Athletics History
 |
The
Roadrunner Record
A History of Athletics at
Metro State
Web site: http://www.GoMetroState.com
In
Metro State’s 45-year
existence, athletics have gone from club sports
all the way to Colorado’s only collegiate
national championships in men’s basketball
and women’s soccer. That’s says a lot
for the type of coaches and student-athletes that
Here’s a brief recap of how Metro State came
to be a powerhouse in Division II of the National
Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).
1964 – Shortly after Metro State’s creation,
it is decided that the college will not have athletics
due to a lack of available facilities and student
interest.
1965 – Students are now pushing to have intercollegiate
athletics offered at Metro State.
January 1966 – The first Roadrunner team is
born. Although it’s just a club team, men’s
basketball is up and running.
1968 – More club sports are added: golf, soccer,
swimming and diving, tennis and volleyball. The
squads search for local collegiate programs to compete
against but the two closest programs (University
of Denver and Regis University) refuse. Looking
for a foothold to climb into legitimacy, Metro State’s
men’s and women’s sports join the Rocky
Mountain Athletic Conference (National Association
of Intercollegiate Athletics, NAIA) in hopes of
fielding competitive teams the following year. The
decision is made without approval from Metro State’s
governing body, the Trustees of the Consortium of
State Colleges in Colorado.
|
Spring
1969 – A student
survey on athletics shows overwhelming support for
intercollegiate athletics. The college’s trustees
are impressed and give the go-ahead for a “limited”
program. On July 18, it’s announced that Metro
State will field intercollegiate basketball, baseball,
field hockey, golf, gymnastics, softball, swimming,
tennis, track and wrestling in the coming fall.
November 24, 1969 – The men’s basketball
team, coached by James Bryant, competes in its first
official varsity game at George Washington High
School against Black Hills State College. It’s
a huge step for Metro State athletics, but the program
still has no facilities.
September 1975 – Athletic scholarships are
awarded for the first time. The Colorado Commission
on Higher Education okays $11,619 for Metro State
in what is called “a toe-in-the-water proposition.”
 2.10.89 |
Fall
1976 – Auraria’s
first on-campus physical education building is complete.
At 30,000 square feet, it contains basketball courts,
an Olympic pool and weight-training facilities.
Athletic fields and tennis courts are also now ready
for use.
Spring 1978 – After eight consecutive losing
seasons the men’s basketball team finishes
the 1977-78 season with a 0-24 record. It’s
decided to dissolve the team, described as a sinking
ship, for six years. The entire athletic program
sputters. Feeling backlash from Auraria’s
other two institutions, intercollegiate athletics
tiptoes through this era while the coaches and staff
look for an opportunity to stake a new claim and
regain prominence.
1981 – Women’s sports at Metro State
are forced to join the NAIA after their existing
conference, the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics
for Women (AIAW), is disbanded.
 4.6.89 |
1982 – For one year the
Roadrunner women’s teams compete in the NAIA.
Volleyball has a superb season, finishing as district
champions and earning third place nationally. On
the men’s side, baseball wins the NAIA national
batting championship with an average of .384 and
finishes the year with a record of 29-19. Gymnastics
also does well with a fourth-place finish in nationals.
Metro State athletics has begun to make a name for
itself.
 1.29.88 |
1983 – Based largely
on the success of volleyball, the women’s
teams decide to enter NCAA Division II competition,
joining the Continental Divide Conference. Metro
State’s new president, Dr. Richard Fontera,
watches the flourishing volleyball team and longs
to see a return of men’s basketball. Working
with new athletic director Bill Helman, Fontera
hires Bob Ligouri as the head coach of the reconstituted
men’s team. Several months later, Dr. Fontera
is diagnosed with cancer and he succumbs to the
disease within weeks. He never gets to see men’s
basketball take the court.
 1988-87 |
December
1984 – Under
the guidance of President Paul Magelli, the Roadrunners’
Athletic Department is moved from the School of
Professional Studies to the Division of Institutional
Advancement. A rough strategic plan is formed to
bring Metro State athletics to a Division I caliber
program.
April 1985 – A committee is brought together
to help direct the transition. After reviewing available
funds, a consultant from the University of Arizona,
Cedric Dempsey, recommends that the Roadrunners
develop a long-term plan to move up to Division
I status.
January 1986 – Despite Dempsey’s recommendation,
the committee decides that the college should pursue
Division II membership for both the men and women’s
programs through the foreseeable future. Shortly
thereafter, the men’s teams are granted NCAA
Division II status and join the women in the Great
Northwest Conference.
