By SDCN Editor
San Diego, CA–For the third year, San Diego State University (SDSU) has emerged as the dominant force in the Mountain West Conference, securing six Mountain West (MW) championships in the 2023-24 academic year.
This impressive feat includes titles across multiple sports, cementing the Aztecs’ reputation as a powerhouse in collegiate athletics.
The 2023-24 campaign saw SDSU capture championships in women’s soccer (regular season), swimming and diving, softball (regular season and tournament), women’s tennis tournament, and men’s golf. These victories contribute to the university’s league-leading total of 96 MW titles, the most in the history of the conference for the sports in which SDSU competes.
This year’s six MW championships match the highest number of titles won in the conference since SDSU’s seven championships in the 2014-15 season. The Aztecs also led the conference with six championships in the 2022-23 season and five in 2021-22.
Nationally, SDSU boasts the best-combined football and men’s basketball records since the start of the 2010 football season, with an impressive 482-180 combined record, translating to a 72.8% winning percentage. This places them ahead of other notable programs such as Ohio State (.725) and Oregon (.712).
The women’s soccer team kicked off SDSU’s successful season by capturing their seventh MW regular-season title, finishing with a 9-1-1 conference record and a 14-3-3 overall record. This marks the team’s 12th overall MW championship, which includes seven regular-season titles and five tournament wins.
Continuing the momentum, the swimming and diving team claimed their third consecutive league title and fifth in the last six years at the 2024 MW Championships in Houston. They finished with 1,487.50 team points, securing 11 event titles, including seven individual crowns and four of five relay wins.
In April, the women’s tennis team clinched the MW Championship by defeating UNLV 4-2. Despite losing the doubles point, the Aztecs won four out of five singles matches to secure their second tournament championship in three years.
The men’s golf team triumphed in their third consecutive MW Championship, tying with New Mexico at 11-under-par 853 in regulation and then winning in a playoff. This victory marks their sixth MW tournament championship.
The softball team capped off SDSU’s championship campaign by winning both the regular-season title and the conference tournament for the second consecutive year. They now hold a league-record nine regular-season titles and two tournament championships.
The Aztecs’ success extended to individual accolades, with four athletes named MW Athletes of the Year: Mac Barbara (softball co-player of the year), Denise Castro (women’s soccer offensive player of the year), Yasmine Kabbaj (women’s tennis player of the year), and Alex Roberts (swimmer of the year). Additionally, coaches Stacey Nuveman Deniz (softball), Roland McDonald (diving), and Mike Shrader (swimming) received conference coach-of-the-year honors.
San Diego State’s continued dominance in the Mountain West Conference highlights the strength and depth of its athletic programs, setting a high bar for future seasons.