For SRJC, the 2010-11 year was one to remember. Bear Cubs athletics earned second place in a statewide overall general excellence athletic award.
“This award typifies the excellence our athletic department possesses. It recognizes the effort put in from all our players, coaches and everyone involved,” said Jim Forkum, SRJC’s head athletic director.
Mt. San Antonio College edged out SRJC for the general excellence athletic award for 2010-11, given by the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators.
California colleges receive points based on how teams finish in conference play. The top five men’s and women’s teams are rated for the award.
Rounding out the top five were Fresno City College, Sierra College and American River College. Both Sierra and American River compete in the Big 8 conference with SRJC, indicating the conference’s strength across the range of sports.
“From top to bottom the Big 8 conference is considered the best in the state,” Forkum said.
Leading the SRJC effort was Mia Greco and the state title winning women’s basketball team. In the state championship, the women’s team beat the City College of San Francisco Rams 52-45 in a defensive battle. The Rams averaged 78 points per game with their leading scorer Janis Peterson averaging 22 points per game, however, the Lady Bear Cubs’ stifling defense was too overpowering.[slideshow id=2]
Greco earned all-state honors with her performance and has since been recruited by St. Mary’s University, a Division I school.
The next best finisher among SRJC teams was the women’s soccer team with the Lady Bear Cubs winning a fourth consecutive conference title and reaching the state championship game. The championship game against San Bernardino Valley College was the only loss the women’s team suffered last season.
The men’s soccer team had a solid season capturing the Big 8 conference title and reaching the state quarterfinals.
In volleyball, the women reached the state title match, but lost a close-deciding game to L.A. Pierce College, finishing as the state runner-up.
Also boosting SRJC’s overall athletic rating with two, third-place state finishes was the men’s and women’s swimming teams, as the men achieved their third conference title in the past four years.
The men’s golf team finished third overall at the NorCal championships and fifth overall at the state finals.
The women’s water polo team also made a state water polo quarterfinals appearance, earning third overall in Northern California.
“There is a strong commitment from the administration and board of trustees and the award is a great testimony to that,” Forkum said.