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]
| UC Riverside Highlanders | |
|---|---|
 | |
| University | University of California, Riverside |
| Conference | Big West (primary) Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (indoor track & field) |
| NCAA | Division I |
| Athletic director | Wes Mallette |
| Location | Riverside, California |
| Varsity teams | 15 |
| 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 |
| Mascot | Scotty Highlander |
| Nickname | Highlanders |
| Colors | Blue and gold[1] |
| Website | www |
 | |
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
edit| Men's sports | Women's sports |
|---|---|
| Baseball | Basketball |
| Basketball | Cross country |
| Cross country | Golf |
| Golf | Soccer |
| Soccer | Softball |
| Tennis | Tennis |
| Track and field † | Track and field† |
| Volleyball | |
| † – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor | |
Baseball
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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
editMen's basketball
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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
editThe 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
editMen's soccer
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The UC Riverside Highlanders men's soccer team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 0–2 through two appearances.[8][9]
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | First Round | Pacific | L 0–1 |
| 2022 | First Round | Portland | L 1-2 |
Women's soccer
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The UC Riverside Highlanders women's soccer team have an NCAA Division I Tournament record of 0–1 through one appearance.[10]
| Year | Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | First Round | Colorado | L 0–1 |
Former varsity sports
editFootball
editThe UC Riverside Highlanders football team played from 1955 until the program was disbanded in 1975. The team played at Highlander Stadium.
Championships
editAppearances
editThe 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]
- Baseball (2): 2003, 2007
- Women's basketball (3): 2006, 2007, 2010
- Men's soccer (1): 2018
- Women's soccer (1): 2005
- Women's indoor track and field (2): 2009, 2016
- Women's outdoor track and field (1): 2009
Team
editUC 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]
- Baseball (2): 1977, 1982
- Women's volleyball (2): 1982, 1986
Below is one national championship that was not bestowed by the NCAA:
- Women's volleyball – Division II (1): 1977 (AIAW)
Individual
editUC Riverside had 1 Highlander win an NCAA individual championship at the Division I level.[12]
| NCAA individual championships | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Order | School year | Athlete(s) | Sport | Source |
| 1 | 2015–16 | Vesta Bell | Women's indoor track and field | [13] |
At the NCAA Division II level, UC Riverside garnered 11 individual championships.[12]
Traditions
editMascot
edit"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
editAll 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
editReferences
edit- ^ "UCR Colors | Brand Identity". June 13, 2020. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
- ^ a b c "The Mascot". gohighlanders.com. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
- ^ "UC Riverside". bigwest.org.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "2010 UC Riverside baseball media guide" (PDF). gohighlanders.com. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
- ^ "Men's Basketball: Career Coaching Records". gohighlanders.com. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
- ^ "Women's Basketball: Career Coaching Records". gohighlanders.com. Retrieved May 26, 2019.
- ^ "Bracket of the 2018 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved November 19, 2018.
- ^ "Bracket of the 2022 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved February 15, 2024.
- ^ "Division I Women's Soccer Championships Records Book" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved July 25, 2018.
- ^ "NCAA Championships Statistics". National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved April 10, 2022.
- ^ a b c d "Championships Summary" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved May 20, 2018.
- ^ "Division I Women's Indoor Track Championships Records Book" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved July 8, 2018.
