UC San Diego Tritons

UC San Diego Tritons
University University of California, San Diego
Conference California Collegiate Athletic Association
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (D-I)
Western Water Polo Association
Western Intercollegiate Rowing Association
NCAA Division II
Athletic director Earl W. Edwards
Location San Diego, CA
Basketball arena RIMAC Arena
Baseball stadium Triton Ballpark
Softball stadium Triton Softball Stadium
Soccer stadium Triton Soccer Stadium
Mascot King Triton
Nickname Tritons
Fight song Triton Fight Song
Colors Navy Blue and Gold
         
Website ucsdtritons.com

The UC San Diego Tritons are the athletic sports teams for the University of California, San Diego. UC San Diego has 23 varsity sports teams and offers student participation in a wide range of sports including swimming, water polo, soccer, volleyball, crew, track and field, fencing, basketball, golf, cross country, softball, baseball, and tennis. UC San Diego participates at the NCAA's Division II (DII) level in the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), although water polo, fencing, and men's volleyball compete at the Division I level. Since their move to Division II starting in the 2000-01 season, UCSD has placed in the top 5 in the Division II NACDA Directors' Cup standings five times, including two 2nd place finishes. NCSA Athletic Recruiting has ranked the Tritons as the nation's top Division II program for eight consecutive years.[1]

Teams

Men Women
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Crew
Crew Cross Country
Cross Country Fencing
Fencing Soccer
Golf Softball
Soccer Swimming & Diving
Swimming & Diving Tennis
Tennis Track & Field
Track & Field Volleyball
Volleyball Water Polo
Water Polo

Boosters

UC San Diego recognizes two external organizations of athletic boosters: the Triton Athletic Associates is a booster group of parents, alumni and friends who have each donated between US$50 and $2,500; and the UCSD Athletic Board is made up of donors who have given US$10,000 or more to athletic programs.[2] On campus, booster groups comprise the UCSD Pep Band, Tritons Rising, the Triton Tide (a student booster club), the UCSD Cheerleaders, the Triton Twirl Flag Squad and the UCSD Dance Team. King Triton occasionally appears as a costumed character mascot. Further opportunities for athletic involvement are available to students interested in team staffing and management.[3][4]

Potential move to Division I

In 2011, UCSD considered elevating its athletics to NCAA Division I for all sports. They were looking to join the Big West Conference. However, there were several problems. After the Big West added the University of Hawaii in 2010, they would have 10 teams, meaning any extra member would require more conference games in basketball, upsetting the current schedule balance. In addition, in order to meet the minimum Division I scholarship requirements, the student body would need to vote for a fee increase sometime during the 2011-2012 academic year. After the Big West elected not to invite UCSD in May 2011, plans were put on hold and UCSD remained a Division II team.[5] However, a student-led movement resulted in a vote on a fee increase for UCSD students in the hopes to enhance the school's chances of becoming a Division I school.[6] In March 2012, the UCSD student body rejected an increase in activity fees to support the move to Division I. The vote fell 11,407 to 6,470 (51% of the student body voted).

In January 2016, Associated Students UC San Diego unanimously approved the wording of a new Division I referendum. UCSD undergraduates will vote whether to increase athletic fees by $480 and transition UCSD athletics to Division I.[7] The fee increase would fund the athletic scholarships required for NCAA Division I schools.[8] If the referendum passes in May, UCSD is expected to once again seek an invitation to the Big West Conference.

National championships

A female striker for the UCSD Triton's women's soccer team

Pre-NCAA

Division III

Division II

Individual NCAA Championships

UC San Diego athletes have won a total of 138 individual NCAA championships at the Division I, II and III levels. Individual Division II champions are listed below:

Teams (Division II Era)

Baseball

Year 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Record[11] 14-34 30-23-1 25-28 35-24 37-20 35-24 37-25 43-18 41-15 54-8 42-15 33-24 26-24 38-16 36-21

The UC San Diego baseball team plays its home games at Triton Ballpark, which was renovated in 2014. In 2005, the Tritons were the CCAA league champions. In 2007 and 2008, they reached to the NCAA West Regionals. In 2009, after winning the CCAA league and CCAA tournament, they advanced to the College World Series under the leadership of Dan O'Brien (baseball coach) and infielder Vance Albitz, where they placed fourth. In 2010, they were the College World Series runners-up and the CCAA league and tournament champions. In 2011 and 2012, they repeated as CCAA league and tournament champions, again reaching the NCAA West Regionals. Their most recent CCAA championship came in 2014.[12]

Men's Basketball

Year 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
Record[13] 4-23 8-21 7-20 9-18 11-16 15-14 12-15 18-12 17-11 8-17 11-17 10-17 11-15 15-11 16-11 24-8

The UC San Diego men's basketball team plays its home games at RIMAC Arena. At the end of the 2007–08 season, they won the CCAA Tournament and advanced to the first round of the NCAA West Regionals. In 2015-16, they were NCAA West runners-up.

