Tam and Nicandro accomplish historic first for Cal Maritime
VALLEJO, Calif. – Women's soccer student-athlete Erika Tam and men's basketball student-athlete Angelo Nicandro accomplished a historic first for Cal Maritime when the pair recently traveled to Orange County since that trip marked the first time the Keelhaulers competed in the Cal Pac Track Championships in their recorded history.
Soka hosted the conference's annual postseason event this season at Soka University Track Complex in Aliso Viejo, California.
Tam opened the two-day-long competition by competing in its inaugural event, the 100m dash. Even though her preliminary time of 15.42 did not secure a spot in the finals, it was the third-fastest time posted by a student-athlete outside of the eight who did advance to the championship race.
Nicandro finished fifth in his 200m preliminary race with a time of 25.12, a time that was just over a second outside of securing the eighth, and final spot in that event's final.
The pair represented Cal Maritime in a sport not sponsored by its Athletics Department; competing in this year-end event is the latest example on a list of ways CSUM Director of Athletics Karen Lee Yoder is finding ways to enhance students' undergraduate tenure by providing opportunities for Keelhaulers to strengthen their overall experience through athletics.
Since both are seniors, Tam and Nicandro will participate in CSUM's upcoming Commencement Ceremony and earn respective degrees in oceanography and business administration.