Metivier, Vaughn Named CU Athletes-of-the-Year At 5th Annual CUSPY's

BOULDER - Renee Metivier and Brent Vaughn, two student-athletes who played pivotal roles in leading Colorado to national championships in women's and men's cross country, were honored as the 2004-05 University of Colorado Athletes of the Year this past Tuesday night at the fifth annual CUSPY Awards (CU Sports Performers of the Year).

Over 400 student-athletes, coaches and staff attended the year-end banquet at the Coors Events Center, organized by CU's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) to honor athletic accomplishments.

Metivier dominated women's cross country in 2004, as she was the Big 12 Conference and Mountain Region champion among five victories in all, with her only "defeat" coming at the NCAA Championships where she finished as the runner-up. The senior led CU to its second national championship in the sport in earning All-America honors, but she was just heating up in the fall. In indoor track, she was the NCAA 3,000-meter champion, topping off a winter that included being named the conference's Indoor Performer of the Year after winning two titles and finishing second in a third event. In outdoor track, she's already posted the nation's second fastest time in the steeplechase.

Only the third sophomore to win since the award was implemented in 1985, Vaughn finished second in the Big 12 Championships, fifth at the Mountain Regional and fourth in the NCAA Championships, leading the Buffaloes to titles in all three meets. He also won two Big 12 indoor titles, including the fourth-fastest 5k in NCAA history in being named the conference's Indoor Performer of the Year. The All-American in both cross country and indoor track is the fifth straight member of the cross country and track teams to claim the award.

Previous Winners

(Male/Female)

1984-85: Alex Stivrins, Basketball

Lisa VanGoor, Basketball

1985-86: Mike Kubitschek, X-C/Track

Kris Holwerda, Basketball

1986-87: Barry Remington, Football

Julie Moore, Basketball & Donna Waller, Track

1987-88: Mickey Pruitt, Football

Chris McNamara, Track

1988-89: John Lindberg, Golf

Crystal Ford, Basketball

1989-90: Per Kare Jakobsen, Skiing

Lisa Soulliere, Volleyball

1990-91: Mike Pritchard, Football

Tina Murray, Volleyball

1991-92: Jay Leeuwenburg, Football

Karol Damon, Track & Field

1992-93: Jeff Spiers, Tennis

Jennifer Jones, X-C & Skiing

1993-94: Charles Johnson, Football

Andreja Rojs, Skiing

1994-95: Kordell Stewart, Football

Shelley Sheetz, Basketball & Karrie Downey, Volleyball

1995-96: Alan Culpepper, X-C/Track

Karen McIntosh, Tennis & Leah Williams, Volleyball

1996-97: Matt Russell, Football

Shayne Wille, X-C/Track

1997-98: Ryan Sutter, Football

Line Selnes, Skiing

1998-99: Adam Goucher, X-C/Track & Ove Erik Tronvoll, Skiing

Sandra Fischer, Tennis

1999-00: Jaquay Walls, Basketball & Andy LeRoy, Skiing

Kara Wheeler,X-C/Track

2000-01: Jorge Torres, X-C/Track

Kara Grgas-Wheeler, X-C/Track

2001-02: Jorge Torres, X-C/Track

Mandy Nightingale, Basketball & Mari Storeng, Skiing

2002-03: Jorge Torres, X-C/Track

Tera Bjorklund, Basketball & Sara Slattery, Track

2003-04: Dathan Ritzenhein, X-C/Track

Monique Gerlach, Volleyball

2004-05: Brent Vaughn, X-C/Track

Renee Metivier, X-C/Track

Bobby Purify captured the men's career athletic achievement award, as the senior overcame several injuries over the course of his career, including his senior year, to finish as CU's third all-time leading rusher with 3,016 yards. The versatile Colorado Springs product became the first player to have over 2,500 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving in a CU career, as well as only the 11th player in Big 12 history to record 3,000 rushing and 500 receiving. He had 1,017 yards last fall, the 13th time a CU player has rushed for over the magical thousand mark.

