UCI opened its new Student Center which includes two food courts, a performance area, a ballroom as well as space to study, surf the web, relax, shop and play billiards and video games. UC Irvine athletes consider local beaches another training facility. Orange County features 42 miles of Pacific Ocean coastline, including Newport, Corona del Mar, Huntington and Laguna beaches, which are all within a short distance from campus and provide year-round training possibilities. In 2007, the FBI heralded Irvine, California as the number one safest large city in America. UCI offers 69 undergraduate degree programs, 45 master s as well as an M.D., two Ed.D and 40 Ph.D. programs. The median GPA of the 2009 freshman class was 4.0. this is uc irvine WHY THE ANTEATER Pat Glasgow and Bob Ernst, two water polo players, are regarded as the main instigators for the campaign to select the Anteater as mascot, with some inspiration from the Johnny Hart comic strip B.C. The two student-athletes, along with the marketing creativity of fellow student Schuyler Hadley Bassett III, organized an intense promotional effort prior to the November 30, 1965 student election. By election time, only the Anteaters, Eagles, Unicorns, Golden Bears and Seahawks had obtained the required 100 signatures to be included on the ballot. The Anteater emerged victorious in the final tally with 55.9 percent of the vote. Bassett borrowed the war cry Zot from the Anteater in the B.C. comic strip and established his own fraternity, Zeta Omega Ta. The successful campaign led to a piece on the nickname in an issue of Sports Illustrated and into the news-commentary segment of the well-known Huntley-Brinkley newscast. 29
The men s soccer team won its second straight Big West Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive year. The team was led by All- American and Big West Offensive Player of the Year, Irving Garcia, who was drafted by New York in the 2009 MLS SuperDraft. All-American Daniel Bibona became the first Anteater to be named the Big West Pitcher of the Year two consecutive seasons and led UCI to its fifth consecutive postseason appearance. Eric Wise, an All-Big West secondteam honoree, was the first UCI player in 37 years to lead the team in scoring, rebounding and assists. The men s tennis team, led by Big West Coach of the Year, Trevor Kronemann, captured the program s 13th Big West Conference title last season and gained a berth to the NCAA Tournament. TRADITION OF EXCELLENCE Men s water polo head coach, Marc Hunt, was named the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Coach of the Year and Brandon Johnson was named to the All-America second team after scoring 49 goals. Charles Jock, UCI s first male All-American in track and field since 2006, broke UCI s record in the 800 four times last season. Jock competed in the USA Track & Field Championships and represented the U.S. in the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Under-23 Championships. Golfer Hillary Packard was named to the All-Big West first team after leading the Anteaters to their seventh NCAA Regional. Kari Pestolesi, a 2009 AVCA Honorable Mention All-American, was named a tournament Most Valuable Player three times in 2009. 30
All-Americans Carson Clark and Jordan DuFault guided the men s volleyball team to its fifth straight postseason appearance while Clark became the first Anteater to be named All-MPSF twice in a career. Mike Edles was tabbed the ITA/ Southwest Region Coach of the Year after leading UCI to its first-ever Big West Conference championship and second trip to the NCAA Tournament. Three-time Big West Golfer of the Year, John Chin, became UCI s first men s golfer to be named first-team All- American and earned a spot on the U.S. Palmer Cup Team. Mikah Maly-Karros, an All-Big West first-team honoree, tied a school record for points in a single game with 41 against Cal State Fullerton. She led the team in scoring and rebounding and was just one of two Big West players to average a double-double on the year. Freshman Jessey Cardey was named the Big West Freshman of the Year after leading the Anteaters to its second consecutive Big West Conference title. Two-time All-Big West choice, Tanya Taylor, was named an NSCAA All-West Region player after posting 16 points to tie for first on the Anteater squad. Anteater alumnus Scott Brooks was named the NBA Coach of the Year after his first full season as the head coach of the Oklahoma Thunder. 31
Anteaters in the pros A number of former Anteaters are currently pursuing professional volleyball careers. Whitney Pavlik, who was named the 2008 AVP Rookie of the Year, is currently ranked 26th and has a team ranking of 19 with partner Jenny Kropp. Highlighting Pavlik s 2009 season was an upset of Rachel Wacholder and two-time Olympic gold medalist, Kerri Walsh at the Tournament of Champions in Mason, Ohio in September with then-partner Nancy Mason. She has finished in ninth place three times in 2010. Devon Sutherland and Kristin Kelley are in their second season with Volleyball Franches Montagnes in Switzerland this season while Amanda Vazquez is in her fifth year playing in Puerto Rico for Las Indias de Mayaguez. Amanda Vazquez (pictured right) Whitney Pavlik Kelly Wing, an AVCA All- American, is in her fifth season competing on the AVP Tour. Her highest finish was ninth at Manhattan Beach in 2009. Wing is currently ranked 72nd with partner, Nancy Reynolds. Taryn Robertson, an AVCA All-West Region honoree, is currently playing in Germany. 32
33
UC Irvine Athletics It Happens Here