By Samantha Campion, Oct. 29, 2024
Cal Poly Pomona’s athletic department achieved a historical milestone by recording the program’s 7,000th win across all 10 intercollegiate sports Oct.19, a testament to the legacy and success of Bronco Athletics since 1939.
The women’s volleyball team secured the department’s 7000th win after defeating Cal State San Marcos 3-0 at Kellogg Arena, one of the many historical achievements the athletic departments reached this year.
CPP stood alone as the only Division II program in the nation to have amid all five sports ranked within the Top 20 earlier this season, also marking a first for the department.
CPP was first established as a southern satellite campus for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1938 and used the same nickname as the Mustangs until 1947.
Students advocated for a new name that differentiated the two schools, and they voted in September to become the Broncos.
The Broncos competed in the Southern California Independent Association league for the first 15 years of the athletic department, introducing various sports programs like baseball and cross-country, the only two programs still present today.
CPP transitioned to the California Collegiate Athletic Association in 1966 and became the 16th campus to join the California State College system, according to Bronco Athletics.
CPP currently sponsors 10 sports to compete at the National Collegiate Athletics Association Division II level, including baseball, men and women’s cross-country, men and women’s basketball, men and women’s track and field, men and women’s soccer, and volleyball.
The department’s first win came from the former football team after defeating Whittier College in 1947.
Since then, the department owns a .571 overall winning percentage, including 2,436 wins at home for a .658 winning percentage.
“We’ve been very successful in recruiting and maintaining high level coaches,” said Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Brian Swanson. “One of the things when I first got here initially and it still continues today, is improving our practice and competition facilities, our gear and presentation.”
CPP volleyball stands undefeated at 10-0 for a first-place ranking in the CCAA standings and tied the program’s highest national ranking at No. 5 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll. The last time the Broncos ranked within the Top 5 was in 1992.
This is the first time in history the team has gone 16-1 overall in the first 17 games, with a 12-game winning streak that is the fourth-longest in the nation.
Setter Caitie Mueller surpassed Alina Smith to become the sixth-most all-time career leader in assists in CPP history with 2,763 and counting. Libero Avery Percival also became the ninth Bronco to record 1,000 career-digs in CPP program history.
Right-side hitter Sarah Ybarra was named the American Volleyball Collegiate Association Division II Player of the Week, only the second student-athlete in program history to earn the award.
“This is a special year for us, and to reach that milestone at home with our fans felt like a full circle moment,” said middle blocker Helen McMullin. “We have set big goals for this team, and each win gets us one set closer, but none of this would be possible without the support of our athletic department. They truly want to see us excel on the court and in the classroom.”
Since the women’s soccer team upset the previously ranked No. 1 Point Loma Sept. 12, the team has built off its best start in program history with a 11-0-2 overall record and 4-0-2 in conference play to rank first in the CCAA standings.
The Broncos received their first national ranking since 2019 Sept. 19, coming in at No. 7 in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25. The Broncos tied a program high with a No. 2 national ranking later in the season.
This marked the first time in program history the Broncos defeated the top team in the nation.
Forward Vanessa Cruz registered the first hat trick by a Bronco since 2012 in the victory over Cal State East Bay Oct. 11.
Cruz also leads the CCAA in goals this season with nine and in points with 20.
The men’s soccer team is tied with Cal State LA for first place in the CCAA standings. Head coach Matt O’Sullivan earned his 55th win to become the winningest coach in CPP program history earlier this season in the victory against Colorado School of Mines Sept. 22.
Three student-athletes from the women’s cross-country team entered the program record books: Vivian Martinez earned the third-fastest time in school history with a personal best of 17:24, while Jade Kingston and Galilea Jimenez entered the Top 25 fastest times.
The men’s cross-country team also had three student-athletes achieve CPP records for the fastest 8K times in program history: Tom McDonnell (14th), Juan Ramos (18th) and Evan Franco (23rd).
“Now when people see the Bronco logo, they respect it in a way and coincide that brand with winning,” said Associate Athletic Director of Communications Alex Kline.
Feature image courtesy of CPP Athletics