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January 22, 2007 UC
IRVINE ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME TO INDUCT FOUR FEB. 3 IRVINE, Calif. --- A quartet of honorees will be inducted into UC Irvine's Athletic Hall of Fame Feb. 3 during the Homecoming Alumni brunch at the Hilton – Irvine/O.C. Airport beginning at 11:00 a.m. The hotel is located at 18800 MacArthur Boulevard across from John Wayne Airport. The new inductees will be introduced during the UCI-Cal State Northridge men's basketball game that night at the Bren Events Center. Further information on the Hall of Fame Brunch may be obtained by contacting Kerry Boznanski at 949-824-5550. The 2007 inductees are Ed Ahlmeyer (men's cross country/track and field), Scott Carnahan (men's tennis), Cheri Graham (women's basketball), and Donnie Rafter (men's volleyball). This year's class joins 65 previous inductees. In addition, David Baker (men's basketball) will receive the Varsity Club Alumnus of Merit Award. Ed Ahlmeyer earned All-America honors in track and field in 1977 when UCI competed in NCAA Division II and again in 1978 when the University moved up to Division I. He competed on UCI's NCAA-championship cross country teams in 1975 and 1976, and on the national-champion track and field team in 1976. Ahlmeyer won the 5,000 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 1978 Pacific Coast Athletic Association Track & Field Championships. He is UCI's record-holder at 5,000 meters with a time of 13:53.7 and ranks third in the steeplechase (8:41.2). Scott Carnahan earned NCAA All-America tennis honors in singles in 1973, 1974 and 1975, and in doubles in 1975 when he and teammate Bob Wright won the national doubles title. Carnahan and teammate Glenn Cripe were the doubles runner-up at the 1974 NCAA Championships. Carnahan, who had his serve once clocked at 137 miles per hour, played on Coach Myron McNamara's NCAA-championship teams in 1972, 1973 and 1975. Cheri Graham earned All-America honors in 1984 for the UCI women's basketball team as she set Anteater single-season records for points (593), field goals made (240), field goals attempted (429) and blocked shots (115). In UCI's career record book, Graham ranks second in field-goal percentage (.571), free-throw percentage (.783) and in blocked shots (199). She is No. 6 at UCI in career points (1,187), field goals made (480) and free throws made (227). Donnie Rafter competed in men's volleyball from 1996-99, earning second-team All-America honors in 1999. He became the first UCI player named to the All-Mountain Pacific Sports Federation first team in 1999, when he was selected as National Player of the Week once and twice was chosen the MPSF Player of the Week. Rafter ranks second at UCI in career service aces (93), third in digs (608) and seventh in kills (1,165). In single-season records, he is third and fourth in digs per game (2.33 in 1999 and 2.29 in 1998), third in kills per game (5.59 in 1999) and fourth in total digs (219 in 1999). David Baker, this year's recipient of the Varsity Club Alumnus of Merit Award, was a member of UCI's first Hall of Fame class in 1983. He is the school's career leader in rebounds (926 from 1971-75) and is third in career points (1,601). Baker, an NCAA Post-Graduate Scholarship recipient in 1975, currently serves as commissioner of the Arena Football League. The Varsity Club Alumnus of Merit Award is given in recognition of a former UCI student-athlete for extraordinary post-collegiate, professional, athletic or civic accomplishments.
THE BLUE AND GOLD REPORT RETURNS JANUARY 23, 2007 The Blue and Gold Report, UC Irvine's weekly show highlighting Anteater Athletics returns Tuesday, Jan. 23. Hosted by Mark Roberts, the show features in-depth interviews with UC Irvine's student-athletes, coaches, administration and staff. The Blue and Gold Report airs Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m. on KUCI 88.9 FM and now offers the opportunity for listeners to submit questions via email to be read over the air. Upcoming guests on the show are Mark Kelley (Basketball), Brian Thornton (Volleyball), Heidi Kaloi (Tennis). Click
on the link below to access the webstream or submit a question for
our guests. ASK AN ANTEATER IS BACK Ask an Anteater a popular website feature is back. Each week a pair of student-athletes will be be available to take your email questions. The forum is open for a week and answers will be posted the following Monday. Check out the page to see this week's athletes. http://www.athletics.uci.edu/TRA/Ask.html December 14, 2006 19 FROM UC IRVINE EARN BIG WEST ALL-ACADEMIC HONORS FOR FALL SPORTS IRVINE, Calif. --- Nineteen UC Irvine student-athletes have earned Big West Conference All-Academic honors for fall sports. UCI's honorees are: women's soccer players Christina Gorospe, Kathleen Lemieux, Erin Henry, Alex Fries and Frankee Kelly; men's soccer players Joel Baker and Rudy Mondragon; women's cross country runners Samantha Costantini, Elaine Gillespie, Erinn Kim, Candice Proctor and Jamie Schwab; men's cross country athletes Ricky Barnes, Russell Bush, Matt Grilli, Sky Johnston, George Morris, Nick Mosey and Rusty Whisman. To be eligible for the All-Academic team, student-athletes have to maintain a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average, have attained a sophomore standing academically and competed in at least 50 percent of their team's contests. A total of 106 student-athletes from the eight Big West member institutions were honored in the fall sports.
