Western Collegiate Lacrosse League
Encyclopedia
The Western Collegiate Lacrosse League (WCLL) is a conference that participates in the Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association
(MCLA). The WCLL operates in California and Arizona and is split into two divisions, Division I and Division II. The Division I teams are split into an 4 geographical divisions and the Division II teams are split into 2 geographical divisions. 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.
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 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 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 joined the WCLL as a Division II member.
In 1989, Sonoma State joined the WCLL.
In 1997, the WCLL, was one of the charter conferences in what would become the MCLA.
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 San Jose State in 2006.
Bold Text denotes MCLA National Champion
Bold Text denotes MCLA National Champion
Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association
The Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association is a national organization of non-NCAA, men's college lacrosse programs. The MCLA oversees game play and conducts national championships for over 200 teams in ten conferences throughout the United States and Canada...
(MCLA). The WCLL operates in California and Arizona and is split into two divisions, Division I and Division II. The Division I teams are split into an 4 geographical divisions and the Division II teams are split into 2 geographical divisions. 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 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 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 joined the WCLL as a Division II member.
In 1989, Sonoma State joined the WCLL.
In 1997, the WCLL, was one of the charter conferences in what would become the MCLA.
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 San Jose State in 2006.
Division I
| Institution | Location | Founded | Joined Conference | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Conference Championships (D I) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California, Berkeley University of California, Berkeley The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA... |
Berkeley, California Berkeley, California Berkeley is a city on the east shore of the San Francisco Bay in Northern California, United States. Its neighbors to the south are the cities of Oakland and Emeryville. To the north is the city of Albany and the unincorporated community of Kensington... |
1868 | 1980 | Public (University of California University of California The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University... system) |
33,000 | Golden Bears | 5 |
| University of California, Davis University of California, Davis The University of California, Davis is a public teaching and research university established in 1905 and located in Davis, California, USA. Spanning over , the campus is the largest within the University of California system and third largest by enrollment... |
Davis, California Davis, California Davis is a city in Yolo County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area... |
1905 | 1980 | Public (University of California University of California The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University... system) |
30,474 | Aggies | |
| California Polytechnic State University California Polytechnic State University California Polytechnic State University, or Cal Poly, is a public university located in San Luis Obispo, California, United States. The university is one of two polytechnic campuses in the 23-member California State University system.... |
San Luis Obispo, California San Luis Obispo, California San Luis Obispo is a city in California, located roughly midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles on the Central Coast. Founded in 1772 by Spanish Fr. Junipero Serra, San Luis Obispo is one of California’s oldest communities... |
1901 | 1983 | Public (California State University California State University The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the... system) |
19,777 | Mustangs | 2 |
| California State University, Chico California State University, Chico California State University, Chico is the second-oldest campus in the twenty-three-campus California State University system. It is located in Chico, California, about ninety miles north of Sacramento... |
Chico, California Chico, California Chico is the most populous city in Butte County, California, United States. The population was 86,187 at the 2010 census, up from 59,954 at the time of the 2000 census... |
1887 | 1987 | Public (California State University California State University The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the... system) |
14,500 | Wildcats | |
| Santa Clara University Santa Clara University Santa Clara University is a private, not-for-profit, Jesuit-affiliated university located in Santa Clara, California, United States. Chartered by the state of California and accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it operates in collaboration with the Society of Jesus , whose... |
Santa Clara, California Santa Clara, California Santa Clara , founded in 1777 and incorporated in 1852, is a city in Santa Clara County, in the U.S. state of California. The city is the site of the eighth of 21 California missions, Mission Santa Clara de Asís, and was named after the mission. The Mission and Mission Gardens are located on the... |
1851 | 1980 | Private/Roman Catholic | 7,487 | Broncos | |
