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 men’s tennis enters the spring season as a favorite to compete for a Big 12 championship and should once again be in the running for a top seed in the NCAA Tournament.
The Wildcats are ranked No. 6 in the ITA preseason coaches poll. Arizona’s Colton Smith and Jay Friend are ranked No. 5 and No. 6 individually, making the Wildcats one of two programs (joining Texas) with a pair of players ranked in the top 10.
The Preseason Coaches Poll Is Here
Take a look at the ITA Division I Men’s Preseason Coaches Poll! The full Top 25 Team Rankings and more can be found below ⬇️
https://t.co/NpGkr4sD6X (Full Rankings)#WeAreCollegeTennis | #ITARankings pic.twitter.com/oWu0OrdE9h
— ITA (@ITA_Tennis) January 6, 2025
Smith, a senior, is a reigning ITA All-American. He became the first Wildcat since 2006 to receive All-American status. Friend, a junior, made the quarterfinals of the 2024-25 NCAA Men’s Singles Championships this past fall.
Smith and Friend are joined by returning senior Casper Christensen, a 2024 All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention.
Two freshmen from Arizona’s top-ranked 2024 recruiting class are ranked in the top 100: Zoran Ludoski at No. 61 and Oskar Jansson at No. 89.
Arizona was voted to finish second in the Big 12 coaches preseason poll behind TCU. The UA received two first-place votes.
Arizona has reached the NCAA Sweet in three of the last four seasons under coach Clancy Shields.
The Wildcats begin the spring season Jan. 14 when they host New Mexico State for a doubleheader.
Meanwhile, the Arizona women’s tennis program team was picked to finish 9th in the Big 12 coaches poll. Oklahoma State is the league favorite.
Arizona is led by No. 50 Josie Usereau, a transfer from Cal State Fullerton, and No. 74 Midori Castillo, a senior.
Arizona is looking to make back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances under coach Ryan Stotland. The UA lost to Oklahoma in the opening round last year.
The Wildcats begin the year Jan. 17 when they host LMU and UC San Diego.
Swimming and diving
Arizona’s Zara Ayazi became the second Wildcat to earn Big 12 Women’s Diver of the Week honors this season after winning event title on the 1-meter dive against NAU by over 20 points with a zone cut score of 286.73.
Ayazi, a junior, previously earned an NCAA Diving Zones Cut with a second place finish in the women’s platform event (233.03) against BYU.
Teammate Brooke Earley has also taken home the weekly honor once, while on the men’s side Gage DuBois has been named Big 12 Men’s Diver of the Week three times this season.
The Arizona men host Harvard this Friday.
Track and field
Arizona begins the indoor season tomorrow at the Friday Night Axe ‘Em Open in Flagstaff.
The competition gets underway at 1 p.m. MST with field events. Running events begin at 3 p.m.
Arizona will compete in a league with indoor conference championships for the first time in decades. The Big 12 holds indoor championships Feb. 28 – March 1.