Gold Rush - March 2018 by Wake Forest Athletics

HALL OF FAME WELCOMES FIVE NEW INDUCTEES

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LINE Johnny Aiello is the latest to take on leadership role for Demon Deacons

MARCH 2018

ALL IN THE FAMILY Haas Family Legacy spans generations at WFU

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VOL. 27 // ISSUE 6 (USPS 014-373) EDITOR

Jim Buice PHOTOGRAPHERS

Donnie Roberts, Brian Westerholt WRITERS

Sam Walker, Stephanie Hudson, Rachael Bari, Lauren Close Design & Layout

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CONTENTS

IMG College Jeff Salisbury, Ike Fullard, Neil Bishop, Kelsey Gomes

NATIONAL CHAMPS: The top-ranked Wake Forest men’s tennis team won its first-ever national championship, defeating UCLA to win the 2018 ITA National Team Indoor Championship in February in Seattle. The Deacons now seek to defend their ACC regular season title and look forward to tournament play. Wake Forest will serve as the host for this year’s NCAA Championships in May.

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Gold Rush is published eight times a year in August, October, November, December, February, March, May and June by IMG College in conjunction with Wake Forest Athletics. Periodicals postage paid at Winston-Salem, NC 27102 and at additional mailing offices. The price of an annual subscription is $20. Members of the Deacon Club receive a one-year subscription as part of their membership. Persons wishing to subscribe to Gold Rush should send a check or money order (credit cards not accepted) to:

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4 22

FROM THE AD INSIDE THE DEACON CLUB

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WHERE ARE THEY NOW? COMPLIANCE CORNER

// 6 ASSUMING THE LEADERSHIP MANTLE Junior third baseman Johnny Aiello works relentlessly to be the best he can be and set the tone for the Deacs.

IMG College 540 N. Trade St. Winston-Salem, NC 27101 All material produced in this publication is the property of Wake Forest University and IMG 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 IMG. 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 Junior Johnny Aiello was one of the standouts on last year’s Wake Forest baseball team, which finished just one win short of making it to the College World Series.

// 12 GOLFING FAMILY The Haas names of Jay, Jerry and Bill have set the standard for generations, creating a special golfing legacy at Wake Forest.

// 16 HALL OF FAMERS WFU welcomes five inductees – football’s Chris Barclay and Steve Vallos, field hockey’s Lauren Crandall, golf’s John Gerring, track and field’s Michelle Sikes.

MARCH 2018

FROM THE A.D.

// R O N W E L L M A N

Upcoming Events to Raise Awareness of Mental Health Challenges Dear Demon Deacons,

RON WELLMAN DIRECTOR O F AT H L E T I C S

Mental health is often a topic that people do not want to discuss; yet mental health issues facing young people today are real and the impact of the issues can be life-changing for all of us. Some sobering statistics about the state of mental health of our young people include: • For youth between the ages of 10 and 24, suicide is the third leading cause of death according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC); • More teenagers and young adults die from suicide than from cancer, heart disease, AIDS, birth defects, stroke, pneumonia, influenza and chronic lung disease combined; • It results in approximately 4,600 lives lost each year; • Sixteen percent of high school students reported seriously considering suicide; • Four out of five teens who attempt suicide have given clear warning signs; and • K ids who are bullied are more than twice as likely to consider suicide, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

(information courtesy of nimh.nih.gov, samhsa.gov, cdc.gov, AMA) Students at Wake Forest, whether they are athletes or not, are not immune from this national crisis. Our department’s highest priority is the safety and welfare of our student-athletes. Working

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together with the University, we must find effective ways to raise awareness of the mental health challenges young people face today that are different than their parents’ generation and provide effective tools that educate young people about mental health issues while at the same time provide them with a message of hope. We are partnering with others in the community to bring an organization to Winston-Salem and the Wake Forest campus whose mission is to do just that, and I encourage you to attend. It has the potential to change the way we all communicate with one another and to have an impact on the statistics that I shared. On April 16th, we will host two events with the Will To Live Foundation. John Trautwein, co-founder of the Foundation and former baseball player with the Red Sox, will be speaking at 4:00 p.m. in the Broyhill Auditorium located in Farrell Hall on campus and again at 6:30 p.m. in the Coliseum. Both events are free and open to the public. I know John personally. He was a pitcher on the teams I coached at Northwestern. Following graduation, rather than attending medical school, he chose to chase his dream of playing professional baseball. While undrafted, he worked his way through the minor leagues and eventually realized his ultimate dream… making the Red Sox roster in 1988. After retiring from

baseball, John married Susie, a former lacrosse player and they had four children. John became a successful businessman and considered his family life to be as close to “perfect” as anyone could dream. He was involved with his kids, and life was good! Then his 15-year old son, Will, committed suicide. Shock and devastation were the immediate reactions. However, while delivering his son’s eulogy John noticed that those attending the funeral were his former Northwestern teammates, Red Sox teammates and others that he and his son considered lifelong teammates. John shifted the focus of his eulogy at that moment to Will’s friends and talked to them about being great teammates for life for each other. Friends helping friends so that tragedy can be avoided. John and the Will To Live Foundation have used the concept of Life Teammates® to raise awareness about teen suicide within the community, to increase education of mental illnesses like depression and their stigmas, and to deliver hope to teens everywhere through their Life Teammates® programs. I hope to see you at one of the events on April 16th. The event is for all teens and adults in our area. I assure you it will be time well spent as we all strive to find solutions and positively impact the lives of our students and teens.

Ron Wellman

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MARCH 2018

BASEBALL

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LEADER BY EXAMPLE THIRD BASEMAN JOHNNY AIELLO WORKS RELENTLESSLY TO SET THE TONE FOR DEACS By Dan Collins

est assured, says Coach Tom Walter of Wake Forest of a player who rarely rests. If Johnny Aiello never becomes the best baseball player he can possibly be, it won’t be for lack of trying.

