ALUMNI C CLUB NEWSLETTER March 2020

GREETINGS FROM C CLUB EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE FROM C CLUB PRESIDENT – – KIMBIRLY ORR ANDREW VAN ESSEN

As we share the latest First & foremost I would information about our alumni like to say how honored I am and student-athletes, we are to be given the opportunity to cognizant of the unique times lead the Alumni C Club and we are living in right now. The continue my contribution to Alumni C Club is following Athletics. I am very protocol established by CU, excited to be working with our NCAA and the PAC-12 new Executive Director, currently. While many events Kimbirly Orr, to improve and will be cancelled or postponed, your letterwinner’s create a sustainable club for all letterwinners to enjoy. By association will continue to engage and build being a dues paying member you can be a part of shaping membership. During my short time as Executive Director the C Clubs’ legacy and motto of “Athletes Helping I’ve enjoyed meeting many members at sports events, Athletes”. We are continuously listening to all your and truly enjoy learning about your passion for the C feedback, and as a result are planning to boost our Club. These conversations are driving my actions to communication through an email newsletter. For those increase volunteer service opportunities and engage as who don’t know much about me, I was fortunate to have many members as possible. Thank you for the time an outstanding academic and athletic career during my you’ve spent with me thus far. My office is always open, awesome time at CU. I came from Pomona High School as is my phone line, for new ideas and thoughts. My goal and walked-on to the Cheerleading team. Serving on the is to build the best letterwinner club in the country and board gave me an opportunity to give back to the your help is invited and appreciated. My office is in the University for the amazing opportunity they provided me. Champions Center, 5th Floor - 520D. Let’s talk: 303-492- I know my experiences have shaped who I am, and as a 0622 or by email at [email protected]. result, I am proud to help lead the Alumni C Club.

ALUMNI C CLUB NEWSLETTER

March 2020

WOMEN’S LACROSSE BANQUET

The Buff Club is working through CU soccer’s donors and alumnae to raise money for lights. Night games are currently not possible as Prentup Field does not have lights, thus CU cannot be scheduled for night Kimbirly Orr, C Club Executive Director, was invited games. Everyone is working toward this goal which is a to attend the Women’s Lacrosse banquet and got to game-changer for the program! For more info or if you meet the newest alumnae from this exuberant team! would like to contribute, please contact Casey Gibson at Coach Whidden and her staff produced an engaging [email protected]. event which was packed with current student athletes, alumnae and parents. This is a close group of athletes and 1969 LIBERTY BOWL FOOTBALL TEAM REUNION letterwinners. It was great to see 1st-time letterwinners Continuing the theme receive their jackets – with the senior student-athletes of fall reunions, CU Athletics insisting the traditional wearing of your 1st letter to be hosted the 25th Anniversary of carried on! the 1969 Liberty Bowl. This team stormed into the deep south, breaking color barriers in 1969 whilst beating Alabama 47-33!

In September, we saw an amazing gathering of men from all over the country. Special thanks to Ron Scott, John Emmerling, and Eric Harris for meeting with CU staff to ensure our outreach was broad.

Following the banquet, alumnae of the Women’s The team enjoyed several events including the Lacrosse program worked together to raise $2,500 for a Annual Living Legends induction dinner, a luncheon, and sound system in their locker room, as well as other a lot of discussion and memories about the game itself. needed commodities. This group of dynamic women The attendees were welcomed to a special luncheon by honored their Coach, Ann Elliott Whidden, with a plaque the CU Football Head Coach, and CU Athletics Director to commemorate this occasion. Rick George. It was a special time for all WOMEN’S SOCCER ALUMNAE WEEKEND evidenced by the When the Women’s Soccer Alumnae get together, feedback and thank you it’s a non-stop activity of reunion, family and fun. This notes we’ve received. It spirited group gathered on Prentup Field for a pre-game was an honor to tailgate and viewing of our current women’s soccer welcome and serve each team’s match vs. Oregon State. of you! ALUMNI C CLUB NEWSLETTER

March 2020

LIVING LEGENDS DINNER CU ATHLETICS HALL OF FAME The University of Colorado defines a living legend Congrats to the 10 members of the 2019 CU Athletics Hall of Fame class who were inducted on as one who earned their 1st varsity letter 50 years ago. On November 7th: , Jenny (Barringer) Simpson, October 3rd, CU welcomed back 21 men who earned their Brian Cabral, , Bruce Gamble, Barry Helton, first “C” in 1969. Ed Pudlik, Dan Reese, Jana (Rehemaa) Weinberger and Jane Wahl.

