April 2009 Archives
Evans, a 6' 8", 220-pound post, prepped three varsity seasons at El Camino High in Oceanside, Calif., for CBU basketball alum Ray Johnson. This past season, Evans averaged 24.4 points, 13 rebounds and four blocked shots per game in leading the Wildcats to the CIF-San Diego Section Division I Championship and the state tournament. He was named All-CIF first team and North County Player of the Year.
In the state tournament, Evans had 18 points and eight rebounds to lead the Wildcats' to an opening-round upset of Etiwanda High, ranked No. 6 in the state.
He became Oceanside's single-single season scoring leader with 830 points, breaking Michael Watson's former standard of 630 set in 2001. In addition, Evans was named MVP in both of the senior All-Star Games he participated in, and he also received All-Academic honors with a 3.80 GPA.
Evans was a three-time All-Palomar League selection. He also earned All-CIF second team as a junior, leading the Wildcats to the second round of the state tournament. In the first round, Evans scored 30 points in a win over Clovis East High and then he had 22 points in the second round against Taft High. He finished his junior campaign averaging 15 points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots.
In the summer of 2008 after his junior campaign, Evans participated in the Reebok All-American Camp in Philadelphia, advancing to the national showcase of 120 players from among 1,100 candidates in regional qualifying.
"I believe that Luke will immediately be an impact player in our program," said CBU Head Coach Tim Collins, who has led the Lancers to three straight 20-win seasons for just the second time in program history. "Luke is a quality student in the classroom and on the court, and he plays intelligently, which is critical to the style we play here. He has the potential to become an outstanding player in our conference, and we are honored by his accepting of this opportunity. In my opinion, he will be one of the best freshmen in the GSAC next season."
CBU returns eight players from last year's team that finished 22-9 overall in 2009 advancing the GSAC Tournament Semifinals for the second straight year. The Lancers were ranked No. 5 in the NAIA Top 25 Preseason Poll and after a 7-0 start were ranked No. 1 for the first time in program history.
The Lancers will begin running only the distance events in the 2009-10 season, and current cross country coach Wade Watkins will oversee the program. The addition brings the number of sports offered by CBU to 22.
"Adding these sports provides a cost-effective complement to our cross country programs," said CBU Vice President for Student Services and interim Athletic Director Kent Dacus. "It also gives an additional opportunity for those athletes to participate in both cross country and the distance events on the track."
CBU will participate in both the indoor and outdoor seasons. The 2010 NAIA Indoor Track and Field Championships are March 4-6, while the outdoor championships are May 27-29.
During the indoor season, the Lancers will participate in the 600 meters, 800 meters, 1,000 meters, mile, 3,000 meters, 5,000 meters, 3,000-meter race walk, 4x800-meter relay and distance medley relay events. During the outdoor season, the Lancers will participate in the 400 meters, 800 meters, 1,500 meters, 5,000 meters, 10,000 meters, 5,000-meter race walk, 3,000-meter steeplechase, 4x800-meter relay, half marathon and marathon.
The Lancers previously sponsored track and field, dropping the program in 2002. CBU rose to national prominence in the late 1990s running in every NAIA Indoor and Outdoor National Championship from 1996-2002 on the men's side. CBU finished fourth or better at the 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2001 indoor championships and garnered the university's first-ever NAIA National Championship, winning the 1999 indoor title. The Lancers also finished in the top 10 in the 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2001 outdoor championships.
The women ran in three indoor and three outdoor championships, earning three Top 25 finishes.
CBU won two straight GSAC Men's Track and Field titles in 1996-97 and is the only program other than Azusa Pacific or Point Loma Nazarene to win a GSAC men's track title.
A total of 14 runners comprise Watkins' first full recruiting class. The program was reinstated as a varsity sport in the summer of 2008.
"If 2008 saw the resurgence of CBU cross country, then 2009 will show the growth from having a full year of being able to recruit some of the finest athletes within the state and from other states as well," said Watkins. "While the process is never ending, and we are always in search of new athletes, these outstanding young men will be the future of CBU cross country."
Mitchell Moore (La Habra HS)
Moore was a six-time All-Freeway League selection in cross country and track at La Habra (Calif.) High. An eight-time CIF participant, Moore has a PR of 15:01 (3 miles) and was the undefeated league champion and the Orange County Division III Champion. He also won the Woodbridge Senior Race.
Patrick Mynes (Corona HS)
A four-time CIF participant, Mynes was a three-time all-league selection. He also earned all-county honors and was a scholar-athlete. He has a PR of 15:10.
Sergio Rodriguez (Los Altos HS)
Rodriguez ran for head coach Jeff Hess, who trained under Watkins as a prep at Los Altos High. Rodriguez was a three-time CIF participant and a Miramonte League Champion and has a PR of 15:24.
Victor Delgado (Beaumont HS)
Delgado was a three-time CIF participant and was a state finalist in 2008. He finished fifth at the CIF Division III finals and was a three-time Mountain Pass League Champion. Delgado also won the Mt. SAC Division III Invitational and was named to the All-Riverside Team this past season. His PR is 15:30.
Chase Williams (Corona HS)
A prep teammate of Mynes, Williams was a four-time CIF participant and was a CIF individual participant in the 1,600-meters in 2008. Williams, who has a PR of 15:55, earned three all-league honors as well as earning scholar-athlete honors.
Daniel Knauer (Murrieta Valley HS)
Knauer ran four varsity seasons at Murrieta Valley High. With a PR of 15:20, Knauer earned all-county honors this past season and was a three-time all-league first team selection. This past season, he was named team MVP.
Mark Langworthy (Calvary Chapel-Murrieta HS)
A four-time scholar-athlete, Langworthy also was a three-time all-league selection. His PR is 15:56 and he made three CIF appearances.
Chris Cline (Hidden Valley HS, Grants Pass, Ore.)
A four-year varsity runner, Cline was a four-time Oregon State Meet participant. In 2008, he finished eighth at the state meet, helping the Mustangs win the state title. He was named all-conference and all-state second team. Cline also earned four scholar-athlete honors and participated in the prestigious Border Clash last November.
Jonathan Monteon (Don Lugo HS)
A three-time CIF participant with Don Lugo High in Chino, Calif., Monteon was also a scholar-athlete recipient.
Axel Ambriz (Concordia-Irvine)
A transfer from GSAC-rival Concordia, Ambriz is expected to be an important part of the program in 2009. In 2007 at Concordia, Ambriz helped lead the Eagles to the GSAC title, finishing 33rd in the GSAC Meet, running a 27:08. He also ran at the 2007 NAIA Championships, where he finished 165th, running a 26:47.8. His season best was 26:45.76 at the Willamette Invitational in Salem, Ore.
Coe Phillips (Ramona HS)
A local talent, Phillips prepped at nearby Ramona High, just blocks from the CBU campus.
Kevin Wunderly (Deer Valley HS)
Wunderly earned scholar-athlete honors at Deer Valley High in Northern California. He was also a New Balance Festival Champion this past fall.
Adrian Gracian (Canyon Springs HS)
Michael Doss (Big Bear HS)
