Athletics
![Split Images of two volleyball players next to a graphic that reads, "Chico State Hall of Fame, Class of 2024."](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/volleyball-players_FINAL-600x400.jpg )
Chico State Volleyball Legends Erica Brick and Lindsay Macias Enter the Wildcat Hall of Fame Together
Chico State volleyball legends Erica Brick and Lindsay Macias Headline the Wildcat Hall of Fame class of 2024.
![An illustration of Kendall Hall at Chico State, with the words 'Wildcat Conversations' written in whimsical letters above it.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/wildcat-conversations-600x400.jpg )
Wildcat Conversations: Ultramarathoners on Living Life with the Long Run In Mind
Alumni and ultramarathoners Tim Tollefson, Jimmy Elam, and Anthony Costales—three of the fastest in the world—share how they stay disciplined and dedicated to their craft.
![Chico State baseball fan John Brownell pictured in his regular spot at Nettleton Stadium, at the bottom of Section 201.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/20240208-SuperfanBrownell-JH-087-600x400.jpg )
Much More Than A Super Fan
The bond between John Brownell and the Chico State baseball team is one of the great stories in collegiate athletics.
![Brandy Huffhines rises to shoot over a leaping defender in this artistic double-image photo.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/double-the-dancing-600x400.jpg )
Double the Dancing! Watch the Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament This Week
Chico State is doing double the dancing this March! The women’s and men’s basketball teams both earned berths in the NCAA Championship Tournament beginning Friday.
![An athlete in a Chico State track uniform prepares to throw a javelin.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/20230311-WildcatInvitational-JH-009-600x400.jpg )
Josie Peterson Takes Aim at Chico State’s Record Books
Josie Peterson, a former standout in multiple sports, launched the fifth-longest javelin throw in Chico State's history, igniting a fantastic season and setting her sights on further goals.
![Student India Starr smiles as she looks away from the camera and poses with her arms crossed in a black button-up blouse against a beige studio background.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/20230922-RawlinsPortraits-Starr-JH-021-600x400.jpg )
Former Basketball Player Finds New Team in the Classroom
Basketball brought India Starr to Chico State, but the support she found here made the communication studies major want to stay.
![Chico State cross country student-athlete Dylan White raises his hands in triumph as he crosses the finish line as the 2023 CCAA individual champion](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/2023-CCAA-XC-Champion-Dylan-White-600x400.jpg )
Legends Rising and Records Falling: Chico State Athletics off to Scorching Start
Another fantastic fall for the Chico State Department of Athletics is ending, culminating in two more California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) titles, several NCAA Championship berths, and excitement for what’s still to come. Records have fallen and legends have risen, and the year has only just begun! Here are some of the highlights.
![Megan Foster is her USA Rugby uniform](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Megan-Foster-600x400.jpeg )
United States National Rugby Team Starter and Former Chico State Star Hangs Up Her Cleats
Megan Foster, whose rugby career began at Chico State and took her all the way to the United States National Team, recently retired.
![Adrian Fontanelli poses for a portrait with a soccer ball between his left arm and hip.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Fontanelli-promo-shot-600x400.jpg )
Inspired by his Parents, Fontanelli Plays with Passion and Purpose
Chico State Men's Soccer Coach Felipe Restrepo says that teammates try to emulate Adrian Fontanelli because of his pride, joy, and passion. But Fontanelli says his work ethic comes from his parents, Carlos and Marcela.
![Eric Angerer swings a baseball bat in the right-handed batter's box](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Eric-Angerer-2-600x400.jpg )
Baseball Alum Leans Into His Legacy
Chico State Baseball alumnus Eric Angerer reflects on holding the program's all-time record for times hit-by-pitch.
![Women's basketball player Myli Martinez poses for a photo inside a gymnasium. She is holding a basketball with both hands to her right.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/20221021-WBBTeamPhotos-MB_034-1-600x400.jpg )
Wildcats’ Triple Threat: Myli Martinez
Basketball player Myli Martinez's three-point bombs have placed her in the program's record books.
![Three men pose for a photo on a soccer field, while the man in the middle holds a memorial plaque in his hands.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Nick-Lopez-Mike-OMalley-and-Johnny-Lopez-600x400.jpeg )
Pitch-Perfect Wildcats
Thirteen sets of siblings have donned the cardinal and white of the Wildcats, and the men's soccer program’s legacy is becoming intergenerational.
