There have been so many female athletes and women’s sports teams that have dominated this year.
In a year where teams and athletes had to be ready for anything, the female athletes really stepped up their game and proved themselves in their respective sports. We wanted to take a look back and recognize some of them who had a stellar year. To narrow the field down to five was extremely difficult knowing that female athletes excelled this year at Colorado Mesa University (CMU).
Lily Borgenheimer- Swim and Dive
New to the swim and dive program this year after transferring junior freestyle/breaststroke swimmer Lily Borgenheimer definitely made a name for herself in the program.
Borgenheimer broke multiple records during her first season at Colorado Mesa University (CMU). During the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) tournament, Borgenheimer set a new school and conference record during the prelims in the 200-yard backstroke with a time of 2:12.04. Later that evening in the finals for the same event, Borgenheimer broke her own record in.
She has proved over and over again this season that she can compete with the best of the best in Division Two at any event she competes in.
At the Division Two championships she continued to dominate in her events as she led the mavericks to a twelfth place team finish. Individually, she was the top qualifier for the 200-breaststroke in the prelims. Borgenherimer had a fifth in the 200-yard and the 100-yard breaststroke finals.
Marissa Gallegos- Women’s Wrestling
Redshirt sophomore Marissa Gallegos did something this year that most athletes do not get to say they have done and that is compete at the U.S. Olympic Trials.
Gallegos has endured a year of many obstacles thrown her way such as multiple injuries throughout her season that came at unfortunate times. Through those injuries she was able to battle and go to Olympic Trials which in itself is a hard task.
She has also been a staple athlete in the Women’s Wrestling program which has only been around since 2018. Her work ethic and determination to get to the trials has shown throughout the season.
Even though she did not make the Olympic team. I am sure this is not the last we will hear her name at a national level.
Maddi Foutz- Volleyball
The CMU volleyball team did something that not many other teams have done here at CMU. They went undefeated through the regular season.
Senior outside hitter Maddi Foutz had a huge impact on the way her team’s season went. Foutz led the team in kills with 158. Foutz for her size should not be a force on the outside, but with the hops that she has, has made her kills more powerful and has a high velocity. Her kills are not something I would want to stand on the other side of.
Foutz also made an impact from the defensive side of things as well. She helped her team by getting 144 digs on the season. She definitely is not afraid to throw herself around the court showing her athleticism to make a play.
Her tremendous efforts were noticed by not only her teammates and coaches but also led her to get the RMAC Player of the Year award. With another season in store for Foutz, I am sure that she will continue to turn dominate the court.
Honorable Mention
Kylyn Rigsby- Women’s Basketball
Senior guard Kylyn Rigsby helped the women’s basketball team go to another RMAC tournament.
She played some of the best basketball she has played over her four years at CMU. Rigsby put up a career record 34 points against Regis University early in the season. She made the All RMAC team this season as well.
Rigsby has been such a positive and energetic teammate throughout her time in the Mavericks jersey. If it is not her time to be on the court, she is always cheering on her teammates from the bench being a supportive teammate. Her ability to always have her teammates back is something that
Lauren Wedman- Softball
Redshirt sophomore Lauren Wedman has been on fire throughout the 2021 softball season and has been a big contribution to the 287 runs the Mavericks have scored this season.
Wedman leads the RMAC in multiple batting categories this season. She leads in batting average (.578), slugging percentage (1.067), on base percentage (.633), hits (52), runs batted in (56) and in triples with six.
The numbers that Wedman has put up so far this season is one of the reasons that the CMU team is nationally ranked and has a good shot in the conference tournament.