 1986 |
1991 – The Colorado Athletic
Conference (CAC) is formed and Metro State is a
charter member. This new conference cuts back on
travel costs and forms tighter rivalries. In the
CAC’s first season, Metro’s men’s
and women’s soccer teams win the conference
tournament championship. Four Roadrunner coaches
are named CAC Coaches of the Year. In addition,
a 38,000-square-foot expansion to the P.E. building
is finished, and the facility re-opens as the Auraria
Events Center. Theatre-style retractable seats are
installed, increasing the maximum attendance to
2,200 for volleyball and basketball games. For the
first time in college history, athletics has an
indoor stage for events.
Spring 1994 – Metro State’s athletic
department moves to create a hall of fame. The first
class is inducted in the spring after the 1993-94
athletic season: Torin Berge (baseball, 1987-89),
Julie Buntrock-Jackson (volleyball, 1977-80) and
Pat Johnson (volleyball coach, 1968-87 and softball
coach, 1969-72, 1976-79).
1995 - New President Sheila Kaplan commits to funding
athletics as needed, including more money for scholarships.
The program is now overseen by Vice President of
Administration and Finance Joe Arcese. Lorne Donaldson
(men's soccer; 1981-84), Rich Grosz (men’s
basketball; 1985-88) and Jane Kober (women’s
basketball coach, 1970-80 and women’s tennis
coach, 1974-86; administrator) are inducted into
the Roadrunner Hall of Fame as the 1995 class.
 9.14.87 |
1996 – The Roadrunners
re-enter the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference
(RMAC), which has now developed into a premier NCAA
Division II organization. Two more individuals are
inducted into the Hall of Fame: Catherine Guiles-Kubik
(volleyball and women’s basketball, 1982-85)
and Harry Temmer (men’s soccer coach, 1968-85
and women’s soccer coach, 1977-83).
Spring 1998 – The college inducts seven more
Hall of Famers: Kathy Crusan-Walker (volleyball,
1978-83), Rusty Befus (baseball, 1988-92), Jeff
Neary (swimming, 1988-91), Verna Julaton (volleyball,
1987-88, and assistant volleyball coach), Doug Montgomery
(baseball, 1985-87, and assistant sports information
director), Bob Hull (men’s basketball coach,
1985-93) and Bill Helman (baseball coach, 1979-92
and athletic director).
March 1999 – In just his second year as head
men’s basketball coach, Mike Dunlap completes
a 28-6 season (15-4 RMAC), falling 75-60 to Kentucky
Wesleyan in the NCAA Division II championship game.
A new standard of success is born and a golden era
for Roadrunner athletics begins to take hold.
 11.21.87 |
March
2000 – If revenge
is sweet, then the 97-79 national championship win
over Kentucky Wesleyan takes the cake. The Roadrunner
men’s basketball team earns the college’s
first-ever national title. Joining the ranks of
Metro’s Athletics Hall of Fame are Rosie Durbin
(women's soccer, 1993-1997), Eric Larson (baseball
and baseball coach, 1979-92), Ralph Rivers (men's
basketball, 1989-92) and Holly Roberts (women's
basketball, 1992-93).
March 2002 – Metro State men’s basketball
claims its second national title, defeating Kentucky
Wesleyan 80-72. At this point the athletic program
is thriving. Over the next three years the various
Roadrunner sports teams win a combined 12 conference
tournament championships and make 14 appearances
in NCAA national tournaments.
Fall 2003 – Danny Sanchez is hired as the
new women’s soccer coach. In his first season
Sanchez explodes onto the scene and compiles a 19-3-3
overall record (12-0-2 RMAC). His athletes march
all the way to the NCAA Final Four before falling
to Christian Brothers 1-0 in overtime.
Spring 2003 – First the first time, a team
is inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame. The
honor is bestowed to the 1978 women’s volleyball
team. Also inducted are Darryl Smith (women’s
basketball coach, 1990-98), Darwin Strickland (men’s
swimming, 1993-96), Crissy Canada (volleyball, 1991-94)
and Keith Schulz (baseball, 1983-86). Another first
is the induction of internationally known sports
artist and Metro State alumnus Malcolm Farley. His
pieces depicting Roadrunner athletics have helped
catapult his career.
|
December
2004 – The Metro
State women’s soccer team defeats Adelphi
University 3-2 to earn the college’s third
national championship (in four and a half years,
no less). The title also marks the first collegiate
soccer championship for the state of Colorado. Throughout
his three-year tenure, Sanchez has now orchestrated
an incredible 65-5-4 (.905) overall record and never
lost a conference match (40-0-2).