July 17, 2006 PAULA SMITH NAMED ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR/SENIOR WOMAN ADMINISTRATOR AT UC IRVINE Irvine, Calif. -- Paula Smith has been named Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator at UC Irvine, announced by UCI Athletic Director Bob Chichester. "This is a wonderful opportunity for me and I am excited about returning to UC Irvine," Smith said. “I am eager to cultivate new relationships with our student-athletes, coaches, staff and members of the entire University and community. I look forward to assisting UCI in its continued athletics program success on and off the field." Smith returns to UCI after serving in a similar position at UC Riverside for the past five years. At UCI, she will serve as member of the Athletic Department's senior management team and also will be part of the Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics. In conjunction with the Director of Athletics, she will provide leadership and assistance for Department staff's compliance with department, campus, conference, NCAA, and government rules, regulations, and policies. Smith will provide administrative supervision of several of UCI's athletic programs and will serve as the university's Senior Woman Administrator to the NCAA and Big West Conference. In addition to her UC Irvine duties, Smith was recently selected to serve on the NCAA Division I Championships/Competition Cabinet. Smith was the Assistant Athletic Director for Student Services at UCI from 1999-2001, directing the academic support programs and supervising and evaluating the CHAMPS Life Skills program. Prior to UC Irvine, Smith worked for 11 years at the Big West Conference, serving in several roles, including Assistant Commissioner, compliance administrator and in championships. Smith graduated from New Mexico State University in 1988 with a Bachelor's degree in marketing with a special emphasis in transportation and physical distribution. “On behalf of our Athletic Department staff, we are all very excited about Paula’s return to UCI, particularly in the role of our Senior Woman Administrator," Chichester said. "Our Department and the Campus will greatly benefit from her experience, personality, and professionalism. Paula is very highly thought of by so many people here and throughout the Big West Conference. We truly recognize how much Paula will be missed at UCR because of her outstanding work there. We are all very much looking forward to working with Paula again as an Anteater." Smith replaces Stephanie Shrieve who became the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance at St. Mary's. June 14, 2006 UC IRVINE ATHLETES EARN ACADEMIC HONORS Irvine, Calif. – The Big West Conference honored 15 UC Irvine student-athletes with Academic All-Big West Conference distinction for spring sports. UCI's honorees are men’s golfer Brian Edick, men’s tennis player Victor Lamm, women’s tennis player Izabela Mijic, women’s track and field athletes Elaine Gillespie, Jamie Schwab, Kristen Silverman and Danielle St. John and men’s track and field athletes Michael Beerer, Michael Cao, Aaron Corbett, Storm Huie, Sky Johnston, Fred Lee, George Morris and Greg Thompson. A total of
126 student-athletes from eight member institutions were honored
in the spring sports of baseball, softball, men’s and women’s
tennis, men’s and women’s track and field, and men’s
and women’s golf. To be eligible for the All-Academic team,
student-athletes have to maintain a 3.2 cumulative grade point average,
have attained a sophomore standing academically and competed in
at least 50 percent of their team’s contests. June 5, 2006 SUMMER SPORTS CAMPS OFFERED AT UC IRVINE IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine Athletics is hosting summer sports camps for boys and girls ages 5-17. Camps are offered in baseball, basketball, soccer, swimming, tennis, track & field, volleyball, rowing and golf. Sessions are available for all ability levels with instruction provided by UC Irvine coaches and student-athletes at campus venues. Free extended care is available before and after camp. Further information may be obtained at www.athletics.uci.edu/CCP/home or by calling 949-824-6120.
May 25, 2006 JABLONSKY, NAGATA NAMED UC IRVINE'S ATHLETES OF YEAR IRVINE, Calif. --- Men's volleyball player Jayson Jablonsky and women's swimmer Chelsea Nagata have been named UC Irvine's male and female Athletes of the Year for 2005-06. The announcement was made during the Athletic Department's annual student-athlete barbecue Thursday afternoon. Jablonsky, a junior outside hitter from Esperanza High School, was named 2006 National Player of the Year by the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA). An AVCA All-America first team selection, he became the first UCI men's volleyball player to take the nation's top honor. He ended the year averaging 4.89 points, 4.17 kills, 1.61 digs, 0.37 aces and 0.65 blocks per game. He ranked 11th in the nation in aces, 17th in kills per game and 18th in points per game. He was also named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Year and was selected as AVCA Player of the Week twice this season. The Anteaters compiled a school-record 27 wins and the program's first MPSF regular-season title. UCI advanced to the NCAA Final Four for the first time in history and was ranked No. 1 for eight straight weeks before finishing the season with a final national ranking of second. Nagata, a sophomore from Kahului, Hawaii (Maui HS), became UCI's first female swimming All-American when she finished seventh in the 100-yard butterfly at the NCAA Championships. She was the fourth-fastest qualifier for the event with a school-record time of 53.18. Nagata won three individual events (50-yard freestyle, 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke) at the Big West Conference Championships and also competed on the first-place 200 medley relay. She tied the school record for most individual conference titles in a single season. She was named co-Big West Athlete of the Year. Nagata entered the NCAA Championships with the nation's 19th-fastest time in the 100 fly, 29th in the 100 back and 39th in the 50 free.
