CU Buffs
CU’s AD Mike Bohn mysteriously quits or is fired
May 28th
By nearly every measure (except football), Bohn’s tenure has been successful
University of Colorado Boulder Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano today announced he has accepted the resignation of CU-Boulder Athletic Director Mike Bohn, effective June 3.
“Mike Bohn led CU-Boulder athletics in a time of great transition and change,” said DiStefano. “We are grateful to him for his vision, passion and commitment, and for his key role in revitalizing men’s and women’s basketball, helping us to join the Pac-12 Conference, and in taking important steps to upgrade athletic facilities at CU-Boulder. We wish him well.”
DiStefano said he will in the coming days appoint a search committee to conduct a national search for Bohn’s successor.
DiStefano said the university will be seeking “a dynamic leader” as athletic director – someone who, he said, “can focus on our key goals of fundraising, building a dynamic organization, and creating long-term sustainability in the athletics mission.”
The university in February announced a $50 million facilities fundraising campaign as the anchor of a $170 million multiphase, multiyear upgrade of CU athletics facilities at Folsom Field and the Dal Ward Center, and the development of an indoor practice facility.
“We are seeking a talented leader who can build on Mike’s vision and make it a reality,” said DiStefano.
Bohn was named the university’s sixth athletic director on April 13, 2005, five months after CU Athletic Director Dick Tharp stepped down.
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CU v-baller Taylor Simpson chosen for national team
May 7th
Simpson Named To USA A2 National Team
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Taylor Simpson, a junior-to-be on the University of Colorado volleyball team, has been selected to the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Senior A2 Program that will train and compete this summer.
“We are very excited that Taylor was selected for this wonderful opportunity,” coach Liz Kritza said. “Taylor is a very gifted athlete and a welcomed addition to our program here at CU. The experience she will gain from being on the USA team will no doubt benefit her development and I am sure she will represent us well.”
The U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Senior A2 program is available to athletes with collegiate eligibility remaining for the 2013 season. This program is scheduled to take place in Dallas from June 25 to July 4 in conjunction with the USA Volleyball Girls’ Junior National Championships. The roster contains 48 athletes from 29 different universities. Simpson is the first CU athlete to be chosen for the team since Ashley Nu’u in 2005.
“I am really excited and honored to have been chosen for this, and look forward to a competitive and productive training and playing session with the A2 team,” Simpson said.
The A2 program coaching staff will include Andy Banachowski, Mike Hebert, Ruth Nelson and Bill Neville who will serve as team head coaches. Assistant coaches with the A2 program are Ashley Allen, Terry Condon, Linda Hampton and Marci Sanders. Technical coordinators/assistant coaches for the A2 program are Kevin Hitt, Nicki Holmes, Eugene Tichenor and Jay Van Vark.
During the six-day training period from June 25-30, the 48 athletes will be divided into four equal teams that will compete in pool play against the other A2 program teams and the top four Premier Volleyball League (PVL) teams. After pool play, the four A2 program teams and PVL teams will split into their own divisions to determine the medalist teams in the competition.
The athletes were selected via the U.S. Women’s National Volleyball Team Open Tryouts held Feb. 22-24 at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. The tryout attracted a record 240 participants, 33 more than the previous best mark set in 2012. Athletes selected to both the A2 program and the U.S. Women’s Junior National Volleyball Team (WJNT) could only participate in the WJNT program with the 2013 FIVB Volleyball Women’s Junior World Championship as the priority event.
Simpson, who joined the CU volleyball program in January, is not a stranger to USA Volleyball as she was a member of the 2010 U.S. Youth Olympic Team that finished second in Singapore. She led the team at the tournament and recorded 11 kills, six blocks and an ace in the final match of the tournament.
Simpson, an outside hitter, joined this Buffs this past January after stints at Nebraska and Missouri. In 2011, Simpson was a freshman for the Huskers and played in 12 matches before she was sidelined with a season-ending injury. As a sophomore in 2012, she played in 14 matches for the Tigers and started in eight of those contests. Simpson recorded 118 kills and hit .167 during the year and also added 50 digs and 30 blocks. She had 12 kills and 13 digs against Virginia Tech (August 26) and led the Tigers with 11 kills against Appalachian State (Sept. 1).
