BHS Cross Country: Chavez to join Solis at Chico State

By Matthew Peters, Sports Editor BARSTOW • Isaac Chavez and Anthony Solis might not be done winning cross country championships together. Chavez, a Barstow High School senior, is set to join his former teammate at California State University, Chico on a cross country and track scholarship. Chavez, who plans to major in criminal justice, signed with the school Saturday and is expected to redshirt his freshman year. Solis and Chavez won three CIF Division III titles, two together, as runners on the Barstow High School cross country team. After three straight state titles and a second place individual finish at state in November, Chavez admitted he’s not quite sure what losing feels like. He might not have to find out at Chico State. “If we get (the team) going and myself going, we can be a really strong team and NCAA champs in a few years,” Chavez said. The Wildcats finished third at the NCAA Division II Championships this year and have been among the top 10 teams for a decade. “Hopefully in a couple years, we can be the top two guys and lead the team to a national championship,” said Solis, who is a freshman at Chico State and redshirted last season. “I’m glad he’s coming up here. It should be fun having him as my teammate for like another four years.” Chico State coach Gary Towne said his ultimate goal is to get the NCAA title and believes Chavez and Solis are important pieces toward earning it. Chavez was the top runner on Towne’s recruiting list. Towne said Chavez shares some similarities with Scott Bauhs, who won the Div. II individual cross country title for Chico State in November. Both had impressive high school careers, but what stood out to Towne was their potential. “He has some of the same qualities,” Towne said. “He’s run at a high level, but he looks undeveloped. I think he’s got a lot of physical maturation to do.” Chavez said he first learned about Chico State when Solis was being recruited. When it came time to look into schools, he learned Chico State was one of the top Div. II cross country teams through a quick Internet search and decided to look closer at the program. He stayed with Solis when he visited and said he liked the atmosphere, rain and small town around the campus. “It’s kind of like Barstow,” Chavez said. “It’s easy to get around.” Before Chavez heads to Chico, he’ll close out his senior year as a member of the BHS track team. Chavez wants to return to the state meet where he finished 12th in the 3,200-meter race and break the BHS record for the 4X100-meter relay with teammates Andrew Romano, Ian Barba and Josh Gomez. Chavez was a member of the team that set the record last year.Contact the writer:(760) 256-4124 or mpeters@desertdispatch.com