“He never takes a play off,’’ Walter said. “He never misses an opportunity to help himself get a little bit better – whether it’s in the weight room or warming up for the game. He’s a professional player. “His whole life is wrapped around becoming the best baseball player he can be. He works as hard as any player I’ve ever coached.” The departure of Will Craig two years ago and Stuart Fairchild and Gavin Sheets last year set in motion the usual round of hand-wringing over who could possibly replace such irreplaceable offensive cogs in Wake Forest’s return to college baseball prominence. Yes, Craig was a monster … a slugger and part-time relief pitcher good enough to be named National Player of the Year by “D1 Baseball” in June 2016, the same month Pittsburgh picked him in the first round of the MLB draft. Craig, as a junior that year for the Deacons, hit .379 with 16 homers and 66 RBIs. And Fairchild and Sheets were named first-team All-ACC in May 2017 and a month later were among the top 50 picks of

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the MLB draft. Fairchild, a center fielder who hit .360 with 17 homers and 67 RBIs, was the second-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds. Sheets, a first baseman who hit .306 with an ACC-best 21 homers and 84 RBIs, was the second-round pick of the Chicago White Sox. But if those outside the program wondered how the Deacons could make it back to the NCAA Tournament for the third-straight season – given the additional loss of key performers Ben Breazeale, Jonathan Pryor, Parker Dunshee and Connor Johnstone — those inside were reassured by what was returning for Walter’s ninth season as head coach. “It’s funny,’’ said Ben Casstevens, a walk-on pitcher who has roomed with Aiello the last two years. “It’s one of those things that every year it’s ‘Oh, what are we going to do without all these guys next year?’ But it’s a testament to our coaches that they’re doing a great job of recruiting and developing our players. “That’s special to see our program turn into one where every year guys are stepping up to become ‘Oh, we’re going to miss him next year.’ But you reload.’’ All college teams experience attrition. The best have somebody ready to assume the mantel of leadership. Walter is impressed by the player Aiello has become – a slickfielding, strong-armed third baseman who as a sophomore hit .328 with 20 homers and 53 RBIs. But he’s even prouder of how Aiello has done it.

“HIS WHOLE LIFE IS WRAPPED AROUND BECOMING THE BEST BASEBALL PLAYER HE CAN BE. HE WORKS AS HARD AS ANY PLAYER I’VE EVER COACHED.” –COACH TOM WALTER

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“JOHN RETURNS AS ONE OF THE PREMIER THIRD BASEMEN IN ALL OF COLLEGE BASEBALL.” – COACH TOM WALTER ON AIELLO

JOHNNY AIELLO CLASS: Junior HEIGHT: 6-3 WEIGHT: 215 POSITION: Third base BATS/THROWS: R/R HOMETOWN: Lansdale, Pa. HIGHLIGHTS: 2017 Second Team All-ACC … Batted .328 with 20 homers (ranked tied for 2nd in the ACC behind only teammate Gavin Sheets) and 53 RBIs last season.

“He’s just such a good player,’’ Walter said. “He’s so physical and he works so hard and puts so much time into it. I’m just excited for him to turn into the player he has become. “He’s a plus defender. He’s a leader. He does everything right. I use him as the example in all my individual meetings with these guys.’’ Not all leaders are cut from the same cloth. If the Deacons are in need of a proverbial kick in the behind, they can expect to get it from Griffin Roberts, the team’s fiery ace pitcher. “Griffin definitely fires kids up,’’ Aiello said. “He’ll get up in your face if you’re messing around. “That’s a good thing to have.’’ Aiello, meanwhile, leads by example. Walter said that when the team is doing seven sets of an exercise, with each set requiring eight repetitions, Aiello is working as hard on the 56th repetition as the first. Casstevens said that Aiello’s dedication to improvement does not go unnoticed. “Everyone follows him,’’ Casstevens said. “If he speaks, you listen. “He’s one of those guys you just don’t want to disappoint.’’ Aiello disappointed himself as a freshman when, after blasting two home runs in his first college game, he struggled at the plate

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and in the field. He was a switch-hitting shortstop at the time, one who hit just .226 with six homers and 20 RBIs while striking out once per every 2.6 at-bats. A couple of months later Walter got a call from Aiello, who was playing for the Chatham Anglers of the highly competitive Cape Cod Amateur League. The two had already decided that a move to third base was in order, but now Aiello was telling Walter he had decided to shelve his left-handed swing and bat strictly from the right side. The Deacon coach was immediately in favor of the decision, the results of which could be seen from the start of the 2017 season. “That helped him a lot,’’ Walter said. “His swing was always better right-handed, and his power was actually better righthanded. You don’t see that very often. “Usually when you see a switch-hitter, you’ll see the swing will be more fundamentally sound from one side, but the power will be better from the other. With John, it was both. “You see so many right-handed pitchers. It’s not as big a disadvantage to be right on right as it is to be left on left. He’s worked incredibly hard at it, and he made the decision. And I’m glad that he did. It’s the best thing he could have done. It’s turned him into a better prospect.’’ Aiello, at 6-3, 215 pounds, is the size of a prototypical professional third baseman and, in Walter’s mind, a player who won’t have to wait long to hear his name called in this June’s MLB draft. As for whether he will return to switch-hitting once he gets paid to play, that remains to be seen. “I still hit lefty like once a week in practice, on my own’’ Aiello said. “But I’m definitely just right-handed in games.’’

And as for what he wants to get out of his third and what is expected to be his final college season, it’s to help make Wake Forest become the best baseball team it can possibly be. “My main goal is to help the team win and do everything I can to make everyone better,’’ Aiello said. “I don’t have any statistical goals other than have better at-bats and draw more walks, and keep my aggressiveness. “But like I said, I’m not focused on myself individually. I just think if I do my best to help the team out, then the individual goals will take care of themselves.’’ Dan Collins covered Wake Forest Athletics for more than 25 years as the beat writer for the Winston-Salem Journal. Recently retired, he now is a contributor to Gold Rush.

MARCH 2018

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FAMILY

LEGACY GOLD RUSH MAGAZINE

HAAS NAME SPANS GENERATIONS AT WAKE FOREST WITH JAY, JERRY AND BILL ON THE LINKS By John Dell

he Haas Family Legacy at Bowling Green University just doesn’t have the same ring to it as it does at Wake Forest.

Jay Haas, who was the first to arrive at Wake Forest on a golf scholarship in the early 1970s, wasn’t that highly recruited coming out of Belleville, Ill. “I think Bowling Green was looking at me, but that was about it,” Jay said when recounting how he arrived at Wake Forest. If not for Haas’ uncle, PGA Tour pro Bob Goalby, the Haas Family Legacy would have probably not happened. When Goalby saw Lanny Wadkins of Wake Forest play during the 1970 U.S. Amateur, Goalby knew where his nephew should go to school. “We were out playing one day, and I was a junior in high school, and Uncle Bob says ‘I think you ought to go to Wake Forest,’” Jay said. “And I’m thinking where did that come from? He said if that’s the kind of golfers they have at Wake Forest, then you need to go to play against the best every day.” Goalby also had struck up a friendship for many years with Jesse Haddock, the legendary coach of the Deacons from 1962 until 1992. “One year I missed the cut at the GGO (Greater Greensboro Open), and Jay was with me so before we went to the Masters we visited Jesse at Wake, and I think Jay was a junior in high school,” said Goalby, who is 88-years-old and won the Masters 50 years ago. Goalby, who still lives in Belleville, had an outstanding career on the PGA Tour and was there for the beginning of The Champions Tour. He says he’s had a great relationship with Wake Forest. “One of my sons is also a graduate,” said Goalby, who actually attended Illinois on a football scholarship but also played golf for the Illini. Jay Haas recalls that in the early ‘70s there weren’t many national golf recruiting lists. He had some success in junior golf but didn’t know if he could get to college on a scholarship. “I had been recruited by Illinois a little bit but they didn’t really have a great golf program,” Jay said. “I was recruited by Bowling

