Athletics

Sports Q&A: Dylan McDermott

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Sports Q&A: Dylan McDermott Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 07/10/2023 - 00:00

Andrew Daigle

“Just Me and the Ball”

Rising junior Dylan McDermott (Mktg’25) of the CU men’s golf team has played in the No. 1 or No. 2 position in both of his first two years at Colorado. A rare lefty golfer, he started the 2022–23 season by winning the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Classic with a three-round total of 200, the lowest-ever gross score for a CU golfer. In May, he was named to the first-team all-Pac 12 Conference after placing second in the Pac-12 Championship.

You and fellow rising junior Justin Biwer (Acct, Fin’25) played in the top two positions your first two years at CU. How has it been adapting to college play while leading the team?

The competition is up, the courses are harder. A funny thing is that with high school golf, another friend and I were No. 1 and No. 2 all four years as well. But I was not expecting it here. I came in as one of the lower guys. Coming in, I put a lot of effort in over the summer to step up my game, emphasizing things that I hadn’t been good at.

You’ve been remarkably consistent with the Buffs, including closing the fall 2022 season with six consecutive tournaments under par. To what do you attribute your consistency?

I’ve always been on the shorter side of distance, so I have to be accurate. I grew up on a tree-lined course where you have to hit the fairway. If you consistently hit fairways and shots into the green, you can consistently play well.

My dad broke his neck when he was about 15, so he can’t swing much. When we practiced when I was young, we always went to the short game area to work on chipping and putting. If I end up in a bad position now, I believe I’m good enough to save a par.

How do college tournaments work?

Typically, tournaments are 54 holes. Your coaches are basically caddies. Reading putts, picking lines, whatever they can help with — they just can’t carry your bag. They bounce from player to player or stick around on tough holes that we might struggle on. We bring five players to each tournament and count the top four scores from each day. With winter tournaments [in warmer regions], we’ll head out early to get rounds in and practice on grass because we can’t here in the winter.

You’re from Granite Bay, California, near Sacramento. Why did you choose CU?

Roy Edwards, our head coach, gave me an opportunity. It was one of my best offers. Coming to the Pac-12 was awesome because practically all my friends who I grew up playing with went to Pac-12 schools. I get to compete against them. And the practice facilities and everything here are exactly what I need to get better.

Can you share some advice you’ve received from your CU coaches?

Derek Tolan (Soc’20), our assistant coach, tells me to swing confidently. Commit to every shot. A problem I’ve had is I’ll have the shot planned out, but when I try to pull it off, I’ll come out of it and get scared. Like if I don’t want to go in the water, I’ll hit left.

What do you remember about your CU record-breaking Fighting Irish tournament?

Going in, the main thing I worked on was alignment, making sure I was aimed to where I thought I was pointed. When I play my best, I’m typically putting and chipping well. That weekend, I putted pretty badly, but my irons were probably the best they’ve ever been. That was weird. It just shows there are different ways to win.

What contributed to making the 2022–23 season so successful?

Justin pushes me. We’re always battling back and forth trying to be better than each other. Competition sharpens your game. And Derek has helped me focus on my mental game. I can get mad at shots. I’ve started to calm down and believe that even if I start off bad, I can always come back.

When striking the golf ball, how do you block out distractions?

It’s just me and the ball. You can’t tell yourself ‘Don’t go there’ — like the water, because then all your mind hears is ‘water.’ I tell myself to hit the middle of the green, the flag or a spot. When standing over a shot, you need a plan. The line to start on. The finishing point. Your club down. Yardages, wind, everything. It takes years before that comes naturally.

What is something people may be surprised to learn about you?

In junior golf and even last year, I didn’t have much confidence. I truly didn’t believe that I could make it in golf until I started talking with my coaches. Once I won the Notre Dame tournament, that sparked my confidence — not just in golf, but in everything. It’s been a whole different mindset.

