At this time last year, the SF State athletics department eliminated five sports, reduced coaches’ salaries and downgraded several of the remaining sports as a result of the failed student fee referendum.

But this year, optimism reigns in the department after the approval of a second student fee referendum that would have eliminated the school’s athletics program altogether if it failed.

The 2004-2005 school year brought a bright future for the entire sports program, highs for some of the teams and lows for others, while rookie coaches and freshmen student-athletes emerged and seniors said their goodbyes.

In March, the student body voted 4,291 to 933 in favor of the athletics/intramural fee, which will gradually increase the fee through 2008-2009 and possibly thereafter.

Aside from the student referendum, the SF State wrestling team re-established itself as a Division II national championship contender. Pacifico Garcia won the national championship in the 149-pound weight class. Garcia, a junior and liberal studies major, registered a 33-7 overall record, while also winning his weight class at the highly competitive California Collegiate Wrestling Invitational and at the West Regionals.

“My teammates deserve a lot of credit for me and (teammate Donald Lockett’s) success,” said Garcia, who was awarded male athlete of the year at last week’s Sports Banquet. “The young guys are not in the headlines, but they’re just as deserving. They’re the backbone of the glory.”

Lockett placed third at nationals in the 141-pound weight class, losing to the eventual champion for the second straight year. A senior and liberal studies major, Lockett finished the regular season ranked number one in his weight class, went 41-7 overall and won his weight class at the California Collegiates and regionals.

“Considering we didn’t even know if we would have a program, I though we did pretty well,” said head coach Lars Jensen, who was awarded men’s coach of the year at the banquet.

Although the team had a dual meet record of 1-12, the Gators were nationally ranked for most of the season despite injuries and the lack of available bodies at the higher weight classes.

The SF State softball team experienced similar success and picked up where they left off last year. Led by junior standout pitchers Sonja Garnett and Holly Pearce, the Gators finished the regular season 36-18 overall (18-10 CCAA) on their way to a second straight regionals appearance after finishing 41-25 overall last year.

It was an up-and-down year for the program’s first-year head coaches. As an assistant coach of the men’s team last year, women’s basketball head coach Cristo Ortega led his team to a 7-20 overall, 6-14 CCAA record marred by inconsistency on the court and player-coach drama off of it.

It was just the opposite for cross country coach Chris Lundstrom and track & field coach Charles Schneekloth. Lundstrom led the cross country team to a second-place finish at the Gator Invitational in the fall, and Schneekloth and his staff guided Antonia Diamond, Kavina Hall and Najma Nuriddin to win their events at the Johnny Mathis Invitational in April.

“I think the team did a good job this year,” Schneekloth said. “Last year, the majority of the points were scored by two people. But this year, we have nine or 10, so we’re excited about developing the talent that we have here.”

Hall, one of the top sprinters in the country in the 200-meter and 400-meter dash events, is one of several freshmen athletes that had an impact on their particular teams. Guard Joe Roberson led the men’s basketball team in points, rebounds, steals and minutes played. Jordanna Freemer (as of May 14) leads the softball team in home runs, RBIs, triples, walks and total bases.

As these student athletes just started their collegiate careers at SF State, this year’s group of seniors sees their careers end. Lockett, arguably the best wrestler in school history, finishes with a 95-50 career record as a two-time all-American, three-time academic all-American, Most Outstanding Wrestler at the California Collegiates and conference wrestler of the year.

Other notable seniors include Chikara Omine (cross country), Whitney Johnson (men’s soccer), Katie Klain (women’s soccer), Ryan Cleaves (men’s basketball), DeAnna Butler (women’s basketball), Carlos Medina (baseball) and Chrissy Hildebrandt and Nichole Ramirez (softball).