For being known as a small college in a small town, California State University, Stanislaus (Stan State) is still a destination that has attracted many successful athletes from around the United States.
Many athletes currently on campus have transferred from other universities in California, but there are plenty who have come from much farther.
For those who ask why Stan State is so appealing to transfer athletes, there are many different contributing factors that come into the decision to transfer.
Daniel Kuczynski (senior, psychology), who currently leads the men’s soccer team and the California Collegiate Athletics Association (CCAA) in goals, points, and shots, was born in Canada and came to play at Stan State for two years before leaving for University of Vermont in 2013. It did not take him too long to come back to Stanislaus though, due to his dislike for Vermont weather and missing the Stanislaus team he was so accustomed to.
“I really didn’t like the weather in Vermont. It snowed for eight of the 12 months and it was horrible,” Kuczynski said in an interview with the Modesto Bee. “But I did miss this team a lot. They know me and I know them. I felt that team chemistry even when I left. I really did miss them.”
Kuczynski’s fellow teammate, Ramiro Ceja (senior), is another transfer student who decided to bring his talents to Stan State in 2014. He first played for Otero Junior College in Colorado, where he was an All-American after leading the team with 23 goals in 2013.
“I have been interested in CSU Stanislaus since the first time I visited the campus and soccer facilities when I was a senior in high school,” Ceja said in an interview for the Warrior Athletics website. “I choose CSU Stanislaus because of the location and history of the soccer program.”
On the women’s athletics side, volleyball player Maddi Seidl (junior, biology) came all the way from North Idaho College this year to play volleyball and study Biology in Turlock. Seidl was a second team All-American and was named female athlete of the year at her previous school.
Dani Rodrigues (senior, buisness-marketing), who currently leads the women’s soccer team in assists with five, transferred from Fresno State this year.  Rodrigues played soccer at Fresno State for three years and led the team with assists during her second season.
The players mentioned represent only a few of the many athletes who were successful at other schools before transferring to Stan State.  Each of these athletes has had immediate impacts on their teams since coming over.
Stanislaus’ Assistant Athletics Director Hung Tsai believes the recent successes of the athletics programs at Stan State have made the school an attractive landing spot for college athletes.
“Now that our programs are becoming more successful overall, I think it will attract more J.C. transfers because this is now one of the big, top choices,” Tsai said. “If they want to come and be part of this atmosphere, small school atmosphere, and be part of Warrior family, this is the choice.”
With a combination of good weather, improved athletics programs, and great educational courses, it is quite easy to see why Stan State has become a popular choice for transfer athletes.