CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY, POMONA

Bronco Sports News

For Immediate Release

Monday, Feb. 21, 2005

Contact: Paul Helms

(909) 869-2812

Schedule of upcoming events:

MEN’S BASKETBALL:

at UC San Diego on Friday, Feb. 25 at 7:30 p.m.

at Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 7:30 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL:

at UC San Diego on Friday, Feb. 25 at 5:30 p.m.

at Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 5:30 p.m.

BASEBALL:

at Cal State San Bernardino on Friday, Feb. 25 at 2 p.m.

at Cal State San Bernardino (DH) on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 11 a.m.

M/W TENNIS:

W/Ten at Cal State L.A. on Tuesday, Feb. 22 at 1:30 p.m.

M/Ten vs. Hawaii Hilo on Thursday, Feb. 24 at 2 p.m.

TRACK & FIELD:

Bronco Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 1 p.m.

FOLLOW THE BRONCOS ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB

http://www.csupomona.edu/~athletic

MEN’S BASKETBALL: BRONCOS GRAB SHARE OF CONFERENCE LEAD

2004-05 Record: 18-5. 2004-05 CCAA Record: 13-3

2004-05 Regional Ranking: 4

BRONCOS WIN TWO MORE TO REMAIN TIED FOR CCAA LEAD: Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s basketball team remained in a tie for first in the California Collegiate Athletic Association after big home victories over Cal State Stanislaus and Chico State this past weekend. The Broncos, bidding for their first CCAA crown since 1981, have four games remaining, including a huge showdown this Saturday night against co-leader and defending champion Cal State San Bernardino. The Broncos have won six straight games and have been victorious in 17 of their last 19 games. The Broncos opened the weekend with a come-from-behind 95-80 victory over an upset-minded Cal State Stanislaus squad. Cal Poly Pomona trailed at halftime, 37-33, but outscored the Warriors in the second half, 62-43. The 95 points are a season high for the Broncos. Jeff Bonds (Sr., Compton, Mayfair HS) led the way for the Broncos with 26 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three blocks. Dion Cook (So., Canoga Park, Chaminade HS) had a career-high 17 points and David Sybesma (Sr., Corona, Corona Centennial HS) had 17 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Hervey Malone II (Jr., Pittsburg, Pittsburg HS) had 13 points and six rebounds, while Billy Hofman (So., Sierra Madre, La Canada HS) had seven points, six assists and five steals. Cal Poly Pomona shot 64 percent from the field in the second half. Cal Poly Pomona then raced to a 44-25 halftime lead and held off Chico State, 68-64, on Saturday in Kellogg Gym in a clash of regionally-ranked teams. The Broncos entered the week ranked fourth in the region and the Wildcats were fifth. Bonds scored 13 of his team-high 14 points in the first half while leading the Broncos to their big lead. Jonathan Boyd (Jr., Fontana, Etiwanda HS) had 12 points, including four clutch free throws down the stretch. Sybesma added 11 points, six rebounds and eight assists and Cook had 10 points and three rebounds. Cal Poly Pomona took its big 19-point halftime lead when Cook hit a 3-pointer just before the buzzer to put the Broncos ahead, 44-25. Kevin Neveu (Fr., San Leandro, St. Joseph Notre Dame HS) scored to open the second half and Cal Poly Pomona was ahead, 46-25. Chico State rallied and steadily crept closer, although a jumper by Malone that gave the Broncos a 64-54 edge with 1:36 left appeared to put the game out of reach. The Wildcats, though, sliced the lead to 64-61 with 33 seconds left. After a pair of free throws by Boyd boosted the advantage back to five points, the Wildcats were fouled on a 3-point attempt and made all three free throws to make it 66-64 with 20.8 seconds left. Boyd, again, though, was fouled and hit both free throws to finally end Chico State’s comeback bid.