May 16, 2006 UC IRVINE HONORS 152 SCHOLAR-ATHLETES Irvine, CA ---UC Irvine Athletics honored 152 student-athletes as 2005-06 Big West Conference Scholar-Athletes at the program's annual banquet Monday night (May 15) at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. This year's list brings UCI's total to 2,731 conference scholar-athletes since 1983. Requirements for this award include maintaining a 3.0 grade-point average (GPA) over three quarters or a 3.2 GPA over two quarters for freshmen. Student-athletes must also earn letters in their sports. The Scholar-Athlete award was implemented by the Big West Conference to honor those student-athletes that have maintained a high level of scholastic excellence while participating in intercollegiate athletics. UCI expanded the award to include teams that do not participate in Big West-sponsored sports. In addition to the 152 scholar-athletes, UCI also recognized several individuals. Men's basketball player Ross Schraeder was recognized as the Lauds & Laurels Senior Athlete of the Year, the most prestigious award given by the UCI Alumni Association. Schraeder was a two-time All-Big West Conference honorable mention honoree who ended his career as UCI's all-time three-point leader. Schraeder led the Anteaters in scoring for the second straight season at 13.1 points per game and ended his career with 1,094 points (16th at UCI). Schraeder was fourth in the nation this season in three-point field goal percentage at .474. UCI's Big West Scholar-Athletes of the Year were seniors Megan Baker (swimming) and Mike Beerer (track & field). Each conference school honors one male and one female athlete each year. Baker was a member of UCI's 2005 Big West Championship team, helping the Anteaters to a conference title in the 800 free relay. The team won the relay in a school record time of 7:34.30. This season, Baker finished fourth in the 400 individual medley and ninth in the 1,650 freestyle at the conference championships. She is a four-time scholar-athlete majoring in psychology & social behavior with a minor in biological sciences. Beerer won his second consecutive Big West title in the hammer throw last week. He is the only UCI athlete to ever win a Big West Championship in the hammer and is the first Anteater male field athlete to earn a conference title since 1993. He is second all-time at UCI in the hammer throw with a mark of 215'9" set at the Claremont Classic this season, just three inches shy of the school record (216'0") that has stood for 16 years. He has qualified for the NCAA West Regional in the hammer throw for the third straight year, competing on May 26. Beerer was named the Big West Athlete of the Week March 29 after winning the hammer throw at UCI's Collegiate Classic. He will be graduating with a degree in mechanical and aerospace engineering. Women's basketball player Kimberly Martin received the University's Academic Achievement Award from the UCI Admissions Office, while women's distance runner Kelli Vanderburg received the UCI Athletics Leadership Award. The women's swimming & diving team accepted the Faculty Athletic Representative Award for the highest team GPA and women's water polo player Robyn Kaake garnered the fourth annual Robert Chichester Award.
May 15, 2006
LONG BEACH, CA--Long Beach State was officially declared the winner of the 2005-06 Black and Blue Rivalry Series with UC Irvine by a final count of 34-25. The final trophy results included this past weekend's Big West Track and Field Championships and the NCAA Women's Golf West Regional. The series featured two exciting men's & women's basketball doubleheaders that drew near capacity crowds at both venues and provided a near NCAA Tournament-like atmosphere. Long Beach State swept the series in baseball, women's volleyball, women's basketball and women's tennis en route to the inaugural title. The Anteaters took the series in water polo and golf, defeating the 49ers with both the men's and women's programs. The series remained competitive up until the very end with UCI trailing by just two points (25-23) going into the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Men's Volleyball Championship Tournament April 27. Long Beach State upset the Anteaters in that semifinal match-up and pulled away with a victory in the women's Big West Conference Tennis Championship. 2005-06 was the inaugural year for the Black and Blue Series between UC Irvine and Long Beach State. The series focused on head-to-head match-ups between the two schools during the regular season and post-season. The trophy was created to build the rivalry between UC Irvine and Long Beach State in all sports, to increase attendance at events between the two schools and to build school spirit among each institution's student body. The series is presented and sponsored by Duke's of Huntington Beach. Brett Barnes is the Senior Managing Partner for T'S Restaurants and the owner of Duke's. “When Blake (Sasaki) from UCI and Tim (Dickson) from Long Beach approached us, the idea seemed like a good fit," said Barnes. “Duke's is located right in between the two schools, and our company really focuses on community involvement. I like the ideal of college athletics and thought this series would benefit both programs and Duke's. The series has helped us get Duke's exposure on both campuses and in other cities. The response to our promotional material has been strong. I would like the series to become part of the fabric of both schools, and from there grow to heightened awareness and exposure for both schools, Duke's and our family of restaurants in California and Hawaii." Each year at the conclusion of the final scheduled athletic event between the two institutions, the winning school will receive a surfboard trophy bearing the inscription of the annual winners as well as a party for the athletic department at Duke's. The winning institution will retain possession of the trophy for a period of one year, until the award presentation the following year.
April 4, 2006 UC IRVINE ATHLETES EARN ACADEMIC HONORS Irvine, Calif. – The Big West Conference honored 13 UC Irvine student-athletes with Academic All-Big West Conference distinction for the winter sports of men’s and women’s basketball, and men’s and women’s swimming and diving. UCI's honorees are men’s basketball player Ross Schraeder, women’s basketball player Joanna Usher, swimmers Megan Baker, Michelle Kumaus, Chelsea Nagata, Mike Cohee, Eddie Erazo, Saul Fields, Eric Reilly and David Wharton and divers Franny Brittle, Kelly Janicki and Jackie Jones. A total of
70 student-athletes from eight member institutions were honored.
