Editor’s note: With several sports going on, Wildcat Wrap serves as a recap that focuses on the Arizona programs that we do not have the time to cover on a regular basis but are certainly worthy of recognition.
Arizona track and field will send six athletes to NCAA Championships next week.
The Wildcats competed last weekend at the NCAA West First Round, where three individual athletes and one relay team punched their tickets to NCAA Championships in Eugene June 5-8.
Sir Jonathan Sims qualified in the men’s long jump and triple jump. Sims, a sophomore, will be making first career appearance at NCAA Championships.
Trayvion White-Austin qualified in the men’s 100m and 200m. White-Austin clocked a 10.05 (+2.9) in the 100m quarterfinals, which would stand as the best time in school history if not for it being wind-aided. White-Austin’s previous-best eligible time of 10.14 stands as the school record.
White-Austin also advanced in the men’s 4x100m relay.
“I just wanted to get to the next meet and get to those championships,” said White-Austin. “Executing my warm ups and believing in myself were the keys for me today. The competition was really tough, but I knew I could hang with them, so I did. I worked so hard for this, and I worked for a very long time to get to this, so it feels good.”
Joining White-Austin in the 4x100m relay are Brian Limage, James Onanubosi and Tyson Tippett.
The other Wildcat to qualify is Yan Vazquez in the 400m hurdles.
Beach volleyball
Arizona beach volleyball announced the addition of three transfers for next season.
The Wildcats signed Dylan Brewer from Florida Gulf Coast, Brooke Blutreich from LSU and Adriana Nieves Papaleo from ASU. Brewer and Nieves Papaleo are both rising juniors, while Bluetreich is a grad transfer.
Brewer is a former ASUN All-Freshman Team honoree.
Nieves Papaleo went 15-5 as a sophomore for the Sun Devils. She helped lead the program to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.
Arizona is coming off a 21-12 season including a perfect 11-0 home record.
Men’s tennis
Arizona men’s tennis finished the 2023-24 season with the No. 9 ranking. The Wildcats won the Pac-12 regular season and tournament championships and made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament.
Colton Smith is Arizona’s highest ranked individual player at No. 16. Smith reached the semifinals of the NCAA Singles Tournament. Jay Friend is ranked No. 39 and Gustaf Strom is ranked No. 76.
The doubles pair of Smith and Friend are ranked No. 38.
Smith and Friend are expected to be Arizona’s top returners next season.