BRONCOS CLIMB TO FOURTH IN REGIONAL POLL: Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s basketball team moved from fifth to fourth in the latest NCAA Division II West Region poll following the Broncos’ home wins over Cal State Bakersfield and Cal State L.A. on Feb. 11-12. Hawaii Hilo remains first in the region with Western Washington, Seattle Pacific, Cal Poly Pomona, Chico State, Cal State San Bernardino, Alaska Fairbanks, Montana State-Billings, BYU-Hawaii and Northwest Nazarene rounding out the Top 10. New rankings will be released on Wednesday that will include the Broncos’ home wins over No. 5 Chico State and Cal State Stanislaus.

BRONCOS WILL BATTLE FOR CONFERENCE SUPREMECY THIS WEEK: Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s basketball team will try to continue its drive for its first California Collegiate Athletic Association title since 1981 when the Broncos play at UC San Diego on Friday and at co-leader and defending CCAA champion Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday. Both games will be webcast on the Cal Poly Pomona athletic site. Cal Poly Pomona has not won a conference title since sharing the crown with Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Cal State Dominguez Hills 24 years ago.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: BRONCOS FALL TWO GAMES BACK IN CCAA RACE

2004-05 Record: 17-6. 2004-05 CCAA Record: 12-4

2004-05 National Ranking: 20

2004-05 Regional Ranking: 7

BRONCOS LOSE ALLEN TO INJURY; DROP SHOWDOWN WITH CHICO STATE: Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball team split a pair of California Collegiate Athletic Association this past weekend and lost the nation’s leading scorer to injury as well. Candice Allen (Sr., Ontario, University of Arizona) injured her shoulder in the first half of a win over Cal State Stanislaus on Friday and missed Saturday’s loss to Chico State. Allen had 15 points in the first eight minutes of the Broncos’ 94-77 victory over Cal State Stanislaus on Friday before being injured in a three-player collision for a loose ball. She had made all six of her field-goal attempts in the game, including three 3-pointers. The Broncos led, 29-14, at the time of the injury, saw their lead cut to four points before regaining control of the game. Cal Poly Pomona led at halftime, 45-34, and built leads as large as 26 points in the second half. Ashley Moody (Fr., Carson, King Drew HS) had a season-high 16 points and three steals to lead five Broncos in double figures. Allen had 15 points and three rebounds, Natasha Reed (Fr., San Francisco, Deer Valley HS) had 14 points and 13 rebounds, Brandi Fletcher (Jr., Pomona, Diamond Ranch HS) had 12 points, four rebounds and four steals, while Shanika Perkins (Jr., Oakland, Oakland HS) had her first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Broncos had a 61-30 rebounding edge. The Broncos could not overcome No. 18 Chico State on Saturday, 88-67. Cal Poly Pomona was only down by six points, 45-39, at halftime, but was outscored, 43-28 in the second half. The Broncos shot 43 percent for the game, while Chico State shot 55 percent and held a 39-31 rebounding edge. Fletcher had 17 points and five rebounds, while Perkins had 13 points, three rebounds and three assists. Reed had 10 points, two rebounds and three steals.

BRONCOS TO FACE TWO TOUGH CCAA GAMES ON THE ROAD: Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s basketball team, ranked 20^th in the NCAA Division II, seventh in the NCAA Division II West Region and in second place in the California Collegiate Athletic Association, will face two big road games this week against playoff contenders. The Broncos will be at UC San Diego on Friday in La Jolla and will then be at Cal State San Bernardino on Saturday. Entering last weekend’s games, the Broncos were ranked seventh in the NCAA Division II West Region, the Coyotes were ranked ninth and the Tritons were ranked 10^th. The top eight teams will qualify for the NCAA playoffs.