| Sonoma State University Sonoma State University Sonoma State University is a public, coeducational business and liberal arts college affiliated with the California State University system. The main campus is located in Rohnert Park, California, United States and lies approximately south of Santa Rosa and north of San Francisco... |
Rohnert Park, California Rohnert Park, California Rohnert Park is a city in Sonoma County, California, United States, located approximately north of San Francisco. The population at the 2010 United States Census was 40,971. It is an early planned city, modeled directly after Levittown, New York and Levittown, Pennsylvania. Rohnert Park is the... |
1960 | 1989 | Public (California State University California State University The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the... system) |
8,400 | Seawolves | 3 |
| Stanford University Stanford University The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San... |
Palo Alto, California Palo Alto, California Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is... |
1891 | 1980 | Private/Non-sectarian | 14,654 | Cardinal | 1 |
Division II
| Institution | Location | Founded | Joined Conference | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Conference Championships (D II) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of California, Merced University of California, Merced The University of California, Merced, commonly referred to as UC Merced or UCM, is the tenth and newest of the University of California campuses. Located in the San Joaquin Valley in unincorporated Merced County, California, near Merced, UC Merced was the first American research university to... |
Merced, California Merced, California Merced is a city in, and the county seat of, Merced County, California in the San Joaquin Valley of Northern California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 78,958. Incorporated in 1889, Merced is a charter city that operates under a council-manager government... |
2005 | 2008 | Public (University of California University of California The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University... system) |
4,000 | Golden Bobcats | |
| University of California, Santa Cruz University of California, Santa Cruz The University of California, Santa Cruz, also known as UC Santa Cruz or UCSC, is a public, collegiate university; one of ten campuses in the University of California... |
Santa Cruz, California Santa Cruz, California Santa Cruz is the county seat and largest city of Santa Cruz County, California in the US. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Santa Cruz had a total population of 59,946... |
1965 | Public (University of California University of California The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University... system) |
15,012 | Banana Slugs | 1993,2008, 2009 | |
| Humboldt State University Humboldt State University Humboldt State University is the northernmost campus of the California State University system, located in Arcata within Humboldt County, California, USA. The main campus, nestled at the edge of a coast redwood forest, is situated on Preston hill overlooking Arcata and with commanding views of... |
Arcata, California Arcata, California -Demographics:-2010 Census data:The 2010 United States Census reported that Arcata had a population of 17,231. The population density was 1,567.4 people per square mile... |
1913 | Public | 7,773 | Lumberjacks | ||
| University of Nevada, Reno University of Nevada, Reno The University of Nevada, Reno , is a teaching and research university established in 1874 and located in Reno, Nevada, USA... |
Reno, Nevada Reno, Nevada Reno is the county seat of Washoe County, Nevada, United States. The city has a population of about 220,500 and is the most populous Nevada city outside of the Las Vegas metropolitan area... |
1874 | Public (Nevada System of Higher Education Nevada System of Higher Education The Nevada System of Higher Education was formed in 1968 to oversee all state-supported higher education in the U.S. state of Nevada. The name was changed in 2004. Two doctoral-granting research universities, one state college, four community colleges and one research institute comprise the... ) |
15,588 | Wolf Pack | ||
| University of the Pacific | Stockton, California Stockton, California Stockton, California, the seat of San Joaquin County, is the fourth-largest city in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California. With a population of 291,707 at the 2010 census, Stockton ranks as this state's 13th largest city... |
1851 | Private | 6,100 | Tigers | ||
| Saint Mary's College of California Saint Mary's College of California Saint Mary's College of California is a private, coeducational college located in Moraga, California, United States, a small suburban community about east of Oakland and 20 miles east of San Francisco. It has a 420-acre campus in the Moraga hills. It is affiliated with the Roman Catholic Church... |
Moraga, California Moraga, California Moraga is a suburban incorporated town located in Contra Costa County, California, United States, in the San Francisco Bay Area. It is named in honor of Joaquin Moraga, whose grandfather was José Joaquin Moraga, second in command to Juan Bautista de Anza... |
1863 | 1989 | Private/Roman Catholic | 4,536 | Gaels | 1991, 2000, 2010, 2011 |
| San Jose State University San José State University San Jose State University is a public university located in San Jose, California, United States... |
San Jose, California San Jose, California San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay... |