Sara Slattery won the female career athletic achievement award. Starting her career off with the 2000 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year honor in cross country was only the first sign of things to come. Five years later, she's racked up a total of 10 All-America honors (eight in track), six Big 12 individual titles in indoor and outdoor competition and the NCAA title in the indoor 5K in 2003, as she owns school records in the indoor mile, 3k, 5k and the outdoor 5k. She is the only athlete to be a member of both of CU's national champion women's cross country teams (2001, 2004).

Previous Winners

(Male/Female)

1998-99: Adam Goucher, Cross Country/Track

Heather Burroughs, Cross Country/Track

1999-00: Ron Roybal, Cross Country/Track

Kelly Campbell, Volleyball

2000-01: Matt Call, Golf

Kara Grgas-Wheeler, Cross Country/Track

2001-02: Daniel Graham, Football

Jodie Hughes, Cross Country/Track

2002-03: Stephane Pelle, Basketball & Jorge Torres, X-C/Track

Molly Austin, Cross Country/Track

2003-04: Kane Webber, Golf

Tera Bjorklund, Basketball

2004-05: Bobby Purify, Football

Sara Slattery, Cross Country/Track

The Freshmen of the Year awards, in their third year of existence, were extremely tough for the selection committee to award, so tough for the men that there was a tie.

The male winners were Jordon Dizon (football) and Richard Roby (basketball), as there was no way to split the pair.

Dizon enjoyed one of the finest seasons by a true freshman in CU football history, claiming Big 12 defensive newcomer and freshman-of-the-year honors. He led all conference frosh in tackles with 82, establishing a CU true freshman record, while his 10 starts tied for the second most by a true frosh in school history. He had two game-saving tackles in the final seconds against both Colorado State and Washington State.

Roby led the Buffalo men in scoring, averaging 16 points per game, the second most by a freshman in school history. In earning honorable mention all-Big 12 honors, he scored 480 points on the season and was CU's go-to player from the get-go, twice earning Big 12 Rookie of the Week honors.

The third finalist, James Strang (cross country) posted the fourth highest finish by a freshman in the NCAA Championships, but his key role was in defeating Wisconsin's fifth-man to pave the way for CU's national title.

The woman's winner was cross country's Liza Pasciuto, the USA Junior Cross Country champion who helped the CU women to the NCAA title. She was the top freshman finisher at the Big 12 Championships (10th overall), and was CU's second finisher, 13th overall, at the NCAA meet.

Previous Freshmen of the Year Winners

(Male/Female)

2002-03: J.J. Billingsley, Football

Fran Munnelly, Soccer

2003-04: Brian Daniels, Football

Katie Griffin, Soccer

2004-05: Jordon Dizon, Football & Richard Roby, Basketball

Liza Pasciuto, Cross Country & Track

SAAC members selected several award winners, as former assistant trainer Andrea Dubay was recognized as the staff member of the year; she worked closely with CU's cross country and track programs for several years before departing to enter private business in Longmont last month. The Student Athlete Support Award was given to the Facilities & Grounds staff, as they were citied for their dedicated work in making the facilities outstanding as well as safe for CU's 300-plus student-athletes.

Carly Newlands, the president of SAAC, was recognized with the organization's inaugural Advisor Award for Leadership Achievement. Newlands also won the NCAA Leadership Conference Award, presented by last year's winner, Antoine McGee of the men's basketball team. She will represent CU at the national conference later this spring.

The Athlete's Choice Award, for the student who demonstrated outstanding spirit, enthusiasm and leadership while overcoming adversity, was awarded to Vaughn for overcoming an assortment of leg injuries he endured as a freshman.

Slattery and basketball player Veronica Johns-Richardson were each presented with the Buffalo Award of Distinction, given to a student-athlete(s) for outstanding contributions to their team, their peers and the athletic department overall.

The Strength & Conditioning Lifters of the Year were awarded to four athletes: James Garee (football), Allie Griffin (volleyball), Sam Napp (track & field) and Darcy Smerchek (soccer).

Colorado University Athletics

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