Special note: Try as we did to find all potential recipients, we want to encourage everyone to keep their data updated through this link: https://cubuffs.com/sb_output.aspx?form=5. We can’t invite you to reunions, Living Legends, Hall of Fame or any event if we don’t know how to reach you. As your letterwinner association, we want you to stay in touch with us. The returned mail from our Living Legends outreach was staggering. If you know someone who says they don’t hear from the Alumni C Club, chances are we don’t know where they are. Feel free to share this link, or this newsletter, with CU alumni you stay in touch with on HONORARY C RECIPIENTS a regular basis. Congrats to our 10 Honorary C Recipients of 2020:

Bruce & Marcy Benson, Yvonne DiStefano, Chuck Brega, Roy Edwards, Jamie Guy, Ryan Newman, Dan Riley, Tom Smith and Bill Taylor; who were all honored during the CU Vs. Washington game on January 25th.

ALUMNI C CLUB NEWSLETTER

March 2020

SOX WALSETH ERA HONORED AT REUNION By: Neill Woelk, CUBuffs.com The Walseth era is the sixth to be honored, joining former Buffs coaches , , , Joe Dozens of players Harrington and . "Sox's name is on the representing three decades court, he's in the (CU Sports) Hall of Fame," Boyle said. at Colorado gathered for the "He's the best to coach here and they always say save the Russell "Sox" Walseth best for last." reunion in Boulder as the era of CU's all-time Boyle is now second on CU's all-time win list with a winningest men's basketball 201-126 record. He welcomed the Walseth-era Buffs at a coach was recognized. Saturday (1-11) morning practice, introduced them to the current team and then hosted a luncheon for both Walseth, whose name groups. is emblazoned on the CU Events Center court, coached at CU for 20 years (1956-76), where he compiled a 261-245 record while playing in one of the nation's toughest conferences (Big Seven/Big Eight). In an era when only the regular season conference champions earned NCAA Tournament berths, Walseth won three Big Eight regular season titles (1961-62, '62-63 and '68-69), took his teams to three NCAA Tournaments, and was named the Big Eight Coach of the Year five times.

Walseth also coached the CU women's team from Walseth no doubt had a big impact on CU's 1980-83, compiling a 77-21 record that included a perfect basketball tradition, but many of his players also 43-0 record at home in his tenure. mentioned the effect he had on them long after their playing careers were over. The annual reunions were started by current CU head coach , who greatly values the Colorado "Sox taught more than basketball," said Ken program's tradition. It has been a point of emphasis Charlton, a two-time all-conference player from the 1962 throughout his 10-year tenure, and each year CU hosts a and '63 conference champions and NCAA Tournament reunion for former players. The reunions are open to all teams. "He taught us about families. We watched his kids Buffs, but each year, a coach from the past and players grow up and we saw how he treated them and how from that specific era are recognized. important family was. Those were the types of things that helped anybody who played for Sox. He had values that were important. Some of the kids that came here didn't come from great backgrounds, and that kind of environment was very valuable for them. Those kinds of things stuck with you for life. You learned how to live your life, and that's what Sox taught us along with basketball."

Reunion attendees were celebrated at a Saturday (1-11) night reception in Boulder, and were recognized at the Colorado-Utah game at the Events Center on January 12th. ALUMNI C CLUB NEWSLETTER