![Mia Mendoza and Chico State Women's Soccer Coach Kim Sutton pose and smile in the women's soccer office.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Mia-Mendoza-for-CST-600x400.jpg )
Title IX at 50: Current Wildcat Calling Attention to Women Who Paved the Way
The legacy of Title IX at Chico State is filled with stories of inspiring women. Mia Mendoza knows many of them by heart after spending this year sharing them with Chico State’s student-athletes and fans to honor the 50th anniversary of the landmark legislation.
![Chico State assistant coach Kat Benton-Laezza (right) and #6 Susanna Garcia (left) watch the action while being followed by a documentary crew during the Wildcats’ soccer match against Cal Poly Humboldt.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/WSOC-Rivalries-600x400.jpg )
Soccer Programs Win Big on Small Screen
The Chico State women's and men's soccer programs shine in episode four of The Rivalries, a documentary series produced for the LG Championships channel available to watch now.
![Narcippa Teague poses with his daughters Lisa and Lizette, who are each holding a copy of the book Teague wrote about their experiences together. The full front cover of the book is shown at right.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/daddy-im-scared-book-article-graphic-600x400.jpg )
5 Questions with Author, Alum, and Superhero While he Sleeps, Narcippa Teague
Chico State graduate and former men's basketball player Narcippa Teague shares about his new children's book and new outlook on life.
![Gretta Kirkby and two of her fellow interns pose in gloves, lab coats, masks, and face shields.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Kirkby-for-CST-600x400.jpg )
Student-Athlete Captures CalHOPE Courage Award
Gretta Kirkby, winner of the CalHOPE Courage Award, is using the opportunity to remind her peers to reach out for help if they need it.
![Chico State cross country student-athlete Rory Abberton crests a hill ahead of a small group of runners during the 2022 NCAA West Regional Championship race.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/5M4A4401-600x400.jpg )
Update: Rory Abberton Runs into the Chico State Record Books
Chico State cross-country runner Rory Abberton, who detailed his journey as a student-athlete for Chico State Today last week, earned his first all-American honors in his final race.
![Chico State cross country student-athlete Rory Abberton crests a hill ahead of a small group of runners during the 2022 NCAA West Regional Championship race.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/5M4A4401-600x400.jpg )
Running Down My Dream at Chico State
Chico State student-athlete Rory Abberton will run his final collegiate cross country race at Friday’s NCAA Division II Championships. He considers the path he took to get there, and those who helped along the way.
![Luke Barker throws a pitch for the Milwaukee Brewers](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/GettyImages-1241297632-600x400.jpg )
Baseball Voyage Marked by Strong Arm, Strong Voice
Luke Barker’s focus has been on making it to the big leagues, but when he spotted some serious inequities, he decided to say something.
![Susanna Garcia stands in a circle of soccer players who are standing arm in arm, getting pumped up at the start of a game.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20220908-WSoccerAzusa-MB_012-600x400.jpg )
Soccer Player Susanna Garcia Leads on the Pitch and in the Classroom
And as she returns to lead the Wildcats in her fifth and final season, Sanna Garcia earned one of only nine All-America honors in the program's storied history.
![A Chico State Rugby player carries the ball while opposing players attempt to tackle her.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/20200215_WRugbyvsDavis_JH_041-600x400.jpg )
Alumni Establish Endowment for Men’s and Women’s Rugby Programs
Chico State alumni have established an endowment to support the men's and women's rugby programs.
![President Hutchinson celebrates on the field with the women's soccer team.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/20211001_WomensSoccervsCSUSB_JH_064-600x400.jpg )
Title IX Turns 50: Celebrating Advancements, Planning for Greater Change
Chico State President Gayle Hutchinson reflects on 50 years of Title IX.
![Chico State Alum Luke Barker Poses on a baseball field in his Milwaukee Brewers uniform](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Luke-Barker-991019-copy-600x400.jpg )
Chico State Alum Barker is a Big Leaguer!
Former Chico State All-American baseball player Luke Barker has been called up to the major leagues by the Milwaukee Brewers.
![Chico State swim teach celebrates.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/swimteam-lead-banner-600x400.png )
Swimming and Diving Team’s Legacy Lives On
As national champions, record-setters, and outstanding competitors, members of Chico State’s decorated swimming and diving team set a lasting impression during its three-decade run—and they continue to make headlines today.
![Kevin Warren dribbles between two members of the Cal State East Bay team.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/20220226_MbballVSEastBay_JH_033-600x400.png )
Basketball Player’s Success a Slam Dunk in Classroom and the Court
The most decorated student-athlete in Chico State’s men’s basketball history, Kevin Warren will graduate this spring with a master’s in communication studies.