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Photos by Mike Rasay/Pac-12 Conference, CU Athletics

Rising junior Dylan McDermott of the CU men’s golf team has played in the No. 1 or No. 2 position in both of his first two years at Colorado.

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Sports News Briefs: Summer 2023

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Sports News Briefs: Summer 2023 Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 07/10/2023 - 00:00

Andrew Daigle

Dramé Apparel

Jaida Drame (IntPhys, Soc’22), a track-and-field walk-on who didn’t run in high school, is departing CU as a world-recognized sprinter — and entrepreneur.

Drame tried out for track her sophomore year. She practiced 200- and 400-meters, trained solo and set personal records. She made the team in fall 2019, but then the pandemic struck. Eager to challenge herself and also bored during quarantine, she began altering and then designing clothes.

“My mom had bought me a sewing machine. I alter my clothes — I have long legs,” said Drame.

Drame modified athleisure styles before shifting to performance wear. She named her operation Dramé Apparel. Then, Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) changes in 2021 allowed her to become a profiting business owner.

“Before NIL, it was Dramé Apparel or track. No crossover,” said Drame. “Now, I can push my own company.”

Drame will be in Boulder next year training with her running coach.

“I’m running for Senegal professionally,” said Drame. “And I hope to be wearing my uniforms.”

Buffs Bits

Jana Weinberger (IntlAf’06) was named CU’s director of skiing and Ian Lochhead as head alpine coach. … After women’s basketball’s NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 appearance, Quay Miller (Soc’23) and Jaylyn Sherrod (Soc’22, MSOL’23) announced they will return for their fifth and final seasons of eligibility. Head coach JR Payne signed a contract extension through 2028. … Lacrosse (11-8, 7-3 Pac-12) concluded 2023 with a run in the Pac-12 Tournament, ultimately falling 12-6 to USC in the championship on May 6. Charlie Rudy (StComm’22, MBus’23) and Sam McGee (MSOL’23) were named First Team All-Conference. … Buffs tennis (12-12, 3-9 Pac-12) advanced to the second round of the Pac-12 Tournament and earned a trip to the inaugural National Invitational Championship (NIT). … In April CU began a $12.3 million Athletics improvement project. The upgrades include lighting for soccer night games, a new training center for the ski team and track-and-field updates before CU hosts the 2024 Pac-12 Track & Field Championships.

Coach Talk

"We’ve got an extremely resilient group who genuinely love one another. It’s really gratifying to see them enjoy the fruits of their labor. This group does the work.”

— Tennis head coach Anthony Pham after CU defeated Oregon on April 26 to win its first Pac-12 Tournament Match in program history.

Digits

Filip Forejtek (CompSci’22, MDataSci’23) won the men’s giant slalom Individual National Championship on March 8 at the NCAA Ski Championships in Lake Placid, New York.

Buffs from the 2022 football team signed free agent contracts after the conclusion of the 2023 NFL Draft in April.

Washington tennis’ national ranking when the Buffs came back from down 3-0 to win 4-3 on April 9.

CU student-athletes received their degrees following the spring 2023 semester.

47,277

Sold-out attendance at CU football’s Black & Gold Day Spring Game on April 22.

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Photo courtesy CU Athletics

Jaida Drame's clothing company and other sports news.

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Trail Running World Champions

Anonymous — Mon, 10 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

Trail Running World Champions Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 07/10/2023 - 00:00

Andrew Daigle

Adam Peterman (EnvSt, Geol’18), Allie McLaughlin (Comm, Psych’13) and Joe DeMoor (Anth, Engl’12) closed out 2022 by winning gold medals at the World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and the Skyrunning World Championships in Italy’s Ossola Valley.

Peterman, who only began trail racing in 2019, won the long trail race at Chiang Mai, running 48.4 miles with 16,000 feet of vertical gain in 7:15:53.

“It was incredible to represent Team USA,” he said. “The course was unlike anything I’ve experienced. The route traveled on dirt roads that connect remote villages.”

The world championship capped Peterman’s dominant 2022: first place at the Chuckanut 50K, Canyons Endurance Run 100K and Western States 100-miler.

