Jalen Johnson, a Graduate Transfer and Newcomer to the Wake Forest
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WOMEN’S HOOPS: HEALTHY ALEX SCRUGGS EMERGES Jalen Johnson, a graduate transfer and FEBRUARY 2021 GODEACS.COM newcomer to the Wake Forest men’s basketball program, has embraced building something positive on the court while contributing in other ways to make a difference off the court so happy they can dance again Bill and Susan Fagg of Thomasville, N.C. ST BAPTI RE ST O H F E E A K L T A COVID-19 H W care for life PROTECTED Bill and Susan Fagg danced through life until his hip pain ended the fun. For years, Bill avoided what he feared would be extensive surgery. As the pain worsened, he talked to a friend, an orthopaedic surgeon. He suggested the nationally renowned bone and joint care at Wake Forest Baptist Health, where Bill was identified as a great candidate for anterior hip replacement — just the kind of less invasive option he was looking for. Getting both hips replaced over three months relieved the pain, leaving Bill and Susan so happy they can dance again. JOINT PAIN RELIEF | HIP & KNEE REPLACEMENTS 888-716-WAKE | WakeHealth.edu/Orthopaedics ACCEPTING MOST MAJOR INSURANCE PROVIDERS. VOL. 30 // ISSUE 5 (USPS 014-373) EDITOR Jim Buice PHOTOGRAPHERS WFU Athletics and others as noted. WRITERS Marc Pruitt, Bob Sutton, Sam Walker Design & Layout Summit Athletic Media www.summitathletics.com Advertising Learfield IMG College Jeff Salisbury, Rob Aycock, Neil Bishop For information on advertising, please call (336) 758-7230 CONTENTS // FEBRUARY 2021 BIG DAY: Wide receiver Jaquarii Roberson celebrates after scoring one of his three touchdowns in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl in Charlotte as the Wake Forest football team reached a bowl game for the fifth straight year. The redshirt junior had Gold Rush is published eight touchdown catches on his first three targets and finished with 131 yards receiving in the game, where the Deacons lost to times a year in August, Wisconsin 42-28. Roberson finished the season with four consecutive 100-yard receiving games. October, November, December, February, March, May and June by Learfield IMG College in conjunction with Wake Forest Athletics. Periodicals postage FROM THE AD DEACONS IN THE PROS paid at Winston-Salem, NC 4 30 27102 and at additional mailing offices. The price of an annual subscription is $20. Members of 24 100% COTTEN 31 COMPLIANCE CORNER the Deacon Club receive a one- year subscription as part of their membership. Persons wishing to subscribe to Gold Rush should send a check or money order (credit cards not accepted) to: // 6 Learfield IMG College THE RIGHT FIT 540 N. Trade St. Jalen Johnson joined the Wake Forest men’s Winston-Salem, NC 27101 basketball program after a winding path, but in many ways this is perhaps where he has belonged All material produced in this publication is the property of all along. Wake Forest University and Learfield IMG College and shall not be reproduced in whole or in part without permission. Please send all address changes to: Deacon Club, Attn: Gold Rush, 499 Deacon Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27105 // 14 The appearance of advertising in this publication does not BATTLING BACK constitute an endorsement After battling a hip injury in her freshman season, of the advertiser and/or the Alex Scruggs, using both her toughness and a advertiser’s product or service softer side, has emerged as a key player for the by Wake Forest or Learfield IMG College. The use of the women’s basketball team. name of the University or any of its identifying marks in advertisements must be approved by WFU and IMG. // 20 ON THE COVER After graduating from Tennessee, ON TARGET Jalen Johnson was aware of what Under the direction of head coach Jeff Wyshner, Steve Forbes built at East Tennessee the Wake Forest women’s tennis program has State and wanted to join the new developed into a winner and a constant presence coach and be a part of the Deacon in NCAA tournaments. men’s basketball program as a graduate transfer. FEBRUARY 2021 3 FROMPAGE HEADERTHE A.D. // JOHN CURRIE Excitement builds for spring sports Happy New Year Demon Deacon Nation! Since I last wrote to you, we have welcomed back the entire student body to our beautiful Reynolda campus and the spring semester is underway! Thanks to President Hatch's leadership and the hard work of Wake Forest faculty and staff, we are set up JOHN to have another healthy and safe CURRIE semester of adapted virtual and in- person learning. DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS Additionally, we are extremely excited for all our spring sports to get underway as they have not competed as teams since the spring 2020 seasons were canceled at the onset of the pandemic last March. Coach Tom Walter and the Diamond Deacs are set for an exciting spring season, which begins in late February. Senior Bobby Seymour and junior Ryan Cusick landed on Perfect Game's 2021 Preseason All-American list that marked the the first of many preseason accolades for our veteran ballclub. With Chris Lanzilli, Shane Muntz, Michael Turconi and the rest of our juniors and seniors, it will be an exciting spring at Senior first baseman Bobby Seymour (above) landed on Perfect Game’s David Couch Ballpark. 