Women's Basketball

Year 2000-01 2001-02 2002-03 2003-04 2004-05 2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2015-16
Record[14] 15-12 13-14 10-17 15-13 17-10 23-5 27-5 25-10 27-5 25-5 20-11 30-3 22-11 16-11[15] 21-3 26-5

The UC San Diego women's basketball team plays its home games at RIMAC Arena. It has won the CCAA four times, during the 2006–07, 2008–09, 2009–10, and 2012–13 seasons. The Tritons advanced to the NCAA West Regional 1st Round in 2003–04, 2005–06, and 2009–10, and reached the 2nd Round in 2007–08 and 2008–09. They were the NCAA West runners-up in 2011–12 and 2015-16. In 2006–07, they reached the NCAA Final Four.

Fencing (Division I)

The UC San Diego men's and women's fencing squads compete at Main Gym and RIMAC Arena.[16] They compete in the Intercollegiate Fencing Conference of Southern California at the NCAA Division I level. The Tritons won this league's championship every year between 2005 and 2016.[17]

Men's Soccer

Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Record 11-5-2 6-9-1 11-6-0 11-7-1 9-4-4 11-5-2 7-10-2 5-9-3 10-6-2 7-9-3 8-6-4 10-8-0 9-4-4 14-3-5 10-4-6 6-6-6

The UC San Diego men's soccer team hosts its opponents at the Triton Soccer Stadium at RIMAC Field. In 2003, 2013, and 2014, it advanced to the first round of the NCAA West Regional. In 2013, they were the CCAA tournament runners-up.[18]

Women's Soccer

Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Record 21-2-0 21-2-0 15-5-2 18-3-1 14-4-1 18-4-0 20-2-2 12-4-2 15-4-4 15-5-2 19-3-4 13-3-4 17-3-4 7-6-5 9-6-3 15-6-1

The UC San Diego women's soccer team plays its home matches at the Triton Soccer Stadium at RIMAC Field. In its first two seasons of Division II play, 2000 and 2001, the team was crowned CCAA Champions and NCAA National Champions. The Tritons again won the CCAA in 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2011, 2012, and 2015, reaching the NCAA Final Four in 2003 and being named NCAA Runners-Up in 2010 and 2012. They reached the NCAA West Regional 2nd Round in 2005, 2008, and 2009, but were eliminated in the first round in 2002, 2007, 2011, and 2015. Since its promotion to Division II in 2000, the team has failed to reach the NCAA playoffs only three times, in 2004, 2013, and 2014.

Softball

Year 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Record[19] 34-17 35-25 24-32 29-27 19-31 24-28 35-27 32-24 30-25 30-20 45-13 45-23 33-25 34-18 25-25 36-19

The UC San Diego softball team plays its home games at Triton Softball Stadium, adjacent to RIMAC Arena.[20] The Tritons advanced to the NCAA West Regionals in 2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009. 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. In 2011, they were the NCAA National Champions, having won the NCAA West Region and the CCAA. In 2012, they won the CCAA tournament and repeated as NCAA West Region Champions, and were eventually crowned the NCAA National Runners-Up. They won their second CCAA tournament in 2016.

Men's Tennis

Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Record 10-10 10-10 19-4 18-6 18-10 15-7 14-10 18-7 11-12 12-11 12-11 20-0 13-10 13-11 15-10 12-9

The UC San Diego men's tennis team competes in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and plays its home games at the Northview Tennis Courts. The team advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championships each year between 2001 and 2007, and returned there in 2010, 2011, 2013, and 2014. The team's best finish at the NCAA tournament came in 2013, when it was eliminated in the quarterfinal round.

Women's Tennis

Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Record 20-3 16-6 23-4 17-6 18-9 20-4 14-8 14-9 14-11 15-6 13-8 ?-? 8-15 14-7 9-16 12-13

The UC San Diego women's tennis team competes in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and plays its home matches at the Northview Tennis Courts. They were undefeated CCAA champions every season between 2004 and 2009, advancing to the NCAA West Regional each year. They again won the CCAA in 2010, advancing to the regional championship with a 9-1 conference record.

Men's Water Polo (Division I)

Year 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Record[21] 21-9 20-7 19-13 19-10 20-12 24-8 26-6 12-17 20-10 14-14 13-12 17-11 16-8 14-14 16-11 15-15
NCAA Finish[21] 2nd 10th 10th 8th 12th 10th 3rd 14th 10th 10th 14th 4th 10th 11th 4th 4th

The UC San Diego men's water polo team competes in the Western Water Polo Association at the NCAA Division I level. They host their opponents at Canyonview Aquatic Complex in Warren College. The Tritons have reached the NCAA Final Four in 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2006, 2011, and 2014. They were the NCAA National Runners-Up in 2000, and most recently hosted the NCAA Championship in 2014.[22]

