Santa Fe Saints

Santa Fe Saints
UniversitySanta Fe College
NJCAADivision I
ConferenceMid-Florida
Panhandle
Central
LocationGainesville, Florida
Varsity teams5
Baseball stadiumSanta Fe College Baseball Field
NicknameSaints
MascotCaesar
Websitewww.santafesaints.com

The Santa Fe Saints are the intercollegiate athletic teams that represent Santa Fe College, located in Gainesville. The Saints compete in the Mid-Florida Conference within Region 8 of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA).[1] Caesar, an anthropomorphic St. Bernard, serves as the mascot for the Saints.[2]

Sports

Baseball

Santa Fe is represented by a men's baseball team. In November 2022, the college announced a fundraising initiative for new baseball and softball facilities.[3] In 2016, the Saints secured their sixth Mid-Conference title in a ten-year span.[4]

Johnny Wiggs is the current head coach of the team. Under Wiggs, the team has won nine Mid-Florida Conference Championships and two FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 State Championships.[5] The team also played in the 2009 JUCO World Series final, finishing as the runners-up.[6] Wiggs earned his 500th win with Santa Fe in 2022.[5] The team achieved its best start in program history in 2023, starting 14–0. That year marked Wiggs' 17th season as the head coach of the team.[7]

Mallex Smith and Keon Broxton are Sante Fe alumni who have played in Major League Baseball (MLB).[4]

Basketball

Both men's and women's basketball is played at Santa Fe. In 2022, the men's team won its eight conference title.[8] Women's basketball coach Chanda Stebbins notched her 300th career win as a coach in 2023.[9]

Softball

Santa Fe's women's softball team won the 2008 FSCAA Division I championship,[10] en route to being the runners-up in the NJCAA national tournament.[11]

Volleyball

Santa Fe has a women's volleyball team. Under head coach Nick Cheronis, the Saints made a NJCAA Region 8/FCSAA State Tournament appearance in all seven of Cheronis' seasons with the team through 2021.[12]

Championships and national tournament appearances

In their history of intercollegiate competition, Santa Fe's athletic teams have won six NJCAA Region 8 state championships.[13] They have also notched eight national tournament appearances.[13] The women's softball and men's baseball teams were national tournament runner-ups in their sport in 2008 and 2009, respectively.[11][14]

National tournament appearances

Men's teams
Women's teams
  • Basketball (2): 1982 • 1984
  • Softball (2): 2008 • 2013
  • Volleyball (1): 2016

NJCAA Region 8 championships

Men's teams
  • Baseball (3): 1985 • 2009 • 2016
Women's teams
  • Softball (1): 2008
  • Basketball (2): 1982 • 1984

Conference championships

Men's teams
  • Baseball (11): 1992 • 1995 • 2007 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2012 • 2016 • 2017 • 2018 • 2021
  • Basketball (8):
    • Mid-Florida Conference (7): 1997 • 1998 • 2003 • 2005 • 2007 • 2008 • 2012
    • Central Conference (1): 2022
Women's teams
  • Basketball (11): 1981 • 1982 • 1983 • 1984 • 1985 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2017 • 2019 • 2020
  • Softball (9): 2005 • 2006 • 2007 • 2008 • 2009 • 2010 • 2011 • 2013 • 2014
  • Volleyball (4):
    • Mid-Florida Conference (2): 2014 • 2020
    • Panhandle Conference (2): 2018 • 2019

References

  1. ^ "2023 NJCAA Region 8 Baseball Standings". Florida College System Activities Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  2. ^ "Join Caesar's Team". Santa Fe College. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  3. ^ "Santa Fe College Launches Fundraising Initiative for Championship Level Baseball/ Softball Facilities" (Press release). Santa Fe College. November 23, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Brockway, Kevin (May 10, 2016). "No. 1 Santa Fe Saints baseball team pursues state title". The Gainesville Sun. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Baseball coach Johnny Wiggs wins his 500th game as Santa Fe College defeats Daytona State". The Gainesville Sun. March 22, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  6. ^ "SFC baseball to play for national title". The Gainesville Sun. May 29, 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  7. ^ Tumetel, Cliff (February 14, 2023). "Santa Fe Saints baseball off to best start in program history". CBS4. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  8. ^ "Men's Basketball Takes Home 2021-2022 Central Conference Crown". Santa Fe College. February 23, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  9. ^ Wells, Kevin (January 25, 2023). "Santa Fe's Chanda Stebbins picks up win No. 300 as Saints beat FSCJ, 59-54". WCJB. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  10. ^ "FCSAA Softball Champions". Florida College System Activities Association. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  11. ^ a b Coffey, Lisa (May 18, 2008). "Lady Lions Capture First NJCAA National Crown". The Ledger. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  12. ^ "Santa Fe College roundup: Volleyball's run concludes in 5 to No. 8 Polk State". The Gainesville Sun. March 28, 2021. Archived from the original on April 16, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  13. ^ a b "Championship History". Santa Fe College. November 23, 2022. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
  14. ^ "2009 NJCAA DIVISION I BASEBALL CHAMPIONSHIP MAY 232009". National Junior College Athletic Association. 2009. Retrieved May 16, 2023.
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