2021 Preseason All-American list along with pitcher Ryan Cusick. They Demon Deacon track & field is are part of a veteran ballclub preparing for a promising spring season. coming off its top cross country finish at the ACC Championship the spring ranked No. 16 in the to page 14 to learn more about her since 2001 and our women’s country, which is its highest basketball journey. distance-medley-relay team ranking to start the month of The final feature of this issue, on won a title at the ACC Indoor January since 2003. Coach Jeff page 6, details the path graduate Championship before the onset of Wyshner details how he has built transfer Jalen Johnson has taken the pandemic. this program and shares stories to Wake Forest. Bob Sutton Men’s and women’s golf begin about our top-four returners from spoke with the Durham, N.C. the spring season with both last year in this excellent feature by native about playing high school squads ranked in the top 10 and Sam Walker. basketball with Brandon Childress tabbed to finish first in the ACC! Coach Tony Bresky and our and finishing his collegiate career Individually, Coach Jerry Haas’ men’s tennis student-athletes enter in Winston-Salem. men will be led by senior Eric Bae this spring ranked No. 12 in the I trust that these stories, along and junior Alex Fitzpatrick. Not to country led by four individuals with many other columns and be outdone, Coach Kim Lewellen’s ranked in the top 125. Overall, the profiles in the issue, will make you top-ranked squad will be powered Demon Deacons return all of their as excited as I am about what lies by senior Emilia Migliaccio and contributors from their 2020 squad. ahead for Wake Forest Athletics. ACC preseason Player of the Year Also in this issue, Marc Rachel Kuehn. Pruitt sat down with sophomore Go Deacs! Wake Forest women’s tennis, Alexandra Scruggs about the which is featured with an exclusive leadership role she has taken for John Currie spotlight on page 20, enters Wake women’s basketball. Turn Director of Athletics 4 GOLD RUSH MAGAZINE The official security partner of wake forest athletics innovative security solutions for your for your home business partner with a security provider trusted by consumers across the country! 866-751-0333 www.security-central.com/security MEN'S BASKETBALL // JALEN JOHNSON 6 GOLD RUSH MAGAZINE FULL CIRCLE GRADUATE TRANSFER JALEN JOHNSON FINALLY LANDS AT WAKE FOREST AND MAKES AN IMPACT IN DIFFERENT WAYS IN HELPING ESTABLISH THE FOUNDATION OF A BUILDING PROGRAM By Bob Sutton eing involved is something that Johnson’s connections to the Wake Forest program tend to be aplenty. He played in high school for Wesleyan Christian Academy Jalen Johnson has taken seriously alongside Brandon Childress, whose four-year career with the Demon on and off the basketball court. Deacons ended last March. His younger brother played in youth levels B with Carter Whitt, who became a teammate when joining the Wake As a newcomer to the Wake Forest men’s basketball program, Forest team in December as an early-entry freshman guard. that helped him create an identity Make no mistake, Johnson’s athletic among so many things that look background is well-founded by his different these days. parents. Mom Nikki Berry was on the This was nothing new to Johnson, IN NUMEROUS WAYS, University of North Carolina track and who joined the Demon Deacons on a field team. His father, Brian Johnson, rather winding path that followed the MAYBE THIS IS WHERE was a sprinter for East Carolina. hiring of head coach Steve Forbes. “I’ve got some pretty blessed genes,” In numerous ways, maybe this is JOHNSON HAS BELONGED he said. “They helped me understand where Johnson has belonged all along. it’s not going to be easy. Just knowing He’s finding a certain appeal to being ALL ALONG. HE’S you have that support system.” part of setting the foundation in his era He lives in Durham, then went to of the program. FINDING A CERTAIN high school in High Point, attending “The opportunity to try to build Wesleyan Christian Academy and something new with a new coach,” APPEAL TO BEING playing for former Maryland standout he said. Keith Gatlin. A certain independence This union between Johnson and the PART OF SETTING THE developed for the younger Johnson as Demon Deacons was several years in he left home to stay with a host family the making.