To be eligible for the All-Academic team, student-athletes have
to maintain a 3.2 cumulative grade point average, have attained
a sophomore standing academically and competed in at least 50 percent
of their team’s contests. January 30, 2006 UC IRVINE
ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME TO INDUCT FIVE FEB. 11 IRVINE, Calif. --- An illustrious class will be inducted into UC Irvine's Athletic Hall of Fame Feb. 11 during the Homecoming Alumni brunch at the Hyatt Regency Newport Beach beginning at 11:00 a.m. The new inductees will be introduced during the UCI-Cal Poly men's basketball game that night at the Bren Events Center. The 2006 inductees are Mauricio Bardales (men's track and field), Nicole Bucciarelli (women's soccer), Wayne Engelstad (men's basketball), Len Miller (men's cross country/track and field coach) and John Vargas (men's water polo). This year's class joins 60 previous inductees. In addition, David Ritchie (men's water polo) will receive the Varsity Club Alumnus of Merit Award. Mauricio Bardales won the NCAA Division II decathlon title with 7,621 points in 1977 to set the Division II record. After UCI moved to Division I status July 1, 1977, he captured the NCAA Division I decathlon crown in 1978 with 8,007 points. Bardales won the 1978 Pacific Coast Athletic Association (now Big West Conference) decathlon championship with 7,485 points in 1978. A three-time All-American, Bardales is UCI's record-holder in the javelin at 239'0." Nicole Bucciarelli was a three-time All-Big West Conference first team selection in soccer (1996, 1997 & 1998). She is UCI's all-time leader in points (129) and also ranks No. 1 with 56 goals. Bucciarelli, who had 15 game-winning goals in her career, was an All-West Region selection in 1996 and 1997. She was a two-time member of the Big West Fall Sports All-Academic Team and was UCI's Lauds & Laurels Outstanding Senior Athlete in 1999. Wayne Engelstad was named Most Valuable Player of the 1988 Pacific Coast Athletic Association Men's Basketball Tournament as he scored 88 points and grabbed 35 rebounds in three games. He was named first team All-PCAA and All-District 8 by the National Association of Basketball Coaches in 1988 when he averaged 23.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. A member of the PCAA All-Freshman team in 1985, Engelstad had two 40-point games in his career (41 vs. Bradley & 40 vs. New Mexico State). He currently ranks fourth in career points (1,530) and fifth in career rebounds (698) at UCI. Len Miller built the powerhouse cross country and track and field programs at UCI in the 1970s. He guided the Anteater men to NCAA Division II cross country championships in 1975 and 1976 and to the university's first Division I conference title in 1977 when UCI won the Pacific Coast Athletic Association cross country crown. Miller's 1976 men's track and field team won the NCAA Division II championship and he was named NCAA Coach of the Year that season. His 1977 track and field squad finished as NCAA Division II runner-up. John Vargas scored 62 goals for the UCI men's water polo team in 1982 when the Anteaters won the NCAA title with a 30-0 record. He earned All-American honors in 1981 and 1982, and was selected to the NCAA All-Tournament team those two years. He also was first team All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association in those seasons. Vargas competed for the United States Olympic team in 1992, was an assistant coach for the U.S. in 1996 and served as head coach of the American team in the 2000 Olympics. He currently serves as men's head water polo coach at Stanford University. David Ritchie, this year's recipient of the Varsity Club Alumnus of Merit Award, was an all-conference performer in men's water polo while earning his bachelor's degree in economics from UCI. He is an executive vice president and the regional manager of the Orange County Regional Commercial Banking Office for Wells Fargo & Company. He is chairman of the Orangewood Foundation and JF Shea Therapeutic Riding Center. A member of the UCI Board of Trustees, Ritchie is an active volunteer for CASA (Court-Appointed Special Advocates), the Make-a-Wish Foundation, and several other community-oriented service groups. The Varsity Club Alumnus of Merit Award is given in recognition of a former UCI student-athlete for extraordinary post-collegiate, professional, athletic or civic accomplishments.
December 15, 2005 14 UC IRVINE STUDENT-ATHLETES NAMED TO BIG WEST ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM FOR FALL SPORTS IRVINE, Calif. --- Fourteen UC Irvine student-athletes have been named to the Big West Academic All-Conference team for fall sports. A total of 95 student-athletes from eight member institutions earned the honor for the fall sports of women’s volleyball, men’s and women’s soccer and men’s and women’s cross-country. To be eligible for the All-Academic team, student-athletes have to maintain a 3.2 cumulative grade point average, complete one full academic year at the member institution prior to the season for which the award is being received (at least a sophomore academically) and compete in at least 50 percent of their team’s contests. UCI's recipients are women’s volleyball players Jennifer Moser and Terri Peterson, women's soccer player Frankee Kelly, men’s soccer players Max Haymer and Rudy Mondragon, women’s cross country runners Erinn Kim, Jennifer Lewis, Candice Proctor and Kelli Vanderburg and men’s cross country runners Dan Driscoll, Matthew Grilli, Sky Johnston, George Morris and Greg Thompson. October 4, 2005 ANTEATERS, 49ERS LAUNCH 'BLACK & BLUE SERIES' THURSDAY NIGHT IRVINE, Calif. --- The competition between Long Beach State and UC Irvine has been enhanced with the creation of the "Black & Blue Series" trophy that will be awarded to the school with the most points based on matchups between the two universities in common sports throughout the academic year. The first head-to-head meeting in the series for 2005-06 is Thursday (Oct. 6) night when the 49ers visit Crawford Court to take on the Anteaters in Big West Conference women's volleyball at 7:00. The trophy idea was developed between the schools during the summer and has been created to build the rivalry in athletics' competition while bringing added attention to college sports in Southern California, especially in Orange County and the Long Beach area. The series looks to provide a sense of pride from each university's alumni, build school spirit among each institution's student body and increase attendance at sporting events between the two schools. At the conclusion of the final scheduled athletic event between the two schools each year, the winner of that year's "Black & Blue Series" will receive a trophy bearing the inscription of the annual winners. The winning institution will retain possession of the trophy for one year until the award presentation the following year.
