CHICO — The year of 2023 has brought an abundance of excitement in sports across Butte, Glenn and Tehama counties.
Exciting headlines have surfaced from every aspect of athletics, whether it be high school athletics, collegiate athletics or community sports and activities.
The racing community lost a legend, some programs had breakout seasons, others remained dominant, and members of the community have come together around a sport that across the United States is on the rise.
The following headlines are presented in no particular order:
Remembering racing legend Lowell Moural Sr.
The biggest headline in the racing community of Butte County was the passing of Lowell Moural Sr. Moural, a Chico High alumnus who once owned an auto body shop in Chico, was the owner of Cycleland Speedway in Oroville and the head of track maintenance at Silver Dollar Speedway since 2015. Moural passed away Aug. 9 at the age of 72. According to a Facebook post from Cycleland Speedway on Aug. 15, “He left this world doing what he loved, riding his mountain bike.”
At Cycleland Speedway, Moural gave participants a safe environment, and gave thousands of racers a place to start. Drivers like NASCAR’s Kyle Larson and World Of Outlaws champion Brad Sweet got their start at Cycleland Speedway under Moural, as well as close to 90% of the drivers who have gone on to race sprint cars at Silver Dollar Speedway. On the first night of the 69th Gold Cup Race of Champions at Silver Dollar Speedway on Sept. 6, Moural’s daughter sang the national anthem before thanking the fans for packing the grandstands full.
Butte College women’s basketball remains dominant
The Butte College women’s basketball team turned itself into one of the most successful programs at the school, and the state, in 2023. The Roadrunners reached the California Community College Athletic Association Elite 8 for a second straight season in March before losing in the state championship to Orange Coast College, and on Dec. 11, they were named No. 1 in the state rankings for the first time in program history.
Five players signed to play at the Division I, D-II and NAIA levels following the 2022-23 season, and beginning in November, a group of six sophomores and seven freshmen picked right up where last season’s team left off with the best start in program history.
Chico High girls tennis wins 6th straight NSCIF title
The Chico High girls tennis team has not lost an Eastern Athletic League match in the last three seasons, and this fall, the Panthers finished 22-4 (the losses coming to undefeated Monte Vista and San Luis Obispo, to 18-3 Miramonte and in state playoffs). The Panthers won their fifth straight EAL title and sixth straight Northern Section Division I title. They earned their third consecutive berth to the state playoffs.
The Panthers had just five seniors on their 15-girl roster, and their top four singles players consisted of one sophomore and three juniors. Chico finished 20-3 in the regular season, and with a large group of top players returning, the Panthers look poised to make a strong run once again in fall 2024.
Pleasant Valley football state finals run
The Pleasant Valley football team defeated Chico High to win the Northern Section title, avenging a loss in the Almond Bowl, and the Vikings made a state playoff run and reached their third CIF state championship in program history. PV traveled to Torrance to face Ramona, the winners of the SoCal Regional title, in the Division 5-AA title. The Vikings fell behind early and lost 35-7, falling short of their third state championship in program history.
With a team with an abundance of juniors at key positions, the state championship experience experience will prove valuable to a Vikings squad looking to return to the season’s final game.
Pickleball on the rise in Butte County
The growth of pickleball in Chico, whether it be at Community Park or at the Chico Racquet Club, has become clear and obvious. On April 30, four additional courts were opened, with 16 courts available for players today. As well as the courts with lights at Community Park, Chico Racquet Club has eight lit-up courts — and in May, four pickleball courts were added to Indigo Park in the Meriam Park development.
Tournaments such as the fifth annual Chico Classic Pickleball Tournament and others at the racquet club have come to Butte County. While many say pickleball in Butte County got its roots in Durham, the community of Chico has embraced the sport that is seemingly on the rise across the globe.
Stay tuned for part 2 of the top headlines in Sunday’s edition, including a few honorable mentions.