“Last year, I won all my ultras, but I’ll get knocked down eventually,” said Peterman. “These races can be gnarly.”

McLaughlin — or “Allie Mac” — has been trail racing for a decade.

“The biggest challenge after college was learning to train the body and mind for intense downhill,” she said. “And the length of ultras.”

She won the 5.5-mile, 4,400-foot elevation gain Vertical Mountain Race in Chiang Mai and finished third in the Classic Mountain Race. Additional 2022 victories included Alaska’s Mount Marathon, the Broken Arrow Skyrace Vertical Kilometer and two Golden Trail Series stages. She’s also completed over 300 skydives and recently began paragliding and BASE jumping.

“I hope to fly and jump in the beautiful places I’ll be racing,” she said.

DeMoor earned gold in the Skyrunning World Championships Vertical — 3.1 miles with 3,000 feet of elevation gain, a staggering scramble he calls the “fun side of running.”

He credits living in Colorado for his training gains. He spends weekends running up mountains and completing fastest-known times (FKTs) for ascents. He has summited the state’s top 100 peaks and set FKTs for over 20 routes in the last two years.

“I love chasing down summits. It’s equal parts route knowledge and fitness,” he said. “I feel like a student of the mountains.”

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Photos by Andrew Cochran; Peter Maksimow; Luca Dotti

Three CU cross country and track alumni won 2022’s trail running and skyrunning world championships.

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Q&A with Avery McMullen

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Q&A with Avery McMullen Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/06/2023 - 00:00

Andrew Daigle

Track and field’s Avery McMullen (IntPhys, Psych’24) is an All-American in the indoor pentathlon and outdoor heptathlon. The Tennessee native discusses her shift to track, CU’s tight community of multi-event athletes and staying focused when competing in up to seven events in a meet.

When people say ‘combined events’ or ‘multi-events,’ what does that include?

The indoor pentathlon is the 60-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put, long jump and then the 800 meters. With the outdoor heptathlon, on day one it’s the 100-meter hurdles, high jump, shot put and then the 200 meters.Then, the second day is long jump, javelin and the 800 meters. Always in those orders.

There’s a lot of specialization in athletics, whether that’s playing only one sport or choosing distance over sprinting. When did you know that you wanted to compete across multiple track and field events?

I played soccer growing up, and I only started doing track in high school. My club coach saw me at a meet, and he focused on the heptathlon and pentathlon. Most states don’t have combined events in high school, but Tennessee has it at our state meet. So, I did it throughout high school. Many people come into college not knowing that they’ll do the multi, but I’ve always done it.

Why did you decide to come to Colorado?

I went on visits for soccer my sophomore year. But then I decided to continue with track instead of soccer, and I was looking at mostly smaller schools in the South. One of my teammates from high school was coming here, and I was actually on vacation a mile from campus. I emailed CU, and Coach [Lindsey] Malone emailed me back five minutes later. She took my family on a campus tour that day. I went on my official visit that October. Coach Malone focused on multis and always has a big group. Most schools only have one or two multis, and they’ll send you off to different coaches. Here, you’re with one coach.

Can you tell us about your training and how you find time to practice each event?

We never do only one thing at practice. It’s a field event and running, or lifting and running or all three. We do each event at least once a week, but you’ve got to focus because we might not do it again for a week. We do sprint workouts but not a lot of distance.

Do you prefer the pentathlon or heptathlon?

Most people prefer outdoor track, but I like indoor. I don’t like the cold or wind. The pentathlon makes it level for everyone, and I can do all the events in one day.

Do you sometimes compete in individual events outside of the multi?

You can’t do the multi every weekend. Most people do it two to four times per season. Competing in individual events gets you more practice when you’re not doing a multi. It’s hard to get PRs [personal records] in a multi.

Among all the combined events, do you have favorites?

High jump, long jump and hurdles. Even if I’m not doing a multi, I always ask to do those ones.