Simpson had a much decorated career at Doherty High School. As a senior, she garnered numerous awards, which included being named the Colorado 5A Player of the Year and earning the Sportswomen of Colorado high school volleyball award. Simpson was named the No. 9 player in the country by Prepvolleyball.com and was named to Volleyball Magazine’s Fab-50. Simpson played in the Under Armour All-American game for the red team and was also named to the AVCA High School All-American first team, as well as an ESPN RISE All-American honorable mention selection. Simpson was also tabbed as a Preseason All-American by MaxPreps. She also recorded 471 kills, 60 blocks, 312 digs and 21 aces as a senior.
During Simpson’s senior and junior years, she was named to the All-Colorado Team, PrepVolleyball.com’s High School All-American Team, First Team All-Colorado 5A and helped her team finish third at the state championships both seasons.
As a junior, Simpson was named to the MaxPreps All-American Team and PrepVolleyball’s Top-50 Juniors list. She was also honored as the Colorado 5A Player of the Year. That season she notched 446 kills, 46 blocks, 30 aces and 289 digs.
During her three seasons at DHS, Simpson was named first team All-Colorado Springs Metro League and first team All-4A/5A Area. As a sophomore, she helped DHS to a fifth-place finish at the state championship and was named to the All-Colorado 5A second team.
– Colorado Volleyball –
Linda Sprouse
Assistant Sports Information Director
Volleyball/Cross Country/Track & Field
University of Colorado
CU trackster Abrianna Torres finishes 3rd in PAC-12 heptathalon
May 6th
LOS ANGELES – University of Colorado redshirt freshman Abrianna Torres had a weekend to remember as she earned a third-place finish in the heptathlon on Sunday at the Pac-12 Track & Field Championships with a personal record of 5,357 points.
As a team, the Buffs picked up 12 points in the heptathlon with senior Brianne Beemer placing fifth (5,238) and junior Genny Mayden taking seventh overall (5,161).
Torres’ score moved her up to sixth on CU’s all-time performers list in the heptathlon. She narrowly beat out Cal’s Jaci Powell for the bronze as Powell was just six points behind Torres (5,351). Arizona State’s Keia Pinnick won with 5,801 points.
Torres had a great afternoon, recording personal bests in two of the three events. She jumped 19-4 to place second in the long jump and even though it wasn’t a PR, it was the best jump for her in a heptathlon and placed 10th on the school’s all-time heptathlon list. Torres launched a lifetime best in the javelin with the third best throw by a CU heptathlete (132-11), which also placed second. She finished strong and knocked over seven seconds off her previous PR in the 800, crossing the finish in 2:25.09 for seventh.
Beemer also had a nice day. She was eighth in the long jump after recording a jump of 16-10.50 and then PR’d in the javelin by almost four feet with a throw of 120-0. Beemer finished her day with a runner-up finish in the 800, clocking in at 2:15.56. She was half a second from the winner, Pinnick, who finished in 2:15.06.
Rounding out CU’s score in the heptathlon was Mayden. She was fifth in the long jump (18-2.50), which was just less than five inches of her PR. Mayden took seventh in the javelin after earning a mark of 118-4 and finished the day with a PR of 2:21.68 in the 800.
In the decathlon, Brock Emory picked up a point for the team score by placing eighth overall with a personal best of 6,927 points. The score is the 11th best in CU history and also put him sixth on the all-timer performer’s list for the Buffs. Oregon’s Dakotah Keys won the decathlon with 8,001 points.
Emory started the day in the 110-meter hurdles by clocking 15.01 for fourth place; which tied the seventh best time in the decathlon for the Buffs. He was third in the discus with a toss of 129-11 and that was also high in CU’s decathlon record book as it tied for sixth. Emory tied for ninth overall in the pole vault after clearing 13-1.50 and then was eighth in the javelin with a PR of 157-5. He ended the day by running 4:58.79 in the 1,500.
“There were many scenarios which I would have been thrilled with today,” assistant coach Lindsey Malone said. “Leaving the track with Colorado in the lead on the women’s side and having every Colorado athlete earn a spot on the podium means more than I can say. I’m so very proud of our team and thankful that we were able to represent CU on this level.”
The Pac-12 Championships will continue next weekend, May 11-12, at Katherine B. Locker Stadium on the campus of USC.
CU media release
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