September 22, 2005 CAROL RIVERA NAMED COMPLIANCE COORDINATOR FOR UC IRVINE ATHLETICS IRVINE, Calif. --- Carol Rivera has been named Compliance Coordinator for the UC Irvine Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, announced by Bobby Smitheran, Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance & Student Support. Rivera joins the UCI staff from the West Coast Conference, where she served as Compliance Assistant for the past year. She also worked in compliance at the University of Cincinnati and has previously worked in athletic training at Solano Community College and as a firefighter for the California Department of Forestry & Fire Protection. She earned her B.S. degree from Sonoma State University in 1999 and her Masters of Education in Sport Administration from Xavier (Ohio) University in 2003. “Carol was selected from a large pool of exceptional candidates as a result of her athletic administrative experience at both the campus and conference office level, which will only benefit and strengthen our compliance efforts at UCI," Smitheran said. “Carol is widely respected amongst peers as someone who is knowledgeable, driven, and dedicated to enhancing the overall intercollegiate experience of all student-athletes. As NCAA legislation and required NCAA reporting becomes more complex, Carol's detail-oriented approach to compliance will enhance our coaching and administrative staff's continued education of NCAA rules and regulations while meeting the Department's athletic objectives. “Carol brings a breadth of experience in Athletics and the public sector, which will enable her to bring a unique perspective to our Student Services Staff, Athletic Department and greater campus community. We welcome Carol and are excited to have her on staff," added Smitheran. September 12, 2005 UC IRVINE NAMES PHIL WANG ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR FOR BUSINESS/FINANCE IRVINE, Calif. --- Phil Wang has been named Associate Athletic Director for Business/Finance at UC Irvine, announced by Athletic Director Bob Chichester Monday. Wang comes to UCI after serving as Director of Finance for UCLA Athletics since 1996. He will begin his new position at UCI in mid-October. At UCI, Wang will serve as a senior-level administrator responsible for the analysis, development and management of the Athletic Department's budget and financial operations. His position includes serving as the department's chief financial and operation officer, strategist and controller. “I am very honored and excited to join the great staff at UCI," Wang said. “I look forward to working in an environment that promotes excellence in athletic and academic performance, sportsmanship and diversity. I will work to uphold the Athletic Department's mission statement to facilitate and enrich the education and personal growth of our student-athletes. I am committed to ensuring that UCI Athletics remains one of the premiere collegiate programs in the country." Wang also served as Accounting Manager/Assistant Fiscal Controller at UCLA for five years. He earned his B.S. degree in applied mathematics from UCLA in 1991. He and his wife, Anita, were married this summer. “We are extremely excited about Phil joining our staff here at UCI," Chichester said. “Phil's experience, technical abilities, personality, and working style will provide him with an opportunity to fulfill some very important business, finance, and senior management responsibilities in the Department. I am very much looking forward to working with Phil on some important projects that hopefully will allow the Department to strengthen and enhance our programs," added Chichester. “I believe that our Department staff and all of those who interact with Phil will find him a pleasure to work with as we pursue our Department goals. Again, we are excited about welcoming Phil and his wife, Anita, to the Anteater family." August 31, 2005 IRVINE, CA --- UC Irvine Athletics will collect donations at UC Irvine-sponsored athletic events this weekend to aid relief and rescue efforts in response to the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina. A UC Irvine representative will be present at the following events to accept donations. Friday,
September 2 Saturday,
September 3 Men's Soccer --- UCI
COLLEGE CLASSIC PRESENTED BY THE DOUBLETREE HOTEL - ORANGE COUNTY
AIRPORT (Anteater Stadium) Sunday,
September 4 Monday,
September 5 All funds will be donated to the Red Cross. June 27, 2005 UC IRVINE ATHLETICS MARKETING & PROMOTIONS STAFF EARNS NACMA AWARDS IRVINE, Calif. - The UC Irvine Athletics Marketing and Promotions staff was recognized with four awards by the National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) at its recent conference in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. Awards were presented in 18 categories with schools competing against institutions of similar size and conference affiliation. UC Irvine earned two first-place honors, and two second-place awards. More than 700 entries were judged by corporate marketing personnel. UC Irvine earned top honors for Best Single Newspaper Display Ad and Best Activation Program with a Sponsor. Categories for the two second-place awards were, Best Online Promotion and Best Sponsor Follow-Up Report. The judges for the competition were Chris Caldwell (Gatorade), John Egan (Coca-Cola), Paula Grooms (IMG), Matt Pensinger (General Motors) and Bruce Skinner (Former Executive Director, Fiesta Bowl). “Again, these honors are attributed to a great group of staff and interns we have in Anteater Sports Marketing", says Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing & Promotions, Blake Sasaki. “They are all passionate about UC Irvine Athletics and it shows in their work". The NACMA Awards are in their third year and are given for outstanding achievement in marketing and promotions.
June 21, 2005 UCI ATHLETICS NAMES MARSHA GONZAGA ACADEMIC & LIFE SKILLS COORDINATOR IRVINE, Calif. --- Marsha Gonzaga has joined the UC Irvine Intercollegiate Athletics staff as Academic & Life Skills Coordinator. She comes to UCI after serving the past two years as a graduate assistant with the CHAMPS/Life Skills Program in the Office of Student-Athlete Development at Arizona State University. She also worked in Career Services at ASU, where she received her Master of Counseling in May. She earned her B.A. degree in distinction, psychology and sociology in 2002 from the University of Oklahoma, where she was a student-athlete competing in golf. Her duties at UCI will include managing the study-table program for student-athletes, incorporating CHAMPS/Life Skills training and providing academic counseling assistance for selected teams. "I am very excited to have Marsha join our staff as she brings great character, values and a wealth of experience and ideas that will encourage academic and 'life skills' development in our student-athletes at UC Irvine," said Dedra Butler, UCI's Assistant Athletic Director/Academics & Student Affairs. "Her passion to serve as a resource provider exudes her and will contribute greatly to our mission to Challenge Athletes' Minds for Personal Success (CHAMPS)."
