Western Collegiate Lacrosse League

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Western Collegiate Lacrosse League
File:WCLLlogo.png
ConferenceMCLA
Founded1980
CommissionerAaron Myers
Sports fielded
No. of teams15
RegionWest Coast of the United States
Official websitehttp://mcla.us/WCLL/

The Western Collegiate Lacrosse League (WCLL) is a conference that participates in the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA). The WCLL operates in California, Nevada, and Oregon and is split into two divisions, Division I and Division II.[1] The conference is governed by an executive board and the teams that win the conference's divisional playoffs receive automatic bids to the MCLA National Tournament.

History

The roots of the WCLL go back to 1959 when the California Lacrosse Association (CLA) was created. This was a hybrid organization that included both college and men's club teams in Southern California. Similarly, the teams in Northern California participated in the Northern California Lacrosse Association (NCLA). The founding members of the CLA included Claremont, Los Angeles Lacrosse Club, Orange County Lacrosse Club, San Fernando Valley Lacrosse Club, OMBAC, San Marino Lacrosse Club and others. In 1969, UCLA joined the league, followed by UCSB in 1970.

In 1976, the CLA expanded with the addition of Southern California. On occasion the CLA Champion would face the NCLA Champion at the end of the season to determine a conference or "California State Champion". UCSB captured the final state championship played under this arrangement defeating their northern counterparts in 1978. In 1979, at the urging of CLA VP and San Diego State alum Mitch Fenton, a separate organization for the collegiate teams in both the CLA and NCLA was brainstormed.

The union that would eventually become the WCLL was founded on Super Bowl Sunday, January 20, 1980, as the California Collegiate Lacrosse Association (CCLA). A select few gathered at the house of then UCLA Head Coach Mayer Davidson's house in West Los Angeles. Co-founders also included Stanford Head Coach Sam Sadtler, the Claremont Head Coach and Mitch Fenton. The original 9 members were: California, Claremont, San Diego State, Santa Clara, Southern California, Stanford, UC Davis, UCLA and UCSB. Fenton served as the first president of the association. When the association was formed it was determined that the top team of the Northern Division would play the top team of the Southern Division at the end of the season to determine the conference champion. In the inaugural championship, the UCSB Gauchos defeated the Stanford Cardinal. One year later, Whittier College joined the league. In 1982, the University of Arizona, Arizona State and Northern Arizona joined the CCLA. That same year the Stanford Cardinal took home the championship defeating UCLA at Stanford.

In 1983, the CCLA renamed itself the Western Collegiate Lacrosse League. That same year Cal Poly SLO joined the conference. Arizona Head Coach and WCLL co-founder Mickey-Miles Felton, who was instrumental in the addition of the Arizona schools the year before, served as the league's first president. The WCLL Championship Trophy is named in his honor.

In 1985, Loyola Marymount University was admitted to the conference. In 1987, Chico State was admitted as a full member of the conference.

In 1988, the WCLL split into A and B divisions (later I and II). That same year Chapman University and San Jose State University joined the WCLL as Division II members.[2] In 1989, Sonoma State joined the WCLL.

In 1997, the WCLL, was one of the charter conferences in the US Lacrosse Intercollegiate Associates (USLIA). Prior to the 2000 season, Whittier College departed joining the NCAA Division III as an independent. Following the 2002 season, Division II member Cal State San Marcos left the conference. Following the 2004 season, Division II member Cal State Hayward (now Cal State East Bay) left the conference.

The addition of the University of Nevada, Reno and St. Mary's College to the WCLL Division I at the annual conference meeting in 2004 lead to a massive realignment of the conference. The 20 Division I teams were split into 4 geographic divisions (North, Central, Los Angeles and South) for the 2005 season. In 2005, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and UC Santa Cruz joined the league, followed by Cal State Fullerton and the readmittance of San Jose State in 2006. That same year, the USLIA reorganized into the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA).[3]

The league grew into the largest MCLA conferences but saw big changes in 2009.[4] The University of California, Merced joined the league for the 2009 season but the league lost its entire Central Division, made up of Chapman, UC Santa Barbara, Claremont, Loyola Marymount, USC, and UCLA; and lost the majority of its Southern Division, including: Arizona State, San Diego State, Arizona, San Diego, UC San Diego. The WCLL also lost six of ten Division II members, including: Biola, Cal Lutheran, Cal State Fullerton, Occidental, Pepperdine, UC Irvine, and UNLV. The departing teams formed the Southwestern Lacrosse Conference (SLC).[4]

In 2023, the WCLL will expand to include its first team from Oregon, Southern Oregon University, moving over from the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Lacrosse League (PNCLL).

