB Coach Scout Assistant WR coach Defensive Coordinator

MEN’S GOLF

Bill Haas Webb Simpson Billy Andrade Jay Haas Gary Hallberg Scott Hoch Curtis Strange Len Mattiace Kyle Reifers Will Zalatoris

PGA PGA Champions Champions Champions Champions Champions Web.com Web.com Web.com

FIELD HOCKEY Lauren Crandall Michelle Kasold Melissa Gonzalez (Coach)

MEN’S TENNIS Noah Rubin Petros Chrysochos

USA National Team (Retired Fall 2016) USA National Team (Retired Spring 2017) USA National Team (Captain)

ATP ITF Futures

NASCAR PIT CREWS Kevin Harris (football) No. 19 Spencer Bishop (football) No. 15 Dion Williams

INACTIVE

Ryan Anderson Alex Bachman Tommy Bohanon Brandon Chubb Matt Colburn, II Michael Campanaro

NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL NFL

OL WR FB LB RB WR

Joe Gibbs Racing (Daniel Suarez) Premium Motorsports (Ross Chastain) Drive for Diversity recruiter

NY Jets LA Rams Free Agent Carolina LA Rams Free Agent

COMPLIANCE CORNER

// T O D D H A I R S T O N

NCAA AMATEURISM:

PART II TODD HAIRSTON SENIOR A S S O C I AT E AT H L E T I C DIRECTOR, COMPLIANCE

In the wake of the passage of California’s Senate Bill 206, which effectively nullifies the NCAA’s current restrictions on the use of a student-athlete’s name, image and likeness, the NCAA responded recently by drafting a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom of California.

The NCAA has urged California lawmakers to reconsider this legislation citing concerns over competitive balance. Since no other state has passed such legislation, California’s 58 NCAA institutions and 24,000 student-athletes would be at a decided advantage since student-athletes attending those institutions would have access to revenue streams that would not be available to student-athletes attending schools in other states. Therein lies the crux of the NCAA’s dilemma: maintain status quo with regard to existing amateurism legislation and

accept the inevitable competitive imbalance that would follow, or acquiesce to the California legislature by departing from long held, bedrock principles of amateurism in the interest of maintaining competitive equity.

At present, the NCAA is attempting to persuade the legislature to reconsider its position by making a case for competitive balance, however there are other more aggressive measures that could be employed, such as banning NCAA championships at sites within the state, as was done in 2016 after the North Carolina General Assembly enacted House Bill 2.

With Senate Bill 206 set to take effect on Jan. 1, 2023, the next three years promise to be interesting times for the NCAA and student-athletes across the country.

Continued from Page 22 During his nearly 27 years of service to Wake Forest University, Ron achieved much success and had a tremendous impact on our community.

On Oct. 11, we hosted an event to honor Ron and Linda Wellman and celebrate his accomplishments and the legacy he leaves behind. That evening we announced that, in his honor, the road leading to the Sutton Sports Performance Center, Shah Basketball Complex, McCreary Football Field House and the Miller Center would henceforth be known as “Wellman Way.” Those structures stand as a testament to the incredible facility transformation that has taken place under Ron’s leadership, so in addition, the plaza in front of the complex will fittingly be known as Wellman Plaza.

But perhaps most significant to Ron may be the award that was announced that evening. The Ron Wellman Life Teammate Award, created in his honor, will be awarded annually and displayed in the atrium of the magnificent complex located at “1 Wellman Way.” The award is not athletic or academic — it is all about being a good teammate.

It will be awarded to the male and female studentathletes that best personify the qualities of a

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Life Teammate that John Trautwein so eloquently portrayed in his book.

At the funeral of his son, while giving the eulogy, John looked up and saw not only his son’s teammates dressed in their lacrosse uniforms, but also his own Northwestern teammates and their coach — Ron Wellman. He saw Life Teammates who had been there on the joyous occasion of his wedding, and were now here for him as he faced the most devastating tragedy imaginable. And they are the Life Teammates who remain with him to this day — helping spread his message in an effort to save lives.

While the recognition and awards are welldeserved, when I think about what is most significant in Ron’s enduring legacy, it is the lives that will be saved for years to come in the Winston-Salem community as a result of the implementation of the Signs of Suicide training.

And to think... it was set into motion by the simple act of a great Teammate deciding to hand his team a book.

Thanks Ron and Linda.

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1. Established in 1909, we have a rich history in the printing industry.

We have made a commitment to executing speed, accuracy, and integrity in every step of the prepress process to ensure you have the highest quality products.

Our mission is to grow, by providing world-class PRINTING3. In 1990 we expanded our presence andquality and service to our customers through grew into the Washington DC & Charlotte areas.

Check us out on social media! advanced technology, teamwork, and meeting 4. With more than 100 years of experience, we have learned a lot—and even each of their unique needs. Contact us today, to managed to win some awards. We MAILING have grown from a small letter shop to a Top 400 Leading Printing Company. find out how our services can help you GROW! 2. We are a family owned and operated company in our 3rd generation of management.

Virginia • Washington DC • Greensboro • Charlotte • Wilmingt

(434) 369-6633

www.mapl.net

sales@mapl.net ph. 888.231.3175 www.mapl.net

Virginia • Washington DC • Greensboro • Charlotte • Wilmington

Check us out on social media!