Despite their season’s abrupt suspension due to the COVID-19 pandemic, CPP’s men’s track and field team managed to hurdle over the competition. To recognize their efforts on a short, yet successful season, eight CPP student-athletes were selected to the 2020 California Collegiate Athletics Association Track and Field All-Star Team.
This is the CCAA’s first time creating an all-star team for its student-athletes to celebrate their efforts and accomplishments during the 2020 season. The conference’s usual end of the season all-conference honors and student-athlete celebrations would have been impossible to award given the sudden end to the season.
The CPP student-athletes that were selected to the all-star team are: Kyle Lawson, Ryan Fields, Kaelin Moore, Kyle Johnston, Alejandro Ambrosio, Matteo Madrassi, Aaron Guerra-Garcia, and Anthony Victa.
The Poly Post interviewed student-athletes Ryan Fields, Kyle Lawson and Matteo Madrassi on their thoughts on being selected to this year’s all-star team.
Ryan Fields
Junior hurdler Ryan Fields, a business student, had a strong 2020 season with a solid showing at the Rossi Relays with a second-place finish in the 110 hurdles (14.71 seconds) and placed second in the 4×400 meter relay (3 minutes, 15.49 seconds). His best results came in the Beach Opener as he set a top mark in CCAA and Division II with a NCAA provisional qualifier in the 400 hurdles (52.98).
Q: What are your thoughts on being selected to the CCAA Track and Field All-Star Team?
A: At first, I was very surprised, because I wasn’t aware of all the awards. But me and everyone else that got it was definitely deserving, for all the hard work we put in. All the pain, sweat, tears, I left it out on the track.
Q: What are your thoughts on the CCAA’s decision to create an All-Star team to give recognition to student-athletes?
A: I believe it is a great way to recognize the student-athletes that hit provisional times early on this year. They had a good chance at either winning their events or having the possibility of making nationals.
Q: Coming into the season, what were some goals you wanted to achieve?
A: Before going into the season, I had specific goals I wanted to set. I talked with coach Bradford, and I told him I wanted to hit the fives in my times. I wanted to shatter all my (personal records) and win with our 4×4 relay team.
Kyle Lawson
Senior multi-eventer Kyle Lawson, a civil-engineering student, also had an impressive spring season despite only competing in two meets. Lawson’s best event came at the Chico Multi Classic, finishing first in the decathlon with a CCAA and Division II top mark with a total of 6,833 points, setting a NCAA provisional qualifier.
Q: How does it feel being selected to the all-star team in your potential final year at CPP?
A: It’s a cool accomplishment, and I’m thankful for the CCAA that they created this award for us. However, it’s not what I wanted as I would rather have been an All-American and win the team a National Championship.
Q: If the season wasn’t canceled, do you believe the team and yourself would have achieved a great amount of success?
A: Of course, I think whoever says no, is crazy! It was early in the season, we had tired legs from the hard training as we focused on running in heavy volume. I was building momentum from last year, I was feeling bigger, faster and stronger. I definitely think everyone on the team would have a better season.
Q: Prior to the season being canceled, how would you describe the team’s season?
A: Going into the season we were feeling really good, it was frustrating for what had happened; because all the work that we put in was taken away. We hoped to get a bunch of guys and gals to the National meet and show everyone what a little school in California that people do not know about is all about.
Matteo Madrassi
Junior pole vaulter Matteo Madrassi, an engineering student, is an international student from Italy. During his first year with the Broncos, Madrassi demonstrated his skills with a first-place finish with a NCAA provisional qualifier score of (5.05) at the Rossi Relays. He placed third at the Beach Opener with a score of (4.98).
Q: Being your first year with CPP, how does it feel being an all-star?
A: You will be surprised, but I don’t know what that means, but I’m sure it’s a good thing. I only competed twice and that really wasn’t the best of my ability. It’s a nice achievement to have in my first year in California, and I have been able to create a great relationship with the coaching staff and the team.
Q: What made you stand out from the competition to be named as an All-Star in your first year?
A: Definitely the preparation from the track and field was able to give me a chance to grow. I am a small guy who wasn’t fast or strong at first, but with coach Bradford I gained a lot of speed and my strength and conditioning improved.
Q: Since this was your first year with the team, any goals the team and you wanted to achieve?
A: Being my first year with them, I didn’t really know them well, but I heard the team was aiming to gar far. We had plenty of people telling us we were going to win our conference. For myself, I spoke with my coaches and I was aiming for a (5.40) in my event, and I was aiming to win a National Championship.