An event like the 800 requires different strengths than shot put or high jump. How do you maximize your performance across events?

I go all out in every single event. But it is daunting when you’re standing on the line for an 800, and you’re like, ‘I can’t feel my legs, but I’m going to have to run this.’ The 800 is always last. That’s the one I struggle with the most.

Are you competing in each event alongside everyone else or just those doing multis?

Just with the multis. We do every event together. You become good friends with your competitors. I know most of the multis in the Pac-12 because we spend entire days together.

Can you share some advice you’ve received from your CU coaches?

Relax and have fun. When you aren’t putting all that pressure on yourself, you end up doing much better. It’s important to not look at what everyone else is doing because everyone has strengths and weaknesses in the multi. Coach always says to forget about the event you just did, whether it went well or badly. With 20 minutes to the next event, you don’t want to be extra hyped or mad.

Do you have a special memory of a meet?

At Spokane last year, I did a multi and got a 300-point PR. That’s where I got my mark to qualify for Nationals. I was so happy that it all came together because it’s hard not to walk away from a multi thinking I could have done better in an event. Also Indoor Nationals in Birmingham. It’s two hours from Nashville. My whole extended family came, so I had over 50 people watching. We do multis during the day before the other events start. No one was there other than this giant section of my family.

If you have a break from track, what do you like to do?

Track fills up my life, but I do love to go hiking. [Visiting] Rocky Mountain National Park. Seeing mountain towns.

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Photo by Glenn Asakawa

Learn about the All-American in the indoor pentathlon and outdoor heptathlon.

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Sports Briefs Spring 2023

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Sports Briefs Spring 2023 Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/06/2023 - 00:00

Andrew Daigle

Sanders Named Football Coach

Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders was announced as Colorado’s 28th full-time head football coach on Dec. 3.

“Not only will Coach Prime energize our fanbase, I’m confident that he will lead our program back to national prominence while leading a team of high quality and high character,” said athletic director Rick George.

Sanders comes to CU after three seasons as head coach at Jackson State University, where his teams went a combined 27-6 and earned consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference championships (2021 and 2022).

Before coaching, Sanders was a two-sport athlete. Twice named a first-team All-American defensive back at Florida State, he went on to play in the NFL (14 years) and MLB (9 years). In the NFL, he was the 1994 Defensive Player of the Year, a two-time Super Bowl champion and 2011 Hall of Fame inductee.

Sanders takes over a 1-11 football program that saw head coach Karl Dorrell dismissed in October. Sanders pledged: “This is my job and my occupation and my business and my dream to bring you back to where you know you should belong.”

Buffs Bits

Women’s cross-country won its second consecutive Pac-12 Championship on Oct. 28. Bailey Hertenstein (MIntPhys’24) won the individual championship. The women went on to place 11th at the NCAA Championships on Nov. 19, with Hertenstein and Ella Baran (MEnvEng’24) racing to All-American finishes. … Men’s cross-country placed second overall at the Pac-12 Championship and then finished eighth overall at NCAAs. … For the first time since 2018, women’s volleyball reached the NCAA tournament. The Buffaloes (20-11, 12-8 Pac-12) were eliminated by No. 20 Rice in a first-round match on Dec. 1. Middle blocker Meegan Hart (Soc’21; MSOL’23) was named All-Pac-12 First Team. … Women’s soccer finished the 2022 season 8-7-5 (2-6-3 Pac-12) after a 5-0-2 start had the Buffaloes ranked No. 19 nationally. … Ambassador David Bolen (Mktg, MBA’50), CU’s first Olympian, died on Dec. 10, 2022. Bolen placed second in the 440 yards at the 1947 NCAA Championships and fourth in the 400 meters at the 1948 London Olympics. He went on to a distinguished career in the foreign service, including appointments as U.S. Ambassador.

Coach Talk

“Change is evident. It’s going to happen. … Whenever you dominate a space, there’s elevation.”

— Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders in the February 2023 issue of GQ.

