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Athletics

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

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

‘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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Damion Lewis jumps to catch a soccer ball during a photoshoot

Wildcat Keeper Finds His Place on the Pitch

As one of the finest goalkeepers in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, Chico State’s Damion Lewis is a study in contrast.

Devon Saul instructs his students in basketball at the annual Ability First Sports Camp, a sports and recreation instructional summer camps for children ages 8 to 17 with physical disabilities. Chico State plays host to many of the camp events and faculty and its Department of Recreation, Hospitality, and Parks Management provides staffing support for the camp.

Ability First Educates and Empowers Through Sports Instruction

Since its inception on 1987, Ability First Sports has developed into one of the country’s premier sports and recreation instructional summer camps for children ages 8 to 17 with physical disabilities.

Brooke is mid-air as she jumps onto a skeleton sled

From Sprints to Sleds: Wildcat Track Alums Make Their Push

Standout student-athletes take on sliding sports for a chance to represent USA at the Olympics.

Willie the Wildcat mascot and a Make a Wish representative crouch next to a surprised child

Wish granted; Smile cherished

Chico State student athletes partner with Make-A-Wish to send a 5-year-old boy to LEGOLAND.

Make-A-Wish, Northeastern California and Northern Nevada, Chico State.

It’s Wish Week at Chico State!

Student-Athlete Advisory Committee and Make A Wish granting local child's wish Saturday

Carson Medley holding a basketball in his office

Want a behind-the-scenes peek into Division II basketball? Open the ‘Red Door’

Carson Medley’s book “Through the Red Door” is much more than a look back at a college basketball season. It’s an homage to the individual parts that move the story along at Chico State.