![Kym Crosby crosses a finish link on a track](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Kym_Crosby_credit_Jodi_Hanagan_Photography-600x400.jpeg )
Alumna Kym Crosby Readies To Run for Team USA at 2021 Paralympics
A bronze medalist in Rio in 2016, Kym Crosby ('17) claimed the 100- and 400-meter titles at the US Paralympic Trials. She heads to Tokyo in August.
![A Chico Sate baseball pitcher hurls a pitch toward a batter.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/20190427_WildcatsvsSonomaBsball_JH_031-600x400.jpg )
Wildcats Baseball Celebrates 125 Years of Success
Ever since its humble start in 1896, the baseball team has enjoyed a legacy of success—two national titles, numerous alumni advancing to the professional ranks, and winning the hearts of fans for generations.
![A team of college softball players line up and cheer for a teammate as she prepares to touch home plate.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/20180510_SoftballvsNWNazarene_JH_074-600x400.jpg )
COVID-19 Vaccines Required for CSU, Chico University Housing Residents, Student-Athletes Participating in NCAA Athletics
Chico State will require COVID-19 vaccinations for students living in University Housing or participating in NCAA athletics, beginning in the fall 2021 semester.
![JJ Jakovac walks on a golf course with Collin Morikawa.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/USATSI_14721190-600x400.jpg )
Former Wildcat Golf Star Shines As Caddie on PGA Stage
During the first few years of this millennium, there was no better golfer at the NCAA Division II level than J.J. Jakovac. Now he is earning a similar reputation as a professional caddie.
![Tyler Stofiel breaks through a white photo backdrop in his uniform and a baseball in hand.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/20190117_BaseballMediaGuide_JH_009-600x400.jpg )
Baseball Catcher Named CCAA Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year
No surprise to his faculty, accounting major Tyler Stofiel captured the conference's most prestigious academic award.
![Maddy Wong shows picture-perfect follow-through as she releases a jump shot.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Maddy-Wong-4-768x512.jpg )
Formula for Success
After setting a conference mark for most career 3-pointers, Madison Wong has larger ambitions beyond the game.
![MacKenzie Deeter poses for a portrait](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/1-RawlinsMackenzieDeeter.jpg )
On Pace to Finish Strong
Student-athlete and graduating senior MacKenzie Deeter may have missed her last season of competition due to COVID-19 but she left a legacy of sustainability on and off the track.
![](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image_handler2-e1588874355459.jpg )
Student-Athletes Urge Peers to Scratch the Stigma Surrounding Mental Health
Chico State's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee created a resource page for Mental Health Awareness Month and kicked off a campaign aimed to end mental health stigma. #ScratchTheStigma
![Stars shine above Trinity Hall.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/20171214_TrinityStars_JH_006-768x513.jpg )
Fond Farewell: Chico State Volleyball Coach Cody Hein
On and off the court, Chico State women's volleyball coach Cody Hein fully embodied his mantra, “Tough times don’t last. Tough people do.”
![White puffy clouds float above Trinity Tower.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Dec-16-768x512.jpg )
Worth Sharing: Model UN Team Shines
A listing of professional achievements by Chico State faculty, staff, and students.
![A throng of athletes and supporters raises a flag and cheers.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/20191123_XCChampionships_JH_093-768x513.jpg )
‘Ain’t No Runner Like a Chico Runner’
The Wildcats are one of only three schools to reach the NCAA Championships in each year of this century! Once again, both the women and men's teams placed in the top 10.
![Molly Downtain stands on the field during the Wold Cup celebration.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/IMG_2618.jpg )
US Women’s Soccer’s Star Behind the Scenes
Former Wildcat Molly Downtain (Kinesiology, '12) no longer plays competitive soccer, but her job with the US Soccer Federation puts her shoulder-to-shoulder with the world's best players.
![The Wildcat Statue stands proudly in Wildcat Plaza during spring evening.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/May-6-768x512.jpg )
Worth Sharing: CCAA Honors Men’s Golf Team
A listing of professional achievements by Chico State faculty, staff, and students.
![Anita stands behind the cut-glass trophy with one arm each around Milton Lang and Gayle Hutchinson.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/20180924_ATHLCommCup_JH_013.jpg )
Barker Named NACDA Athletic Director of the Year for Second Time
Anita Barker named a national Under Armour Athletics Director of the Year for the second time in her tenure leading Wildcat Athletics.
![Stars shine above Trinity Hall.](https://today.csuchico.edu/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/20171214_TrinityStars_JH_006-768x513.jpg )
Fond Farewell: Philanthropist and Honorary Doctorate Recipient Steve Nettleton
Steve Nettleton, known for his generous service to the community, was the second in the University’s history to earn an honorary doctorate.