LATEST EDITION

CONGRATS TO THE GRADUATES!

Those of you who have heard me speak publicly about Zips Athletics know that we have two goals for every one of our student-athletes.  First and foremost, of course, is for each of them to earn an undergraduate degree from The University of Akron – and nearly 40 Zips received their degrees this weekend during Spring Commencement.  Congratulations to all of our newest alumni!

Our other goal is for every student-athlete to have a positive and meaningful experience as a Zip.  That means different things to each person. As the seniors reflect on their time as student-athletes, we hope that they feel that they benefited from participating in intercollegiate athletics at UA.  We know that we’re better because of them.

IT’S ROO-NEWAL TIME

Thanks to all of you who have renewed or purchased your season tickets for football and men’s and women’s soccer.  If you haven’t already, please do so ASAP.  We need you to renew now (and especially before the June 1 deadline).   All ticket information can be found online at GoZips.com/tickets, and our ticket staff can assist you when you call 888-99-AKRON (25766), Monday through Friday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

YOU LIKE US …

… on Facebook.  We’ve had more than 1,000 “likes” added to our page in the last few weeks, putting us well over 17,000, and we will continue to be aggressive on the Social Media front.  In fact, we’ll soon be rewarding you for your participation online … more details to follow soon.  In the meantime, here’s our Social Media Directory so you can follow and friend our teams and coaches.

You’ll also like this: our NCAA Tournament Trip Blog for Women’s Tennis, which faces Northwestern on Friday in the first round. It’s our second consecutive trip to the NCAA tournament.  I will be in Chicago cheering them on, so if you’re in the Windy City, please come by to support them!

DOWN THE STRETCH WITH THE PNC WAGON WHEEL CHALLENGE

Thanks to Softball’s sweep of Kent State last weekend, we picked up another point on our arch rival in the first PNC Wagon Wheel Challenge competition.  We currently trail KSU 7.0-5.0, with three points remaining – including two this weekend, one each for the Mid-American Conference Men’s and Women’s Outdoor Track Championship (Baseball will be the final point available May 17-19).

The Track Championship runs from Thursday through Saturday in Mount Pleasant, Michigan, at Central Michigan – all the best to Coach Dennis Mitchell and his team as they pursue yet another MAC title!

BULL CHOSEN FOR NCAA REGIONAL

We’re thrilled for sophomore men’s golfer Charlie Bull, who was selected as one of 10 individuals to participate in the Ann Arbor Regional as part of the NCAA Regional Tournament.  He’ll compete May 17-19 and be vying to advance to the NCAA Championships.

Charlie is the first Zips’ student-athlete to compete in the NCAA Regional tournament since Akron joined the Division I rankings (1980-81). The last postseason appearance by the Zips came in the Division II NCAA Championships in 1977.

Charlie earned First-Team All-MAC honors this year, as well as a spot on the MAC All-Tournament team after finishing in the top five last weekend at the MAC Championship. While our team finished in a tie for eighth place, we were making a late charge when poor weather caused the final round of the 72-hole event to be cancelled.

WHAT ARE YOUR KIDS DOING THIS SUMMER?

We offer a wide variety of camps and clinics in nine different sports, including men’s and women’s basketball, football, men’s and women’s soccer, softball, swimming and diving, track and field and volleyball.  For more information, please visit this webpage.

CONGRATS TO …

… junior first baseman Alissa Birkhimer, who was named First-Team All-MAC in Softball, while freshman shortstop Keelia Nester was named to the MAC All-Freshman team ...

 … to senior outfielder Alex Helfrich, for being named to the Capital One Academic All-District team for District V, as by the College Sports Information Directors of America. Helfrich, who carries a 3.96 GPA and a .348 batting average, now is eligible for the Capital One Academic All-America team after earning first-team all-district honors. The honor is her third in three seasons, but her first on the first team.

… and the entire Softball team, for ending its season on a 4-game winning streak, which included not only a sweep of Kent State but also a “Strike Out Cancer” day that raised more than $2,400 …

… to senior Eric Hubbard, who broke an eight-year school record in the hammer throw during the first day of the Campbell/Wright Invitational last weekend and earned MAC Male Field Athlete of the Week honors as a result.

… to senior defensive lineman Hasan Hazime, who was selected by the Edmonton Eskimos as the 36^th overall pick in the fifth round of the Canadian Football League’s Canadian Draft …

… to six more Zips joining our men’s soccer team. Welcome!

ASK THE AD

As always, if you have a question or want to comment about Zips Athletics, click here now or at any time on the “Ask the AD” button on the home page of GoZips.com.

Go Zips!

Tom Wistrcill
Director of Athletics

Send Director of Athletics, Tom Wistrcill your questions and comments!