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Summer 2014 Newsletter Extended: Eversley to Shipley

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FROM EVERSLEY TO SHIPLEY: MARCH MADNESS TAKES ON A DECIDEDLY RPTA FLAIR!

Ridge Shipley dribblesBy Alyssa Beatton (RPTA '16), Staff Writer

Spoiled. That's the word the upperclassmen on the Cal Poly Men's Basketball team use to describe Ridge Shipley's first season on the team. From beating Santa Barbara on their own court during their senior night, to wearing new and improved black jerseys, to becoming Big West Champs, to dancing in the "Big Dance" of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament - it sure does seem like Shipley is spoiled, but he and the team deserve nothing less than success.

Although they have a major in common, Chris Eversley (RPTA '14) and Ridge Shipley (RPTA '17) are two very different people. Chris is a senior from Chicago; Ridge is a freshman from Dallas. Shipley plays point guard; Chris is a forward and almost eight inches taller. Yet, this past March, these two men came together to make history in leading the men's basketball team to its first NCAA tournament.

Chris Eversley cuts down the netsThe 2014 regular season did not go how Eversley imagined his last season as a Mustang would go. He felt bad for the rest of the team for how poorly they were performing, especially being a team leader. He had high hopes for the season, with his personal goal to be conference player of the year. Given the regular-season team record, earning player of the year accolades was not in the cards for Eversley. Cal Poly ended the regular season 10-19, losing their last conference game to UC Santa Barbara (UCSB) in Mott Gym on senior night. Prior to the Big West tournament, Coach Callero asked Eversley what was more important: player of the year or most valuable player (MVP) of the Big West tournament? With that in mind, Eversley and the rest of the Cal Poly Men's Basketball team rallied during the Big West tournament, beating UCSB, UC Irvine, and CSU Northridge to win the tournament and earn their first-ever trip to the NCAA Men's Basketball tournament. With his stellar play throughout the Big West tournament, Eversley was indeed awarded the MVP trophy, becoming the first Cal Poly Men's Basketball player to do so.

The team went on to beat Texas Southern in the First Four game in Dayton, Ohio. From there, they moved on to St. Louis, where they played then-undefeated Wichita State. The celebrated season came to an end, as Cal Poly fell 64-37 to the Shockers. Shipley noted that the team was physically and mentally worn out after days of travel and a long season. Although a disappointing loss, the Cal Poly Men's Basketball team came home to a proud Cal Poly community.Eversley lets out a yell

As far as the future goes, Eversley has been passionate about basketball since age four, and he does not see any chance of giving it up anytime soon. He recently took a trip to China on what he describes as a "college hoops tour" to celebrate the game and provide worldwide exposure to American college basketball. After attending graduation ceremonies at Cal Poly, his dreams came true in signing a contract to play professional basketball in Malaysia for the Westsports Kuala Lumpur Dragons (read article).

Ridge shootsWaiting for his second year at Cal Poly to start, Shipley hopes to play basketball for as long as he can. Shipley had a solid freshman campaign that was highlighted by a late three-point spree in the Big West championship game to gain him instant stardom. He feels fortunate to be able to play at the college level and knows that he defeated the odds by even earning an NCAA Division I scholarship at five-foot-11. If a career in basketball does not work out for Shipley, he hopes to use his RPTA degree and sport management concentration to stay involved in the sport industry.

Eversley and Shipley both thank the students and staff of RPTA for supporting the basketball team throughout the season. Even though the regular season did not go the way they wanted, the team's historic run to March Madness brought the RPTA community together. Eversley's RPTA 405 class even showed support for him and the rest of the team by posing for a class picture holding up "33's," representing Eversley's jersey number. Eversley notes that he "spent lots of time with these students throughout the years, so it felt good to have their support." The historic run of the Cal Poly Men's Basketball team brought national attention to the school, with Eversley and Shipley leading the way.

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