7 minute read
Athletics
Katelyn Smith ’16 is the new athletic director
Smith established herself as a key member of the Grizzly athletic department in 2018 when she first joined it as business manager, then earning promotions to co-athletic director and serving as the key point of contact for Title IX at Adams State. With additional experience in booster memberships, game day operations, and team travel, she stood head-and-shoulders above a field of more than 100 applicants.
“Katelyn rose to the top because of her passion for Adams State University athletics and her strong desire to ensure our student-athletes have a successful experience in the classroom as well as on the field and court,” said President Lovell.
“She bleeds green and white and is a great example of our Grizzly spirit. I have every confidence in Katelyn and her abilities to be the one who will lead our Grizzly athletic program into a successful future. She brings the right mix of strong leadership and enthusiasm to be our successful AD for many years to come.” Smith oversees an athletic department of 45 staff members and 600-plus student-athletes at Adams State. “We hold our student-athletes to a high standard and expect them to succeed both in the classroom and on the court or field,” she said. One of her immediate goals is to raise the cumulative GPA of Adams State studentathletes to above 3.0. “Simply put, we will improve our academic success rate and continue to recruit, retain, and graduate. Part of my duties include serving as the SAAC (Student-athlete advisory committee) advisor and the SWA (Senior Woman Administrator). These additional duties have allowed me to build relationships with our diverse student-athlete body and become a mentor for them as they manage and juggle the challenges of being a collegiate student-athlete.”
As athletic director, Smith manages an annual operating budget of $4.4 million, as well as oversees the Grizzly Booster Club and the department’s annual fundraising efforts. Smith earned a Bachelor of Science in kinesiology from Pacific Lutheran University, Washington, in 2014. She made her way from there to Alamosa and Adams State, where she completed her Master of Science in exercise science in 2016.
As athletic director she serves on the executive management team for the University. She is also a member of the awards committee for the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference and is a member of the Women Leaders in College Sports.
Her professional career at Adams State began in August 2014 when she joined the Adams State women’s basketball team as an assistant coach. She worked as an assistant coach through the 2016-17 season.
In 2017 she began working as a student advisor and recruiter for the Adams State correspondence education program and then shifted to the athletics department under Larry Mortensen in July 2018.
“I am passionate about Adams State and about our student-athletes,” she said. “I am so excited to continue to be a part of, and lead, the Grizzly family.”
I would like to thank President Lovell, the search committee, and all who were involved in the search process to allow me to continue to serve Adams State Athletics. I love Adams State and I am excited to continue to build on the rich traditions of both athletic and academic successes. I am looking forward to a successful future for Adams State Athletics.”
Katelyn Smith at the Manassa Pioneer Days parade this summer
Coach Harrison at a September football game
I would like to thank AD Katelyn Smith and President Lovell for this amazing opportunity to lead the Adams State football program into the future. I appreciate their confidence in me to mentor the wonderful student-athletes in our program and the ones we have recruited to join our campus and community. I want to thank them for their leadership within our institution, and their continued support of Adams State football.”
Coach Harrison supports his student-athletes during a Black Lives Matter march in Feb 2021.
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Adams State athletics is back in action and with fall sports in full swing it is exciting to be a Grizzly fan
Women’s Soccer: The Grizzlies, under third-year head coach Colin Baker, opened the season with a strong showing against No. 25 Western Washington before earning the school’s first win of the 2021-22 academic year with a 2-1 win over perennial powerhouse St. Edwards. They finish the non-conference portion of the season 1-3.
Volleyball: 16-year veteran, Lindy Mortensen, leads the Grizzlies to one of the best starts in program history as they finished the preseason portion of the schedule with a 4-5 record. The record does not reflect the success of the week, as the Grizzlies were able to get one of the biggest wins in program history on Sept. 7 when they swept the No. 2 team in the nation, Angelo State, with scores of 25-19, 25-23 and 26-24 inside Plachy Hall. They are currently 6-5 overall and 2-0 in RMAC action.
Men’s Soccer: Second-year head coach, Brett Bentley, is still looking for his first win since returning to the Grizzlies before last season. The Grizzlies have been on the cusp of wins three times but ultimately have fallen in the final two minutes and overtime those three times. They enter the conference portion of the season with an 0-5 record. Football: First year head coach, Jarrell Harrison, is looking for his first win for the Grizzlies as they have dropped games to Western New Mexico (17-35), Eastern New Mexico (14-42) and despite getting four interceptions in the game, Western Colorado (10-24).
Cross Country: The Grizzlies, who enter ranked No. 2 and No. 3 respectively, have competed in two meets so far this season including the 28th Annual Joe I. Vigil at Cattails Golf Course. The Grizzlies posted a perfect score on both sides as Ahmed Sado (25:01.9) and Brianna Robles (17:49.1) won the individual titles and earned RMAC Runner of the Week accolades.
Hall of Fame: The Adams State Athletic Hall of Fame announced ten new individual inductees and four teams representing six sports. The 2021 inductees are: Katelyn Lovato (SB), Shane Palmer (WRES), Melanie Schiele (VB), Victoria Martinez (TF & XC), Stephen Gitten (TF), Amber Klein (TF & XC), Larry Mortensen (MBB & AD), William Rakow (FB), Ray Ramsey Sr. (FB) Chris Holman (TF & XC), 1990 & 1992 Indoor Track and Field Teams and 1990 & 1992 Wrestling Teams. In addition, former SWA and Business Manager Dianne Lee will be honored as the Ted and Janet Morrison Special Citation winner.
Eilish Flanagan is Adams State’s latest Olympian
Eilish Flanagan secured her ticket to Tokyo with a 9:42.71 time in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase in Lucerne, Switzerland. Although Flanagan did not make the Olympic finals, she ran a personal best with a time of 9:34.86 in the trials.
An Adams State University track and cross-country star, Flanagan represented Ireland at this summer’s Olympic Games in Japan. She was one of 26 Irish athletes to qualify for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in track and field and qualified through rankings.
At Adams State, Flanagan was on the 2019 NCAA Division II Women’s Cross Country championship team, finishing second in the 6,000-meter race. Throughout her academic career, she brought home top medals. Most recently, in 2021, she finished first in the 1,500-meter at the CSU Pueblo Spank Blasing Open at 4:23.42; set a new NCAA Division II record at the Oregon Twilight in the 3,000-meter steeple with a time of 9:40.68; and won the NCAA Division II Outdoor Track & Field Championship in the 3,000-meter steeple at 9:57.44. She also took second in the 5,000-meter with a time of 15:50.59.
Alamosa State Bank employees showing their grizzly colors during Adams State spirit day, fall 2010
Billy Adams Sponsor