March 2020

MEN’S BASKETBALL FOOTBALL

The team had some great wins The team ended the regular including defeating Nebraska & season at 21-10 and tied for fifth in the Arizona State when they were ranked, Pac-12 at 10-8. CU tied the school- and beating two of the perennial Pac- record for regular season wins, 12 powers, Stanford and Washington. recording the 11th 20-win season in Several of the seniors and one junior, program history. Colorado spent 13 Laviska Shenault, declared for the NFL weeks ranked in the Associated Press draft and will go on to play on Top 25 poll, reaching as high as No. 16 Sundays: 31 of the 32 NFL teams on Feb. 10. The Buffs are considered a scouted games in person this fall, over half doing so strong candidate to advance to the NCAA Tournament. multiple times. There was an increase of over 1,000 Junior McKinley Wright was also named one of 10 season tickets and a sellout of the allotment of student finalists for the Bob Cousy Point Guard of the Year Award passes (12,500); Folsom Field sold out twice and, in the and classmate Tyler Bey was named a finalist for the Karl end, the Buffs finished at 98.8 percent capacity, one of Malone Power Forward of the Year Award. the top 10 figures in the nation. , Miami Dolphins assistant coach, was named as head coach. WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Led by junior Mya Hollingshed MEN’S GOLF and freshman Jaylyn Sherrod the team The Buffs defended their titles recorded its’ best start to the season, in two fall tournaments, winning the 12-0, since 2011-12. CU finished 16-14 Gene Miranda-Air Force Falcon and went 5-13 in the toughest Invitational as well as their own Mark conference in the nation. The Buffs Simpson-CU Invitational. In the ended a lengthy losing streak against process, those were the 16th and 17th ranked opponents when they beat No. team victories for Coach Roy Edwards, 11 Arizona in Boulder. CU had nine of its conference which set a school record as he tied losses come against ranked opponents this season, and then surpassed 16 by the late including eight inside the top-10. Mark Simpson. Senior Daniel O’Loughlin enters the spring portion of the schedule as one of Pac-12’s (and nation’s) top players, as he won one fall tournament (CU’s CROSS COUNTRY Simpson) and owned a sparkling 70.4 stroke average.

The cross country teams finished WOMEN’S GOLF the year with a pair of top 10 finishes at the NCAA Championships with the The team participated in five men placing third and the women 10th. fall tournaments and recorded top The men were led by seniors Joe nine finishes in all, as Anne Kelly’s Klecker who was the runner-up finisher young team is maturing (five and John Dressel who placed seventh. underclassmen on the roster of Senior Sage Hurta was the first CU seven). The young team has continued female to finish (38th), becoming just to improve this spring, placing fifth in the second CU female to earn All-America honors four a match play tournament and sixth at times in cross country. CU also did well at the Pac-12 the Rebel Beach Invitational. This is Championships: Klecker took home the individual crown Kelly’s 23rd season as head coach, as she has become the and helped the Buffs record their seventh Pac-12 team longest-tenured female head coach in CU history. title. The women were fourth at the meet and again were led by Hurta, who was ninth overall. ALUMNI C CLUB NEWSLETTER

March 2020

LACROSSE TENNIS

The CU Lacrosse team has been Under coach Danielle Steinberg, picked second in the 2020 Pac-12 the Buffs were semifinalists in doubles Preseason Coaches’ Poll, behind at the annual ITA Mountain Regional Southern California. USC won the Championship as well as had Sara 2019 regular season title (9-1) as well Nayar as a finalist in singles play. as the tournament Nayar and Monica Malinen were championship, while the Buffs were invited to the ITA All-American the tournament runner-up and Championships where they advanced finished second in the regular season (8-2). The 2020 to the quarterfinals in doubles play. Additionally, campaign officially got underway for CU on February freshmen Maria Campos and Sophia Derivan picked up 8th, against Florida in Gainesville, Fla. The Buffs will be two flight wins in the Rice and Rebel Invitationals. The hosting Oregon for the conference opener. team is 8-4 in its’ spring season and is poised and ready to begin Pac-12 play. SKIING TRACK & FIELD The ski team heads to the Dani Jones began her season at NCAA Championships with a strong the Colorado Invitational where she 12-skier squad capable of bringing broke a 42-year old school record in home the program’s 21st national the 800M while Joe Klecker broke the championship. Mikaela Tommy was Colorado school record in the mile at named the MVP of the RMISA after 4:01.00. Both went to the Millrose winning five giant slalom races on the Games where Klecker was second in season, setting a new record. Nine the 3,000M and Jones put down the members of the team were named All-RMISA, including sixth-best time in the mile in NCAA history. Jones was seven on the first team and 10 of the 12 Buffs named the USTFCCCA Mountain Regional Track Athlete of representing CU at the NCAA Championship had at least the Year. Jones, Klecker, Makena Morley and the Women’ one podium appearance this season. Distance Medley Relay all qualified for the NCAA

