By Lisa Walton

The annual Homecoming bonfire grows in popularity every year.

Last week’s Homecoming celebration was not only a demonstration of school spirit, but a celebration of community, accomplishment, growth and, of course, Roadrunner athletics.

“A lot has changed since we were here one year ago,” President Stephen Jordan told attendees at the Homecoming Bonfire in the Dogwood Lot Thursday night.

“One year ago we hadn’t moved into that new building, and today we have a great new Student Success Building. One year ago we were Metropolitan State College of Denver and today we’re Metropolitan State University of Denver…But you know what hasn’t changed. We still have the two best basketball programs in all of Division II in the NCAA.”

Jordan plugged the weekend’s basketball games and described the $12 million outdoor athletic complex set to break ground this month as a demonstration of MSU Denver’s intention to “keep building on the legacy of great athletic programs here at Metro.”

After a sports-filled weekend during Homecoming Week, Roadrunners have a lot to be proud about.

MSU Denver men's (21-0) and women’s (16-6) basketball teams won Homecoming match-ups against Colorado Christian and the Colorado School of Mines.

Both men and women’s basketball teams won Homecoming match-ups against Colorado Christian and the Colorado School of Mines this past weekend at the Auraria Event Center, bringing the men’s record to 21-0 and the women’s record to 16-6. The men’s latest victory came Sunday night in a game that began Friday, but was delayed after a Mine’s player shattered the backboard with a dunk.

The baseball team played Fort Hays State University in a Friday afternoon double-header and a noon game on Saturday, winning one of the three matches and bringing their record to 1-2 overall.

On Wednesday, MSU Denver hurdler Darius Reed and distance runner Breanna Hemming were named Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Track Athletes of the Week after breaking school records. On Saturday, MSU Denver’s indoor track team broke three school records at the Mines Twilight Open in Golden.

Roadrunners were also recognized for their school spirit and impact on campus and in the community.

On Monday, the band Devoutcast set another kind of winning record. It battled four other MSU Denver student bands, taking home $500 for their first-place performance at the Battle of the Bands competition and headlining the Homecoming Bonfire.

Nine teams competed in Tuesday’s Amazing Race with the Student Academic Success Center taking first place, Student Activities taking second place and New Student Orientation taking third.

Aaron Fransua and Henry Duong, recipients of this year’s Best of the Best Student Impact Awards, were presented with $500 scholarship checks at Thursday’s bonfire. Fransua is president of the Denise Fransua Domestic Violence Foundation, which raises awareness about domestic violence, and Duong is student coordinator of New Student Orientation and one of the founders of the Colorado Asian Pacific Youth Association.

MSU Denver fans showed their school pride and cheered on the MSU Denver Roadrunners during Saturday night's basketball games.

Twelve offices demonstrated school spirit by helping create a “superhero spirit headquarters” for Rowdy in the Office Decorating Challenge. “Best use of theme” went to the Cashiering Office, “Most Spirited” to the Office of Institutional Research and the “Best Overall/Rowdy's Favorite” to New Student Orientation.

Assistant Director of Student Activities, Matt Brinton, said this year’s homecoming, made possible by a consolidated, campus-wide committee and effort, was the best yet.

“Each year we are building excitement and tradition and getting more and more members of the campus community involved.” Brinton said. “We're not there yet, but we will continue to press forward and build those traditions.”