UC Merced Magazine | Commemorative Chronicle

From Intramurals to Championships

“We wanted to grow the program and the athletic culture at UC Merced. I feel like we were a cornerstone of what it has become.” UC Merced men’s basketball went on to win its rst postseason trophy in 2021 and claimed the program’s rst California Paci c Conference regular season championship, as well as an at-large berth to the NAIA National Championship in the 2024-25 season. Women’s basketball carved its place in history with Cal Pac championships from 2015-17. Christina Castro was the team’s point guard for the back-to-back-to-back title run. “I love an underdog story, so I thought it was a great opportunity to come in and prove that we can put UC Merced on the map for years to come,” Castro said. “Now, moving into NCAA Division II and being able to set the tone and help pave the way for future Bobcats is a great feeling. It’s something I’ll never take for granted and I’ll hold close to my heart.”

Looking Ahead By the time UC Merced closed its Cal Pac chapter, the Bobcats had collected 33 team championships. Now, as full members of NCAA Division II’s California Collegiate Athletic Association, they are preparing for their next challenge. While competing in the (CCAA), the Bobcats will also be a liate members of the Western Water Polo Association and the Mountain Paci c Sports Federation (men’s volleyball). e university will be fully eligible for NCAA postseason competition in 2026-27. e CCAA is one of the most competitive Division II conferences in the nation, with 13 California institutions and 157 national titles among them. e Bobcats bring more than athletic ambition. Among NCAA Division II members, UC Merced is among the highest-ranked institutions in U.S. News & World Report’s list of best colleges and universities. e OGs played two years of NAIA basketball together and reached postseason competition that second year. “We learned a lot from the losses and cherished the wins, but ultimately we became a family,” Barrino said. In the university’s early days, intramural sports were held o -campus at Merced College and In-Shape Fitness. e Joseph Edward Gallo Recreation and Wellness Center opened in 2006 as UC Merced’s rst recreation and athletics facility. Sports clubs started that same year. Javon Barrino remembered joining the club men’s basketball team in 2009 a er friends Aki Chambers and Daniel Castillo brought up the idea. “ e few of us that originated the team called ourselves the OGs,” Barrino said. “It included myself, Mikey Yonemoto, Aki and Daniel.”

Twenty years a er its start, UC Merced athletics is no longer an underdog story. It’s a program built on persistence, pride and the belief that Bobcats belong among the best.