Wildcat of the Year: Nominee Announcement

2014 has been kind to Chico State athletics. Both the baseball and basketball teams made historic playoff runs. Track and field produced a series of record-breaking performances. Soccer volleyball and cross-country have burst onto the scene this fall with playoff opportunities and championship shots of their own.

But who has led these squads to excellence? Who’s been the most valuable Wildcat to their program? Who is the Wildcat of the Year?

Well, that’s for you to determine.

The Orion is announcing the first-ever Orion Sports Wildcat of the Year. Our staff has taken the most accomplished athletes of 2014 and narrowed them down to four men and four women. A new ‘Cat will be featured in the paper each week, with online voting available every step of the way. At the end of the semester, the 2014 male and female Wildcats of the Year will be chosen.

Voting ends Dec. 15.

Men:

Nick Baker – pitcher, baseball

Senior business major, Nick Baker, throws from the stretch in Friday night’s game against Cal State East Bay. Orion file photo.

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Went 10-2 with a 2.37 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 110 innings pitched in 2014
Ranks third in school history with 32 career wins
2014 CCAA Pitcher of the Year

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Sean Park – guard, basketball

Former Wildcat Sean Park drives to the basket while playing on his new squad, the Winchester Wolves, a team from the British Basketball League. Photo courtesy of Sean Park.

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Ranks seventh in Chico State history with 1,227 points.
Appeared in 83 career games as a Wildcat
Averaged 12.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 33 games in 2014.

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J Patrick Smith – decathlete, track and field

JP smith photo.jpg — J Patrick Smith, second from right, competes alongside Olympic medalist Ashton Eaton in March 2014. Photo courtesy of Kevin Brunk

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3-time NCAA decathlon champion
2014 CCAA Male Athlete of the Year.
2014 Co-Field Athlete of the Year

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Lee Gearhart – men’s golfer

Lee Gerhart.jpg — Chico State golfer Lee Gearhart examines the green before making a putt. Photo credit: John Domogma

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2014 CCAA Player of the Year
Took second place at CCAA Championship tournament
Two wins and five top-10 finishes in 2014

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Women:

Brianna Furner – goalkeeper, soccer

Goalie Brianna Furner looks to throw the ball in a game earlier this year. Photo credit: John Domogma

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39 career wins – 1 shy of Chico State all-time record
27 career shutouts, second in school history.
Eight shutouts and 70 saves so far in 2014 season.

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Kasey Barnett – pole vaulter, track and field

Former track and field athlete Kasey Barnett was named Chico State’s female athlete of the year, as well as the California Collegiate Athletic Association Female-Scholar Athlete of the Year. Orion file photo.

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2014 CCAA Women’s Field Athlete of the Year
2014 All-CCAA, All-West Region honors and All-American in the long jump
Set new school records in pole vault, 400 meter relay

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Alex Molina – pitcher, softball

alex molina.jpg — Pitcher Alex Molina winds up against Sonoma State earlier this season. Orion file photo.

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12 wins, 72 strikeouts, 3.09 ERA in 149.2 innings pitched in 2014.
Tossed no-hitter in 2013
Led team in wins, innings pitched, complete games and strikeouts

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Courtney Hamilton – guard, basketball

Guard Courtney Hamilton drives up the court during the 2013-14 season. Orion File Photo.

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Career high 8.4 points per game in 2014, while leading CCAA in assists with 178.
Second all-time with 523 assists, and sixth with 80 career blocks
Named to 2014 All-America Team

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Nick Woodard can be reached at [email protected] or @nwoodard25 on Twitter.