Wildcat Wrap: Arizona’s Delaney Schnell wins second straight Pac-12 diving title

Editor’s note: With so many sports going on this spring, we are re-introducing the Wildcat Wrap, a weekly recap that will focus on the Arizona programs that we do not have the time to cover on a regular basis but are certainly worthy of recognition.

Arizona diver Delaney Schnell added to her impressive list of accomplishments over the weekend by winning the Pac-12 platform title while setting a new school and conference record in the event.

The Tucson-native made the most of Arizona hosting the 2021 Pac-12 Women’s Swim and Dive Championships. During prelims, Schnell scored a record-setting dive of 383.25. She followed that up with a 364.50 in the platform final, earning her a second consecutive individual conference title.

Schnell also won the 1-meter dive competition last Wednesday. A 2018 All-American in the 1-meter, the redshirt junior is well on her way to another strong showing at the NCAA championships later in March.

The Arizona women finished in sixth place at the Pac-12 Championships. The men compete for a conference crown beginning Wednesday.

Men’s Tennis

Men’s tennis scored a 5-2 home victory over Oregon Sunday to begin Pac-12 play.

No. 20 Arizona won the doubles point, then won four of six singles matches. Nick Lagaev clinched team victory with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win over his opponent in the No. 6 seed match.

The Wildcats followed that up with a 4-2 victory over New Mexico Monday. With the victory Arizona moves to 12-1 with road matches against UC Santa Barbara and San Diego on tap this weekend.

Women’s Tennis

Women’s tennis swept Gonzaga over two matches Friday and Saturday, giving the team a much needed confidence boost after losing to Kansas State and Kansas the prior weekend. With the victories Arizona moves to 8-3 with Pac-12 play looming.

The Wildcats beat the Bulldogs 4-0 Friday, earning a doubles and three singles match. Jelena Lukic put the contest away with a comeback 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory.

Gonzaga made things a little more interesting Saturday, but Arizona ultimately pulled away for a commanding match win and sweep. The team’s next match isn’t until a Sunday when they host Oregon in their Pac-12 opener.

Beach Volleyball

Beach volleyball began their 2021 season with a pair of wins over Grand Canyon and Colorado Mesa at the GCU Invitational in Phoenix. The host Lopes pushed Arizona to the wire in the season opener, but the Wildcats held on for a 3-2 victory. Arizona then swept Colorado Mesa 5-0.

The Wildcats host the Cactus Classic this weekend, where they’ll face Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi and Boise State.

Track and field

The men’s and women’s track and field teams competed at the Championship at the Peak event in Colorado Springs from this past Thursday to Saturday, earning seven event wins.

Israel Oloyede highlighted the event for the men as he threw a personal record 23.18m (76-0.75) in the weight throw, which is a school record and the second best mark in the country. Oloyede was awarded men’s Field MVP.

Arizona’s male sprinters had a strong showing, with Johnnie Blockburger winning the 400m finals in a time of 46.84, while Tanner Hagstrom won the 800m with a time of 1:53.62.

Blockburger, Logan Hasher, Trent Stimac and Calvin Wilson won the one-mile relay in 3:14.37. The men finished in fourth place in the team event.

On the women’s side, Lillian Lowe and Alex Porpaczy finished 1-2 in the high jump with marks of 1.83m (6-0) and 1.80m (5-10.75), respectively. Lowe was named women’s Field MVP.

The women placed seventh overall.

Men’s and women’s golf

Though No. 1 men’s golf didn’t play over the past week, the team got a plug Sunday from the unlikeliest of sources: Phil Mickelson.

Mickelson, a former All-American at Arizona State, admitted he wore a red Arizona polo Sunday in the final round of the Cologuard Classic held in Tucson.

Mickelson wore red to honor Tiger Woods, who always wears the color on the Sunday final round of a PGA Tour event. Woods is recovering in a Los Angeles hospital after suffering leg injuries in a rollover car accident this past Tuesday.

Mickelson said he doesn’t own a red shirt and the only one he could find in Tucson came with a block A logo on it, clearly a reference to his alma mater’s rival school.

Also wearing Sunday red was Annika Sorenstam, who made her first LPGA start since 2008. Sorenstam played two years at Arizona, then went on to have one of the most successful careers in pro women’s golf history before retiring in 2008 at age 37.

Sorenstam made the cut of LPGA Gainbridge but ultimately finished last among Sunday’s players.