Five Biggest Aggie Sports Stories From 2010-11

It's been a great year to be a fan of the UC Davis Aggies.

The 2010-11 season featured the university's first appearance in an NCAA basketball tournament, the departure of some key figures, great games and several conference championships. Here’s a look back at five most memorable stories of the past year. 

1. Women’s basketball
There is no doubt what the story of the year was on the UC Davis campus. The women’s basketball team had a season that will not soon be forgotten.

Led by seniors Paige Mintun and Heidi Hientz, the Aggies won the Big West Conference Tournament after entering as the fourth seed. The league title awarded UC Davis its first ever appearance in an NCAA Basketball Tournament.

Though the Aggies ultimately lost to Stanford in the first round, the notoriety the program gained from the experience cannot be overstated, and the program will undoubtedly continue to benefit for years to come.

"It's a big accomplishment to get to this point," Heidi Heintz told the Aggie after the Stanford game. "It's special for this team, and it's a good stepping stone for what this team is about to become."

2. Departures
The school year was characterized by several key figures leaving the UC Davis Athletics Department.

Prior to the start of the basketball season, legendary women’s basketball coach Sandy Simpson announced that he would retire after the season. His last year was a memorable one, as Simpson led the Aggies to their first ever NCAA Tournament berth. Simpson leaves UC Davis as the most accomplished basketball coach in school history.

Another basketball coach left UC Davis on less favorable terms. Men’s basketball coach Gary Stewart was fired following a disappointing last place finish in the Big West. He was replaced by Jim Les, who led Bradley University to a Sweet 16 appearance in 2006. 

As the year came to a close, UC Davis Athletics Director Greg Warzecka announced that he would be leaving the university in the summer.
Warzecka oversaw massive transitions in the UC Davis Athletics Department, including the school's move from Division II to Div. I and the football program's preparation to join the Big Sky Conference in 2012.

"Greg's leadership in intercollegiate athletics has led to many achievements and distinctions," Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi said. "His committment to UC Davis has been extraordinary and has built a solid foundation for an exciting future in athletics."

3. Great games
Two great games headlined the year.

The first was the Causeway Classic. Fighting through the worst storm of the year (and a mid-game delay of over an hour due to lightning), the UC Davis football team was able to hit a fourth quarter field goal to beat rivals Sacramento State for the first time in three years.

The second was the highlight of the men’s basketball season.
After battling UC Irvine through two overtimes, the Aggies found themselves down by a point with just five seconds remaining. The game was saved when an Eddie Miller pass found Mark Payne, who hit a layup as time expired to steal a win for UC Davis.

4. Track and field/Cross country
Cross-country star Jonathan Peterson was one of the athletes of the year for UC Davis. The 6-foot senior finished 14th at the NCAA championships and was named an All-American.

Track standouts Thomas Phillips and Alex Wilright led the Aggies this spring, finishing 13th and 15th, respectively, in the 400-meter hurdles in the NCAA championships.

Senior Chidnma Onyewuenyi will also be remembered for her dominance in the field events. The Gilroy native set school records for the hammer throw and the shot put this season.

5. Golf
The men’s and women’s golf teams had spectacular seasons.

Both programs won Big West titles, and the women’s team advanced all the way to the NCAA Tournament, where it finished 20th.

On the men’s side, freshman Matt Hansen was a standout performer, winning the NCAA Southwest Regional and advancing to the NCAA Tournament before withdrawing due to illness.