Women’s Soccer
Geoff Bennett, head coach of the women’s soccer team, announced on Feb. 11 that five recruits had signed national letters of intent to attend and play for Colorado College next fall.
Joining CC as first-years for the 2010 season will be forward Lauren DiGregorio of Burnsville, Minn.; midfielder/forward Lynn Froetscher of Glencoe, Ill.; forward/midfielder Sierra Keeler of Seattle, Wash.; goalkeeper Kody Kornack of West Hills, Calif.; and midfielder Madison Whitehead of Highland Village, Texas.
“We are very pleased with not only the talent of this class, but also with the personalities and drive of all of these players,” Bennett said. “These players will help build the path to the NCAA tournament that our program strives for.” The Tigers will lose eight seniors to graduation this spring.
Men’s Hockey
After a very impressive first half of the 2009-10 campaign, the CC hockey team struggled after the holidays and opened post-season play on the road for just the second time in 17 years.
The Tigers, who finished sixth in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings, traveled to the University of Minnesota Duluth for a best-of-three first-round WCHA playoff series the weekend of March 12-14. After dropping a 3-2 overtime decision in the opener but tying the series with an inspired 5-3 victory in Game 2, CC saw its season come to an end with a 4-0 shutout loss in the decisive contest.
Team captain Mike Testwuide (at right), who led the Tigers with 21 goals in 2009-10, was one of several seniors to sign professional contracts once CC’s hockey season ended in late March.
Men’s Basketball
Nick Rose '11
Nick Rose ’11 became the first player from Colorado College to earn first-team honors on the all-SCAC men’s basketball team. Rose, who led the conference in scoring by averaging 21.9 points per game, finished the season with 548 points, which ranks ninth on CC’s all-time single-season list. Brady Ohlsen ’11 earned second-team honors. The Tigers finished the season with a 12-13 overall record.
Women’s Basketball
Becky Luetjen ‘12
Becky Luetjen ’12 and first-year guard Collier Clegg ’13 earned all-conference honors from the SCAC. Luetjen, who received one vote for Player of the Year, earned second-team honors, while Clegg was an honorable mention selection. The Tigers finished the season with a 12-13 overall record.
Swimming and Diving
Jordan DeGayner ‘12
Jordan DeGayner ’12 became the first men’s swimmer since Howie Silleck ’01 in 2000 to qualify for the NCAA Division III Swimming and Diving Championships and will race in three freestyle events. DeGayner won the SCAC title in the 200- yard freestyle with a school-record time of 1:40.14, which was 1.27 seconds faster than the minimum “B” cut. He also broke Silleck’s record in the 100 free, which had stood since 2001 when he finished second at the SCACs with a time of 46.06.
Women’s Volleyball
Emily Perkins ‘11 (background)
Colorado College earned its highest ranking ever when the Tigers moved up six spots to No. 7 in the final American Volleyball Coaches Association Division III Top 25 Poll of the 2009 season. The Tigers finished the season with a 35-5 record and advanced to the national semifinals for the first time in the 31-year history of the program. CC won its first-ever regional title by coming from behind to defeat California Lutheran University and La Verne University in five sets. Middle blocker Emily Perkins ’11 was named a first-team All- American by the American Volleyball Coaches Association. Perkins is the seventh Tiger to earn first-team honors and the first since Sara Boyles ’03 in 2001. Opposite hitter Meredith Ballard ’12 and setter Amy Schornack ’12 received honorable mention recognition.
Men’s Cross Country
Jackson Brainerd
Jackson Brainerd ’11 earned All-America honors with an 18th-place finish at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships. Brainerd covered the 8,000-meter course at the Highland Park Golf Course in Cleveland, Ohio, in a time of 25:54.70. CC took 25th place out of 32 teams with 557 points. Brainerd led the Tigers to their second SCAC title in three years and earned Runner of the Year honors by finishing first with a time of 24:29.60. Dan Kraft ’11, Andrew Wagner ’11, and David Wilder ’12 also earned all-conference honors. Head Coach Ted Castaneda was named Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year after guiding the Tigers to their second conference title in three years. Castaneda also earned the honor in 2007.
2 Responses to Sports Briefs
While it is great to see the continued success of teams and athletes, it’s difficult for many of us to forget that last year the College cut football, softball and water polo from its roster of varsity sport offerings. Those of us who participated in those sports down through the years can testify to the positive contribution they made to our college experience. In our minds the College is now a poorer place because of that decision. We all know CC’s academic rank in USN&WR is currently no. 24, but have you ever wondered how our Athletic Dept compares?
There are now only 8 mens and 8 womens sports listed on the Athletics homepage. According to Dept of Education statistics, peer institutions (top 25) support anywhere from 18 to 34 varsity sports. Only 3 of the coed colleges besides CC do not have a football program. The number of students participating in varsity sports at CC is 13.5%, while participation at most of the other schools ranges between 20 – 40%.
Looking closer, one can’t help but notice greater support for varsity sports at the other colleges. Many express their support in their mission statements, stating that athletics are an integral part or a complement to the college’s educational mission. The president of a noted midwestern college has been quoted as saying the biggest classrooms are the football field, cross country course and swimming pool. Many actively court multisport athletes, and have set up schedules to minimize conflicts with academic requirements. Foundations and Faculty Liaison programs provide additional support.
Why would peer institutions go to such great lengths in support of intercollegiate athletics? No doubt they realize the value of the lessons learned on the playing field, but it also appears that the results are worth the effort. All of these institutions are top-notch academically. What many don’t realize is that they are also top notch in intercollegiate athletics. Three of the top four liberal arts colleges finished 1-2-3 in the Director’s Cup standings last year, an all sports trophy awarded by an association of Athletic Directors. Maybe we could learn something from their example.
The Washburn Foundation was formed with the goal of reinstating the football, softball and water polo programs. Please visit us at washburnfoundation.org, then join us in our effort to help CC rebuild its athletic program…
Jerry DiMarco ’74
Editor’s note: Colorado College actually has nine women’s sports, rather than eight, because the college counts women’s indoor and outdoor track and field as separate sports.
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