Teams

Institution Location Enrollment Nickname Tenure Conference Championships
Division I
Cal Poly San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo, California 19,777 Mustangs 1983 - Present 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022
Dominican University of California San Rafael, California 1,800 Penguins 2006 - Present
Santa Clara University Santa Clara, California 7,487 Broncos 1980 - Present
Sonoma State University Rohnert Park, California 8,400 Seawolves 1989 - Present 2001, 2002, 2006
Stanford University Palo Alto, California 14,654 Cardinal 1980 - Present 1982, 2013, 2015
University of California, Berkeley Berkeley, California 33,000 Golden Bears 1980 - Present 1981, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2018, 2019
University of California, Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, California 25,057 Gauchos 1980 - 2009, 2019 - Present 1980, 1983, 1984, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007
University of Nevada, Reno Reno, Nevada 15,588 Wolf Pack 2004 - Present
Division II
Cal Poly Humboldt Arcata, California 7,773 Lumberjacks 1983 - 1999, 2010 - Present
California State University, Chico Chico, California 14,500 Wildcats 1987 - Present 1988, 1989
University of California, Davis Davis, California 30,474 Aggies 1980 - Present 2019, 2022
University of California, Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, California 15,012 Banana Slugs 2005 - 2019, 2022 - Present 1993, 2008, 2009, 2013
Saint Mary's College of California Moraga, California 4,536 Gaels 1989 - Present 1991, 2000, 2010, 2011, 2012
San Jose State University San Jose, California 31,906 Spartans 1988 - 1992, 2006 - Present
Southern Oregon University Ashland, Oregon 6,114 Raiders Joining in 2023

Former members

Institution Location Team Nickname Tenure New Conference New Classification
Arizona State University Tempe, Arizona Sun Devils 1982–2009 SLC MCLA Division I
Biola University La Mirada, California Eagles 2001–2009 SLC MCLA Division II
California Lutheran University Thousand Oaks, California Kingsmen 2005–2009 SLC MCLA Division II
California State University, Fullerton Fullerton, California Titans 2006–2009 SLC MCLA Division II
California State University, Hayward Hayward, California Pioneers 1997–2004 ceased operations in 2004 N/A
California State University, Monterey Bay Seaside, California Otters 2013-2014 ceased operations in 2014 N/A
California State University, Sacramento Sacramento, California Hornets 1986–1998 ceased operations in 1998 N/A
California State University, San Marcos San Marcos, California Cougars 2002-2002 ceased operations in 2002 N/A
Chapman University Orange, California Panthers 1988–2009 SLC MCLA Division I
Claremont McKenna College Claremont, California Cougars 1980–2009 SLC MCLA Division I
Loyola Marymount University Los Angeles, California Lions 1985–2009 SLC MCLA Division I
Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, Arizona Lumberjacks 1982-unknown RMLC MCLA Division II
Occidental College Los Angeles, California Tigers 2006–2009 SLC MCLA Division II
Pepperdine University Malibu, California Waves unknown–2009 SLC MCLA Division II
San Diego State University San Diego, California Aztecs 1980–2009 SLC MCLA Division I
Sierra Nevada University Incline Village, Nevada Eagles 2014-2022 ceased operations in 2022 N/A
University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona Wildcats 1982–2009 SLC MCLA Division I
University of California, Irvine Irvine, California Anteaters 1988–2009 SLC MCLA Division II
University of California, Los Angeles Los Angeles, California Bruins 1980–2009 SLC MCLA Division I
University of California, Merced Merced, California Golden Bobcats 2009-2012 ceased operations in 2012 N/A
University of California, San Diego San Diego, California Tritons unknown–2009 SLC MCLA Division I
University of Nevada, Las Vegas Las Vegas, Nevada Rebels 2005–2009 SLC MCLA Division I
University of the Pacific Stockton, California Tigers 1980-2017 ceased operations in 2017 N/A
University of San Diego San Diego, California Toreros 1987–2009 SLC MCLA Division I
University of San Francisco San Fransisco, California Dons 2015-2016 ceased operations in 2016 N/A
University of Southern California Los Angeles, California Trojans 1980–2009 SLC MCLA Division I
Whittier College Whittier, California The Poets 1981–1999 Independent NCAA Division III