Stats

77-67

Score after women’s basketball beat the previously undefeated and No. 8-ranked Utah Utes on Jan. 6 in Boulder.

19.56

Distance, in meters, of indoor track and field’s Gya’ni Sami’s (EthSt, Soc’23) weight throw, a new CU record by over a foot, at the Air Force Holiday Open on Dec. 2.

96%

CU student-athlete Graduation Success Rate announced by the NCAA in November, an all-time high for the university.

262nd

career win for men’s basketball head coach Tad Boyle when the Buffs beat Southern Utah 86-78 at home on Dec. 21, making him the winningest head coach in program history.

1st

Offensive tackle Tommy Brown (MSOL’24) signed with Boulder-based Shinesty to become the first-ever college football NIL underwear model.

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Photo courtesy CU Athletics

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Bolder Buffs

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Mar 2023 07:00:00 +0000

Bolder Buffs Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 03/06/2023 - 00:00

Andrew Daigle

Whether it’s social media, the transfer portal, coach turnover or name, image and likeness (NIL), NCAA student-athletes confront increasing pressure and uncertainty on and off the playing field. It’s anything but a “free ride.”

Bolder Buffs, CU Athletics’ peer advocacy program, has been bringing student-athletes’ psychological health concerns into the open since 2018. It’s a collaborative space to meet once a month, share personal challenges and learn to help peers.

“Bolder Buffs showed me that I wasn’t alone with my struggles,” said Issy Simpson (NeuroSci, Psych’23), a CU golfer.

CU Athletics’ Psychological Health and Performance (PHP) program provides clinical guidance for Bolder Buffs. Erin Rubenking (Fin’10; MPsych’14), PHP associate director and Bolder Buffs clinical advisor, started in 2018 as one of two full-time staff members. PHP’s full-time staff has since doubled, and there are several counseling trainees as well.

Soon after Rubenking’s arrival, soccer’s J.J. Tompkins (Psych’19) and women’s basketball’s Kennedy Leonard (Comm’19) founded Bolder Buffs with involvement from PHP.

“They saw a need for a place for student-athletes to discuss mental health, to figure out how to support teammates because they’re not therapists, they’re student-athletes,” said Rubenking.

Bolder Buffs trains student-athletes on three Rs: recognize, respond, refer. Bolder Buffs are not one-stop resources. They train to recognize if someone is struggling, respond supportively and connect them to appropriate resources.

In addition to direct advocacy, Bolder Buffs initiates change in PHP. “A lot of what we’re doing is informed by Bolder Buffs. If they’re struggling with something, I take that back to my team, and we can design a group, a staff training or something else,” said Rubenking.

Student-athlete-focused outcomes include 24/7 support through the Buffs Helpline (303-735-7182), a new Athletic Department policy giving them more control over collection and sharing of their body composition data, and training to help manage performance anxiety.

“Bolder Buffs has become part of my self-care routine. Plus, I can help others through what I’ve learned,” said Simpson.

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Photo courtesy CU Athletics

Student-athlete peer advocates discuss psychological health concerns and train with clinical counseling staff, while aiming to destigmatize mental health in Athletics.

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Sports News Briefs — Fall 2022

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Sports News Briefs — Fall 2022 Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 11/07/2022 - 00:00

Plati to Semi-Retire

Associate athletic director and sports information director (SID) David Plati (Jour’82) will semi-retire Jan. 1, 2023.

Plati began as a student assistant at CU in 1978, became assistant SID in January 1983 and was named SID in July 1984. In addition to leading the SID office and covering over 500 CU football games, he also has worked for the Denver Broncos, Colorado Rockies and Denver Bears (Minor League Baseball).

“David has been an icon at CU and in this industry for over 40 years,” said athletic director Rick George.

Over 100 of Plati’s former student assistants have established careers in sports information or team media relations.

“That’s probably the one thing I’m most proud of — seeing the CU SID tree grow and grow,” Plati said.

