College Sports Established
1913
Location
Manhattan, Kansas
College Name
Kansas State University
Collegiate History
1973 - Present / NCAA Division 1
1913 - 1973 / University Division of the NCAA
Conference History
1996 – Present / Big 12 Conference
1957 – 1996 / Big Eight Conference
1927 – 1957 / Missouri Valley Conference
1913 – 1927 / Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association
Nickname
Wildcats - The Kansas State Wildcats have been a staple of college athletics since their inception in 1896. As one of the oldest teams in NCAA Division I, they’ve earned plenty of respect and admiration. But many people don’t know that there is an interesting story behind their beloved nickname: The Wildcats.
The name was first suggested by former student-body president George Warkentin during a rally for K-State's football team in 1912 when he said, “We will show them we have a wildcat on our hands!” His words were met with thunderous applause from fans who immediately embraced the new moniker, which has stuck ever since.
Though some may think this nickname was inspired by actual wildcats found around Manhattan, Kansas, where K-State resides, it originates from early 20th-century slang used to describe someone as harsh or scrappy – much like how today we might say, “he fights like a tiger!” This term eventually became associated with athletes at smaller schools who had to fight hard against bigger opponents to stay competitive - which has become synonymous with K-State over its long history.
Today, The Wildcats are still fighting hard every season and proudly represent their school and state across America through sportsmanship & determination - continuing the legacy established so many years ago when George Warkentin shouted those fateful words, "We will show them we have a Wildcat on our hands!"
NCAA Championships
Baseball 0
Men's Basketball 0
Women's Basketball 0
Football 0
Soccer 0
- 1988
- 1998
- 2007
- 2013
- 2019
- 2023
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K-State Mitch Richmond 1988
One of the most recognizable players in Kansas State history, Mitch Richmond was a two-year letterman for head coach Lon Kruger from 1986–88. He helped guide the Wildcats to a 45–20 (.692) record, including a pair of NCAA Tournament appearances and a trip to the 1988 NCAA Midwest Regional Final. His 1,327 points are the most by a player in ... -
Wildcats Martin Gramatica 1998
Gramática played at Kansas State from 1994 to 1998. During his four college seasons, he made 54 out of 70 field goals and 187 of 192 point-after-touchdown attempts, gaining a school record of 349 points in four seasons. He set the single-season school record with 135 points and the longest field goal kicked from 65 yards. Those achievements earned him ... -
Women’s Basketball Big 12 Victory
In 2007: The women’s basketball team repeats as Big 12 champions and makes its 11th appearance in the NCAA tournament, losing to Michigan State in the regional semifinals2. Kendra Wecker is named the Big 12 Player of the Year and a consensus All-American. -
men’s basketball team wins Big 12 championship
In 2013: The men’s basketball team wins its second Big 12 championship and makes its seventh appearance in the NCAA tournament. -
Big 12 Title for K-State
In 2019: Seniors Shine in Final Home Game to Clinch Big 12 Title for K-State Seniors combine for 45 of the WIldcats’ 68 points in finale. The seniors combined to score 45 of the 68 points to go with 14 of the 15 assists in their final game at Bramlage Coliseum, as Stokes scored a game-high 19 points on 7-of-15 ... -
K-State football wins Big 12 Conference Championship
In 2023: The Kansas State Wildcats are the new Big 12 Conference champions after defeating the TCU Horned Frogs 31-28 at AT&T Stadium. The two teams fought all four quarters, with TCU making a two-point conversion to tie K-State with less than two minutes in the fourth quarter. The Horned Frogs won the coin toss but failed to score after ...
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History of the Wildcats
Kansas State's football program began in 1896 when they joined forces with Washburn University to form what is now known as The Little Apple Athletic Club (LAAC). Through LAAC, they played against local schools such as Emporia High School before joining conference play with Missouri Valley Intercollegiate Athletic Association (MVIAA) which later became part of what is now known as the Big 12 Conference. Since then, Kansas State has earned several bowl game appearances, including wins at Fiesta Bowls I & II during their time under legendary coach Bill Snyder from 1989 - 2005, where he led them to 11 consecutive winning seasons between 1993 – 2003 that included four Big 12 Championships along with five straight bowl game wins from 1997 - 2001.
In addition to success on the gridiron, the Wildcats men’s basketball team is no strangers either, having made it all way up into National Championship games twice since 1988, first under head coach Lon Kruger who took them there during his tenure from 1986 – 1990 followed by Frank Martin’s run leading up until 2012 when he was replaced by Bruce Weber. Currently coached by former NBA player Chris Lowery, KSU currently stands atop its division within both Men’s Basketball & Football programs alike, making it one if not THE premier destination for any aspiring collegiate athlete looking to make a name for themselves while playing some top-notch competition!
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