Our male selection for March is freshman Pole-vaulter Chase Shealy, who came to Cuesta College to train with the Cougars’ coaching staff and compete with the best in the State. A month into his first season, the freshman from South Carolina has established himself as the premier pole-vaulter in the State and in Cuesta History. Chase broke the Cuesta record set by 1994 State Champion Sean Brown at the Cougars season opening meet in the College of the Canyons. His jump of 17’ 2" broke the mark by two inches. Chase sat out the Cuesta Open Meet the next week, but came back the following week to clear 17’ and take the competition at Santa Barbara City College. He is the one to beat this year in the community college pole-vault competitions and is the odds on favorite to become Cuesta’s first State Champion, in any event, since Brown’s 1994 season.

Our female selection for March is freshman tennis player Jessie Ritchie, who has quickly moved up the ladder for the Cougars and is now the #1 player on one of the State’s top teams. She began the season at #3 singles and gave the Cougars their only win in singles competition in their season opening match against San Francisco State. She remained at #3 for the Mission College Tournament and won her draw, while leading the Cougars to a second place team finish. Jessie moved to #2 singles for the Cougars’ first Western State Conference match against the defending Champion Ventura Pirates and did not surrender a game as she won 6-0, 6-0. She moved up to #1 for the Cougars’ WSC match against Bakersfield and repeated the feat. Jessie is now 7-0 in singles play and 3-1 in doubles play. She has yet to surrender a game in singles play.