Green and their coach was recruiting me, but at that time golf wasn’t really that mainstream. It was very regional.” Once Jay got to Wake Forest, however, he thrived playing alongside Curtis Strange and others that formed the 1974 and ‘75 NCAA championship teams. After Jay, who won the individual NCAA championship in 1975, it was 10 years later that his younger brother, Jerry, came to Wake Forest. Jerry played on the PGA Tour for a number of years but settled into the Wake Forest coaching job in 1997 where he’s been ever since. “I actually thought Jerry would eclipse his older brother because Jerry was, and still is, a helluva player,” Goalby said about Jerry (‘85). Jay’s youngest son, Bill, kept the family legacy going by playing for his uncle from 2000 until 2004. It was during that time that Bill, a 2004 graduate, went on to set the school record for most victories with 10 and he became an All-American before becoming a star on the PGA Tour. Bill, 35, says being a member of that legacy means a lot. “Absolutely, I’m proud of the Haas name here at Wake Forest,” Bill said. “I’m proud of what Jerry’s done as coach and what my dad did here as a player. I think that was a goal of mine when I got here was to prove to myself that I belonged at Wake Forest with that Haas name.” Jerry’s son, Kyle, who is a 13-year-old golfer, hockey and basketball player, could be next in line as a Haas who will be coming to Wake Forest. “Who knows where Kyle will go to college,” Jerry said with a smile about Kyle, who is in the seventh grade. “He’s got a long way to go, but Kyle plays hockey and basketball, and he also plays golf. So we’ll have to see on him.” Bill and his wife, Julie, have three young children and Bill wasn’t shy about committing them to Wake Forest already. “Obviously, I’d love them to play here and all that stuff, but that’s a long way off,” Bill said. “You just want your kids to be happy, but I would certainly steer them toward Wake because of the great experience that I had here.” When you look at the number of PGA Tour starts between Goalby and the Haas family, it adds up to more than 2,000 starts. Bill (who while preparing for a February PGA event in California was injured and briefly hospitalized following a car wreck that took MARCH 2018

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the life of the car’s driver) says if you add in another family member from his mom’s side, then there are even more PGA Tour starts. “That’s a lot of golf,” Bill said. “It’s certainly in our genes to play golf, and we are proud of that. Just the fact that we all have played and on my mom’s side (Jan Haas), her brother, Dillard Pruitt, is a former PGA Tour player, so the amount of golf we’ve played is probably second to none.” Jay is obviously proud of the family name and what it’s meant to Wake Forest. The Haas Family Range is a big part of the Arnold Palmer Golf Complex on campus. Jay, however, says that without the guidance of Goalby, who knows what might have happened? “Bob’s kind of the patriarch of us coming to Wake Forest,” Jay said. “We’ve been pretty blessed to have him in our lives, and I’ve thanked Uncle Bob plenty of times for steering me in the right direction all those years ago.” Not only did Bill graduate from Wake Forest but one of his sisters, Fran, also graduated in 2008. “She loved it,” Bill said about his younger sister. “She had a different experience than me because I was on the golf team, and she was just a regular student, but she was in a sorority and was more of a student than I was. But we always talk about Wake, and she got married last year and her and her husband talk about coming up here to see a game at Wake, so it’s still a big part of our family.” Billy Andrade, who played on the 1986 national championship team, was roommates with Jerry during their time at Wake Forest. Jerry graduated the year before the third national championship. “You really even have to ask that question?” Andrade (‘86) said when he’s asked if the Haas family is the first family of the Wake Forest golf program. Andrade says there’s no better family in the world of golf than the Haas family. “I wouldn’t have come here if it wasn’t for Jerry because he kind of recruited me,” Andrade said. “They are an unbelievable family, and the way they’ve given back to the university has been incredible. It’s a pretty special family. “When you think about what Bob Goalby did in his career and then how the Haas family kind of took it and ran with it is something else.”

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Athletic Director Ron Wellman calls the Haas Family Legacy unique because it’s not like that at other schools. “Not only competitively with what they’ve done on the course but what they’ve meant to the university,” Wellman said. “With Jay and Jerry and Bill, is there any other family that you could say has represented Wake Forest any better? They stand for all the right things, they give back, and they come back, and they have all the characteristics that you would want in alums.” Last fall the three were back together for the Wake Forest Pro-Am at Old Town Club, a fund-raiser for both the men’s and women’s golf programs. Jerry can remember when his older brother was at Wake Forest and he would watch television on Saturday afternoon waiting to see a Wake Forest football score. “Back in the day when we had three channels I would be sitting there watching the Prudential College Scoreboard Show just waiting to see the score of Wake Forest football games,” Jerry said. “I sat there waiting for it and hoped I got a glance of the score.” Jerry remembers when his older brother would bring him Wake Forest gear from school to their family home in Belleville. “Jay would bring me something from Wake when he got home on breaks, and that’s how I first became a big fan of the school,” Jerry said. “He’d bring me back a towel or a T-shirt with Demon Deacons on it, and I loved it. I always remember those days when Jay was here as a student.” Jerry is continuing the legacy by pouring his heart and soul in the program as head coach. He loves the challenge of recruiting and putting together teams that will be factors in the ACC and at the national level. “I’m very proud of what our family has done, but I’m not coaching just because of the legacy or whatever - I do this because I love it, and I love Wake Forest,” Jerry said. It’s a love that the entire Haas Family and Wake Forest share mutually for each other. John Dell, an award winning sportswriter at the Winston-Salem Journal, has covered Wake Forest golf since 1993. He’s been in the newspaper business for 31 years and has been at the Journal since 1993.