Assistant athletic director Curtis Snyder (Jour’98) was named interim SID. Plati will continue to serve as SID-Emeritus, Program Historian and men’s golf SID.

Buff’s Bits

Soccer’s Shyra James’ (IntPhys’24) goal-scoring streak reached 10 games, stretching from the 2021 season until she went scoreless in the Buffs’ 1-1 draw at Michigan on Sept. 8. … Taylor Kornieck (StComm’20) was named to the U.S. Women’s National Team for the 2022 women’s championship for the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football. … Men’s golf’s Dylan McDermott (Bus’25) won the season-opening Fighting Irish Classic in South Bend, Indiana, on Sept. 5 after a four-hole playoff . McDermott’s 10-under par, three-round score of 200 is the lowest gross score in Colorado golf history. … Men’s basketball head coach Tad Boyle led the USA Basketball Men’s Under 18 National Team to its sixth consecutive International Basketball Federation Under 18 Americas Men’s Championship on June 6–12 in Tijuana, Mexico. Boyle was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches Board of Directors in June.

Coach Talk

“I’m a little embarrassed because I’ve had so much help. In the 51 years since i started, dozens of people have encouraged and helped me.”

— Mark Wetmore, cross-country and track and field head coach on Aug. 18 after learning he will be inducted into the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

Stats

3-0

Women’s basketball during August’s tour of Spain.

19th

Season men’s and women’s cross-country opened the year both ranked in the top five nationally.

Blocks by volleyball’s Alexia Kuehl (SLHSci’23) during the first two weeks of the 2022 season.

Undrafted Buffs standout Nate Landman (Mktg’21) survived the final round of cuts on Aug. 30 and made the Atlanta Falcons’ initial 53-player roster for the 2022 NFL season.

57th

Jabari Walker (Comm ex’24) selected overall in the NBA draft by the Portland Trail Blazers.

115

Soccer head coach Danny Sanchez’s career wins after the Buffaloes beat Valparaiso 3-0 on Aug. 26. With the victory, Sanchez became soccer’s all-time leader in wins.

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Photo courtesy David Plati

David Plati’s semi-retirement, Mark Wetmore’s hall of fame induction and more.

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Buff Brynna DeLuzio’s Volleyball Versatility

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Buff Brynna DeLuzio’s Volleyball Versatility Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 11/07/2022 - 00:00

Andrew Daigle

In 2017, her first season, Brynna DeLuzio (Mktg’21; MRecEcon’22) flourished as setter, finishing 10th in the NCAA in assists, earning All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention and helping CU to an NCAA Sweet 16 appearance.

DeLuzio then spent seasons switching between setter (offense) and libero (defensive specialist, pronounced “luh-bear-OH”). Due to positional need, she played libero full-time in 2021. The results: 4.67 average digs per set, best in the Pac-12, a CU record and another All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention.

“She can play two positions at an extremely high level. However, the most important thing she brings is her dedication,” said head coach Jesse Mahoney. “She is the standard that all of our players should strive toward.”

Liberos are self-sacrificing. Digs require frequent dives onto knees and elbows. Five sets in the ready position stress the shoulders and back. And liberos rarely leap up to kill a set ball.

DeLuzio knows sacrifice: “I’m a gym rat. What I work on depends on who we play that week — the spot, angle or line of defense.”

Unwilling to rest on her record-breaking 2021, the 5'9'' DeLuzio trained in the off -season to potentially return to setter. She liked how the setter had control of the ball in every play, but was concerned opponents might hit over her blocks.

Enter Adam Ringler, assistant director of strength and conditioning and head of sport science research. He designed a team training program of force plate jumps and plyometrics, which DeLuzio focused on to help her excel as a setter. DeLuzio surpassed all expectations.

“She ended up adding 4.5 inches to her vertical,” said Ringler. “We might see that with freshmen that have never done structured strength conditioning, but for a sixth-year athlete, that’s crazy.”

The gains apply similarly for libero. The vertical gain correlates to increased horizontal dive range. But, DeLuzio always plays where she best supports her team.