June 16, 2005 BUTLER, SMITHERAN RECEIVE NEW POSITIONS IN STUDENT SERVICES IRVINE, Calif. --- A restructuring of the Student Services program in the UC Irvine Intercollegiate Athletics Department has resulted in enhanced positions for Dedra Butler and Bobby Smitheran. Butler has been promoted to Assistant Athletic Director for Academic and Student Affairs after previously serving as Academic and Life Skills Coordinator. Her expanded duties will include supervising the academic advising program for student-athletes, the CHAMPS/Life Skills program, and she will serve as liaison to the Counseling Center, academic advisors, and academic department deans. Butler will also supervise the new Academic and Life Skills Coordinator, and will continue to provide academic counseling assistance. Smitheran's new position is Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Student Support. He has been supervising the department's compliance program and has had significant responsibilities with the admissions process. His additional duties will include serving as the department's liaison to the Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools, Housing Administrative Services and the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. He will also provide academic counseling assistance to UCI's student-athletes. The changes resulted from the resignation of former Assistant Athletic Director for Student Services Khari Johnson earlier this year. June 16, 2005 21
UC IRVINE STUDENT-ATHLETES NAMED TO BIG WEST IRVINE, Calif. --- Twenty-one UC Irvine student-athletes have been named to the Big West Academic All-Conference team for spring sports. A total of 197 student-athletes from 10 member institutions earned the honor for the spring sports of baseball, softball, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's track and field, and men's and women's golf. To be eligible for the All-Academic team, student-athletes have to maintain a 3.2 cumulative grade point average, complete one full academic year at the member institution prior to the season for which the award is being received (at least a sophomore academically) and compete in at least 50 percent of their team's contests. UCI's recipients are baseball player Gregg Wallis (political science), men's tennis players Ryusuke Kashiwabara (international studies) and Peter Surapol (economics), women's tennis player Anna Bentzer (psychology), men's track and field athletes Mike Beerer (mechanical engineering), Michael Cao (psychology & social behavior/sociology), Aaron Corbett (psychology), Matt Grilli (psychology), Storm Huie (sociology), Fred Lee (criminology), Curtis Lehmann (psychology) and Jeremy Torres (computer engineering), and women's track and field athletes Lauren Adams (biological sciences), Jennifer Lewis (English & film studies), Kirsten Loftin (criminology), Angela Lotito (political science), Kim Ramirez (psychology & biological sciences), Corica Rodgers (biological sciences), Natalie St. Andre (film studies), Kristen Silverman (political science), and Kelli Vanderburg (psychology & social behavior). February 1, 2005 UC
IRVINE ATHLETIC HALL OF FAME TO INDUCT FOUR FEBRUARY 12; IRVINE, Calif. --- Four new members will be inducted into UC Irvine's Athletic Hall of Fame Feb. 12 during the Homecoming Alumni brunch at the Hyatt Regency Irvine beginning at 10:45 a.m. The new inductees also will be introduced during the UCI-UC Riverside men's basketball game that night at the Bren Events Center. The 2005 inductees are Jeff Cunningham (men's basketball), Popi Edwards (women's volleyball/track and field), Leticia Oseguera (women's basketball) and P.J. Polowski (men's soccer). This year's class joins 56 previous inductees. Jeff Cunningham played varsity basketball at UCI from 1967-70 and was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District team as a junior and senior. He led the Anteaters to the College Division playoffs in 1968 and 1969 before being drafted by the San Diego Rockets in the 1970 NBA draft. Cunningham led UCI in scoring in 1969 (21.0) and 1970 (19.5), and in rebounding in 1970 (8.4). He currently ranks seventh in Anteater career scoring with 1,467 points and is 13th in rebounding (574). Cunningham also served as an assistant coach to Tim Tift from 1972-76. Popi Edwards was a first team All-Big West selection in women's volleyball in 1993, 1994 and 1995 after earning second-team honors as a freshman. She was named to the All-Northwest Region team in 1993 and 1994 and was chosen as UCI's female Big West Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1994. She recorded over 1,000 kills and digs in her career and currently ranks second all-time at UCI in career kills (1,283) and attack attempts (4,013), and is third in digs (1,045). Edwards earned All-Big West recognition in track and field in 1996 and 1997. She currently ranks fourth on UCI's career Top 10 list in the 100 meters (11.91) and 200 meters (24.24). Leticia Oseguera ranks No. 1 at UCI in career rebounds with 969 and is third in points with 1,415. She earned All-Big West Conference first team honors in 1997 and 1998, and she ranked fifth nationally in 1998 with an 11.9 rebounding average. Oseguera, a second team all-conference choice as a sophomore in 1996, was a freshman on the 1995 team that became the only Anteater squad to advance to the NCAA Tournament. She holds the UCI record for single-season rebounds (289 in 1996) and is second in single-season scoring (505 points in 1997). Oseguera was UCI's female Big West Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 1997 and 1998. She was voted a GTE Academic All-American by the College Sports Information Directors of America in 1998. P.J. Polowski is the UCI career record-holder for goals in men's soccer with 30 and in total points with 73. He set the school mark for single-season goals with 19 in 1994 when he was selected as the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Player of the Year and led the Far West Region and the MPSF in goals. He was named first team All-MPSF in 1993 and 1994. Polowski is tied for the single-game school record in goals with three, which he did twice in one season. He is tied for second in career game-winning goals with seven and is tied for eighth in career assists with 13. His five game-winning goals in 1994 and 47 points that season remain single-season UCI records. This year's recipient of the Varsity Club Alumnus Award of Merit is William Butler ('74), who was a rower at UCI from 1970-74. He is the president and CEO of Environmental Risk Analysis, which he founded. The firm is a nationally-recognized leader in the field of research and statistics for litigation. The Varsity Club Alumnus Award of Merit is given to recognize a former UCI student-athlete for extraordinary post-collegiate, professional, athletic or civic accomplishments. December 27, 2004 UC IRVINE ASSISTANT A.D. KHARI JOHNSON ANNOUNCES RESIGNATION IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine Assistant Athletic Director/Student Services Khari Johnson has announced his resignation, effective Jan. 7, to pursue a career in real estate finance. Johnson has been