California Baptist University expects excellence from athletes. As the years go by, the number of honors that athletes at CBU win continues to rise. This year is no exception as the number of honored athletes grows again.
The year began with a storybook season for the men’s soccer team. They won ten more games than they did last season.
The team finished higher in the Golden State Athletic Conference rankings than any season in the program’s history. This was also the first year that the team made it to the GSAC Tournament.
All-GSAC honors were awarded to Tyler Aagard, Osvaldo Bastida, Tyler Mitchell, Willie Rupert and Carlos Figueroa. Figueroa was also named to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics’ second team, another program first.
Women’s soccer also had a very successful season. The All- GSAC players included Kitra Walters, Jacquelyn Witz, Kylee Nicassio and Fabiola Zanella da Silva. Nicassio was named to the All-American second team and Da Silva was named to the All-American first team. Freshman standout Bernadette
Witz was named to the All-NAIA tournament team.
Women’s volleyball finished the season with a 33-6 record making a deep run into the NAIA Tournament before losing to Columbia University. The All- GSAC players include Ingrid Carmona, Jelena Dragovic, Nevena Dragovic and Bree Rauschenbach. Carmona was named to All-American First team while Jelena Dragovic and Rauchenbach were named to All-American Third team. Head coach Ryan Mcguire also received NAIA/GSAC coach of the year honors.
Cross Country sported three all GSAC players after a successful season. Those honored were Josh Massey, Mitchell Moore and Sergio Rodriguez. Men’s water polo had one of its most successful seasons in program history. They finished the season with their highest national ranking ever, 15th. Star scorer Aaron Steiger was named an All-American, the first in program history, and was also honored with a second team All-NAIA selection. Men’s basketball battled to stay around .500 all year and fought to finish with a 14-16 record. Luke Evans brought home All-GSAC honors for the team.
Women’s basketball earned the most successful season in program history. They finished their season in Tennessee trying to win the NAIA National tournament after defeating Azusa Pacific University to win the GSAC Championship. Dana Olsen and V.V. Vasciunaite were named All-Americans and All-GSAC.
Women’s swim/dive won a national championship and the men’s team was national runner- up in the 2010-2011 season.
The team brought home multiple honors, including a slew of All-Americans and individual national champions, for the men: Vincente Andrade, Jeff Babcock, Patrick Cafillo, Ronan Garrec, Trevor Graifman, Brian Haney, Sergio Molina, Tai Nuntapramote, Kevin Sellars and Chris Toy, and for the women: Hannah Braun, Hazel Castillo, Jamie Flynn, Mary Hanson, Molly Larson, Megan Leckey, Stefanie Olson, Adriana Quezada and Gina Rhue.
Lastly, the CBU wrestling team won the National Collegiate Wrestling Association Championship. Their honors include national champions Caleb Geri and Chris Santana, as well as All-Americans Jimmy Martinez, Dylan Cataline, Bronson Geri, Kenneth Tribble, C.J. Knowland, Vince Pezzuto and Alex Evers. Head coach John Petty was named the NCWA coach of the year.