“I give my all, every practice, every game,” DeLuzio said. “If not, I’m doing a disservice to my team and myself for my final season.”

DeLuzio plans another switch after this season. In January, she will begin training to play beach volleyball professionally.

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Sixth-year senior Brynna DeLuzio set records while earning team defensive MVP in 2021. She’s elevated her play even more for 2022 and beyond.

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Former Olympian Andy LeRoy Enters Second Season as CU Ski Coach

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +0000

Former Olympian Andy LeRoy Enters Second Season as CU Ski Coach Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 11/07/2022 - 00:00

Andrew Daigle

Andy LeRoy (Fin’03) became Colorado’s 18th head ski coach in March 2021, replacing Richard Rokos, who retired after more than three decades with the Buffs. The former Olympian discusses leading CU’s only coed athletic team, what inspired him to coach and ways to help generate revenue for collegiate skiing.

After high school, you skied six seasons on the U.S. National Team. What was the experience like?

It was an opportunity of a lifetime! Although I didn’t reach the goals I had dreamt about as a kid, I got to compete with and learn from some of the best in the business — like my roommate at that time, Bode Miller. I am fortunate to have worked with coaching icons like Aldo Radamus and Jesse Hunt. Both have had a huge impact on the type of coach I want to be.

You joined the Buffs for the 2000 season, won the NCAA slalom competition and stayed on as a volunteer coach. What stood out to you about the program?

The 2000 season was my one and only season of collegiate competition, but I still needed another year and a half of school to earn my undergraduate degree. Thankfully, Richard Rokos advocated strongly for me to receive fifth-year aid, and I graduated in 2003. Rokos also gave my coaching career a kickstart like no other, allowing me to be his volunteer assistant in 2002. During my time at CU, I truly fell in love with the sport.

I got to compete with and learn from some of the best in the business — like my roommate at that time, Bode Miller.

You became the University of Denver’s head ski coach before the 2007 season after coaching the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club for three years. How did you adapt to leading a Division-1 program?

My father passed away a few days before my second birthday, so I was kind of raised by ski coaches. Coaching in Steamboat Springs from 2003 to 2006 felt like a way for me to give back to the sport. Then the opportunity came to coach at the University of Denver. I was unprepared for sure, trying my best to learn on the fly about alumni outreach, recruiting, NCAA rules and 100 other facets of the job. The easiest part was the ski coaching. To step on the snow and help an athlete improve always seemed so natural. It’s still my happy place.

There were six NCAA team titles in your 15 seasons at DU. What factors contributed to this success?

A fantastic program built by icons in our sport like Otto Tschudi, Kurt Smitz and the Nystad brothers. When I took the job at DU, I joked that all I needed to do was to keep the van on the road and we would win again. I was also thankful to have been hired to coach DU’s Alpine program at the same time David Stewart was hired to coach DU’s Nordic program. We learned a lot from each other, and I will always cherish the time we spent together there as coaches.

How has Richard Rokos helped you transition into becoming CU’s head ski coach?

After 31 years, Richie knows everything about this program and he has been available and eager to share his knowledge whenever requested. He’s still out on the hill helping with training as our volunteer assistant coach. He was inducted into our CU Athletics Hall of Fame last year, but our athletes still get him on the hill every day as their volunteer coach! I can't imagine ski racing here at CU without him.

NCAA Skiing is a coed sport. How does team scoring work?

It’s different from all other NCAA sports in this regard. For our championship, each school can take a maximum of three men and three women for Alpine, three men and three women for Nordic, with 12 athletes maximum. Alpine athletes compete in a giant slalom and slalom race. Nordic athletes compete in a freestyle and classic race. A total of 24 scores can be counted, assuming we qualify as a full team.

To step on the snow and help an athlete improve always seemed so natural. It’s still my happy place.

How does recruiting work in such an international sport?

