Baker Wildcats Explained

Baker Wildcats
University:	Baker University
Association:	NAIA
Conference:	HAAC (primary)
Division:	Division I
Director:	Susan Decker
Location:	Baldwin City, Kansas
Teams:	23
Stadium:	Liston Stadium
Arena:	Collins Gymnasium
Baseballfield:	Sauder Field
Softballstadium:	Cavaness Field
Soccerstadium:	Hartley Field
Arena2:	Alvamar Golf Course Laury Tennis Courts Mabee Memorial Hall
Mascot:	WOWzer the Wildcat
Nickname:	Baker Wildcats
Fightsong:	Baker University Fight Song
Cheer:	"The Clap Chant"
Pageurl:	http://www.bakerwildcats.com

The Baker Wildcats are the athletic teams that represent Baker University, located in Baldwin City, Kansas, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), primarily competing as a founding member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) since its inception in the 1971–72 academic year. The Wildcats previously competed in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) from 1902–03 to 1970–71.

Varsity teams

Baker competes in 23 intercollegiate varsity sports: Men's sports include baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field and wrestling; while women's sports include basketball, bowling, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, volleyball and wrestling; and co-ed sports includes cheerleading, dance and eSports.

Colors

They have only one official color: cadmium orange. The only other school in the country to have orange as their only official color is Syracuse University.

Facilities

• Alvamar Golf Course: Golf^[1]
• Cavaness Field: Softball^[2]
• Collins Gymnasium: Basketball, volleyball, and wrestling^[3]
• Laury Tennis Courts: Tennis^[4]
• Liston Stadium: Football, track, and select soccer matches
• Mabee Memorial Hall: Practice facilities (basketball), Cheer, Athletic offices^[5]
• North Park: Baseball^[6]

Mascot

The official mascot of Baker University Athletic teams is WOWzer the Wildcat. WOWZer debuted, as the new mascot, on September 8, 2007, at the football home-opener in honor of the university's sesquicentennial. Reina Murphy, a freshman from the Kansas City metropolitan area, won the university's name the Wildcat contest.^[7]

Notable alumni

• Mike Gardner, American football head coach
• George LaFrance, American football player
• Mike McCarthy, American football head coach
• Vidal Nuño, baseball player
• Tanner Purdum, American football player
• Blake Treinen, baseball player

Notable coaches

• Phog Allen, basketball coach at Baker University, the University of Central Missouri and the University of Kansas
• Emil Liston basketball coach (1930–1945) and administrator, inductee to Basketball Hall of Fame, and creator of the NAIA college basketball tournament
• Charlie Richard, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame

See also

• 1890 Kansas vs. Baker football game, the first college football game played in the state of Kansas.

Notes and References

1. Web site: Alvamar Golf Course . 2013-11-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140331032200/http://www.bakeru.edu/facilities/alvamar-golf-course . 2014-03-31 . dead .
2. Web site: Cavaness Field . 2013-11-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130626114018/http://www.bakeru.edu/facilities/cavaness-field . 2013-06-26 . dead .
3. Web site: Collins Gymnasium . 2013-11-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130626112436/http://www.bakeru.edu/facilities/collins-gymnasium . 2013-06-26 . dead .
4. Web site: Laury Tennis Courts . 2013-11-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140330225042/http://www.bakeru.edu/facilities/laury-tennis-courts . 2014-03-30 . dead .
5. Web site: Mabee Memorial Hall . 2013-11-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407121557/http://www.bakeru.edu/facilities/mabee-memorial-hall . 2014-04-07 . dead .
6. Web site: North Park . 2013-11-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407114523/http://www.bakeru.edu/facilities/north-park . 2014-04-07 . dead .
7. Web site: Baker University's mascot, WOWzer the Wildcat . 2013-11-16 . https://archive.today/20131116172513/http://www.bakeru.edu/bakerworld/?p=4785 . 2013-11-16 . dead .