BASEBALL: BRONCOS WIN TWO OF THREE AGAINST CHICO STATE

2005 Record: 5-5. 2005 CCAA Record: 4-2

WILDING TOSSES ANOTHER COMPLETE-GAME GEM TO OPEN SERIES: Cal Poly Pomona’s baseball team showed plenty of patience this weekend as the Broncos waited out heavy rains and managed to play three of the four scheduled games against California Collegiate Athletic Association rival Chico State. The fourth game will not be made up. The teams had hoped to get two games in Friday, but only one was played and that came after a three-hour rain delay. Taylor Wilding (Jr., Alta Loma, Etiwanda HS) followed up his one-hit, 17-strikeout shutout of Cal State L.A. with another complete-game gem. Wilding limited the Wildcats to three hits and one earned run in nine innings to lead the Broncos past Chico State, 3-2. Wilding didn’t allow an earned run until a two-out solo home run in the ninth inning. That cut the lead to 3-2, but Wilding retired the next batter to finish the game. He walked two and struck out six. Cal Poly Pomona scored all three of its runs in the fifth inning. Kevin Falls (So., Chino Hills, Ayala HS) started the rally with a leadoff double. Marc Evans (So., Alta Loma, Etiwanda HS) followed with a single to right and Anthony Esquer (Jr., Chino Hills, Whittier Christian HS) singled to right to drive in Falls. Matt Lopez (Sr., Lancaster, Quartz Hills HS) followed with a run-scoring single to give the Broncos the lead and the Broncos got their final run when a grounder by Matt Stevens (Sr., Riverside, Rubidoux HS) was mishandled at second base. Lopez had two hits and one RBI, while Esquer had two hits, a run scored and a run batted in. Rain washed out play entirely on Saturday and the teams were able to get in a doubleheader on Sunday despite a one-hour rain delay in the nightcap. The Broncos fell short, 2-1, in the opener despite a sensational outing from Luis Carreras (Jr., San Dimas, Walnut HS). The Broncos took a 1-0 lead in the third inning when Andy Gonzales (Sr., Whittier, California HS) raced home on a wild pitch. Carreras took a shutout into the seventh inning when Chico State put together a solo home run off the right-field foul pole and three singles to take the 2-1 lead. Lopez had two of the Broncos’ five hits in the game. In the nightcap, the Broncos jumped out to a 5-1 lead after three innings and then had to hold on. Jake Mendrin (Jr., La Habra Heights, Cal State Fullerton) and Jarrod Allen (Sr., Poway, San Diego Mesa College) drove in first-inning runs to give the Broncos a 2-0 lead. Greg Denning (Sr., Atascadero, Cuesta College) and Allen singled in runs and Evans had a sacrifice fly to highlight a three-run third inning for the Broncos. Cal Poly Pomona took a 5-3 lead into the seventh and, after the first two Chico State batters were hit by pitches, play was halted by rain. After a one-hour delay, the Wildcats sliced the lead to 5-4 and had runners on first and third with one out. The next batter hit a line drive to Bronco second baseman Denning, who caught the shot and fired to first base to double up the runner and end the game. John Lee (So., San Dimas, Damien HS) got his first save of the season for the Broncos. John Cross (Jr., La Palma, Long Beach CC) got the win for the Broncos after allowing seven hits and only one earned run in 4 2/3 innings of work. Mike Quintal (Jr., Santa Clara, San Jose CC) tossed 1 1/3 innings of hitless relief to help the Broncos preserve their lead. The Broncos opened the week on Monday and finished up a three-game series with Cal State L.A. The Broncos fell, 5-0, to finish a series that had all three games end up as shutouts. The Broncos won the first two games, 12-0 and 7-0.

WILDING NAMED CCAA PITCHER OF THE WEEK: Cal Poly Pomona’s Taylor Wilding (Jr., Alta Loma, Etiwanda HS) was named the Wilson California Collegiate Athletic Association Baseball Pitcher of the Week for the week of Feb. 7-13. Wilding hurled a one-hit shutout at Cal State L.A. on Sunday, Feb. 13. He walked the leadoff batter and then retired the next 25 batters, carrying a no-hitter into the ninth inning. The no-hit bid was spoiled by a one-out double, but he got the next two hitters to complete the shutout. Wilding struck out 17, trying a program record also held by Mike Kurnick, Mark Wiley and Mark Foss. The total was one shy of a conference record.

