Wyatt Baxter's grade point average coming out of high school was… let's just call it average. But since coming to Chico State, Baxter has been an elite student and select distance runner on the Wildcats' track and field and cross country teams. Wednesday, Baxter bagged one of the most prized honors a California Collegiate Athletic Association can receive: the CCAA Male Scholar Athlete of the Year Award.
 
The award is voted on and selected by the Faculty Athletic Representatives (FARs) from the Conference's 12 member-institutions, focusing on a student-athlete's work in the classroom, in the community, and in their respective sport.
 
"He's done a great job of creating the success he's had on all fronts," Chico State Head Cross Country Coach Gary Towne said.
 
Baxter's success in the classroom is rare. He is the second-straight male Scholar-Athlete of the Year from Chico State, but he is the first Wildcats distance runner to earn the distinction and just the fourth Wildcat ever. He follows baseball's Tyler Stofiel in 2019–20 and joins Adam Raish (men's soccer, 2009–10) and Kasey Barnett (women's track & field, 2013–14) on the distinguished list. 
 
It is rarer still for someone who was admittedly not a very good high school student.
 
"Wyatt is not your typical near 4.0 college student who's also a standout athlete," Towne wrote in his letter of recommendation for Baxter. "I remember quite well recruiting a young man whose high school grades just barely earned him a spot on our campus. Wyatt assured me before his arrival to Chico that if he had the opportunity to be a part of our school and program that he would maximize that opportunity to the best of his abilities. After five years of near 4.0 work in the classroom and several All-American athletic awards, Wyatt truly has upheld those words with action."
 
Baxter started out fairly strong, earning an A and a trio of B+'s during his first semester on campus. It's been all A's ever since. Baxter's dedication to his studies has been rewarded by various conference, regional and national awards. Twice he has earned the distinction: CoSIDA Academic All-America. 
 
"The way he's turned things around academically, you just don't see that," Towne said. "At least I've never seen anything like it. It's a testament to him committing to being a good student the whole time through."
 
It's something Baxter takes a good deal of pride in.
 
"The academic portion is something I really work at," he said. "Once I got here and started running for the team, being able to stay in good academic standing to be able to compete was my number one goal. I think I've maintained a 3.8 to 4.0 since my second semester here. Knowing I could do that while also performing at the level I could, in my head I found some sort of correlation: if I could get it done in the classroom and be more stress free, it was one less thing I had to worry about when I toed the line."
 
The Simi Valley High School product plans to graduate at the end of this fall semester with degrees in public administration and criminal justice. Baxter continues his final semester at Chico State as a recipient of the prestigious NCAA's Degree Completion Award.

It's been all A's for Baxter athletically as well. He was one of only 13 student-athletes in the nation to earn back-to-back All-America honors at the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships in 2018 and 2019 while leading the Wildcats to finishes of seventh and third in the nation. He also earned All-West Region and All-CCAA distinction while helping the Wildcats race to three consecutive conference titles and two straight NCAA West Regional championships.
 
On the track, Baxter and the Wildcats won the CCAA titles in 2018 and 2019, bringing his conference hardware haul to five team titles. In his first year of competition on the track, he also nabbed individual distinction as the 10,000 meter CCAA champion.

"From his earliest days on our team Wyatt has proven himself as one of the most coachable athletes that I've ever worked with," noted Towne. "Wyatt asks a lot of questions, and is completely bought into the work and consistency needed to be a great athlete at this level."

Baxter has also endeared himself to the Wildcat Family through his leadership and generosity.
 
On his team, Towne can trust that incoming Wildcats will get a dose of wisdom from Baxter at every opportunity.

"Another angle of Wyatt Baxter that has completely impressed me is his ability to lead," wrote Towne. "Through his years on the team, Wyatt has earned the respect of everyone on our team through his actions, his works, and of course, his results. As young athletes come into our program each year, Wyatt always speaks up at our preseason camp relaying important and invaluable advice for the younger athletes as they begin their collegiate journey."
 
They'll have one more chance to soak in Baxter's wisdom this fall as he competes in cross country to wrap up his collegiate career.
 
"I feel like I owe it to the program to try to stick around—not because I feel any pressure from anyone—but because of how I view myself and my character," Baxter explained in January. "This opportunity has given me a lot. If I can give back a little by being one of the old heads on the squad and bridge the gap for the newer kids and help them transition and help guide them so they don't feel overwhelmed by having to be the driving force for the squad, that's what gets me out the door every day."

Baxter has also led by example through his involvement and support of campus initiatives like the Wildcat Food Pantry and SAAC's Walk to End Alzheimer's, as well as assistance with community efforts and events with the Moorpark American Legion. 

"His blend of hard work, humility, leadership and dedication is so hard to find in a student-athlete," added Towne. "I've always felt that Wyatt is well ahead of his years in maturity which gives me the confidence that he has great things to look forward to in the coming years."

After matriculating from Chico State, Baxter plans to become a 9-1-1 dispatcher and has aspirations of becoming a police officer and a catalyst of positive change towards law enforcement stigmas, using his experience and influence to impact the community.