History
California State University Maritime Academy's Department of Athletics and Physical Education boasts an extensive history of competitive sports. Many of the athletic programs that are in existence today primarily grew from activities related to club sports, its training cruise, or recreational programs.
1930s & 1940s
Baseball, crew, basketball, and boxing were the sporting events that students participated in when the university was located on Tiburon campus, Mare Island and on cruise during this era. As you might imagine, crew was the school's main attraction, even when whaleboats (monomoys) were used instead of racing shells.
When the school moved to Vallejo in 1943 after a one year stint at the San Francisco Ferry Building (photo left), its athletic program also relocated to its new home. When Mayo Hall was completed in 1946, it was the first permanent structure built at Cal Maritime.
Before the gym was completed, Cal Maritime's basketball and tennis team shared the same courts for practice.
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| Campus Swimming Pool (1958) | Mayo Hall (1958) |
The 1950s & 60s
Cal Maritime's basketball team, known then as the Seawolves, competed as an extramural sport; water polo was introduced as an intercollegiate sport in August of 1951, and by the mid-50s, was the only team that competed against other Bay Area colleges (Cal, UC Davis, and San Francisco State).
During this time period, the university's basketball and baseball teams typically played against other military squads, as opposed to college teams. Mare Island was a frequent athletic opponent; most baseball games took place on Mare Island with basketball contests taking place at the local Army-Navy YMCA in Vallejo.
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| Men's Basketball Team Photo (1958) | On-Campus Tennis Courts (1958) |
Classmates Honor Herb Bodnar's Legacy
Bodnar Field, the on-campus home of Cal Maritime’s Commencement, rugby 15s. men’s soccer and women’s soccer intercollegiate teams is named in honor Westminster, California native Herb Bodnar, a midshipmen with the Class of '64 who served as Division Commander.
Throughout his Cal Maritime tenure, the football standout played quarterback for the school’s flag football intramural team, and led the Keelhaulers to a championship in 1962 during the fall semester.
Respected for his influence throughout campus by all 275 midshipmen, in addition to his sports prowess, the campus community mourned Bodnar’s passing in a tragic accident that took place during Christmas break.
Said Captain Manny Aschemeyer, Class of 1963 (D), "The entire Corps of Midshipmen were in shock, especially Division One when we discovered what took place during break. This was truly a sad way to begin the annual training cruse aboard the Training Ship Golden Bear in January of ’63 since [Bodnar’s passing] took place before everyone moved onboard the training ship."
After everyone returned to Vallejo, the Class of ’64, combined with individuals from the Class of ’63 and ’65, felt it was appropriate to honor their classmate by naming the campus’ sports field, located behind faculty row, in Bodnar’s honor. Led by Academy Superintendent Henry Richter, campus administration supported this request by visiting Sacramento and presenting this to the Department of Public Education.
Shortly thereafter, Bodnar Field became the official name of this outdoor facility to recognize Bodnar’s impact during his time on campus from August of 1961 through December of 1962.
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| Bodnar Field (present day) |
1970s and 80s
With no clear distinction between intramural and intercollegiate athletics until the early 1970's, athletic director/physical education instructor/athletic Harry Diavatis started to schedule/coach basketball and organize other sports under intercollegiate guidelines. Cal Maritime's current athletic mascot, the Keelhauler, was chosen by students in 1974.
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| Men's Basketball Team Photo (1972) |
Cal Maritime Athletics Through June 30, 2025
In addition to its 16 intercollegiate programs, Cal Maritime offers an intramural program and recreation classes to help faculty, staff and cadets maintain their physical, mental and emotional health. Bodnar Field, the home of Cal Maritime's rugby and soccer teams, also provides a synthetic turf field and two-lane all-weather track for community use.
Located at the primary campus entrance and highly visible from the I-80 corridor, PEAC serves as the university’s public face, provides recreational and instruction space for Cal Maritime's cadets and serves as the home for its Athletics Department. The Olympic-sized pool is designed to host competitive swimming and water polo events; its specially-designed tower and wave-generating features are used for water-survival and rescue training/certification.
Building materials were selected to celebrate the university’s maritime focus — it is the only degree-granting maritime academy on the West Coast. The profile of the gym evokes maritime references, while a brick base provides continuity with the historic building material of the campus.
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| Men's Sports | Women's Sports | Co-Ed Sports |
| Crew | Crew | Dinghy and Offshore Sailing |
| Cross Country | Cross Country | |
| Golf | Golf | |
| Rugby | Rugby | |
| Water Polo | Water Polo |