Championships in Albuquerque. SOCCER VOLLEYBALL The team earned its fifth appearance in the NCAA The Buffs started out the Championships under eighth-year season strong with five straight wins, head coach Danny Sanchez; a 6-0 win including impressive sweeps of Iowa over Northern Colorado was CU’s fifth and then No. 5 Illinois in the annual first round win. The second-round Pac-12/Big Ten Challenge series and match was against #2 ranked North ended it with an overall record of 13- Carolina, the third time the Buffs have 7. Senior Rachel Whipple became just been pitted against the Tar Heels on their home field, the fourth CU player with multiple 400 and for the third time, CU battled hard but lost, 1-0. dig seasons and three players earned all-conference Senior goalie Jalen Tompkins, who made an incredible recognition, two honorable mention All-Pac-12 (Jenna nine saves against North Carolina, and the program’s all- Ewert & Justine Spann) along with Sterling Parker named time leading points scorer, Taylor Kornieck, both earned to the All-Freshman team. All-Pacific Region recognition. The team finished 12-8-2 on the season. ALUMNI C CLUB NEWSLETTER

March 2020

Basic – No Annual Dues • Opportunity to attend a Fall Camp Football Practice. • All letterwinners are basic members by virtue • Two (2) complimentary Rooftop passes to a of earning a letter at the University of Home Football Game of choice. Colorado. • Two (2) Food & two (2) Beverage tickets for each • Invitations to C Club activities. Alumni C Club Home Football Pregame Tailgate. • Invitation to pay a la carte for Alumni C Club • Opportunity to attend Coach’s “Chalk Talk” events. during Football, Men’s or Women’s Basketball seasons. Black – Annual Dues of $60 • 20% discount on two (2) Football and two (2) • One (1) complimentary admission to all Men’s Basketball season tickets. ticketed sporting events (excluding Football • Invitation to all Alumni C Club special events and Men’s Basketball). (Living Legends, Hall of Fame, etc.). • • Two (2) complimentary Football tickets to the Invitation to Buffs Helping Buffs Homecoming Football Game in Section 103. Networking/Career Night events. • • Opportunity to book a tour of the Champions Opportunity to book a tour of the Champions Center or the CU Events Center. Center or the CU Events Center. Silver – Annual Dues of $80 to $174 Out-of-State – Annual Dues of $115

• One (1) complimentary admission to all • One (1) complimentary admission to all ticketed sporting events (excluding Football ticketed sporting events (excluding Football and Men’s Basketball). and Men’s Basketball). • • One (1) complimentary Football ticket to each Two (2) complimentary Football tickets and two Home Football Game in Section 103. (2) Food & two (2) Beverage tickets, for Buffs Bash or Alumni C Club Football Pregame Tailgate, • One (1) complimentary Rooftop pass to a Home at an Away Game of Choice. Football Game of choice. • Two (2) complimentary tickets to a Home • 20% discount on two (2) Football and two (2) Football or Basketball Game. Men’s Basketball season tickets. • 20% off Two (2) tickets for a Home Football • Two (2) Food & two (2) Beverage tickets for each Game. Alumni C Club Home Football Pregame Tailgate. • Invitation to all Alumni C Club special events • Invitation to all Alumni C Club special events (Living Legends, Hall of Fame, etc.). (Living Legends, Hall of Fame, etc.). • Opportunity to book a tour of the Champions Eternal – One-Time Dues Payment of $3,000+ Center or the CU Events Center. • All benefits of Gold membership without Gold – Annual Dues of $175+ having to pay annual dues. Season tickets will • One (1) complimentary admission to all be mailed if opted in. ticketed sporting events (excluding Football • For more information on Eternal and Men’s Basketball). Membership, please contact the Alumni C • Two (2) complimentary Football ticket to each Club at 303-492-0622 or Home Football Game in Section 103. [email protected]

ALUMNI C CLUB NEWSLETTER

March 2020

Cliff Branch, one of the Lennie Ciufo, a Linebacker (#64) for the Colorado most electrifying players in CU Football team from 1971-73, from Crespi Carmelite High Football history, passed away this School in Encino, CA, passed away at the age of 67 this past August (2019) at the age of February (2020). If you would like to honor Lennie, please 71. He was a dual-sport athlete consider a donation to the Crespi Man Fund at Crespi.org. competing in track, still holding the CU 100M record, and a Wide Receiver (#23) for the Buffs Football team (1970-72). Cliff played for the Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders from 1972-86 and won three (3) Super Bowls. He was inducted into the CU Athletic Hall of Fame in 2010.

