Top 20 Stories of 2020: January-June

12/28/2020 10:01:00 AM

With 2020 coming to a close, UCSDTritons.com takes a look back at the top 20 stories on our site in 2020. The stories were selected based on number of page views as well editorial input from the Athletic Communications staff.

Today, we look back at the top ten from January through June. The second half of 2020 will be featured on Tuesday.

Jan. 8 | Sullivan's Enormous Dunk Garners National Attention

When UC San Diego junior forward Marek Sullivan drove the baseline and threw down a tremendous left-handed dunk against conference rival Cal State East Bay on Saturday night, it didn't take long before the play began showing up on social media.

Jan. 17 | Tritons Sweep No. 3 UCLA!

Backed by a season high .360 hitting percentage, the University of California San Diego men's volleyball team defeated UCLA, the third-ranked team in the nation, in straight sets Friday evening. It was the first win for the Tritons over the Bruins since 2012.

March 12 | Statement From UC San Diego Athletics

Effective immediately, UC San Diego has suspended all athletic activities indefinitely in response to COVID-19. Earlier Thursday, both the Big West Conference and California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA) made similar proclamations.

April 10 | Thank You Seniors: A Look Back on the Class of 2020’s Accomplishments

The UC San Diego Class of 2020 has embodied academic and athletic excellence over the past four years. Despite the abrupt ending to the spring season due to COVID-19, the seniors are celebrated for their numerous accomplishments over the past four years.

June 3 | Baseball and Video Games: How Triton Alumni Have Impacted MLB the Show

The NCAA canceled all championships on March 12. Major League Baseball is still on hold. For the average baseball fan, it’s been a difficult couple months to be without baseball on top of everything that is going on.

June 4 | Tritons Announce Annual Department Awards

Despite being spread across the globe due to the COVID-19 pandemic, University of California San Diego scholar-athletes were celebrated and recognized by the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics with the department's annual awards, revealed Thursday on @ucsdtritons social media platforms.

June 7 | "It's Time For A Change"

Several UC San Diego scholar-athletes produced a video for social media demanding change and supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. The video was directed by Marissa Ray of the women's soccer team, and resulted from a town hall discussion with UC San Diego scholar-athletes last week.

June 11 | Shay Whitcomb Selected By the Houston Astros in the MLB Draft

Shay Whitcomb of the University of California, San Diego baseball team was selected in the fifth round and 160th overall by the Houston Astros in the Major League Baseball draft on June 11.

June 17 | Endless Gratitude: How Jonathan Rodriguez's Life Changed in One Night

January 10, 2010 is a day that hits home for Jonathan Rodriguez, a distance runner on the University of California San Diego cross country and track and field teams.
Born and raised in Tijuana, Mexico, Rodriguez and his immediate family, at the time consisting of his mother Laura and older sister Carolina, arrived at the U.S. border 10 days following the New Year to request asylum.

June 23 | Choose Your Weapon: Épée, Piano, or Guitar

Growing up just a few miles outside Los Angeles, there's a good chance one will become attracted to the arts. Whether it's music, film, television, architecture, dance, painting, or literature, the City of Angels offers up unlimited exposure to outlets of creativity.

About UC San Diego Athletics
After two decades as one of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II, the UC San Diego intercollegiate athletics program has begun a new era as a member of the Big West Conference in NCAA Division I. The 23-sport Tritons earned 30 team and nearly 150 individual national championships during its time in Divisions II and III and helped guide 1,400 scholar-athletes to All-America honors. A total of 83 Tritons have earned Academic All-America honors, while 37 have garnered prestigious NCAA Post Graduate Scholarships. UC San Diego scholar-athletes exemplify the academic ideals of one of the world's preeminent institutions, graduating at an average rate of 91 percent, one of the highest rates among institutions at all divisions. For more information on the Tritons, visit UCSDtritons.com or follow UC San Diego Athletics on social media @UCSDtritons.

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