Celebrating 60 Years of Anteater Athletics: 1965
October 31, 2025 | General
In 1965, the UC Irvine campus welcomed its first students and led by Athletic Director Wayne Crawford, seven men’s teams – basketball, crew, golf, sailing, swimming, tennis and water polo began the legacy of Anteater Athletics. After the first event on October 8, 1965, it didn’t take long for the Anteaters to become a powerhouse. In the first three years of existence, the sports of basketball, water polo, tennis and swimming were 177-66 overall for a winning percentage of .728. That springboard has led to decades of championship moments and student-athletes to follow.
As the campus celebrates its 60th Anniversary, ucirvinesports.com will take a walk down memory lane throughout the year, highlighting the most memorable events in Anteater history. To start the series, let’s take it back to the beginning and remember the founding fathers from 1965-66.
October 8, 1965 --- Under the direction of head coach Al Irwin, UCI played their first intercollegiate athletic event, as men’s water polo defeated Cal Poly Pomona, 22-6, at home. Randy Howatt scored the first point in UCI athletics history.
Nov. 30, 1965 – The Anteater was elected as the official mascot. The idea came from water polo players Pat Glasgow and Bob Ernst, who were inspired by the anteater in the Johnny Hart comic strip “B.C.” Along with fellow student Schuyler Hadley Bassett, a campaign was launched for the unusual mascot which beat out Seahawks, Bison and “none of these.”
December 1, 1965 --- The men’s varsity basketball team played it’s first game, an 85-71 victory over UC Riverside at Campus Hall.
December 1965 --- Men’s water polo players Bob Nealy and Pat Glasgow become the first All-Americans in UCI history.
April 1966 – Men’s tennis held its first match on campus on April 15, 1966 against Chapman. The Anteaters were coached by Ray Thornton and his assistant Myron McNamara. Tennis would go on to win 12 of 15 dual matches that first season.
The sailing team, who were coached by Dick Sweet, finished fourth at the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate Sailing Championships. While they didn’t walk away with a trophy, UCI finished ahead of Stanford, USC, and UC Santa Barbara with Allan the skipper in Class A with crew Marcia Lemon.
UCI’s freshman 8-oared crew won two out of three dual races, including a victory over the UCLA frosh and captured the San Diego Regatta under the direction of Duvall Hecht.
YEAR ONE
Sport Head Coach Captain Record
Men’s Basketball Dick Davis Frosh – Nick Sanden 19-5
Danny Rogers Varsity - Tom Bryan 15-11
Men’s Crew Duvall Hecht Larry Amling 4-1
Men’s Golf Danny Rogers Bill Odett 1-17
Sailing Dick Sweet Bill Lilly
Men’s Swimming & Diving Al Irwin Bob Sharp 17-1
Men’s Tennis Ray Thornton Harvey Klyce 12-3
Men’s Water Polo Al Irwin Pat Glasgow 14-4
