Chico State men’s XC named CCAA champs
Women's XC finishes second after 12 year run atop conference
Chico State cross country runner Brayden McLaughlin finished in first place Saturday, as the freshman led with Wildcats to a 19th consecutive California Collegiate Athletic Association title Saturday at Cal State San Marcos.
McLaughlin became the CCAA’s first freshman to win the CCAA Runner of the Year award as he also took home the CCAA Newcomer of the Year honor. Chico State has won the CCAA Newcomer of the Year award for three years straight now, as McLaughlin’s teammates Jack Emanuel and Rory Abberton won it the last two years.
McLaughlin was the 16th Chico State runner to win the CCAA Championship race and first freshman to do so since Chico State joined the CCAA in 1998. There were six Chico State finishers in the top 10, and 10 in the top 25. Emanuel finished fourth, Dylan White fifth, Abberton seventh, Cameron Duqette eighth, Charlie Giannini 10th, Omar Alvarez-Hernandez 11th, Matthew Herrera 12th, Joshua O’Neill 16th and Michael Ramirez 25th.
McLaughlin, Emanuel, White, Abberton, Duquette, Giannini, Alvarez-Hernandez and Herrera each earned All-CCAA honors.
Chico State will now prepare for the NCAA Championship West Regional on Nov. 6 at Ash Creek Preserve in Monmouth, Oregon.
College women’s cross country
CHICO STATE AT CCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS » For the last 12 years the Chico State women’s cross country team has won the CCAA Championship title, but Saturday that streak ended as the Wildcats finished second behind Stanislaus State in the six-kilometer race at Cal State San Marcos.
Gracie Dupuis was the top finisher for the Wildcats in third place for a second consecutive season at the CCAA Championships, Hannah Ryan finished fifth and Marissa D’Atri finished sixth. Paulina Guerrero and Jaclyn Denham finished 20th and 21st, Esmeralda Aguayo Ramirez finished 25th, Alexi Steinmaus 27th, Katie Hawley 28th and Hannah Wirth
finished 46th while battling an injury.
Dupuis, D’Atri and Ryan won All-CCAA honors for their top-15 finishes. All of Chico State’s runners will be eligible to return in 2022 as the Wildcats look to regain the top spot.
Chico State will now prepare for the NCAA Championship West Regional on Nov. 6 at Ash Creek Preserve in Monmouth, Oregon.
College women’s basketball
CHICO STATE 58, OREGON TECH 49 (EXHIBITION) » The Chico State women’s basketball team had its first in-game experience playing together Saturday, as the Wildcats welcomed Oregon Tech to Acker Gym in Chico for a closed-door exhibition only welcome to family members.
Junior Bailey Jones led the Wildcats in scoring and had a team-high three 3-pointers. Freshman Charity Gallegos had 11 points and a team-high six assists, and fellow freshman Makenzi Laporte had nine points and six rebounds. Jordan Morris led Chico State in rebounds with seven.
The matchup featured Gridley High School alumnae playing for Oregon Tech — sisters Maddyson and Kennedy Tull. The older sister Maddyson Tull, who graduated Gridley in 2019, led Oregon Tech in scoring with 11 points on 5-of-10 from the field and 1-of-1 from the free throw line. Maddyson Tull recorded three rebounds and one steal in 19 minutes. Kennedy Tull, who graduated in spring of 2021, had four points on 4-of-4 from the free throw line.
Chico State has one final exhibition at 1 p.m. Saturday before opening its season with the CCAA/Pacific West Conference Challenge tournament Nov. 12 and 13 at Acker Gym in Chico. The Wildcats will play at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 against Fresno Pacific and at 3 p.m. Nov. 13 against Dominion. Fresno Pacific and Sonoma State will also take part.
College volleyball
SAN FRANCISCO STATE 3, CHICO STATE 1 » Chico State lost on the road Saturday. The Wildcats won the first set 26-24, but the Gators won the final three sets 2519, 25-20, 25-18.
Kelley Jacome led Chico State in kills with 11, Makaela Keeve had 10 kills and Zoe DiNardo had eight kills. Keeve led in blocks with seven, Brooke Ono led in asissts with 34 and Lizzie Wilson led in aces with two. On defense Kennedy Greenwood had 10 digs, Ali Collins had eight digs and Keeve had seven digs.
Chico State (7-13, 3-9 CCAA) plays next at 7 p.m. Friday at Cal State East Bay.
Prep cross country
CHICO HIGH AT FLAT SAC INVITATIONAL » The Chico High boys team finished in fourth place in the team scores at Gibson Ranch Regional Park in Elverta, located in Sacramento County. Buchanon High School finished in first place in the boys team scores.
Mario Giannini finished in first place for the Panthers in 15 minutes and 37.39 seconds, nine seconds faster than the second place finisher Brenton Maddox from Buchanon and 40 seconds faster than the third place finisher from Lincoln.
Avery Munson Clark finished in 26th place for Chico in 17:26.26 and Benjamin Won finished in 28th in 17:28.48.
The Chico High girls finished in second place in the team standings just two points behind the winner Whitney.
Della Molina was the top finisher for the Panthers, finishing fifth in a time of 18:38.50. Iresh Molina finished seventh in 19:02.15, Una Griffith finished 21st in 20:05.19, and Tori Mackay finished 29th in 20:42.69.
Chico High will compete next on Nov. 4 at the Eastern Athletic League Championships at Hooker Oak Park in Chico.