Our ranking system makes it pretty easy to identify the fastest skiers from across the country and around the world, but finding which one is the best fit for our program is key. They need to be academically prepared and committed to our sport. The best prospects are usually on their national team by the time they graduate high school, and the question becomes whether they should stay with their national team and forgo an education or try to develop their skiing at the same rate while dragging their textbooks from place to place. I applaud (and desperately search for) those prospects who are hungry for the extra work.

How can skiing become a revenue-generating collegiate sport?

It’s a revenue-generating sport in Europe. But in the United States, it’s not on TV. There are no tickets being sold to our big races. If we get our collegiate races webcasted, people across the world will watch. We can sell sponsorships if we showcase it properly. Adding the parallel event for Alpine and the sprint discipline for Nordic would also be a huge step in the right direction. Both are exciting to watch and exhilarating to participate in. In March 2024, CU will host the NCAA Skiing Championship in Steamboat, and I hope by then both events will be included in the competition.

What are you most looking forward to this year?

Working with the athletes. And I’m pretty sure I will give the same answer every year.

If you had free time, what would you do?

Take my wife golfing. I met her on a golf course 14 years ago. Neither of us are very good, but we have a lot of fun out there together.

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Photo by Glenn Asakawa

Andy LeRoy became Colorado’s 18th head ski coach in March 2021. The former Olympian discusses leading CU’s only coed athletic team, what inspired him to coach and ways to help generate revenue for collegiate skiing.

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Fall 2022

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What's in an Athletic Director's Phone?

Anonymous — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +0000

What's in an Athletic Director's Phone? Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 11/07/2022 - 00:00

As ��񱦵�’s senior associate athletic director and assistant vice chancellor for Advancement, Leon Jackson III works with donors to raise funds that support the university’s more than 350 student athletes across 17 sports.

How soon after waking up do you look at your phone?

My iPhone alarm wakes me up at 6:30 a.m. daily. So, I guess I look at it first thing in the morning... likely looking for the “snooze” button. Those five extra minutes are some of the best five minutes of sleep I get.

App you wish you had the inner strength to delete?

Facebook. I love keeping up with my family around the country. But the video algorithms on developing your golf swing send me down rabbit holes.

Last person you called?

Mom.

Duration of longest call last week?

52 minutes.

Where was your last selfie taken?

In Fraser, Colorado, during our family vacation. My youngest son thought he should be “cool” and show the peace sign.

Does anyone else have your passcode?

My wife.

Oldest photo on your phone?

Our Jackson family Christmas photo in 2015.

What is your lock screen or background image?

A picture of a wooden cross with a hammer and a nail in the middle.

What do you use your phone for most?

Work. I am emailing, texting or calling someone quite often.

Type and model of phone

Apple iPhone13

Three of your most-used apps

Outlook, Maps and Twitter

Most-used emoji

Thumbs up

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Photos courtesy Leon Jackson III

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Athletics

Sports Q&A: Dylan McDermott

“Just Me and the Ball”

You and fellow rising junior Justin Biwer (Acct, Fin’25) played in the top two positions your first two years at CU. How has it been adapting to college play while leading the team?

You’ve been remarkably consistent with the Buffs, including closing the fall 2022 season with six consecutive tournaments under par. To what do you attribute your consistency?

How do college tournaments work?

You’re from Granite Bay, California, near Sacramento. Why did you choose CU?

Can you share some advice you’ve received from your CU coaches?

What do you remember about your CU record-breaking Fighting Irish tournament?

What contributed to making the 2022–23 season so successful?

When striking the golf ball, how do you block out distractions?

What is something people may be surprised to learn about you?

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Former Olympian Andy LeRoy Enters Second Season as CU Ski Coach

After high school, you skied six seasons on the U.S. National Team. What was the experience like?

You joined the Buffs for the 2000 season, won the NCAA slalom competition and stayed on as a volunteer coach. What stood out to you about the program?

You became the University of Denver’s head ski coach before the 2007 season after coaching the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club for three years. How did you adapt to leading a Division-1 program?

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