AFTER JAY, WHO WON THE INDIVIDUAL NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP IN 1975, IT WAS 10 YEARS LATER THAT HIS YOUNGER BROTHER, JERRY, CAME TO WAKE FOREST. JERRY PLAYED ON THE PGA TOUR FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS BUT SETTLED INTO THE WAKE FOREST COACHING JOB IN 1997 WHERE HEâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S BEEN EVER SINCE. MARCH 2018

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ENTERING THE

HALLOWED HALL 2017-18 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES EXPRESS THANKS FOR THEIR SUCCESS By Sam Walker

ive former Wake Forest studentathletes were inducted into the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame during ceremonies held on Feb. 17. A reception and luncheon were held in their honor earlier in the day, with a special

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recognition following at halftime of the menâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s basketball game against NC State. The 2017-18 class included Winston-Salem native and NBA star Chris Paul, Rhodes Scholar track and field athlete Michelle

Sikes, field hockey All-American Lauren Crandall and football All-American Steve Vallos. John Gerring, a member of the Demon Deacon men’s golf team and the 1957 ACC champion, rounds out the class as the Heritage inductee. Paul was not able to attend the induction ceremony because of his duties during the NBA All-Star Game weekend and will be inducted in a Hall of Fame ceremony at a later date. However, Chris Barclay, the ACC’s 2005 Football Player of the Year, who was elected to the

Hall of Fame class in 2016 but had to defer until a later date, was inducted this year. Also, Tal Jobe was honored with the Gene Hooks Achievement Award. For this year’s class, despite what they may have accomplished individually, they all said in some way that their experiences and success at Wake Forest were more about being a part of something bigger than themselves instead of just what they could accomplish alone. pray about it and let him lead me and so he did, and the best decision I ever made was to come to Wake Forest.” As a junior (2004), Barclay amassed 1,010 yards on 243 attempts and earned first-team All-ACC. He was first-team All-ACC his senior season in addition to being the league’s Player of the Year. Barclay finished with 4,032 career rushing yards, set school records at the time for career points (240), rushing touchdowns (40) and allpurpose yards (4,930). He was the first player in ACC history to lead the league in rushing yards during the regular season in three consecutive seasons and the first ACC player with three consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Barclay was team MVP as a junior and senior. “To be selected to join such an elite and established group of former student-athletes here at Wake Forest is not an honor I take lightly,” Barclay said. “I always had a business-type approach to the game, but I always loved to play the game and carried that same enthusiasm to the field with me in college. And although I recognize this is an individual award, none of it could be possible without the assistance of my former teammates and coaches, so I also understand where my bread is buttered.”

LAUREN CRANDALL CHRIS BARCLAY Barclay is Wake Forest’s all-time rushing leader and had 218 rushes for 1,127 yards in 2005 when he was named ACC Player of the Year. Barclay was one of just three true freshmen to play in 2002, led the team in rushing in 2003 with 1,192 yards and was a second-team All-ACC selection that year. “When I was in high school, I was never a national prospect or even the best prospect on my team, but Wake Forest believed in me and never overlooked me,” Barclay said. “My parents always told me through the recruiting process to always keep God first,

Crandall was a first-ballot inductee and a three-time All-American in field hockey. She was a member of two of Wake Forest’s national championship teams. Crandall was the ACC Tournament MVP in 2006 and a two-time ACC All-Tournament selection, and two-time NCAA AllTournament selection. She earned three first team All-ACC honors and was the first Wake Forest player to earn All-South honors in each of her four seasons playing at Wake Forest. “I came to Wake Forest to be part of something bigger than myself,”

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Crandall said. “I made my official visit, saw two practices, didn’t even see a game and the atmosphere and the camaraderie amongst who would be my teammates, the respect between the coaches and players was special. In a weird way, it was familiar. What I didn’t know when I committed was that the team was really good. About three weeks after I committed, they won the national championship. That was a little intimidating. “What I learned in my four years was that everybody that came before me was part of those national championships. It’s not about who is playing at the time but who has worn the jersey before you. (Head Coach) Jen (Averill), I can’t thank you enough for allowing me to be part of that.” Crandall earned first-team All-American honors in 2005 and 2006. She was a third team All-America selection in 2004. Crandall played for the U.S. at the Junior World Cup in Santiago, Chile, in 2006 and led the team in scoring. She was a member of the USA Field Hockey Olympic teams in 2008, 2012 and 2016. “I’m more than honored, also kind of humbled and it’s intimidating, but this is a family I’m really proud to be inducted into, and it just goes back to being part of something bigger than yourself,” Crandall said.

field hockey balls. I was hit by one once, and it’s an indelible memory. It was an honor, so sports come together here at Wake Forest,” Sikes said giving the nod to her fellow inductee Lauren Crandall of the field hockey team. Sikes won the 2007 NCAA Championship in the 5,000 meters. She became the first Demon Deacon female student-athlete to win an NCAA track championship. She was the 2007 ACC indoor 5,000 meters champion and won the 2007 outdoor 5,000 and 10,000 meters. Sikes was a five-time All-American and an eighttime All-ACC honoree, earning all-league honors three times in cross country, twice in indoor track and three times in outdoor track. Sikes still holds school records in the 1,500 meters, mile, 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters. She was the ACC Performer of the Year at the 2007 outdoor championships. “All the memories I have from here are good ones,” Sikes said. “The friends that I made, the fantastic professors who made the academic side of Wake Forest so much the springboard from which I am able to be here today doing this as a lecturer and athlete.... So when I heard I was going to be inducted, I was so excited.” As a mathematical economics major, she received the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship in 2007, becoming just the third student-athlete in school history to earn the award. Sikes also received the Weaver-James-Corrigan Postgraduate Scholarship from the ACC and was a four-time All-ACC Academic honoree. She is now a lecturer in Kinesiology at Penn State University.

STEVE VALLOS Vallos (’06) was elected to the Wake Forest Sports Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. He earned first-team All-ACC honors at offensive tackle in 2006 and helped the Demon Deacons win the 2006

MICHELLE SIKES

“Today I went for a run, my teammates and I,” said Sikes (’07), elected in her first year of eligibility and one of the most decorated student-athletes in Wake Forest history. “We revisited those cross-country trails and did campus loops and went on the track and it brought back so many memories. The track for me is a special place, and it brought back memories of running 400 intervals around it, running on the cross-country trails behind it, but also dodging the

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ACC Championship. Vallos came to Wake Forest from Boardman, Ohio, and earned first-team All-America honors in 2006 from Sports Illustrated and the Sporting News and was named a second-team All-American by the Walter Camp Foundation. Vallos is considered as one of the best linemen in school history, and helped create many memorable victories. But coming out of high school it seemed few knew how good a football player he had the potential to become. Vallos now works at Wake Forest in the Athletic Department. “I’m an Ohio kid from the Midwest and grew up in Big 10 country but apparently wasn’t good enough to get any Big 10 interest,” Vallos said. “Ohio University was recruiting me pretty heavily. Then in 2001, Ron Wellman was hiring a new football coach from Ohio University named Jim Grobe, and that changed so many things. They brought me here, and the rest is history.” Vallos finished with 48 career starts, the most-ever among Deacon offensive linemen, and spent some of his time blocking for running back and fellow-inductee Chris Barclay. Vallos was a 2007 NFL seventh-round draft pick of the Seattle Seahawks and played seven seasons in the NFL with the Seahawks, Browns, Eagles, Jaguars and Broncos. Vallos played for the Broncos when they advanced to Super Bowl XLVIII. “I want to thank Wake Forest...this is a special place with special people, and I’m so glad I had the opportunity to go here,” he said. “Without football, I probably wouldn’t have been able to go to school, definitely couldn’t have afforded the tuition, so my scholarship was a good opportunity, and I took full advantage of it. “The last two and a half years I’ve traveled the country talking with alums and former student-athletes. There’s no better story than hearing about how they went to the ACC Championship Game as grown men and tell me that when Riley Skinner handed off on that end-around on third-and-one to seal the win, they cried.”

