By Kevin Gilmore

The 2022-23 academic year provided Otter sports fans plenty to cheer about, and optimism for even more excitement in the coming seasons. Otter student-athletes and coaches earned some of the highest accolades, won championships and rewrote record books, setting a standard that future teams will be challenged to meet.

The foundation of Otter success began, as always, in the classroom. CSUMB’s student-athlete academic success rate of 81 percent out-paced the NCAA Division II rate of 76 percent for the year. More than 250 Otter student-athletes posted an aggregate 3.3 grade point average for the 2022-23 academic year, with 12 earning perfect 4.0 GPAs and a record 108 finishing with GPAs of 3.5 or above.

Leading that group was a pair of Academic All-Americans: soccer defender Colin O’Mahony (business, ’22) and baseball pitcher/infielder Nico Hartojo (computer science, ’23). 

To underline what a remarkable accomplishment that is, only one other CCAA student-athlete — from the other 11 conference members — earned Academic All-America recognition over the 2022-23 academic year.

Before we start looking ahead to the excitement in store for 2023-24, let’s take a look back on some of the best memories from last season.

Fall 2022

Each of CSUMB’s five teams competing in fall (men’s and women’s cross country, volleyball, and men’s and women’s soccer) stood on the shoulders of their predecessors to blaze new trails. 

The cross country programs took the lead by hosting home meets for the first time in 14 years. Fittingly, the Otter men and women both finished in first place at the gorgeous new Palo Corona Cross Country Trail in Carmel. The Otters closed the regular season by hosting the California Collegiate Athletic Association Championship meet for the first time ever. Sophomore Lisa Irvine (environmental science technology and policy) and Jaime Gonzalez (biology) led CSUMB by placing 25th and 26th, respectively.

The Otter men’s soccer team took a big leap forward of its own by hosting a CCAA Championship Tournament match for the first time in program history. The Otters finished fourth in the CCAA standings, their highest-ever finish. Individually, senior Colin O’Mahony (kinesiology, ’23) became the first Otter soccer player ever to win the league’s top award by being named CCAA Defensive Player of the Year. He went on to earn first-team Academic All-America honors. Joining O’Mahony on the All-CCAA teams were forward Roberto Banegas (social and behavioral science), midfielder Miguel Guerrero (human communications) and goalkeeper Matthias Milton (marine science).

Otter volleyball went where no Otter team has gone before by earning its first-ever victory against perennial power Cal State San Bernardino. In September, the team upset the nationally-ranked Coyotes in a thrilling come-from-behind victory for the ages. Injuries derailed a promising start to the campaign, but the Otters still won 10 matches and placed three student-athletes on the All-CCAA Teams: Libero Sam Chavez (business, ’23), setter Ashley Vanderpan (speech pathology) and outside hitter Lauren Reeves (communication design, ’23).

The Otter women’s soccer team closed a record-setting fall season. The team posted a second-consecutive winning season for the first time since joining the NCAA in 2004. Head Coach Laura VanWart will enter 2023 needing just three wins to become the winningest coach in Otter women’s soccer history. Individually, a record seven Otter women earned All-CCAA recognition, led by first-team selection Amelia McManus (kinesiology). Mitsy Ramirez (humanities and communication) and Jasmine Safarians (kinesiology, ’23) were second-team picks. Ramirez has signed on to play professional soccer in Mexico in the spring.

Winter 2023

The Otter men’s and women’s basketball seasons showcased a plethora of young talent, setting the stage for what promises to be exciting seasons ahead. Led by first-team All-CCAA selection Levi Frankland (business, ’23), the men stayed in the CCAA Tournament chase until the final weekend of the season. Jailen Nelson (business) and Joe Wall (instructional science and technology) joined Frankland on the All-CCAA teams.

On the women’s side, Head Coach Sarah Hopkins-Chery led the Otters to a four-win improvement in her first season leading the team. The Otters started 3-0 for the first time since 2013. Senior guard Mikayla Mabie (sociology) just missed setting the CSUMB record for assists in a single season and earned All-CCAA honors for her efforts.

Spring 2023

The Otter baseball team highlighted a thrilling spring season in CSUMB athletics by making a historic run to the NCAA Super Regionals for the first time in program history. Led by CCAA Coach of the Year Walt White, the Otters won their second consecutive league title, which they followed up by hosting and winning their first CCAA Tournament Championship. Despite an injury to Brady Miguel (business) — who became the first player in CCAA history to win Conference Player of the Year honors in consecutive seasons — the Otters hosted and won their first NCAA Regional with an amazing comeback win over Cal Poly Pomona in the championship game. Nico Hartojo (computer science, ’23) won both All-America and Academic All-America honors to headline a host of individual award winners.

Like baseball, Otter water polo swam into uncharted waters in 2023 by advancing to the Western Water Polo Association Championship match for the first time ever. Guided by WWPA Co-Coach of the Year, Emily Schmit, the Otters beat the tournament’s No. 2 (McKendree) and No. 3 (Cal State East Bay) seeds en route to the final, where they fell just short against top-ranked Biola University. Sophomore Shelby Fortune (kinesiology) led the individual award winners by becoming CSUMB’s 22nd water polo All-American.

The Otter softball team continued its winning ways in 2023, reaching the postseason for the 10th time in 15 seasons of eligibility. Led by CCAA Pitcher of the Year, Cassie Gasper (marine science, ’22), CSUMB won 28 games and advanced to the CCAA Championship quarterfinals. Head Coach Andrea Kenney earned her 700th career victory midway through the season.

Mackenzie Caprino’s (marine science) third-place finish in the steeplechase earned her All-CCAA honors, highlighting a record-setting spring for the Otter track and field program. Otter runners set school records in six different events over the season, led by sophomore Mina Tsai (kinesiology), who set records in the 200 and 400 meters in addition to the long jump.

With five sophomores in the starting lineup last season, the future looks bright for the Otter men’s golf team. Simon Björken (business) became the 17th Otter men’s golfer in the past 13 seasons to earn All-America recognition, highlighting another strong year for the program. The Otters just missed their 10th conference title by finishing second at the CCAA Championship Tournament. It was enough, however, to earn a berth in the NCAA Regional Championship for the 14th time in 15 opportunities.

After upsetting defending CCAA Champion Cal State San Marcos to win the Fujikura Invitational in March, the Otter women’s golf team fell just short of what would have been a miraculous championship as San Marcos held on to win the CCAA Tournament title and the league’s berth in the NCAA Regional Championship. Sophomore Cathy Tong (humanities and communications) finished third at the CCAA Championship. Isabel Carpenter (kinesiology ’23) and (psychology ’23) joined Tong on the all-conference team.

"It’s fun to take time to reflect and celebrate championships, big victories and awards," said Athletics Director Kirby Garry. "Our success is the direct result of our student-athletes and coaches’ tireless work ethic and love for their sport. We are thankful for the support of university leadership, faculty, staff, our families and supporters. Student success is a team game, and we will continue to pursue the level of success that will make our university and surrounding communities proud."