with UCI’s Athletic Department for the past 7 ½ years. He served as Life Skills Coordinator from 1997-99 before becoming the Academic & Life Skills Coordinator in 1999. He has been in his current position since 2001. “I appreciate being connected with a vibrant university that provided me with many opportunities academically, athletically and professionally,” Johnson said. “The daily interactions with students, staff and faculty will be sorely missed. “My undergraduate experience at UCI provided me with the skills to explore, organize and advance. I believe that education is an ongoing process and I am applying the knowledge that I have gained into another field,” he added. Johnson is also a former student-athlete at UCI, competing in basketball from 1990-94. “UCI has been very fortunate to have Khari Johnson be a part of its athletic programs both as a successful student-athlete and as a valued staff member,” UCI Athletic Director Bob Chichester said. “Khari has had an outstanding impact and influence on many student-athletes, coaches, and staff with whom he has worked. He has certainly been a role model for many people associated with our athletic programs. We all wish him much success with his new business endeavors and we hope that he will stop by and visit often whenever he can do so.” December 14, 2004 FIFTEEN UC IRVINE STUDENT-ATHLETES HONORED ON BIG WEST ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE FALL TEAMS IRVINE, Calif. --- Fifteen UC Irvine student-athletes have been named to the 2004 Big West Conference Academic All-Conference team for fall sports. To be eligible for the All-Academic team, student-athletes had to maintain a 3.2 cumulative grade-point average, have attained a sophomore standing academically and competed in at least 50 percent of their team’s contests. The UC Irvine honorees included five from women’s cross country: Kim Handel, Jennifer Lewis, Kim Ramirez, Natalie St. Andre and Kelli Vanderburg; four from women’s soccer: Gina Scachetti, Julie Scheppele, Tara Wldon and Marissa Welliver; three from women’s volleyball: Ashlie Hain, Dana Kurzbard and Jennifer Moser; two from men’s cross country: Matt Grilli and Tim Hearst and one from men’s soccer: Cameron Rossi. A total of 154 student-athletes from the conference’s 10 member institutions received the honor. November 15, 2004 PETER THE ANTEATER IN NATIONALLY-TELEVISED MASCOT COMPETITION IRVINE, Calif. --- UC Irvine's "Peter the Anteater" will vie for the championship of the first-ever "Best Damn Sports Mascot Challenge" that begins airing on Fox Sports Net's Best Damn Sports Show Period Monday (Nov. 15). The competition features the collegiate mascots maneuvering through an obstacle course with the individual race winners advancing to the next round. Peter competes against mascots from such schools as UCLA, North Carolina, Iowa, Minnesota and UC Santa Cruz. The
various stages of the competition will run each weeknight at 8:00 and 11:00 (PST)
on the nationally-televised show for two weeks, leading to the crowning of the
winner. Bruce Jenner and Leanne Tweeden host the competition. September 2, 2004 MIKE NAGLER NAMED HEAD STRENGTH & CONDITIONING COACH AT UC IRVINE IRVINE, Calif. --- Mike Nagler, with 12 years of experience at the NCAA Division I level, has been named head strength and conditioning coach at UC Irvine. Nagler comes to UCI after serving in a similar capacity at Cal State Fullerton since January 2000. He served as assistant strength coach at the University of Iowa (1998-2000), Baylor (1996-98), Washington (1995-96), UNLV (1993-95) and Washington State (1992-93). He earned his B.S. degree in exercise science from Washington State in 1993 and his Master's degree in kinesiology from UNLV in 1995. Nagler will begin his new position at UC Irvine Sept. 13. A renovated strength and conditioning center will open during the fall to service the university's 23 intercollegiate athletics teams. August 6, 2004 STEPHANIE SHRIEVE NAMED ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR /SENIOR WOMAN ADMINISTRATOR AT UC IRVINE IRVINE, Calif. --- Stephanie Shrieve has been named Associate Athletic Director/Senior Woman Administrator at UC Irvine, announced by UCI Athletic Director Bob Chichester Friday. Shrieve joins the UCI staff after serving in a similar position at Saint Mary's College in Moraga, Calif., the past four years. At UCI, she will serve as member of the Athletic Department's senior management team and also will be part of the Chancellor's Advisory Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics. In conjunction with the Director of Athletics, she will provide leadership and assistance for Department staff's compliance with department, campus, conference, NCAA, and government rules, regulations, and policies. Shrieve will provide administrative supervision of several of UCI's athletic programs and will serve as the university's Senior Woman Administrator to the NCAA and Big West Conference. "We are very excited about Stephanie joining our staff here at UCI," Chichester said. "Stephanie's experience, personality, and professional vision will provide her with an opportunity to successfully contribute to our athletic programs and to the UCI community. Stephanie is highly thought of by the people with whom she has worked. Our staff members are very much looking forward to a chance to work with her and I know that students and others associated with our programs will welcome the opportunity to interact with her," Chichester added. Prior to her service at Saint Mary's, Shrieve was the Director of Athletic Development, Annual Fund and Fundraising for Olympic sports at the University of California, Berkeley, from 1998-2000. She was an assistant women's volleyball coach at Cal from 1997-98. "I am truly privileged to join such an enthusiastic team of people in the UCI Athletic Department," Shrieve said. "Southern California is my home away from home, and I am looking forward to returning and building relationships at UCI and in the Orange County community. "As a Big West Conference alumna, I am excited to be a part of its competitiveness, and supporting the student-athletes and coaches at UCI to represent the conference at the highest level in Division I athletics." Shrieve was a four-year competitor in volleyball at Cal State Fullerton from 1988-91. She ranks second in the Titans' record book for career assists (3,388) and service aces (108) and is also in Fullerton's top 10 for career block assists and digs. She was the Titans' team captain as a junior and senior and was a Big West Scholar-Athlete each of those years. She earned her B.S. degree in humanities/child development from Cal State Fullerton in 1992 and her master's degree in health, physical education and recreation; sports administration from Saint Mary's in 2000. Shrieve, who is expected to begin her new position in early September, replaces Petrina Long, who accepted a similar position at UCLA in May. Contact: Bob Olson (949) 824-5814
NINE ANTEATERS PARTICIPATING IN 2004 ATHENS GAMES
IRVINE, Calif. --- Nine UC Irvine affiliates will be official participants in the 2004 Summer Olympics at Athens, Greece.