Past Conference Champions

Division I

Season Conference Champion North Division South Division
1980 UC Santa Barbara Stanford UC Santa Barbara
1981 California California UC Santa Barbara
1982 Stanford Stanford UC Los Angeles
1983 UC Santa Barbara UC Santa Barbara Arizona
1984 UC Santa Barbara UC Santa Barbara San Diego State
1985 Whittier California Whittier
1986 Whittier Stanford Whittier
1987 UC Santa Barbara UC Santa Barbara Whittier
1988 Whittier Sonoma State Whittier
1989 Whittier Sonoma State Whittier
1990 Arizona UC Santa Barbara Arizona
1991 Whittier UC Santa Barbara Whittier
1992 Whittier Whittier
1993 Whittier Whittier
1994 California California UC San Diego
1995 California Whittier
1996 Whittier Sonoma State Whittier
1997 Whittier Sonoma State Whittier
1998 California California Whittier
1999 Whittier Sonoma State Whittier
2000 California Sonoma State Arizona
2001 Sonoma State Sonoma State Arizona
2002 Sonoma State Sonoma State Arizona
2003 UC Santa Barbara Sonoma State UC Santa Barbara
2004 UC Santa Barbara Sonoma State UC Santa Barbara
Season Central Los Angeles
2005 UC Santa Barbara Sonoma State UC San Diego Cal Poly UC Santa Barbara
2006 Sonoma State Sonoma State Arizona Cal Poly UC Santa Barbara
2007 UC Santa Barbara Sonoma State Arizona California Chapman*
2008 Chapman Sonoma State Arizona State Stanford Chapman
Runner-up
2009 Cal Poly Sonoma State
2010 Cal Poly California
2011 Cal Poly Stanford
2012 Cal Poly California
2013 Stanford Sonoma State
2014 Cal Poly California
2015 Stanford Cal Poly
2016 Cal Poly California
2017 Cal Poly California
2018 California Cal Poly
2019 California Santa Clara
2020 No Championship
2021 No Championship
2022 Cal Poly California

* ineligible for playoffs (runner-up UCSB received LA Division #1 seed, 3rd place Claremont received #2 seed)

Team Championships Winning years Runner-up Runner-up Years
Whittier 10 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999 3 1987, 1995, 1998
UC Santa Barbara 8 1980, 1983, 1984, 1987, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007 2 1990, 1991
Cal Poly 8 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022 2 2015, 2018
California 7 1981, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000, 2018, 2019 7 1985, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022
Sonoma State 3 2001, 2002, 2006 8 1988, 1989, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2013
Stanford 3 1982, 2013, 2015 3 1980, 1986, 2011
Arizona 1 1990 4 2001, 2002, 2006, 2007
Chapman 1 2008
Arizona State 1 2008
Santa Clara 1 2019
  • Note: Bold text denotes MCLA National Champion
  • Note: Italic text denotes MCLA National Champion runner-up

Division II

Season Conference Champion North Division South Division
1988 Chico State
1989 Chico State
1990
1991 Saint Mary's
1992 Chapman
1993 UC Santa Cruz
1994 UC Irvine
1995 Arizona State
1996 Sacramento State
1997 Arizona State
1998 San Diego Sacramento State UC San Diego
1999 San Diego Chico State San Diego
2000 Saint Mary's Saint Mary's Claremont
2001 Chapman Saint Mary's Chapman
2002 Southern California Saint Mary's Pepperdine
2003 Claremont Saint Mary's Claremont
2004 San Diego Saint Mary's San Diego
2005 San Diego California Lutheran San Diego
2006 San Diego Claremont San Diego
2007 UC Irvine Pepperdine UC Irvine
2008 UC Santa Cruz UC Santa Cruz Biola
Runner-up
2009 UC Santa Cruz Saint Mary's
2010 Saint Mary's UC Santa Cruz
2011 Saint Mary's UC Santa Cruz
2012 Saint Mary's UC Santa Cruz
2013 UC Santa Cruz Nevada
2014 Nevada San Jose State
2015 Sierra Nevada Nevada
2016 Sierra Nevada UC Davis
2017 Sierra Nevada UC Davis
2018 Sierra Nevada UC Davis
2019 UC Davis Saint Mary's
2020 No Championship
2021 No Championship
2022 UC Davis UC Santa Cruz
Team Championships Winning years Runner-up Runner-up Years
San Diego 5 1998, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2006
Saint Mary's 5 1991, 2000, 2010, 2011, 2012 6 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2009, 2019
UC Santa Cruz 4 1993, 2008, 2009, 2013 4 2010, 2011, 2012, 2022
Sierra Nevada 4 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018
Chico State 2 1988, 1989 1 1999
Arizona State 2 1995, 1997
Chapman 2 1992, 2001
UC Irvine 2 1994, 2007
UC Davis 2 2019, 2022 3 2016, 2017, 2018
Sacramento State 1 1996
Southern California 1 2002
Claremont 1 2003 1 2000
Nevada 1 2014 2 2013, 2015
UC San Diego 1 1998
California Lutheran 1 2005
Pepperdine 1 2007
Biola 1 2008
San Jose State 1 2014
  • Note: Bold text denotes MCLA National Champion

References

  1. ^ "About the WCLL". MCLA. Retrieved June 27, 2017.
  2. ^ "History". San Jose State University Club Sports. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
  3. ^ "History of Cal Poly Lacrosse". California Polytechnic State University. Archived from the original on June 17, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  4. ^ a b "SLC History". SLC. Archived from the original on March 12, 2012. Retrieved February 5, 2012.

External links

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