Spring semester showcase

Mines teams end 2022-23 school year on a high note

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

With the 2022-23 athletic schedule over, it’s time for the Orediggers and their fans to turn the page, refresh the roster and start scheduling for 2023-24.

Over the May 25-27 weekend, the Colorado School of Mines track & eld teams wrapped up 2022-23 competition at the NCAA Division II championships in Pueblo. (Editor’s note: Due to early deadlines for the June 1 edition, coverage of the track & eld championships will run June 8.) roughout the semester, the 12 winter and spring sports teams have proven their mettle from the basketball court to the baseball diamond, setting new program records and earning multiple postseason honors.

With a few months until the 202324 school year starts, the Golden Transcript o ers a look back at Mines’ athletic achievements during the 2023 spring semester.

Indoor track & field e Orediggers’ indoor track & eld season started strong and ended even stronger. e women’s team took rst place at the RMAC indoor championships in February, while the men nished fth.

At the NCAA Division II championships March 10-11, Hannah Miller and Dillon Powell took home individual national championships in women’s pole vaulting and men’s 5,000-meter race, respectively.

Additionally, Luke Julian scored a silver medal in the men’s mile, and Zoe Baker nished fourth in the women’s 5,000-meter race. Aryelle Wright also took fth in the women’s 800-meter race, setting a new program record in the process.

Overall, 15 Orediggers ended their indoor seasons with All-American honors, and the women’s team nished eighth and the men’s team, 14th

Swimming e Mines men’s and women’s swimming teams started their seasons in October, and made waves all the way through the postseason. e women’s team nished second at the RMAC championships and the men nished third before the Orediggers headed to the NCAA Division II Swimming & Diving Championship March 7-11. ere, the women’s team nished 22nd at the meet, and the men’s team, 30th. Senior Meghan Slowey had Mines’ best performance of the meet, nishing fth in the 1,650-yard freestyle race. e senior swam a careerbest 16:46.93, and took a spot at the podium for the second consecutive year.

Slowey also nabbed 14th place and All-American honors in the women’s 1,000-yard freestyle. Garrett Waite and Charles Burroughs also broke their own program records in the men’s 200-yard individual medley and men’s 200-yard y, respectively. Overall, several Orediggers had top-20 nishes and All-American honors for the national meet and the 2022-23 season.

Wrestling e Mines wrestling team took control of the mat in its very rst dual and never gave it up, despite very tough competition from every corner. e Orediggers went 11-2 in their head-to-head duals, only losing to No. 6 Adams State and No. 12 Colorado Mesa. e team also had strong tournament showings, placing 11th at the Dec. 17-18 Midwest Classic. Mines ultimately placed fth at the NCAA Super Region VI Championship Feb. 25, with four wrestlers — Weston DiBlasi, Grayston DiBlasi, Carter Noehre and Anderson Salisbury — qualifying for the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships.

While all the Orediggers were eliminated after four matches, sophomore Grayston DiBlasi became the second Mines wrestler to win the Elite 90 Award for his athletic and academic achievements. e award is presented to the student-athlete with the highest cumulative gradepoint average at each sport’s national competition.

Women’s basketball e women’s basketball team started o a bit sluggish, with a close win and a loss, but found some footing just before winter break. However, the Orediggers struggled somewhat in mid-January with two consecutive losses followed by a narrow win. e team generated momentum through late January into the postseason, though, going all the way to the RMAC tournament championship. It lost the tourney title to No. 1 Regis in a close game, but was named a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Division II tournament.

On March 10, Mines had its season cut short by a rowdy UT-Tyler team, and ended the season 24-7 overall and 18-4 in conference play. Among other honors, Ashley Ste eck and Sammy Van Sickle received postseason accolades.