In the COVID world that we live in, I wanted to take a moment and recognize all the tremendous athletic achievements that happened this semester.
This was a chaotic semester that saw 12 sports teams participate in their seasons in just the Spring. We saw a ton of Colorado Mesa University (CMU) athletes have special performances this year, but these five athletes stood out amongst the rest.
Ammar Hassan – Men’s Swim and Dive
This list wouldn’t be complete without Hassan. He made Division II history as he became the first man to win three consecutive national championships in the one-meter diving event. He also joined his former coach Logan Persall (2009-11) and UC Irvine’s Bob Wilhite (1967-69) as the only men to win three consecutive three-meter national championships events.
He has had an illustrious career as a Maverick, and in his final meet at the NCAA Championships, he won the three-meter diving event by 39.95 points. He won the one-meter diving event by 22.55 points, and Hassan left his mark on Division II diving in the process.
He set an NCAA record in the three-meter diving event as he scored 597 points in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC) Championships. Hassan will go down as one of the best divers ever in Division II history and this year cements that legacy.
Fred Green – Men’s Wrestling
It would’ve been an injustice to not include Green on this list. He earned the 165-pound national title to win the program’s second national championship. Green was also named the National Wrestling Coaches Association Super Region VI Wrestler of the Year as he was the highest rated wrestler in the RMAC and the region.
Green had a tremendous season as he finished with a 10-1 record. Since he transferred from Boise State University, Green has earned a 27-4 record at CMU. Green is a huge factor in the Mavericks earning an RMAC Title, and he helped CMU place eighth in the national tournament.
Green will go down as one of the best wrestlers in CMU history as he won the super regional tournament in back-to-back years. His dominance on the mat was something to be marveled at, and if this was the last time we saw him as a Maverick, he went out a winner.
Ethan Menzies – Men’s Basketball
Menzies took a huge step forward in his sophomore campaign for CMU. He averaged 5.9 points per game along with 3.4 rebounds per game his freshman year. Menzies jumped up to 15.9 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game.
He was arguably the best forward in the RMAC this season and his dominance helped the Mavericks finish with a 21-2 record. He was selected as the RMAC Tournament MVP and was named to the RMAC All-Tournament Team as well.
That dominance earned Menzies a spot on the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) All-America Team. This season, Menzies finished with four double-doubles and registered a career-high of 32 points.
He didn’t just step up for the Mavericks, he became a dominant force on both sides of the floor, and Menzies will terrorize the RMAC for at least two more years.
Honorable Mentions
Georgie Dancer – Men’s Basketball
Dancer was a key piece in the Mavericks 21-2 record. He had a calming presence on the young team, and he was named to the NABC All-West Region First Team.
He also was named to the RMAC All-Tournament Team as he finished the season averaging 12.6 points per game and 3.2 assists per game. Dancer served as the balance for the Mavericks this season. His playstyle switched back and forth between a scoring and facilitating role along with a mix between the two at times.
That balance in play style made the Mavericks tough to guard and kept opposing defenses on their toes.
Andrew Morris – Baseball
Morris finished the season as best pitcher in the RMAC with an earned run average of 2.14. He earned the RMAC pitcher of the year honor. He has a perfect 9-0 record in his appearances which includes his 15-strikeout game that almost went down as a no-hitter.
Morris has stepped up in his sophomore campaign as he leads the team with 113 strikeouts through 71.1 innings pitched. He also has pitched two complete game this season as he has been able to dominate the mound this year.
He has been able to control the mound with pace along with the placement of his pitches, and he has been a huge part of the Mavericks becoming the number one team in the nation.