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MARCH 2018

AT H L E T I C S

// H A L L O F FA M E

JOHN GERRING

Gerring, a member of the class of 1957, came to Wake Forest from his hometown of Union, S.C. Gerring was the Heritage Committee’s selection for Hall of Fame induction. He played golf from 1953-57 and won ACC medalist honors in 1957 with rounds of 69-72–141 at WinstonSalem’s Old Town Club. Gerring entered the final round trailing teammate Sonny George by two strokes. In 1957, Gerring was Wake Forest’s medalist in five of seven home matches during an era where teams played dual matches rather than strictly tournaments. “I was 17-years-old when I made my visit to Wake Forest,” Gerring said. “It was going to be my fourth visit to a college concerning golf. My dad was with me. I was at the old campus at the gym and up the steps was Coach (Jim) Weaver, who was also the athletic director and golf coach, and to my right was a curmudgeonlike individual. It was football coach Peahead Walker. We went through the preliminaries with Coach Weaver, and he carried the conversation. Then he stopped, and he said ‘Son, can you play golf?’ I was taught not to brag, so I didn’t say anything. And

Proud to be a Demon Deacon! 18

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then again he said, ‘Son, can you play?’ I still didn’t say anything. Coach Peahead Walker sitting there looked at me and said, ‘Son, if there is ever a good time to brag, it’s now.’” Gerring was Wake Forest’s top golfer in 1955, ’56 and ’57 and went on to serve as a PGA golf professional for over 50 years. He is a member of the PGA Hall of Fame, was named the National PGA Professional of the Year in 1981 and has served as the club professional at several prestigious courses including Peachtree in Atlanta, the Atlanta Country Club, Sea Island Golf Club and Bloomfield Hills Country Club. Gerring was also inducted into the Carolinas Golf Association Hall of Fame. “I want to tell you what Wake Forest means to me,” Gerring said. “Education, yes! But it taught me good manners. I was taught that when you walked across campus, you speak to everybody. That tradition taught me to speak to everybody, to take my hat off when I went inside, to say yes sir and no sir. The manners I learned at Wake Forest meant more to me in my career than anything else. Thank you for allowing me to be here, and I can’t believe I’m really standing here talking about myself because I know I’m not supposed to brag.”

TAL JOBE Jobe was honored with the Gene Hooks Achievement Award. Jobe returned to Wake Forest after retiring from the Burlington-Alamance School District in 2001 and served a variety of roles within the athletic department including baseball clubhouse manager and game operations for multiple sports. Jobe was known for doing just about anything down to manual repairs on Wake Forest athletic facilities. “I think the reason I’m here is because I think I’ve painted for just about everybody in the room,” Jobe joked. “I’m very humbled by this recognition. I’ve spent 17 of my most wonderful years working around our school – Wake Forest. I’m honored to receive this recognition also because it honors Dr. Hooks. “I’m also honored to thank another individual who is not present, my college basketball coach at Wake Forest, Mr. Jack Murdock. He was the man who taught me to love this university and to have the pride I share for Wake Forest with each of you.” Jobe played freshman basketball at Wake Forest during the 1963-64 season and graduated in 1967. He spent 13 years teaching and coaching at Graham Middle School before teaching and coaching at Eastern Alamance High School where he led Eastern to the 1991 state 3-A boys basketball championship.

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IN MEMORIUM

// B A R R Y D O D S O N

BARRY DODSON, NASCAR CREW CHIEF AND LOYAL DEMON DEACON, PASSES AWAY

arry Dodson, an award-winning NASCAR crew chief and a fan and friend of Wake Forest athletics, passed away on Dec. 20, 2017. He was 64. A native of Winston-Salem, Dodson got into racing as a youngster at Bowman Gray Stadium. And despite his many victories in racing, he remained a lifelong dedicated fan of Wake Forest athletics.

“Barry truly loved Wake Forest,” said his sister, Allison Brandon. “I made the decision to bury him in Wake Forest clothes, and he was covered with a Wake Forest blanket. We also had a stuffed Deacon in his casket. Barry had many special friends but he truly valued his special friendships with Ron Wellman and Randolph Childress.” Barry funded two scholarships through the Deacon Club, named in the memory of his children. “Barry was a loyal Demon Deacon,” said Athletics Director Ron Wellman. “He attended so many of our games and enjoyed his

GOLD RUSH MAGAZINE

relationship with our coaches, athletes and staff. He extended himself to serve others and was totally committed to the welfare of today’s youth. We will miss him dearly.” Dodson worked with a number of NASCAR’s top drivers and was credited with 19 victories in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series. During his career, he served as the crew chief for Darrell Waltrip and Tim Richmond. Dodson was the crew chief for NASCAR Hall of Famer Rusty Wallace’s 1989 Winston Cup Series championship. Through a statement, NASCAR said “Barry Dodson’s talent as a crew chief was evident, winning a championship in 1989 and a number of races throughout a career that lasted parts of three decades at the top levels of the sport. His extraordinary skills around a race car were rivaled only by his passion for the sport, and his perseverance in the face of adversity. NASCAR extends its condolences to the family and friends of Barry Dodson. He will be missed.” Dodson began his tenure in NASCAR as a crew member and provided over-the-wall service for a number of years before becoming a crew chief. He overcame adversity when his son Trey, 17, and daughter Tia, 16, were killed as passengers in a single-car auto accident in November, 1994 in Darlington, South Carolina. After he removed himself from racing to mourn the death of his children, he returned in 1995 and helped Kyle Petty win at Dover International Speedway, Petty’s first victory in two years.