Five ex-Anteaters are members of the U.S. Men’s Water Polo team: Omar Amr, Ryan Bailey, Genai Kerr, Dan Klatt and Jeff Powers. This is the second Olympics for Bailey and the first for the other four players. The Americans face Croatia in their first game August 15.
Lanee Butler-Beashel and Peter Wells will be competing in the yachting Mistrals at the 2004 Games. This marks the fourth Olympic competition for Butler-Beashel and the initial one for Wells. The Mistral competition begins August 15. Former UCI sailor Jay Glaser, who competed in the 1984 Games, is an assistant coach with the U.S. team for the second straight Olympics.
Lara Bjargardottir, who will be a junior at UCI this fall, is a swimming competitor for her native Iceland at the 2004 Athens Games. She has qualified in the 200-meter freestyle and the 200-meter individual medley. The preliminaries and semifinals will be contested August 16 and the finals August 17.
This year’s UCI representation brings the university’s total to 39 student-athletes and coaches who have participated in a total of 71 Olympics. June 17, 2004 22
UC IRVINE STUDENT-ATHLETES NAMED Irvine, Calif. – 22 UC Irvine student-athletes have been named to the 2004 Big West Conference Academic All-Conference team for spring sports. UCI's honorees include baseball player Gregg Wallis, track and field athletes: Erin Curtis, Janelle Del Soldato, Kim Harper, Jenna Keith, Angela Lotito, Kim Rameriz, Annmarie Turpin, Kelli Vanderburg, Mike Beerer, Michael Cao, Curtis Lehmann, John Stein, Jon Stewart, Jeremy Torres, and tennis players: Jon Endrikat, Peter Surapol, Wkwesi Williams, Anna Bentzer, Tiffany Chang, Veronica Fermin and Christie Posner. A total
of 203 student-athletes from 10 member institutions were honored. To be eligible
for the All-Academic team, student-athletes have to maintain a 3.2 cumulative
grade point average, completed one full academic year at the member institution
prior to the season for which the award is being received (at least a sophomore
academically) and competed in at least 50 percent of their team’s contests.
The sports eligible were men’s and women’s tennis, men’s and
women’s golf, men’s and women’s track & field, baseball
and softball. April 1, 2004 UC IRVINE ATHLETES EARN ACADEMIC HONORS Irvine, Calif. – The Big West Conference honored 11 UC Irvine student-athletes with Academic All-Big West Conference distinction for the winter sports of men’s and women’s basketball, and men’s and women’s swimming and diving. UCI's honorees are men’s basketball players Aras Baskauskas, Jeff Gloger, Ross Schraeder and Stanislav Zuzak, women’s basketball player Joanna Usher and swimmers Megan Baker, Kim Do, Stephanie Moore, Jayme Yahr, Abby Zern and Zack Zucker. A total
of 79 student-athletes from 10 member institutions were honored. To be eligible
for the All-Academic team, student-athletes have to maintain a 3.2 cumulative
grade point average, have attained a sophomore standing academically and competed
in at least 50 percent of their team’s contests. January 22, 2004 UC IRVINE ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME TO INDUCT THREE IRVINE, Calif. --- Three new members will be inducted into UC Irvine’s Athletic Hall of Fame Feb. 7 during the Homecoming Alumni brunch at the Hyatt Regency Irvine beginning at 10:45 a.m. The trio also will be introduced during the UCI-Cal State Northridge men’s basketball game that night at the Bren Events Center. The 2004 inductees are Greg Jablonski (men’s tennis), George Newland (men’s water polo) and Tim Tift (men’s basketball coach/administrator). This year’s class joins 53 previous inductees. Greg Jablonski set a College Division record by playing on four consecutive NCAA Division II championship teams in 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973. In 1970 he earned All-American honors in doubles and paired with Chuck Nachand to win the NCAA title that year. Jablonski then garnered All-American honors in singles in 1971, 1972 and 1973. George Newland was a member of the Anteater men’s water polo program from 1976-80, playing for his father, Ted Newland. During George Newland’s UCI career the Anteaters finished in the nation’s top three each of his four competitive seasons. He earned All-American and first team All-Pacific Coast Athletic Association honors in 1980 when UCI finished third in the nation. George Newland was named UCI’s Student-Athlete of the Year in 1980-81 and he competed on the U.S. National Team from 1982-85. Tim Tift has been associated with UCI Athletics for 37 years beginning as an assistant men’s basketball coach in 1967. He was named head men’s basketball coach in 1969 and served in that capacity through the 1979-80 season. His Anteater teams recorded 145 victories and he led UCI to the NCAA Division II playoffs in 1972 and 1975. Tift guided the Anteaters to 13 home wins in the 1971-72 season when he was named District Coach of the Year. Two of his former players are current Division I head coaches: Steve Cleveland (BYU) and Phil Mathews (USF). Tift also served as an associate athletic director and chaired the Department of Physical Education at UCI, plus served two stints as the Anteater men’s golf coach. He currently serves as a senior lecturer in UCI’s Department of Education. This
year’s ceremony also features the awarding of the first annual Varsity Club
Alumnus Award of Merit. The award is given to recognize a former UCI student-athlete
for extraordinary post-collegiate, professional, athletic or civic accomplishments.
This year’s recipient is Gary Singer (’74), who was a standout golfer
for the Anteaters in the early 1970s. He is a managing partner of law firm O’Melveny
& Myers LLP and he is a member of the UCI Foundation. For more information or comments about this webpage, please contact Stacey Shackleford. All
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