Spring 2005 – Men’s basketball completes
its fifth trip to the NCAA Elite 8 Championships
in seven years. Directed by head coach Dave Murphy,
the women’s basketball squad returns to the
national tournament for the first time in seven
years and finishes the season with a record-breaking
24-7 overall mark. Four teams win their respective
RMAC tournaments during the 2004-05 season.
Spring 2005 – Although roadrunners are technically
a flightless bird, Metro’s Runners are soaring
high. Showing commitment to an even brighter future,
Athletic Director Joan McDermott announces the addition
of two intercollegiate sports: men’s and women’s
cross-country.
Fall 2005 - Metro State re-starts its cross country program under head coach Pete Julian.
Spring 2006 - Jeff Smith (swimming and diving, 1983-84), Tonja Ridgeway (women’s soccer, 1985-88), Farrah Magee (women’s basketball, 1996-98), Tim Yunger (men’s soccer 1987-90) and the 2000 Men’s Basketball team are all inducted into the Metro State Hall of Fame.
October 2006 - The Roadrunner women’s soccer team pushes its home winning and unbeaten streaks to 61 games, both NCAA records that still stand today.
 2006 |
December 2006 - Women’s soccer captures its second national championship in three years, finishing a perfect conference season at 12-0-0 under head coach Danny Sanchez. The Roadrunners defeat Grand Valley State 1-0 in overtime in the national championship game.
2006-07 - Metro State has eight athletic teams qualify for NCAA postseason tournaments, the most in school history. Women’s soccer, volleyball, men’s basketball and men’s tennis all win Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships as well.
Spring 2007 - DeMarcos Anzures (men’s basketball, 1997-00), Marina Bazana (2000-01), Greg Smith (former athletic administrator) and the 1987 Baseball Team are all inducted into the school’s hall of fame.
May 2007 - Todd Tolentino finishes eighth in the 5000 meter run at the NCAA outdoor track & field championships, earning All-America honors in Metro State’s first year of track since 1986.
September 2007 - Women’s soccer pushes its NCAA and RMAC record conference unbeaten streak to 72 games.
November 2007 - Anthony Luna qualifies for the NCAA Cross Country championships, becoming first to do so in school history. Also, both soccer teams capture RMAC regular season championships, the first time in school history both teams have done so in the same year.
 2008 |
Spring 2008 - Metro State sponsors softball once again – a resurgence of the program after an 18-year absence. The Roadrunners, under head coach Jen Fisher, finish second in the RMAC.
June 2008 - Athletic director Joan McDermott is named National Association of Collegiate Athletic Directors Athletic Director of the Year for Division II’s West Region.
Fall 2008 - All five fall sports teams qualify for the NCAA postseason championships as Metro State is just one of two NCAA Division II schools to accomplish that feat. Adrianne Almaraz leads women’s soccer to the Final Four in her first year as head coach. Also, both cross country teams qualify for the NCAA Championships for the first time in school history under head coach Pete Julian as the men place 14th and the women 19th.
 2008 |
Winter 2008-09 - Men’s basketball reaches the NCAA Tournament for the 11th time in 12 years, becoming the only NCAA Division II school to do so. Coach Brannon Hays leads team to an 18-1 RMAC record, while winning both regular season and tournament championships in the conference. The Roadrunners are led by All-American senior Jesse Wagstaff who was also named first team Academic All-America.
Jen Fisher’s softball team wins the RMAC regular season and tournament championships, while qualifying for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history. Fisher’s Roadrunners tie the NCAA single season record for home runs with 98 and also break a number of other records behind All-Americans Tara Mickelson and Kellie Nishikida.
 2009 |
Spring 2009 - Junior Anthony Luna wins national championships in the 800 meters at both the NCAA indoor and outdoor championships, capturing the school’s first national championships in track and field.
2008-09 - A school record 10 different teams qualify for the NCAA postseason championships. The success is also seen at the conference level as women’s soccer, men’s basketball, softball and men’s tennis all win RMAC regular season and tournament championships. Metro State places 13th in the NCAA Division II Director’s Cup, its highest finish in school history.
Fall 2009 - Women’s soccer wins its eighth consecutive conference championship and reaches the NCAA Tournament for the eighth straight year as well.
 2009 |
Volleyball, under head coach Debbie Hendricks, shocks Nebraska-Kearney in Kearney in the RMAC Tournament championship in five sets after falling behind 2-0 in the match.Hendricks’ team reaches the Central Region championship at the NCAA Tournament and posts the most postseason wins in school history (5). During the season, Hendricks wins her 400th career match and 200th match at Metro State. It is the 10th consecutive year Metro State has made the NCAA Tournament.
***
For more information
about the
Metropolitan State College of Denver
Athletics program, visit
http://www.GoMetroState.com