BRONCOS TO FACE COYOTES IN SOUTH DIVISION BATTLE: Cal Poly Pomona’s baseball team will play a three-game California Collegiate Athletic Association series this weekend at Cal State San Bernardino. The teams will play a single game on Friday at 2 p.m. and conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 11 a.m.

MEN’S AND WOMEN’S TENNIS: RAIN WASHES AWAY CALIFORNIA INVITATIONAL

Men’s Overall 2005 Record: 0-1

Women’s Overall 2005 Record: 1-2, 1-0 in CCAA

WOMEN’S TENNIS BEATS COYOTES IN CCAA OPENER: Cal Poly Pomona’s women’s tennis team picked up its first win of the season with an 8-1 triumph over Cal State San Bernardino Wednesday in San Bernardino. The Broncos swept the three doubles contests and won five of the six singles matches in their California Collegiate Athletic Association opener. Dehlia Feliz (Sr., San Gabriel, San Gabriel HS) lost at No. 1 singles, but teamed up with Katrina Holmberg (Jr., Pukalani, Maui, HI, King Kekaulike HS) for a 9-7 win at No. 1 doubles. Holmberg won at No. 2 singles, 6-1, 7-5. Renee Paquillo (So., Fullerton, Rosary HS) won at No. 3 singles, Erica Lin (So., Arcadia, Arcadia HS) won at No. 4 singles, Ellyn Caprara (Fr., Carlsbad, The Woodlands HS, TX) won at No. 5 singles, 6-0, 6-2 and Sara Jex (Sr., Los Olivos, Saddleback College) won at No. 6 singles. Jex and Paquillo teamed up to win at No. 2 doubles, 8-3 and Lin and Caprara were victorious at No. 3 doubles, 8-1. The Broncos will continue CCAA play with a match Tuesday at Cal State L.A. and will host Cal State Bakersfield on Saturday.

MEN’S TENNIS SEES CALIFORNIA INVITATIONAL WASHED AWAY: Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s tennis team, which has recorded 11 winning seasons in the past 12 years, saw three straight days of rain wipe out the 2005 California Men’s Tennis Invitational. The Broncos and Sonoma State were able to get a match started on Sunday, but couldn’t not complete the contest because of the Seawolves’ travel plans. The Broncos will host Hawaii Hilo on Thursday in an NCAA Division II West Region match. Before the rains came, Andy Chang (Sr., Torrance, Cal State L.A.) won his match at No. 1 singles, 6-2, 6-1; Sebastian Torres (Jr., Cali, Columbia, Cameron University) won at No. 4 singles, 6-3, 6-2 and Nick Doan (Jr., Garden Grove, Garden Grove HS) won at No. 6 singles, 2-6, 6-1 (12-10).

MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD: BRONCOS HAVE SEASON START DELAYED BY RAIN

BRONCOS WILL OPEN 2005 SEASON WITH HIGH HOPES: Cal Poly Pomona’s men’s and women’s track and field teams had the start to its 2005 season delayed when rains washed out an All-Comers meet at Pomona-Pitzer on Saturday. Cal Poly Pomona will now try to get its season underway when it hosts the Bronco Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 26, at Kellogg Stadium. The Broncos return several top performers from last season, including All-Americans Mark Batres (Jr., Rowland Heights, Don Bosco Tech HS) and Carmen Franklin (Jr., Sacramento, Loretto HS). Batres earned All-America honors last season in the 10,000 meters, while Franklin earned All-America honors in the women’s 800 meters. Jason Johnson (Sr., San Dimas, Citrus College), the defending CCAA champion in the 100 meters, returns after qualifying for nationals last season, as does hurdler Sean Myrill (Sr., Riverside, Riverside CC). Jumper Valerie Henderson (Jr., Los Angeles, St. Mary’s Academy) is also back after qualifying for the nationals in the triple jump last season.