Football

Statue of the Triton outside of Price Center East

UC San Diego has not fielded a football team except in Fall 1968 when a newly formed pigskin organization turned in a winless season and then folded for lack of interest.[23] Since then, the subject of bringing NCAA football back to UC San Diego has been a recurring topic. Tom Ham, a local restaurateur and a supporter of UCSD football since the 1960s, has said that UCSD would have no future in San Diego without "big-time" football.[24] Proponents of a major football team have projected benefits that include greater school spirit and a more well-rounded school experience for students as well as enhancing the school's national profile.[25] Opposition to "big-time" football comes from a wide range of school faculty and administrators such Daniel Wulbert, Revelle College provost, who says that any boost to school spirit wouldn't be worth the sacrifice, and that he wants UC San Diego to "have a life for reasons other than watching hired athletes come and play."[26] Both sides acknowledge that adding an 80- to 100-man[27] football team would not only cost some US$1–1.5M annually, but that the initial outlay in equipment and facilities would be in the tens of millions.[28] Furthermore, in order to comply with Title IX's requirement for equal sports opportunities for both sexes, some three women's teams (80-100 athletes) would have to be added, or three existing men's teams disbanded.[28] Without the expense of football, UC San Diego has been characterized as having "the best all-around program, with the most success by the most student-athletes" in San Diego.[26]

Triton Fight Song

Fight on, with mighty Triton spirit
Hail to the Triton name
Men and women march victorious
On to fame
Stand proud, the Triton host prevails
March on in unity
Bold and strong we fight to Triton
Victory
UCSD fight! Fight! Fight![29]

References

  1. ↑ "UCSD Ranked No. 1 in NCSA Power Rankings for Eighth Straight Year". UCSD Tritons. University of California, San Diego. Retrieved 21 November 2014.
  2. ↑ Preston, Chris (August 6, 2007), "Division II, III schools require less of a 'boost'", ESPN U: College Sports, retrieved 2008-07-23
  3. ↑ UC San Diego catalog
  4. ↑ UC San Diego Tritons. UC San Diego Spirit Groups
  5. ↑ Schrotenboer, Brent (2011-03-14). "UCSD has big obstacles on way to Division I". Sign on San Diego.
  6. ↑ Howe, Nicholas (2012-01-22). "Proposed Division I Referendum". UC San Diego Guardian.
  7. ↑ Hoffman, Matt (28 January 2016). "UCSD Students Will Decide School’s Division I Fate". KPBS. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  8. ↑ Warth, Gary (1 February 2016). "UCSD students to vote on Division I move". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 "Swimming and Diving Record Book". UCSD Tritons. University of California, San Diego. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Championship History". California Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved 7 May 2015.
  11. ↑ http://www.ucsdtritons.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=5800&ATCLID=205425037#ybyrecords
  12. ↑ Loh, Stefanie (10 April 2015). "UCSD unveils new $6.89M ballpark". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
  13. ↑ "UCSD Men's Basketball Records" (PDF).
  14. ↑ "UCSD Women's Basketball Records".
  15. ↑ "UCSD Women's Basketball 2013-14".
  16. ↑ "UCSD Sweeps IFCSC Duals in La Jolla". UC San Diego. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 1 March 2015.
  17. ↑ "Fencers Win IFCSC Championships for 12th Straight Season". UCSD Tritons. University of California, San Diego. 20 February 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2016.
  18. ↑ "UCSD Falls Short Against Cal State Stanislaus in Penalty-Kick Tiebreaker". 2 November 2014. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  19. ↑ "UCSD Softball Records".
  20. ↑ http://sportsfac.ucsd.edu/facilities/ball-fields/softball.html
  21. 1 2 "UCSD Men's Water Polo records".
  22. ↑ Thien, Glae (7 December 2014). "UCLA claims water polo crown". San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  23. ↑ Brice, John (January 2002), "A San Diego Football Flashback: UCSD's 1968 Pigskin Experiment", San Diego Magazine, retrieved 2008-07-23
  24. ↑ Stickel, Mark (December 5, 2002), "UCSD is missing II much" (– Scholar search), UCSD Guardian, retrieved 2008-07-23
  25. ↑ Blunschi, Marissa (November 29, 2007), "Football: The Cure-All for UCSD’s Spirit Drought" (– Scholar search), UCSD Guardian, retrieved 2008-07-23
  26. 1 2 Drooz, Alan (November 4, 2002), "Giving it the old college Triton", The San Diego Union-Tribune, retrieved 2008-02-25
  27. ↑ UCSD Chancellor's Office. Q&A: Earl Edwards, Director of Athletics
  28. 1 2 Jin, Silhan (February 7, 2008), "Despite Diligent Task Force, Triton Football Simply Not Feasible" (– Scholar search), UCSD Guardian, retrieved 2008-07-23
  29. ↑ About. UCSD Pep Band. Retrieved on 2011-12-31.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Monday, May 02, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.