UC Riverside Highlanders

Last updated

UC Riverside Highlanders
UC Riverside Highlanders logo.svg
University University of California, Riverside
Conference Big West (primary)
Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (indoor track & field)
NCAA Division I
Athletic directorWes Mallette
Location Riverside, California
Varsity teams15
Basketball arena Student Recreation Center Arena
Baseball stadium Riverside Sports Complex
Soccer stadium UC Riverside Soccer Stadium
Other venues Ag/Ops Course
Amy S. Harrison Field
SRC Tennis Courts
UC Riverside Track Facility
MascotScotty Highlander
NicknameHighlanders
ColorsBlue and gold [1]
   
Website gohighlanders.com
Ucr riverside wordmark 2020.png

The UC Riverside Highlanders represent the University of California, Riverside (UCR) in Riverside, California in 15 men's and women's intercollegiate athletics. [2] The Highlanders compete in NCAA Division I; they are members of the Big West Conference. [3]

Contents

In 2020, the future of UCR's sports program was placed into doubt, as the university's leadership were considering cutting the entire athletics department in response to financial strain caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in May 2021, the university announced that they had decided against eliminating athletics and would instead continue sponsoring all sports at the Division I level. [4]

Sports sponsored

Men's sportsWomen's sports
Baseball Basketball
Basketball Cross country
Cross countryGolf
GolfSoccer
SoccerSoftball
TennisTennis
Track and field1Track and field1
Volleyball
1 – includes both indoor and outdoor

Baseball

The UC Riverside Highlanders baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate baseball team of the University of California, Riverside. [5] The team is a member of the Big West Conference, which is part of the NCAA Division I. UC Riverside's first baseball team was fielded in 1958. The team plays its home games at the 2,500-seat Riverside Sports Complex.

Basketball

Men's basketball

A game between the Highlanders and Air Force Falcons men's basketball teams in 2018 Men's Basketball VS UC Riverside (46663016381).jpg
A game between the Highlanders and Air Force Falcons men's basketball teams in 2018

The UC Riverside Highlanders men's basketball team represents the University of California, Riverside. The school's team currently competes in the Big West Conference, which is part of the NCAA Division I. [6] UC Riverside's first men's basketball team was fielded during the 1958–59 season. The team plays its home games at the 3,168-seat Student Recreation Center Arena.

Women's basketball

The UC Riverside Highlanders women's basketball team represents the University of California, Riverside. The school's team currently competes in the Big West Conference, which is part of the NCAA Division I. [7] UC Riverside's first women's basketball team was fielded during the 1977–78 season. The team plays its home games at the 3,168-seat Student Recreation Center Arena.

Soccer

Men's soccer

UC Riverside Highlanders vs. Air Force Falcons men's soccer (240920-F-NU281-2096) (cropped).jpg
The UC Riverside men's soccer team plays against Air Force in 2024
UC Riverside vs. USC women's soccer (15152591345) (cropped).jpg
The UC Riverside women's soccer team plays against the USC Trojans in 2014

The UC Riverside Highlanders men's soccer team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 0–2 through two appearances. [8] [9]

YearRoundOpponentResult
2018 First Round Pacific L 0–1
2022 First Round Portland L 1-2

Women's soccer

The UC Riverside Highlanders women's soccer team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 0–1 through one appearance. [10]

YearRoundOpponentResult
2005 First Round Colorado L 0–1

Former varsity sports

Football

The UC Riverside Highlanders football team played from 1955 until the program was disbanded in 1975. The team played at Highlander Stadium.