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MARCH 2018

INSIDE THE DEACON CLUB

The Impact of Your Support: Today, Tomorrow and Forever

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

While we all know that Wake Forest is an incredibly unique and special place, it is always amazing to hear new stories about the various ways in which people are positively impacted by their experiences with the University and our athletic programs. Whether it’s an alumnus, a parent, a donor or a fan, it seems that almost everyone I encounter has a story to tell and a slew of Wake Forest memories worth sharing. As our development team travels across the country having conversations with a wide array of individuals, it becomes increasingly clear just how much Wake Forest means to so many. Due to that, it’s not uncommon for people to ask how they can help, or what else they can do to show their support and give back in a meaningful way. Since the Wake Will campaign first began in 2010, we have experienced the largest facility buildout in the history of our Athletic Department. With all 16 varsity sports benefitting in some capacity from the addition of new and upgraded facilities, there has also been significant progress in the area of sports performance, including the hiring of Kate Ruley, who serves as the Director of Sports Nutrition. While these are just a couple examples, the generosity and involvement of our loyal donors has helped make so much possible. Over the past few years, our athletic endowment is another area that has been impacted, as an increasing number of donors have expressed an interest in providing this type of support. With a long-term goal of fully endowing the Athletic Department by 2040 — requiring a total investment of $640 million — it is encouraging to see people actively seeking out ways to learn more. As we charge ahead, we want to bring awareness to the various options available in regard to endowment. Whether it’s establishing a scholarship, enhancing a program’s budget or including Wake Forest in your estate plans, there are many ways to leave a legacy and impact the lives of student-athletes for generations to come. In an effort keep our donors informed, we have focused on one-on-one and small-group conversations. In addition, we are able to showcase the impact made at events like our annual Stewardship Brunch. This is one of my favorite events each year, as it is so inspiring to hear current and former student-athletes share how their scholarships changed their lives. This year’s event featured a Today, Tomorrow, Forever theme, speaking directly to the impact made through scholarship support at different stages. The 2018 Stewardship Brunch featured three special guests — Hannah Betfort (’21), Dr. Louis Frazier (’07, MD ’12) and Bob McCreary (’61) — who each shared what their Wake Forest experience has meant to them.

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Hannah Betfort, a freshman member of the women’s soccer team, represented the Today portion of the program. As one of five children in a single-mother household, she explained that her family wouldn’t have been able to afford to send her to college. “I would like to thank everyone in this room because, in one way or another, you have impacted me and everyone around me at this institution,” Hannah shared. Speaking to Tomorrow was Dr. Louis Frazier, who is an emergency physician and former member of the Wake Forest football team. Growing up, he faced a lot of adversity and Wake Forest played a major role in his life. “Maybe, somehow, I could’ve worked my way up through a junior college scholarship and went to a great school like this, but my family couldn’t afford it,” he expressed. Constantly striving for more, he was able to overcome many challenges and has achieved so much. In reflecting on his journey, he expressed his gratitude to all of our donors, sharing, “I just want to let you know that all your support has paid off.” Bob McCreary — the Athletic Department’s largest donor with over $30 million in lifetime giving and former Wake Forest football player — served as the Forever speaker. Bob had a very modest upbringing, and similar to Hannah and Louis, would not have been able to attend college without a scholarship. “My scholarship enabled me to come to Wake Forest, and Wake Forest became the platform for the rest of my life,” he affirmed. Bob has done an incredible amount to support Wake Forest Athletics and our student-athletes, but he has also been a great advocate for encouraging others to give back. “Find a way to do it as soon as you can so you can enjoy the benefits of the gift,” he stated. Speaking to all the fellow donors, Bob shared, “Sometimes we have to challenge ourselves to perhaps do just a little bit more because you’re making a tremendous investment in these young lives.” When you hear individuals like Hannah, Louis and Bob share their stories, it really puts into perspective how much their lives have been affected through the support of our donors. As we strive to reach our $640 million goal and provide similar opportunities for future student-athletes, I encourage you to consider the various options that are available. Whether you want to make an impact now — with a five-year commitment of $100,000 to establish your own scholarship — or in the future by including Wake Forest Athletics in your estate plans, I can assure you that you’ll be helping to transform the lives of our deserving student-athletes. Go Deacs!

INSIDE THE DEACON CLUB

SAVE THE DATE: VARSITY CLUB AND HOMECOMING WEEKEND We hope you’ll be able to join fellow Deacon fans, Varsity Club members, Wake Forest coaches and staff on Friday, Nov. 2 and Saturday, Nov. 3. The Deacs will play Syracuse at the Homecoming football game on Saturday (game time TBA). More information will be provided in the coming months.

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

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.

2018 FOOTBALL SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW Season tickets for the 2018 Wake Forest football season are on sale now! With a home schedule that includes seven games — including Clemson and Notre Dame — you won’t want to miss out. To order, please call (336) 758-3322 ext. 1.

MARCH 2018

DONOR PROFILE

// D R . F R A N K J A M E S

Establishing a scholarship leads Dr. Frank James to form special relationship with soccer standout Jon Bakero

r. Frank James spent the majority of his early life in Pennsylvania — an area where several generations of his family resided. A native of Philadelphia, he attended Friends’ Central — a small, Quaker school— from first through 12th grade prior to attending Swarthmore College. While earning his undergraduate degree, Dr. James was a student-athlete as a member of both the football and lacrosse teams. He captained the 1957 Swarthmore Penn-Del championship team and earned honorable mention AllAmerica honors. Once he received his bachelor’s degree, Dr. James went on to pursue his medical degree at Hahnemann Medical College, now known as the Drexel University College of Medicine. He then received the opportunity to do his medical internship at Philadelphia General Hospital. In the two years following, Dr. James served in the United States Air Force as a General Medical Officer stationed in Washington state. Upon concluding his service, Dr. James returned to the Philadelphia area to embark on his anesthesiology residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. After successfully completing his residency program and remaining on staff for an additional year, he was presented with an unexpected offer. In the summer of 1968, a friend and former classmate from medical school contacted Dr. James about the opportunity to join him in North Carolina. At that time, his friend Tom Irving was head of an anesthesia section at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine. While he was grateful for the recommendation, Dr. James wanted to weigh his options and determine the best course of action. For someone who spent almost his entire life in and around the Philadelphia area — combined with a lack of familiarity with Winston-Salem — he knew that making a permanent move would be an adjustment. By this point, he was already married to his wife, Dell — a native of Martinsville, Va. — so

