Sports and Notable Student Athletes at Chapman University

Figure 1 Chapman has a history of baseball success

Although Chapman is a member of the Division III level of NCAA athletics, meaning that it does not offer scholarships to students, there is still a long and successful history of athletics and sports achievement at the school. Students have always been encouraged to get the most rounded experience from their time at Chapman and many have made careers in sports after leaving.

Chapman’s teams are the Panthers and have won seven NCAA titles in the school’s history. Previously a Division II member, Chapman has won baseball, softball, and tennis championships in the past. Not being a top-level Division I institution, you may not see Chapman featured heavily on the sites offering sports betting online these days, but there is definitely still a history to be proud of.

Obviously, Chapman has a varied alumnus in a diverse field of subjects. But we thought we take a moment to celebrate those who once passed through the place and went on to become successful in sports.

Emmett Ashford

Our first alumnus is an excellent example of how Chapman University has had a huge impact on the world of sports, if not winning national championships. Emmett Ashford graduated from Chapman in 1941 and went to work as a post office clerk and attempted to play semipro baseball. But it was on the other side of the ball that he found his fame.

It was when he was asked to fill in as an umpire that he really found his vocation. His outgoing personality brought a new style to the world of baseball umpiring and he ultimately gave up his job to umpire full-time. He was such a success that in 1966 he became the first-ever African-American umpire in Major League Baseball. His extravagant style earned plenty of fans and he became one of the most well known in the league and worked all five games of the 1970 World Series.

Randy Jones

One of the best-loved players in San Diego Padres history, this California native attended Chapman before being selected by the Major League Baseball team in the 1972 draft. He made his professional debut a year later but took a while to get going in the majors.

After struggling in 1974, “the Junkman”, as became to be known, turned things around and won The Sporting News Comeback of the Year. He then recorded his best-ever season in 1976, claiming the Cy Young Award. He finished his career with two All-Star appearances and had his number 35 jersey retired by the Padres in 1997.

Brent Poppen

Our next notable sporting alumnus is another example of Chapman’s diverse range of success stories. Injured while wrestling as a teenager, Poppen became a quadriplegic. With only minimal movement in his arms and hands, Poppen graduated with a bachelor’s degree in social science from Chapman University.

Although Poppen has enjoyed a successful career as a teacher, he is possibly best known as an athlete. He has written a number of books about his journey from paralysis to Paralympics, representing the US at the 2004 and 2008 games in wheelchair rugby.  You may recognize him from the Murderball documentary about the team.

Paul Wekesa

Kenyan tennis player Paul Wekesa turned professional while still at Chapman University and won the NCAA Division II Men’s Tennis doubles tournament in 1987 before earning his degree. He went on to win three ATP Tour titles in doubles competitions in a glittering pro career.

Wekesa holds the honor of being the only Kenyan tennis player ever to make the top 100 of the ATP rankings and was a member of the national Davis Cup team. He has carried on coaching the sport after retirement and in 2007 he won the Hall of Fame category at the Kenyan Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

Figure 2 Wekesa is one of the best Kenyan tennis players of all time

Kate Ziegler

Initially attending George Mason University, Kate Zeigler transferred to Chapman in 2011. But by then she was already a name in the competitive swimming world. She had already excelled as a high school athlete and had begun to specialize in longer distance and freestyle events.

Zeigler has won a total of 15 medals in her career, at World Aquatics, Pan Pacifics, and two summer Olympic Games. Eight of those medals were gold. After making the 2008 Olympics, it was the games in London in 2012 where she made the final of the 400m freestyle, as well as competing in the 800m.

Tim Flannery

Born in Oklahoma, Flannery moved to California as a child and showed a talent for baseball while at high school. After attending Chapman, Flannery was taken by the San Diego Padres in the 1978 MLB Draft. After playing in the minors for a year, he was called up to the big league in 1979.

Although Flannery would never be considered one of the star players at the Padres, he was a big fan favorite and his appearances at bat were welcomed by the stadium organist playing Wagner’s rousing Ride of the Valkyries. He was part of the San Francisco Giants team that won three World Series titles in the early 2010s and went on to enjoy a coaching and broadcasting career.

Sports at Chapman University

Former student athletes at Chapman have proved that a professional sports career can be found even without attending a Division I school. The team spirit and Panthers pride developed while at Chapman can obviously go a long way.