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Arizona Wildcats: Zona Zealots year in review – What a year 2016 has been

By Shereen Rayan

Dec 17, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley argues with a referee during the first half of the game against the New Mexico State Aggies at Wells-Fargo Arena. New Mexico State won 81-70. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2016; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona State Sun Devils head coach Bobby Hurley argues with a referee during the first half of the game against the New Mexico State Aggies at Wells-Fargo Arena. New Mexico State won 81-70. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 22, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; Teammates douse Arizona Wildcats outfielder Jared Oliva (42) with water as he approaches the dugout after hitting a home run against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos in the third inning in the 2016 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2016; Omaha, NE, USA; Teammates douse Arizona Wildcats outfielder Jared Oliva (42) with water as he approaches the dugout after hitting a home run against the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos in the third inning in the 2016 College World Series at TD Ameritrade Park. Mandatory Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports /

It was Jay Johnson’s first season coaching the Arizona Wildcats, and he brought some great ideas with him to Tucson. The first one was to give the team a license to have fun. The second was to allow the team to have a good time in the dugout instructing them to make the dug out the most fun place to be on campus. Work hard, play hard seems to be his motto, and it worked.

Our Cats weren’t ranked, they weren’t expected to make the playoffs, and they certainly weren’t expected to get all the way to the College World Series. Johnson’s Wildcats had a legitimate chance to win the championship trophy, game it weren’t for a few mishaps in the final game of three. First, their skilled catcher who also has a knack for walloping the ball, Cesar Salazar got hit in the head with the opponents bat at the end of a swing.

When does that happen? Then the umpire called a player out at the plate when it probably should have been a run. This call and the injury to our catcher made it even harder for the team to win the game, but then they rallied, and there was still a chance. They fell short, but they were heroes to Wildcats fans everywhere. What a story. Zona Zealots started following the team from mid-season, and the rest was history.

Must Read: Arizona Wildcats: 5 Zona Zealots Holiday Wishes

We’re sure we missed something, but we are also sure we gave you at least a week of reading material. Zona Zealots wants to wish you all a very Happy New Years! We will see you on the other side in 2017. BearDown!

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