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it was important to James to make sure that the potential move would be a good decision for their family. Ultimately, Dr. James decided to accept Irving’s offer and he became only the fifth physician in anesthesia on the faculty at Bowman Gray. Upon arriving in Winston-Salem, he immediately felt a strong connection with Wake Forest. Over the years, he worked his way up and became the Chair of the Anesthesiology Department, as well as the Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education. As an avid sports fan, Dr. James was glad to have the ability to attend games and support the Demon Deacons. With his background as a collegiate student-athlete, he felt he could relate to the Wake Forest athletic programs, knowing first-hand what it’s like to be a smaller school competing against others who are much larger. While he enjoyed cheering on Wake Forest in most sports, it became a tradition to attend Wake Forest basketball games as a family. Dr. James and Dell would bring their three children — Lacy, Martha and Frank — to almost every home game. Viewing it as an opportunity to not only support athletics, but also a way to invest in students, Dr. James

and Dell have been loyal Deacon Club members for a number of years. In addition to supporting the Annual Fund, the couple has established a scholarship — the Frank and Dell James Athletic Endowment Fund — to support Wake Forest student-athletes. In an effort to further fund and support that scholarship, they have also made a commitment via their estate. Upon creating their scholarship, Dr. James knew that it was helping to provide athletic and educational opportunities, however, he was unaware of all that it would lead to as the years went on. “When we first started our scholarship, I didn’t even think you got to meet the student-athletes, let alone get to know them,” Dr. James recalls. For the past four years, men’s soccer student-athlete Jon Bakero (’17) was the recipient of the James’ scholarship. When Dr. James first discovered that Bakero would officially be receiving their scholarship, he was elated. After reading an article on Bakero when he signed with Wake Forest, James looked forward to getting to know him. With Bakero having grown up in Spain, Dr. James immediately thought of his nephew and granddaughter who studied abroad in Barcelona and Madrid, respectively. Having talked with them about their experiences and possessing some knowledge of each area, Dr. James felt these pieces of information would help establish a connection with Bakero from the start. Dr. James first met Bakero in the fall of 2014, which was his freshman season. Remembering that first interaction, Dr. James immediately noticed how easily Bakero connected with him, despite the fact that he was probably overwhelmed being in an entirely new place and so far away from his family. Since that first meeting, the relationship that the James family has established with Bakero has evolved into something truly special. Whether it was meeting on campus for an occasional lunch or sharing in

a brief post-game talk at Spry Stadium, they’ve formed an amazing bond. “It has been a pleasure to get to know Jon so well and watch him mature into such an incredible young man,” Dr. James expressed. “He’s a really great soccer player, but I genuinely believe he’s an even better person.” For Bakero, having Dr. James cheering him on at games really meant a lot, especially since his family resides in Spain. “My family couldn’t be there, so it was great to have a familiar face in the stands that’s there for you,” Bakero shared. Off the field, the James’ support was just as important for Bakero. “Having someone who you can just talk about life with and who can share so many lessons was very meaningful for me.” Bakero views Dr. James and Dell like family. “Our relationship has been so important to me during my time in college,” Bakero states. “I’m so thankful that I got to meet them, as nothing I accomplished as a player and student would have been possible without their support.” Throughout his time as a studentathlete, Bakero established himself

as one of the most decorated Demon Deacons in the history of the men’s soccer program. He became the third-ever Deacon to win the MAC Hermann Trophy — given to the top player in college soccer — won the 2017 Senior CLASS Award and was named the 2017 ACC Offensive Player of the Year, just to highlight a few of his accomplishments. In addition, Bakero was selected by the Chicago Fire as the fifth overall pick in the first round of the 2018 MLS SuperDraft. Although he achieved so much during his time at Wake Forest, Bakero has made it clear that he would not have been able to attend Wake Forest without a scholarship. “My family and I are forever thankful to Dr. James and his family for making it possible for me to compete for the best soccer program in the country, while getting a degree from such a prestigious university,” Bakero affirms. For those who may be considering establishing their own scholarship, Dr. James shares, “By starting a scholarship, you can help provide the support that allows a young person to get an education.” Aside from the opportunity it helps provide, however, the relationships

that can be formed offer an additional benefit. “From a selfish standpoint, your scholarship allows you to really get to know some of these young people faceto-face and be a part of their Wake Forest journeys,” Dr. James states. In addition to the positive effect a scholarship has on the student-athlete who receives it, it can also affect the donors who contribute to the scholarship. “It can truly have a big impact on you,” Dr. James reiterates. The personal connection that is made provides a sense of joy and pride. A wonderful example of this is Dr. James’ wife. While Dell doesn’t have the same affinity for attending athletic events as her husband, getting to know Bakero and establishing that relationship caused her to want to attend many of his games. Reminiscing on the time he spent with Dr. James and Dell, Bakero shares, “I’m so thankful for every moment I got to share with them.” While Dr. James and Dell are sad that Bakero will no longer be at Wake Forest, they look forward to watching him compete in his professional career as part of the Chicago Fire Soccer Club.

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!

3 2 A group of former Wake Forest women’s 1 Mike (’77) (left) and Rhona (middle) Sherrill were recognized as the 2017 Deacon Club Members of the Year at the sixth annual Stewardship Brunch on Feb. 3. They were joined by their scholarship recipient and football student-athlete, Phil Haynes (’18) (right).

basketball players gathered at the game versus UNC as part of their reunion weekend.

3 A lex Bachman (’19) (left), current football studentathlete, and Deacon Club member Chuck Wall (’70, JD ’72) (right) prepare to participate in a panel discussion at the Wake Forest Athletics Legacy Event held in February.

MARCH 2018

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

J A N E T ( B AT E S ) FA I G

n each issue, Where Are They Now showcases a former Wake Forest student-athlete. Janet (Bates) Faig (’82) was a member of the 1977-79 Wake Forest women’s tennis team. As a student-athlete, she enjoyed the full Wake Forest experience, including student government and Greek life, while embracing the many cultural and educational events offered campus-wide. Faig currently resides in Gillette, N.J., with her husband, Chuck (’81). While she continues to enjoy playing tennis and platform tennis, Faig has also enthusiastically taken up golf.

Janet (Bates) Faig When did you graduate from Wake Forest? 1982 What was your major and/or minor? Mathematics with a minor in Education What does being a Demon Deacon mean to you? There is a sense of pride and love for the school that follows me wherever I go. My husband, Chuck, and I meet and befriend fellow Wake Forest students and alumni everywhere we go, and there is a bond that other people don’t understand. The commonality of our experiences at Wake seems to supersede other differences – especially age – since we are now in our 50s. Why are you still involved in Wake Forest Athletics? When we were in school, athletics were a big part of our experience. I was a walk-on to the women’s tennis team my freshman year and continued to play until my junior year when my “priorities” shifted. Chuck and I both participated in the intramural sports program, first with our freshman halls, then with our respective fraternity and society (now sorority). We went with friends to all the football games, basketball games and frequented the tennis, soccer and baseball events. Sports continue to be a big part of our lives and we love to follow Wake, though we rarely get to see the teams live since we live in New Jersey. When the opportunity came up to help sponsor a student to play tennis at Wake Forest, we jumped at it. Being involved makes us feel connected to the school and the student-athletes. Why do you feel it is important to give back to the University? As I mentioned earlier, we are very proud of our Wake Forest heritage. Coming from modest middle-class families, both Chuck and I feel that our lives have been so enriched through our education, our experiences and our relationships at Wake Forest. Chuck and I each “did” college differently. I was involved in tennis, student government, Strings, a local

