Cal Poly

California Polytechnic State University, known as Cal Poly, proudly carries the Mustang legacy rooted in San Luis Obispo, California. Competing in NCAA Division I's Big West Conference, the Mustangs have a rich tradition of athletic excellence, including 35 Division II national championships and a reputation for developing Olympic champions. Their track and field program is an Olympic powerhouse, with nine Olympians competing in twelve Games. Among the most notable are Stephanie Brown Trafton, Olympic gold medalist in discus at the 2008 Beijing Games, and Sharon Day-Monroe, who represented the U.S. in heptathlon in both 2008 and 2012. Other distinguished Olympians include Reynaldo Brown, Mohinder Gill, Patrice Donnelly, and Karin Smith, the latter competing in four consecutive Olympics from 1976 to 1988, reflecting sustained excellence. Cal Poly's wrestling program dominated with eight straight NCAA Division II championships from 1966-1974 and produced two individual Division I champions. Additional sports shine with four NCAA Division I baseball tournament appearances and volleyball’s 1985 number one national ranking and 17 NCAA Tournament appearances. The football program claimed the 1980 NCAA Division II championship and currently competes at the FCS level. The Mustangs’ legacy includes NFL Hall of Famers John Madden and Ozzie Smith, along with UFC champions Chuck Liddell and Chad Mendes, underscoring a broad culture of championship tradition and world-class athlete development.