The Baker Wildcats are the athletic teams that represent Baker University, located in Baldwin City, Kansas, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing as a founding member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) since its inception in the 1971–72 academic year. The Wildcats previously competed in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) from 1902–03 to 1970–71.
| Baker Wildcats | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | Baker University |
| Conference | HAAC (primary) |
| NAIA | Division I |
| Athletic director | Susan Decker |
| Location | Baldwin City, Kansas |
| Varsity teams | 23 |
| Football stadium | Liston Stadium |
| Arena | Collins Gymnasium |
| Baseball stadium | Sauder Field |
| Softball stadium | Cavaness Field |
| Soccer stadium | Hartley Field |
| Other venues | Alvamar Golf Course Laury Tennis Courts Mabee Memorial Hall |
| Mascot | WOWzer the Wildcat |
| Nickname | Baker Wildcats |
| Fight song | Baker University Fight Song |
| Cheer | "The Clap Chant" |
| Colors | Blue and orange[1] |
| Website | www |
Varsity teams
editBaker competes in 23 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, volleyball and wrestling; and co-ed sports includes cheerleading, dance and eSports.
Colors
editThey have only one official color: cadmium orange. The only other school in the country to have orange as their only official color is Syracuse University.
Facilities
edit- Alvamar Golf Course: Golf[2]
- Cavaness Field: Softball[3]
- Collins Gymnasium: Basketball, volleyball, and wrestling[4]
- Laury Tennis Courts: Tennis[5]
- Liston Stadium: Football, track, and select soccer matches
- Mabee Memorial Hall: Practice facilities (basketball), Cheer, Athletic offices[6]
- North Park: Baseball[7]
Mascot
editThe official mascot of Baker University Athletic teams is WOWzer the Wildcat. WOWZer debuted, as the new mascot, on September 8, 2007, at the football home-opener in honor of the university's sesquicentennial. Reina Murphy, a freshman from the Kansas City metropolitan area, won the university's name the Wildcat contest.[8]
Notable alumni
edit- Mike Gardner, American football head coach
- George LaFrance, American football player
- Mike McCarthy, American football head coach
- Vidal Nuño, baseball player
- Tanner Purdum, American football player
- Blake Treinen, baseball player
Notable coaches
edit- Phog Allen, basketball coach at Baker University, the University of Central Missouri and the University of Kansas
- Emil Liston basketball coach (1930–1945) and administrator, inductee to Basketball Hall of Fame, and creator of the NAIA college basketball tournament
- Charlie Richard, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame
See also
edit- 1890 Kansas vs. Baker football game, the first college football game played in the state of Kansas.
References
edit- ^ "Media Kit - Baker University". Retrieved September 26, 2017.
- ^ "Alvamar Golf Course". Archived from the original on 2014-03-31. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
- ^ "Cavaness Field". Archived from the original on 2013-06-26. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
- ^ "Collins Gymnasium". Archived from the original on 2013-06-26. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
- ^ "Laury Tennis Courts". Archived from the original on 2014-03-30. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
- ^ "Mabee Memorial Hall". Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
- ^ "North Park". Archived from the original on 2014-04-07. Retrieved 2013-11-16.
- ^ "Baker University's mascot, WOWzer the Wildcat". Archived from the original on 2013-11-16. Retrieved 2013-11-16.