Successful First Step: Dr. Micah Parker
A new chapter in the Lancer legacy began in 2013-14, as California Baptist University took a strong first step into the NCAA. It marked the completion of our transition from the NAIA to the NCAA Division II, as 19 of our 20 athletic programs became eligible for NCAA postseason competition. More than half of our programs seized the opportunity, with 12 qualifying for the playoffs and five posting victories or advancing out of the regional tournament. Thirteen of our squads earned national rankings at one point or another this year, with six cracking the top-10.
All the success led to us winning the PacWest Commissioner’s Cup for the second time in three years since we first joined the conference in 2011-12. We became just the second school to win the Commissioner’s Cup more than once in the process. That was only one of several historic accomplishments this year. Baseball and men’s basketball set new winning streak records of 24 and 16 games, respectively, while wrestling won a program-high 11 duals and cheerleading completed consecutive undefeated seasons with its second National Cheerleaders Association championship in a row. Three of our coaches logged historic victories: women’s soccer’s Kristen St. Clair and softball’s Bill Baber each won their 100th games and baseball’s Gary Adcock claimed his 400th contest with the Lancers this season. We also produced our first individual NCAA champion, as Mary Hanson won the 100-yard backstroke at the Division II Swimming Championships and set a division record of 52.45 seconds in the process.
There were a number of other individual accolades secured by CBU this season. Seventeen Lancers reached All-American status so far, 19 were all-region selections and a total of 158 all-conference honors were doled out to our students-athletes in 2013-14. Within that were 10 conference player of the year awards, five freshmen of the year and three coach of the year distinctions.
Without a doubt, our 20 athletic teams started our journey into the NCAA with plenty of success. I am excited to see what else we can accomplish together over the years to come.