Colorado University Athletics
Buffs To Honor Erin Carson With Wahl Legacy Award
February 11, 2020 | Women's Basketball, Alumni C Club, Neill Woelk
BOULDER — Erin Carson came to the University of Colorado from British Columbia as the first commitment in Hall of Fame coach Ceal Barry's first full recruiting class in 1984 — a time when women's basketball was barely out of its infancy and just beginning to establish a foothold in the college sports environment.
Carson helped firm up that foothold during her four-year career with the Buffs, a stint that culminated with her serving as a captain of the program's first NCAA Tournament team in 1988. It was the first of what is now 13 NCAA Tournament appearances for the CU women, and Carson is deservedly proud of the foundation she and her teammates from that era put down.
But it wasn't until years later that Carson realized how much of a role the Buffs from those years actually played in helping women's basketball move into the mainstream.
"I was lucky enough to just come into it expecting to be treated like everyone else," Carson said recently. "I don't think at that point I had the true appreciation of what was really happening and how profound the experience for me was, how unique it was and how near it was to the beginning of this journey for women's sports."
But now, some three decades later, the realization has sunk in — and that connection has become even stronger, as Carson has been named the latest recipient of the Jane Wahl Legacy Award. The award is named in honor of CU's first director of women's athletics and bestowed to "a member of the CU women's basketball community, who through their achievements bring honor and recognition to the university and CU athletics."
Wahl, who arrived at CU in 1974, helped transform six club sports to varsity status, and was instrumental in securing scholarships for female athletes.
Carson recently had the opportunity to speak with Wahl, who left CU in 1979 to work on her doctorate's degree. Wahl was named the first recipient of the award named after her in 2014, and last year was inducted into the CU Sports Hall of Fame.
Other winners have included Class of 2020 Women's Basketball Hall of Famer Carol Callan, the longtime radio analyst for the CU women as well as a USA Basketball executive; and Lisa Van Goor, one of the program's early greats.
"She's an amazing, strong woman," Carson said of Wahl. "I'm just thankful there were so many women like her. She is ours. She's the Buff. And she paved the way for us to have what we have. I'm super stoked to be able to tell the story a little bit from my perspective, but also to be able to share a little bit to the young ladies that have opportunities that they have now to really appreciate how far we've come, and that it didn't come for free. People like Jane Wahl were there and had incredible foresight to what could be for us."
Carson earned her degree in kinesiology from CU and after graduation, dipped her toes into the world of coaching.
"I always had the dream of being a college basketball coach and I got a chance to walk that walk a little bit," Carson said. "(But) I think when all is said and done, we do all have a story that we're supposed to write for our life."
That story, it turned out, was to combine her CU degree with a business sense and a desire to work closely with athletes. She became co-owner of RallySport, where she has also served as the club's general manager and fitness director since 1992. Along the way, she has helped turn RallySport into a Boulder institution, recognized as one of the area's most successful and innovative health clubs.
Carson also runs ECFit Boulder, a strength program designed for athletes seeking to perform at their very best, with clients ranging from Olympians to everyday athletes.
"It was never a question what I wanted to do — I wanted to help athletes perform at their highest level," Carson said. "If that means they could be a world champion or an Olympian, or a former professor, and they're 82 years old and they want to ski three or four times a week. My passion is about performance and just living life at the highest possible level."
Through the years, Carson has kept a close eye not only on the CU women's team, but on women's sports in general. She has also done her best in her role at RallySport to advance women's sports.
"Looking at the changes, it's mind blowing," she said. "I think that at the time, we really didn't know what was possible. And then the prolific players and the training and the coaching and technology and sport just kept moving and moving. To watch these young women now, it's really mind blowing. They are smooth and silky and so athletic and so strong … I want to get out there. I would love to go measure up and see how my game could rock."
Carson will be honored before Friday night's Colorado game against Cal (7 p.m. tip) at a pre-game reception. She will also be honored on the court at halftime against the Bears.
