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.
The Arizona track and field program opened the 2025 outdoor season Saturday with a strong outing at the Spring Break Fiesta in Tucson.
Arizona took first in 17 events and secured 41 top-three finishes. The Wildcats competed against athletes from GCU, Minnesota and Arizona Christian.
The highlight of the meet came in the women’s 100m, when sophomore Jade Brown ran a school record time 11.27. Brown also holds the Arizona record in the indoor 60m.
“I was very pleased with the efforts and performances we had in all of our event areas today,” said Director of Track & Field/Cross Country Fred Harvey. “A school record in the 100m at the opening competition with Jade Brown was exciting to see. What I really take away from today as a team is the effort we put forward and the level of competition we faced with Minnesota. We are in there competing and that’s what we need to be a big-time program at the conference and NCAA level.”
Meet thoughts from Coach Harvey!#BearDown | #BeLezoLike pic.twitter.com/boaiRoU9Jb
— Arizona Track & Field/Cross Country (@ArizonaTrack) March 9, 2025
Several Wildcats posted personal bests including Ian Sanchez Lopez (pictured) who ran a time of 8:15.33 in the men’s 3000m.
Arizona continues its outdoor season on March 21-22 when it hosts the Willie Williams Classic. The UA will also be sending athletes to the NCAA Indoor Championships in Virginia Beach on March 14-15.
Men’s tennis
Despite missing All-American Colton Smith, who was competing at Indian Wells, Arizona swept NAU, St. John’s and Tulsa over the weekend.
The No. 8 Wildcats (14-1) defeated NAU 4-0 and St. John’s 4-0 on a Friday doubleheader, then took down Tulsa 5-2 on Sunday.
Jay Friend, the No. 9 singles player in the country, played on the top court in Smith’s absence.
Smith is currently playing in the Arizona Tennis Classic in Phoenix. The ATP Tour event is in The Challenger 175 category. Smith will face former world top 50 player Roman Safiullin on Wednesday in the round of 16.
The senior was the recipient of the Universal Tennis Foundation’s 2025 Hurd Award Champion, which awards a $100,000 grant to players transitioning from college to professional tennis. Smith received the honor Sunday.
“It means the world to be recognized for such an incredible award and to have the financial help going forward is going to take so much of the stress off of me and my family,” Smith said. “I’m also super grateful for the opportunity to add another group of incredibly supportive and helpful people to my team through this award and I’m just super excited to see where this all will take me.”
Women’s tennis
Arizona split a Big 12 road trip this past weekend, falling to No. 59 Iowa State 4-3, then defeating No. 49 Kansas 4-2. The Wildcats moved to 11-5 and 3-1 in Big 12 play.
In the win over the Jayhawks, Arizona got big singles wins from No. 37 Josie Usereau and No. 116 Martyna Ostrzygalo, both coming in three sets.
Arizona returns home this week to face Cincinnati on Friday and West Virginia on Sunday.