1857 | Public (California State University California State University The California State University is a public university system in the state of California. It is one of three public higher education systems in the state, the other two being the University of California system and the California Community College system. It is incorporated as The Trustees of the... system) |
31,906 | Spartans | ||
Former members
| Institution | Location | Founded | Tenure of Membership | Affiliation | Enrollment | Nickname | Conference Championships (D I) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| California State University, Long Beach California State University, Long Beach California State University, Long Beach is the second largest campus of the California State University system and the third largest university in the state of California by enrollment... |
Long Beach, California Long Beach, California Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257... |
Public | |||||
| California State University, Hayward (now CSU East Bay) | Hayward, California Hayward, California Hayward is a city located in the East Bay in Alameda County, California. With a population of 144,186, Hayward is the sixth largest city in the San Francisco Bay Area and the third largest in Alameda County. Hayward was ranked as the 37th most populous municipality in California. It is included in... |
1957 | 1997–2004 | Public | |||
| California State University, San Marcos California State University, San Marcos California State University San Marcos is a public, coeducational university and one of the 23 general campuses of the California State University system. located in San Marcos, California, a suburban town in north San Diego County. It was founded in 1989 as the 20th CSU campus and was the first... |
San Marcos, California San Marcos, California San Marcos is a suburb of San Diego in the North County section of San Diego County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 83,781. Outside the San Diego region, it is best known as the home of California State University, San Marcos... |
Public | |||||
| Northern Arizona University Northern Arizona University Northern Arizona University is a public university located in Flagstaff, Arizona, United States. It is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, and has 39 satellite campuses in the state of Arizona. The university offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees.As of... |
Flagstaff, Arizona Flagstaff, Arizona Flagstaff is a city located in northern Arizona, in the southwestern United States. In 2010, the city's population was 65,870. The population of the Metropolitan Statistical Area was at 134,421 in 2010. It is the county seat of Coconino County... |
||||||
| Whittier College Whittier College Whittier College is a private liberal arts college in Whittier, California. As of January 2009, the college has approximately 1540 enrolled students.-Overview:... |
Whittier, California Whittier, California Whittier is a city in Los Angeles County, California about southeast of Los Angeles. The city had a population of 85,331 at the 2010 census, up from 83,680 as of the 2000 census, and encompasses 14.7 square miles . Like nearby Montebello, the city constitutes part of the Gateway Cities... |
1981–1999 | Private | 10 | |||
Division I
| Season | Conference Champion | North Division | South Division | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | UCSB | Stanford | UCSB | ||
| 1981 | California | California | UCSB | ||
| 1982 | Stanford | Stanford | UCLA | ||
| 1983 | UCSB | UCSB | Arizona | ||
| 1984 | CAL | CAL | San Diego State | ||
| 1985 | Whittier | California | Whittier | ||
| 1986 | Whittier | Stanford | Whittier | ||
| 1987 | UCSB | UCSB | Whittier | ||
| 1988 | Whittier | Whittier | |||
| 1989 | Whittier | Whittier | |||
| 1990 | Arizona | ||||
| 1991 | Whittier | Whittier | |||
| 1992 | Whittier | Whittier | |||
| 1993 | Whittier | Whittier | |||
| 1994 | California | California | UCSD | ||
| 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 | UCSB | Sonoma State | UCSB | ||
| 2004 | CAL | Sonoma State | CAL | ||
| Season | Central | Los Angeles | |||
| 2005 | UCSB | Sonoma State | UC San Diego | Cal Poly SLO | UCSB |
| 2006 | Sonoma State | Sonoma State | Arizona | Cal Poly SLO | UCSB |
| 2007 | UCSB | Sonoma State | Arizona | California | Chapman* |
| 2008 | Chapman | Sonoma State | Arizona State | Stanford | Chapman |
| 2009 | Cal Poly | ||||
| 2010 | Cal Poly |
- ineligible for playoffs (runner-up UCSB received LA Division #1 seed, 3rd place Claremont received #2 seed)
Bold Text denotes MCLA National Champion
| Team | Championships | Winning years |
|---|---|---|
| Whittier | 10 | 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999 |
| UCSB | 6 | 1980, 1983, 1987, 2003, 2005, 2007 |
| California | 7 | 1981, 1984, 1994, 1995, 1998, 2000 2004 |
| Sonoma State | 3 | 2001, 2002, 2006 |
| Cal Poly | 2 | 2009, 2010 |
| Arizona | 1 | 1990 |
| Stanford | 1 | 1982 |
| Chapman | 1 | 2008 |
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 | ||
| 1999 | 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 | ||
| 2006 | San Diego | Claremont | San Diego |
| 2007 | UC Irvine | Pepperdine | UC Irvine |
| 2008 | UC Santa Cruz | UC Santa Cruz | Biola |
| 2009 | UC Santa Cruz | Saint Mary's | |
| 2010 | Saint Mary's | UC Santa Cruz | |
| 2011 | Saint Mary's | UC Santa Cruz |
Bold Text denotes MCLA National Champion
| Team | Championships | Winning years |
|---|---|---|
| San Diego | 3 | 2004, 2005, 2006 |
| Saint Mary's | 4 | 1991, 2000, 2010, 2011 |
| Arizona State | 2 | 1995, 1997 |
| Chapman | 2 | 1992, 2001 |
| Chico State | 2 | 1988, 1989 |
| UC Irvine | 1 | 2007 |
| Claremont | 1 | 2003 |
| Southern California | 1 | 2002 |