Sports Reporter
Photo by: Clinton (Buddy) Brown
mfreter@mavs.coloradomesa.edu
At the end of the fall semester, most of the CMU student body had the luxury of taking a five-week vacation that involved family, friends and plenty of relaxation. However, the student-athletes in winter sports spent that time differently.
The members of the wrestling squad and men’s and women’s basketball spent that time with their other family (their teammates) and sacrificed the long vacation for their sports. So far this season, it has paid off.
CMU athletics is having quite possibly its most successful winter season in school history. Between the three teams in competition, women’s basketball and wrestling are nationally ranked in the top 10 in D2 and men’s basketball is receiving votes in the national poll. Their records are a combined 47-5.
CMU assistant Athletic Director Bryan Rooks explained that the national rankings are sure to bring CMU plenty of attention.
“The exposure it gives this university in general is magnificent,” Rooks said. “I’m sure there are people all over this nation right now who are looking at national polls and see Colorado Mesa and want to look us up on the web.”
The most notable success on campus has been the dominance of the basketball program. Under first year head coach Taylor Wagner, the undefeated women’s team has already surpassed their win total from all of last year with 17 victories, including two wins this past weekend against Metro State and Regis University.
This unprecedented start has put the Mavs at No. 4 in the latest NCAA National Poll, the highest ranking in the program’s history. Their unblemished record is one of only four left in D2. Individually, senior forward Kelsey Sigl is ranked in the top 50 nationally in points per game (17.5) and free throw percentage (85.7%), while junior guard Sharaya Selsor is ranked top five nationally in three point shooting percentage (46.9%).
The men’s team is currently sporting a 13-4 record after splitting their conference games this weekend. Despite the loss to Metro on Friday, the team is receiving votes in the NCAA National Poll and is off to its best start since the 2009-10 season when they finished 23-6 and gained an NCAA tournament bid. CMU’s other assistant Athletic Director Kristin Mort stated that success has become a standard under coach Jim Heaps in his tenure at CMU.
“The one thing you always get with coach Heaps is a better team that is usually playing their best at the end of the season,” Mort said. “Their system always seems to start clicking at the right times.”
The Maverick wrestling team is also receiving national attention. Coach Pipher and his squad are 17-1 and recently climbed to the 10th spot in the NCAA rankings, a feat never accomplished by any wrestling team in CMU history. Their only defeat came against top ranked St. Cloud State University earlier this month. 13 members of the team have already eclipsed the 10-win mark this season, including freshman Johnathon Stelling, redshirt junior Justin Schumacher and senior Nick Petersen who are one win away from reaching 20.
While they may not be in the spotlight, the women’s rugby, indoor track, and skiing teams have begun their seasons as well. Rugby is coming off of an impressive fall campaign and is looking to make it to the playoffs once again.
The ski team placed top five in the men’s and women’s division in Alpine Skiing at Winter Park, while track and field competed in an invitational at the Air Force Academy last month and had several top eight performers on both the men’s and women’s teams.
“It’s fun to watch our kids be successful and I think it has created a lot more student engagement,” Mort said. “I couldn’t tell you the last time our women’s team had a crowd like they did this past weekend. The feeling was pretty electric.”
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