Championships

Appearances

The UC Riverside Highlanders competed in the NCAA Tournament across 6 active sports (2 men's and 4 women's) 10 times at the Division I level. [11]

Team

UC Riverside has never won a national championship at the NCAA Division I level. [12]

UC Riverside won 4 national championships at the NCAA Division II level. [12]

Below is one national championship that was not bestowed by the NCAA:

Individual

UC Riverside had 1 Highlander win an NCAA individual championship at the Division I level. [12]

NCAA individual championships
OrderSchool yearAthlete(s)SportSource
12015–16 Vesta Bell Women's indoor track and field [13]

At the NCAA Division II level, UC Riverside garnered 11 individual championships. [12]

Traditions

Mascot

"Scotty Highlander" is the mascot for UC Riverside. The original mascot was an aggressive little bear wearing a kilt for the school's logo. In 1998, a referendum to move to NCAA Division I was passed and the students approached the administration requesting a new mascot and the old mascot was replaced. In 2011, the mascot was updated again with students voting online and a new "Scotty Highlander" mascot, featuring a roaring bear wearing a plaid Tam o' Shanter was chosen. [2]

School colors

All schools in the University of California System have a combination of blue and gold as their school colors. [2] UC Riverside follows this tradition.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of California, Riverside</span> Public university in Riverside, California

The University of California, Riverside is a public land-grant research university in Riverside, California, United States. It is one of the ten campuses of the University of California system. The main campus sits on 1,900 acres (769 ha) in a suburban district of Riverside with a branch campus of 20 acres (8 ha) in Palm Desert. In 1907, the predecessor to UCR was founded as the UC Citrus Experiment Station, Riverside which pioneered research in biological pest control and the use of growth regulators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UC Riverside Student Recreation Center</span> American college recreation center and arena

The UC Riverside Student Recreation Center is available to UCR students for physical fitness, sport activities and general recreational use. The Student Recreation Center Arena is located in the building. It is home to the UC Riverside Highlanders men's basketball, women's basketball and women's volleyball teams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UC Irvine Anteaters</span> Sports teams of the University of California, Irvine

The UC Irvine Anteaters are the athletic teams fielded by the University of California, Irvine. Its athletics programs participate in the NCAA's Division I, as members of the Big West Conference and the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. For earlier years of the school's existence, the teams participated at the Division II level with great success as explained below.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Diego State Aztecs</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of San Diego State University

The San Diego State Aztecs are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent San Diego State University (SDSU). The Aztecs compete in NCAA Division I (FBS) as a member of the Mountain West Conference (MW); they will become a member of the Pac-12 Conference in 2026. The Aztec nickname was chosen by students in 1925; team colors are scarlet (red) and black. The university currently fields 17 varsity teams.

The Cincinnati Bearcats are the athletic teams that represent the University of Cincinnati. The teams compete in the NCAA's Division I and the Football Bowl Subdivision as members of the Big 12 Conference.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UC Santa Barbara Gauchos</span> Collegiate sports club in the United States

The UC Santa Barbara Gauchos are the intercollegiate athletic teams who represent the University of California, Santa Barbara. Referred to in athletic competition as UC Santa Barbara or UCSB, the Gauchos participate in 19 NCAA Division I intercollegiate sports with the majority competing in the Big West Conference. UCSB currently fields varsity teams in 10 men's sports and 9 women's sports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UC San Diego Tritons</span> Collegiate athletic team in California

The UC San Diego Tritons are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent the University of California, San Diego. The Tritons compete in NCAA Division I as a member of the Big West Conference (BWC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UC Davis Aggies</span> Sports teams of University of California, Davis

The UC Davis Aggies are the athletic teams that represent the University of California, Davis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cal State Fullerton Titans</span> Sports teams of a university

The Cal State Fullerton Titans are the athletic teams that represent California State University, Fullerton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sacramento State Hornets</span> Athletic teams of California State University, Sacramento

The Sacramento State Hornets is the team that represents California State University, Sacramento in intercollegiate athletics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Long Beach State athletics</span> Collegiate athletic teams of California State University, Long Beach

Long Beach State athletics, or simply Beach athletics, are the athletic teams that represent California State University, Long Beach. Teams compete in 19 sports at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level. Long Beach State is a founding member of the Big West Conference, and also competes in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and the Golden Coast Conference for sports not sponsored by the Big West.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of California State University, Bakersfield

The Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners are the intercollegiate athletic teams representing California State University, Bakersfield, located in Bakersfield, California. The Roadrunners compete at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I level as a member of the Big West Conference.

