We miss sports. A lot of us do.
As much as it hurts to say that all collegiate sporting seasons are over, we have to come to realization and acceptance of it sooner or later. To help with the grieving process, the sports editors of the Crite break down the best moments of the 2019-20 athletic seasons.
From 23 points down-Matt Kennedy
“Turner for three cross court…That’s good!TIE GAME, TIE GAME!”
Yes, I did just quote my own radio call and, no, I don’t regret it.
Let’s face it…basketball was the most fun to watch this year. Josh is going to explain here in a second why the men’s and women’s basketball teams winning the Rocky Mountain Athletic Championship Tournaments was his favorite moment (he kinda stole my initial pick but it’s fine). I will mention other sports in a second, but it would be a crime not to mention one of the best Colorado Mesa University (CMU) athletic moments from the entire year.
The 23-point comeback for the women’s basketball team against Dixie State back on Feb. 8.
Guard Dani Turner’s three pointer, with 1:49 remaining in the fourth, created the loudest pop Brownson Arena has had in years. The Mavericks were down by 23-points, at one point in the third quarter, and then 17 at the start of the fourth, however, Dani Turner and Sydni Brandon happened. Syd went 11-11 from the free-throw line, which is underratedly the most clutch performance of the season, and Dani put up a game high 24 points.
CMU went on to win 59-54 and extended their winning streak at the time to 14 games. The game between the Mavericks and the Trailblazers will more than likely be the last meeting between the two for awhile as Dixie State is leaving the RMAC to join the Div. I WAC in the fall.
Tourney Champs-Josh Coleman
My favorite sports moment of the year was watching the men’s and women’s basketball teams win the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Tournaments (RMAC) within the hour of each other.
I got the honor to commentate the RMAC Women’s Basketball Tournament and watch them beat Westminster College (WC) for the second time to capture the RMAC Championship. The environment in Brownson Arena for the women’s championship was insane and junior guard Kylyn Rigsby fed off the energy of the building to put up 24 points playing all 40 minutes.
When WC took the lead at the end of the third quarter, the energy in Brownson didn’t change; the fans knew the Mavericks were going to come back and win the game. That is was Colorado Mesa University (CMU) did, as they shut down the Griffins offense to win back-to-back RMAC Championships.
Watching senior guard Sydni Brandon play her heart out in her final game, grabbing 12 rebounds is something everyone in the arena that night will remember.
Then, as a beat writer for the men’s basketball team, I had to rush home to pull up the stream to watch the second half. The determination from senior guards Tommy Nuno and Michael Skinner to get the win over Colorado School of Mines (CSM) was so much fun to watch.
Skinner scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half with five rebounds and was determined to get the win. The Mavericks beat the host school Dixie State University the night before, so the environment was very different for the men’s team. There were some people in the crowd, but the benches were the loudest people in the building.
You could see the determination to get the win from Nuno scoring eight points with eight rebounds in the second half as he took over. The dynamic duo of Tommy Nuno and Michael Skinner may have played their last game, but they will be cemented in CMU men’s basketball history.
What could have been-Matt Kennedy
There were amazing non basketball moments we will admit that. There would potentially be more moments to talk about but COVID-19 has forced us to choose from a limited field. The CMU baseball and softball teams were chasing championships this year, both lacrosse programs were on a path of winning and beach volleyball was getting ready to host their first set of home matches in program history.
Despite all the spring seasons getting cut short, there were still some amazing memories made. Let’s start at the very beginning. Opening Day to be exact.
Spencer Bramwell’s first home run and pair of RBIs in 2020 came in a two-run home run that lifted the Mavericks over Nova Southeastern in the very first game of the season. The bomb in the top of the ninth gave CMU the 8-7 lead over the Sharks and was the first dub of the short 14-win season.
Other honorable mentions belong to Hayden McGeary. The sophomore catcher hit two grand slams and led the entire team in every single category and was poised to have one of the best seasons at the plate for any player in program history.
Practice? -Matt Kennedy
CMU softball was planning to head to Utah for an RMAC Pod series before they found out their season was cancelled. AnnMarie Torres, Hailey Hinson, Bailey Kleespies and Brooke Doumer missed out on their Senior Day. Torres talked about how they all found out after their last weights session and then came the tears. It was supposed to be a heck of a year for the Mavericks.
However, the games are not what stand out for the team. No, it was practices. When I talked to the CMU softball players and coaches after the season ended, they reflected more about their time together as a squad at practice and in the weight room rather than the games on the weekends. Practice? Yes practice. Don’t take those moments for granted.
