Athletics
The school's sports teams are called the Cougars and the team colors are green and white. CSU participates in the Great West Conference of the National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division I. From 1994 until June 2006, CSU was a member of the Mid-Continent Conference, but withdrew and took independent status before joining the Great West Conference, in which it which began play in 2009-2010. Prior to gaining NCAA Division I status, the university enjoyed memberships in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA Division 2.
Melvin Bland was the first CSU student athlete to gain NAIA All-American status in 1974 as a wrestler. Tyrone Everhart also was a NAIA Honorable Mention All-American wrestler the same year. Fred Evans as a sophomore became the first black swimmer ever to win a National Championship in 1975. The Chicago State University Ice Hockey Team produced 2 NCAA Division 2 All-Americans in the 1975-76 season. George Hansen and Bob Janecyk were selected in 1975-76 to the NCAA (College Division) West All-American Team. Janecyk was selected two more times designated as an NCAA (College Division) West All-American Team goaltender for CSU in 1976-77 and 1977-78. He went on to play for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League. The first NAIA District #20 Championship Team in any sport was the 1975 wrestling team, which captured the NAIA District #20 Championship coached by Dr. James G. Pappas. The Cougar Wrestling Team also won District #20 titles in 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979 and 1980.
In 1984, the CSU Men's Basketball Team captured third place at the NAIA National Championships. The team's performance throughout the tournament was as follows:
Chicago State (Ill.) 79, Franklin Pierce (N.H.) 62
Chicago State 105, Kearney State (Neb.) 104 2OT
Chicago State 68, Chaminade (Hawaii) 66 (Quarterfinals)
Fort Hays State (Kan.) 86, Chicago State 84 OT (Semifinals)
Chicago State 86, Westmont (Calif.) 82 OT (3rd)
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