The Cal State San Bernardino Coyotes are the men's and women's intercollegiate athletic teams of California State University, San Bernardino. The athletic department was established in 1984 and the school's athletic mascot is the Coyotes, sometimes shortened as “Yotes” during cheers. The school's official colors are coyote blue and black.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">San Francisco State Gators</span> Athletic teams of San Francisco State University

The San Francisco State Gators are the athletic teams that compete at San Francisco State University in San Francisco, California. The nickname applies to the college's intercollegiate NCAA Division II teams. The nickname was published in the student newspaper, "The Leaf", but was long referred to in media alternatively as the "Staters" and the "Golden Gaters". The use of Gaters eventually evolved into the Gators as known today.

The UC Riverside Highlanders men's basketball team represents the University of California, Riverside in Riverside, California, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Big West Conference and is led by coach Mike Magpayo. The Highlanders play their home games at the Student Recreation Center Arena. The program had its greatest success as a Division II program, making it to three Final Fours and the national title game in 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cal State San Marcos Cougars</span> California State University, San Marcos athletic teams

The Cal State San Marcos Cougars are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent California State University, San Marcos. The Cougars compete in NCAA Division II as a member of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UC Riverside Highlanders baseball</span> American college baseball team

The UC Riverside baseball team is the varsity intercollegiate baseball team of the University of California, Riverside, located in Riverside, California, United States. The program has been a member of the NCAA Division I Big West Conference since the start of the 2002 season. The program's home venue is the Riverside Sports Complex, located on the university's campus. Justin Johnson serves as the team's interim head coach starting with the 2021 season. The program has won two Division II national championships. It has appeared in four Division II College World Series and 12 NCAA tournaments. It has won eight California Collegiate Athletic Association championships and one Big West Conference championship. As of the start of the 2013 Major League Baseball season, 16 former Highlanders have appeared in Major League Baseball.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UC Riverside Highlanders women's basketball</span> College basketball team

The UC Riverside Highlanders women's basketball team represents the University of California, Riverside in Riverside, California, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Big West Conference. They play their home games at the Student Recreation Center Arena.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs</span> Intercollegiate sports teams of University of California, Santa Cruz

The UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs are the athletic teams that represent the University of California, Santa Cruz. The Banana Slugs compete in Division III of the NCAA, mostly in the Coast to Coast Athletic Conference (C2C). There are fifteen varsity sports – men's and women's basketball, tennis, soccer, volleyball, swimming and diving, cross country, track & field, and women's golf. UCSC teams have been Division III nationally ranked in tennis, soccer, men's volleyball, and swimming. UCSC maintains a number of successful club sides.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021–22 UC Riverside Highlanders men's basketball team</span> American college basketball season

The 2021–22 UC Riverside Highlanders men's basketball team represented the University of California, Riverside in the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Highlanders, led by second-year head coach Mike Magpayo, played their home games at the on-campus Student Recreation Center Arena in Riverside, California, and competed as members of the Big West Conference.

References

  1. "UCR Colors | Brand Identity". June 13, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 "The Mascot". gohighlanders.com. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  3. "UC Riverside". bigwest.org.
  4. Medcalf, Myron (May 6, 2021). "UC Riverside won't cut sports, will remain at Division I level despite pandemic". ESPN.com . Retrieved December 12, 2021.
  5. "2010 UC Riverside baseball media guide" (PDF). gohighlanders.com. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  6. "Men's Basketball: Career Coaching Records". gohighlanders.com. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  7. "Women's Basketball: Career Coaching Records". gohighlanders.com. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
  8. "Bracket of the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved November 19, 2018.
  9. "Bracket of the 2022 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved February 15, 2024.
  10. "Division I Women's Soccer Championships Records Book" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved July 25, 2018.
  11. "NCAA Championships Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved April 10, 2022.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Championships Summary" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved May 20, 2018.
  13. "Division I Women's Indoor Track Championships Records Book" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association . Retrieved July 8, 2018.