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church, and tutoring athletes and students from the community; I loved meeting and knowing professors and administrators, community members and students in all capacities. Chuck was a much more conscientious student, but as he would say, “I never let school interfere with my education.” We both loved our experiences and continue to stay in touch with many of our Wake friends. Our lives have been enriched by them and our shared memories. Considering that I met my husband, realized my career path, made lifelong friends and have lived a life better than either my husband or I could have imagined, it feels natural to want to give back. What is your current occupation? I taught when I first graduated, then worked in New York City in the telecommunications field for a few years before we had kids. I did not work for 20 years, then started teaching platform tennis almost 10 years ago. I still teach a bit but am basically retired now. What is your favorite memory of your time at Wake Forest? There are so many…I think that rolling the Quad after big wins is a highlight. Especially my junior year when we were invited to the Tangerine Bowl. Back in those days, we had to camp outside the gym overnight to get tickets to the basketball games, which was a unique experience. There were some amazing games from 1978-82! What makes you most proud of Wake Forest? I have always been proud that Wake Forest competes with the bigger schools on virtually every front, but continues to highlight the importance of the relationship between the student and the professor. I feel that the faculty as a whole was, and still is, so willing to get involved with the students, and that sets Wake apart from many other schools. It was fundamental to my success. When you come back to Wake Forest, you always… Go first to the Quad and walk around. The trees have died, been replaced and completely reached maturity

again since I graduated. I am old! I am overwhelmed with the growth, but it continues to be a beautiful campus. I was there when… The only place to eat on campus was the Pit. When the “snack pit” opened, we thought we had really arrived! You could buy fast food after 6:30 p.m. The Pit was a great place to meet people though. I actually met my husband because tennis practice ended at 6:00 p.m. and my friends went to the Pit at 5:30 p.m. Chuck and his friends went to dinner at 6:15 p.m. Long story, but I started sitting with them, became friends and, ultimately, I started dating Chuck. Who is your favorite coach at Wake Forest, current or past? I can’t say that I had a favorite coach. I was not a star athlete and while I interacted with and respected my tennis coach, it wasn’t a relationship that I maintained. My favorite “coaches” would have been Dr. Waddill and Dr. Gentry from the Math Department. They took the time to know me personally, encouraged me through my career search and showed me the grace that I needed as a 20-year-old woman. My life was enriched by knowing them.

5 . 2 2 .1 8

GET READY FOR DEACS DAY OF GIVING ON 5.22.18! On May 22, Deacon fans from around the country will rally in support of Wake Forest Athletics to shape the future of our programs. This 24-hour fundraising event will feature giving challenges that will directly impact Wake Forest student-athletes. Your participation will enable us to invest in programs that maximize our recruiting, training and educational abilities.

We need your help! Contact the Deacon Club at DeacClub@wfu.edu to get involved or make an early donation.

DEACONCLUB

@WFUDEACONCLUB

Make sure you follow our social media channels for Deacs Day of Giving announcements, updates and results! Like and share our posts to help spread the word.

PA ER DEG AE C OHNESA D IN THE PROS BASEBALL

Akira Fitzgerald Ian Harkes Jack Harrison Jacori Hayes Tolani Ibikunle Andy Lubahn Collin Martin Justin Moose Ben Newnam Ike Opara Sean Okoli Michael Parkhurst Kevin Politz Jalen Robinson Brandon Servania Ema Twumasi Jared Watts

MAJOR LEAGUES Mac Williamson

San Francisco Giants

MINOR LEAGUE RANKS Ben Breazeale Tim Cooney Will Craig Parker Dunshee Stuart Fairchild Aaron Fossas Connor Johnstone Connor Kaden Garrett Kelly Nate Mondou Joe Napolitano Jonathan Pryor Donnie Sellers Gavin Sheets

Baltimore Orioles (A) Cleveland Indians (AAA) Pittsburgh Pirates (High A) Oakland Athletics (A) Cincinnati Reds (Rookie) Cincinnati Reds (A) Atlanta Braves (Rookie) San Francisco Giants (High A) Schaumburg Boomers (Ind.) Oakland Athletics (High A) New York Mets (A) Washington Nationals (A) Toronto Blue Jays (A) Chicago White Sox (A)

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

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

LPGA LPGA LPGA LPGA Symetra Symetra Symetra Symetra Symetra

(conditional LPGA for 2018)

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

WOMEN’S SOCCER Aubrey Bledsoe Katie Stengel Sarah Teegarden Annick McBryar Kelsey Zalimeni

(conditional LPGA for 2018)

MEN’S SOCCER Jon Bakero Corben Bone Brian Carroll Sam Cronin Austin da Luz Chris Duvall Alec Ferrell Sam Fink

Tampa Bay Rowdies D.C. United Middlesbrough FC FC Dallas Ekenas Sport Club (Finland) San Francisco Deltas Minnesota United FC Wilmington Hammerheads San Antonio FC Sporting Kansas City New York City FC Atlanta United FC New York Red Bulls D.C. United F.C. Dallas FC Dallas Colorado Rapids

MEN’S BASKETBALL

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COMPLIANCE CORNER

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

BENEFITS ASSOCIATED WITH GRADUATION

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

With graduation quickly approaching, it’s probably a good idea to start thinking about what, if any, NCAA rules still pertain to former student-athletes once they have graduated. For example, is it permissible to buy a gift for a graduating student-athlete? We all know that benefits to a current student-athlete are not permissible, however, one might assume that once a student-athlete graduates, all NCAA rules are lifted. In reality, the NCAA does still place certain restrictions on the types of benefits these individuals can receive. These stipulations exist to prevent the promise of benefits after graduation from being used as a recruiting inducement. With the recent allegations of widespread impermissible benefits being provided to student-athletes, this is an issue that must always be considered in every instance. NCAA rules do, however, permit donors and other institutional representatives to provide gifts and benefits of nominal value to student-athletes on an occasional basis following graduation. So,

it would be permissible to provide a graduating student-athlete with a gift — provided the value does not exceed $50 — which is the NCAA’s general definition of “nominal value.” The one condition to this exception, however, is that such benefits are only permissible if Wake Forest is not currently recruiting a relative of the former studentathlete. Therefore, prior to providing a benefit to a former student-athlete, it is extremely important that you check with the Athletics Compliance Office beforehand. Additionally, it is permissible for the athletic department to provide a gift to a graduating senior. NCAA legislation allows each senior student-athlete to receive a gift up to a value of $425. Typically, these gifts are in the form of the framed jerseys and commemorative balls that student-athletes receive on their respective senior nights. For other questions regarding this, or any other compliance-related issue, please contact me at hairstct@wfu.edu.

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