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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