James Hunter, passed away this past September (2019) at the early age of 49. He was a Guard (#34) for the CU Basketball Randy Robinson, a Guard/Forward (#25) for the team from 1988-92. James CU Basketball team from 1988-93, from Kearny Senior averaged 9.1 points, 3.4 High School in San Diego, CA, passed away at the age of rebounds and 1.7 assists in 63 50 this January (2020). Photo below: (Left to Right) Ken games for the Buffaloes. He Countryman, Kirk Williams, Brent Vaughan, Stevie Wise, helped Colorado to 19 wins and a third-place finish at the Shaun Vandiver, Ted Allen, Poncho Hodges, Jordan Smith, National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in 1991. At the time, Jeff Penix, Scott Wilke, & Bill Peterson. Hunter ranked as CU's second-leading all-time 3-point shooter, having made 60 of 165 long range attempts and was 49th in career scoring with 575 points. Anthony “T.J.” Cunningham, a Wide Receiver/Cornerback (#8) for the CU Football team from 1992-95, passed away at the young age of 43 last February (2019). He was a part of four (4) bowl teams with CU and had 21 career receptions for 239 yards as a receiver before switching to defensive back in 1995. T.J. was the No. 209th overall pick (sixth round) in the 1996 NFL draft by the Seattle Seahawks. He appeared in nine games with the Seahawks in 1996 with one fumble recovery. HOW DOES MY MEMBERSHIP BENEFIT THE C CLUB? Your membership allows the C Club to provide several programs, activities and events. Check out the C Club Events Page for more information on current events. Here are a few key programs: • The Annual Living Legends Banquet honoring letterwinners 50 years after they first letter • CU Athletics Hall of Fame and the Hall of Fame Banquet • Alumni C Club Newsletter • Pregame Events at Home Football Games and select Basketball Games • Sport Reunions • Career Networking Opportunities • 1st Year Alumni C Club Graduates "Gift" Membership

The Alumni C Club is creating captains, sport-by-sport. If you would like to volunteer to be a team captain to help with our membership outreach, please send an email to [email protected].

Let's stay in touch so you don’t miss any Alumni C Club benefits! Please update your contact information here.

What does it mean to be an alumni athlete from the University of Colorado? Wearing our colors and singing our FIGHT SONG is for life.

Alumni C Club Letterwinner Rings

The ring is available to all “Active” members and a small portion will be contributed to the Alumni C Club to support future athletic sponsored activities. To customize and order your Alumni C Club Ring, Email: [email protected] or Call (970)-223-7119.

Men’s Ring Order Form Women’s Ring Order Form President’s Ring Order Form

Buffs Go Pro

The Scripps Leadership & Career Development Buffs Go Pro Program focuses on developing professional success by providing student- athletes with workshops, career learning experiences and transition programs into and out of CU. Through this program, student-athletes have access to:

One on One Career Support | Resume Reviews & Interview Prep | Flex- Internships | Job Shadows, & more!

As a former student-athlete, your experience and transition after CU are invaluable for current student-athletes, and we welcome you to get involved through Buffs Go Pro!

We have many different opportunities for you to get involved with our program and engage with student-athletes: • Hire a Buff - If your organization has summer interns, entry- level jobs, or opportunities for employment for student- athletes, you can post these on BuffsGoPro.com, our all new career platform. • Host a Job Shadow - Hosting a group of student-athletes for a day provides them with opportunities to learn more and look behind the scenes in different industries. • Attend Events – From our Fall Job & Internship Fair to Lunch with a Buff and industry-specific networking nights, there is a myriad of opportunities to connect with student-athletes.

For more information, and to get involved, please contact Lauren Unrein at [email protected] or (303) 492-1399, and follow us on social media @CUBuffsLead!