MORE NEWS

TIME RUNNING OUT FOR A CHANCE TO FISH WITH THE COACH: There are still tickets remaining to win a chance to go fishing in Cabo San Lucas with Cal Poly Pomona Head Women’s Basketball Coach Paul Thomas, but time is running out. The all-inclusive trip will include roundtrip airfare from LAX, hotel, food and drinks and lodging at the Hilton Los Cabos Beach and Golf Resort. The $100 raffle ticket gives you a chance to win the trip. A maximum of 100 tickets will be sold. All proceeds will benefit Cal Poly Pomona’s Women’s Basketball Trophy Club. The winner will be announced on Friday, March 4. The winner need not be present to win. “I’m looking forward to relaxing with one of our valued fans and catching a trophy-size marlin,” Thomas said. “This will truly be a five-star trip at a first-class resort.” For more information, contact Julie Hall at (909) 869-2825 or Thomas at (909) 869-2824.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL ALUMNI NIGHT IS SET: All former Cal Poly Pomona women’s basketball players are invited to participate in an evening honoring the student-athletes that have made the program the most successful in the NCAA Division II. All alumni are encouraged to join the team for the regular-season finale against Cal State Monterey Bay on Friday, March 4, for a special halftime reception in their honor. The former student-athletes are also invited to join the team for the Senior Night festivities immediately following the game. “We believe the strength of the program today and in the future has a direct correlation to the past. Each person who has worn a Cal Poly Pomona women’s basketball jersey should be proud of their contribution to the program,” Cal Poly Pomona Head Coach Paul Thomas said.

CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS HOLD AWARDS BANQUET: Cal Poly Pomona’s cross country teams held their awards banquet recently and honored several student-athletes. Mark Batres (Jr., Rowland Heights, Don Bosco Tech HS) and Daniel Rojas (Sr., El Monte, Mt. San Antonio College) were named the men’s team’s Most Valuable Runners, while Natalie Miano-Batres (Jr., Rowland Heights, Nogales HS) was named the women’s Most Valuable Runner. Team academic awards were given to Sean DiFilippo (Fr., Glendora, Glendora HS) and Jamie Ray (Jr., Barstow, Barstow HS). Most inspirational honors were given to Peter Barriga (Jr., Huntington Beach, Edison HS) and Monica Valdez (Jr., Lake Elsinore, Temescal Canyon HS). Keiry Perez (Fr., Ontario, So. El Monte HS) was the women’s Freshman of the Year, while Chris Miano (Jr., Barstow, Mt. San Antonio College) was the men’s Newcomer of the Year. Most consistent awards went to David Cerecerez (Sr., Rancho Cucamonga, Mt. San Antonio College) and Whitney Hurley (So., Alta Loma, Alta Loma HS). The Cal Poly Pomona volleyball and soccer teams also held banquets recently and announced team award winners. For volleyball, Kellie Francis (Jr., Chino, Don Lugo HS) was named the team Most Valuable Player, Allison Anderson (Jr., Chino Hills, Ayala HS) got the award for Best Offense, Kiting Kolar (Fr., La Canada, La Canada HS) and Breezie Jordan (Jr., Ventura, Buena HS) got the honors for Best Defense, Antoinette Kathol (Fr., Sierra Madre, La Salle HS) was named Most Improved and Jenna Kageyama (So., Irvine, University HS) and Stephanie Chen (Fr., Walnut, Walnut HS) got awards as the top student-athletes. The Broncos finished the season with an 18-12 record and advanced to the NCAA Division II playoffs for the first time since 1997. At the soccer banquet, Kory Felix (Sr., Brea, Brea-Olinda HS) was named the team Most Valuable Player and the squad’s Best Defensive Player. Dustin Venegas (Fr., Lakewood, Los Alamitos HS) was named the Best Offensive Player. For the women, Lisa Araujo (Sr., Rialto, Eisenhower HS) was named the team’s Most Valuable Player and Best Offensive Player. Nicole Munoz (Sr., Claremont, Mt. San Antonio College) was named the team’s Best Defensive Player.