The University of Akron Athletics
athletics emails tom 2012 13 march 5 2013
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THE BEST BASKETBALL SEASON WE’VE EVER HAD (FOR BOTH TEAMS) …
Congratulations to our Women’s Basketball team for winning a program-record 20 games (and counting) and securing at least a tie for the Mid-American Conference East Division regular-season title, another first in our history. The latest win was a 71-65 come-from-behind thriller Sunday over Miami on Senior Day. Junior Rachel Tecca had a career-high 32 points, earning her fourth MAC East Player of the Week honor this season.
Those of you who are long-time followers of Zips Athletics know that our Women’s Basketball program has come a long way under Head Coach Jodi Kest and her staff. Watch this video to hear her talk about the goals her team already has achieved – and which ones they’re still attacking.
We have one regular-season game left – tomorrow night at Buffalo – that will determine our seed entering the MAC Tournament. We can finish anywhere from second to fifth based on the results from our game and other league contests, but a win would secure a double bye into at least the MAC quarterfinals next Thursday (with a triple bye into Friday’s semifinals still possible). Check GoZips.com or follow @ZipsWBB for the latest news about our MAC seed.
WE’RE STILL THINKING BIGGER …
Our nation-leading 19-consecutive wins may be over, but Men’s Basketball still has plenty to play for in its final two regular-season games. Watch Head Coach Keith Dambrot talk about how the team is eager to clinch its second-consecutive (and ever) MAC regular-season title by winning its next game.
Help us start a new winning streak at 7 p.m. tonight in James A. Rhodes Arena vs. Miami. We’re going to have some fun tonight and try to set another mark – this one in the Guinness Book of World Records, for the most people in one venue wearing a paper hat at the same time. We have 3,000 paper hats, courtesy of Alpha Sigma Phi and 22 Exchange, to distribute to fans as you enter the JAR tonight, and we’ll tell everyone when to put it on (and keep it on for five consecutive minutes).
We also have our fourth and final set of trading cards, featuring Alex Abreu, Nick Harney, Blake Justice and Jonas Stalyga, who will be available for autographs after the game.
#ZipsGameday AT THE Q – AND THE CLEVELANDER!
We are thrilled to announce that The Clevelander, located at 834 Huron Road (just one block East of Quicken Loans Arena, near the corner of Huron and East 9th), will serve as the Zips Party Headquarters before every game our Men’s and Women’s Basketball teams play at Quicken Loans Arena. They will offer drink and food specials, and recently installed 12 brand-new 60-inch flatscreen televisions, among other amenities. Please join us and celebrate with your fellow Zips fans.
Please order your MAC Tournament tickets ASAP from our Chima Athletics Ticket Office staff – we want all orders in by the end of the week so we can turn them around efficiently for you. Please remember that the MAC requires each school to purchase a block of tickets for each round, so any unsold tickets are a cost we need to absorb. Plus, this way you are guaranteed to sit among fellow Zips!
Here is the order form, which also will be available at our Men’s Basketball games tonight and Friday, or you can call 888-99-AKRON (25766) during normal business hours.
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
Watch Rifle junior Victoria Brown explain what brought her to the University all the way from Vermont.
‘DRIVE FOR 5’ DONOR OF THE WEEK
Thanks to Alfred and Judith Nicely for joining our team through the “Drive for 5”! You can join Alfred and Judith – and our team – by signing up here as we seek to elevate Zips Athletics by having 5,000 donors and fundraising $5 million annually by 2015.
ZIPS CONGRATS TO …
… Shawn Barber (pole vault), Alexis Cooks (weight throw), Brittany Funk (weight throw), Gabriel Genovesi (800 meters), Alex McCune (heptathlon) and Joe Wesley (pole vault) from Track and Field for qualifying for the 2013 NCAA Indoor Championships, held this weekend in Arkansas. This is the most qualifiers we’ve had in one year in our history!
… Catherine Carr, who earned All-MAC First Team honors at the MAC Swimming and Diving Championship …
… our fans, for selling out the Men’s Basketball regular-season finale vs. Kent State one week early! It will be Senior Night for Zeke Marshall, Brian Walsh and Chauncey Gilliam, with tipoff at 7 p.m. on ESPN2 …
… our Rifle team earned seven individual postseason awards by six different athletes …
… good luck to Women’s Golf, which tees off its spring season in Arizona starting Friday!
ZIPS CLIPS …
… We announced our 2013 Football schedule, which can be found here – don’t delay in renewing or purchasing your season tickets!
… ESPN.com awarded Zeke Marshall as Defensive Player of the Month …
… Cleveland Plain Dealer sports columnist Bill Livingston analyzes the outcome of a hypothetical matchup between the Zips men's basketball team and Ohio State in the NCAA Tournament …
… CBSSports.com analyzed our Men's Basketball team's candidacy as an at-large selection in this season's NCAA Tournament …
IN MEMORARIUM
Our thoughts and prayers to the family of Gary Taylor, a UA alumnus who was the founder of InfoCision and was an amazing supporter of Zips Athletics. Gary passed away Saturday.
There are not enough words to express all that Gary and his
family have done for not just Zips Athletics but The University of
Akron. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Gary L. and
Karen S. Taylor Family Foundation, Attention Foundation Secretary
Lori Feist, 325 Springside Drive, Akron, OH 44333.
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
