14 April 5, 2012 TheMetropolitan
MetSports
Football squad starting second year Roadrunners have speed on outside, no size on inside
Zee Nwuke znwuke@mscd.edu As spring approaches and the weather warms, it couldn’t be a better time to start a competitive football season. Metro’s club football team will begin its second season in one month. They have been practicing hard in anticipation for a successful season, and are excited to get out and play. Club president Dan Sanders has been busy putting everything together. “It’s a little challenging, especially going to school full time and everything else you have to do,” Sanders said. “But I like it a lot. I think it helps you get used to trying to juggle multiple things.” A lot of Metro students have come out for the team. With a scrimmage coming up in a couple of weeks, the players and coaches have put together what they believe is a very talented team. “I’m proud of each and every one of these young men,” head coach Dennis York said. “They’ve sacrificed not only their school time, but some of their family time and also time away from other
things that they want to do.” Coach York believes he and his staff have put together a very skilled team, with a lot of speed, but lack offensive and defensive linemen. “We’ll probably be the fastest team in our conference,” York said. “We got kids that just want to play football, and they enjoy playing.” The team’s goal is to improve every day. They want to have a winning season and continue that into the playoffs. “Hopefully, if we can do that, we can get more attention, notoriety, and people will take notice,” Sanders said. In an eight-team league, Metro is going to have to bring everything they’ve got to every game. “Putting together a winning team is probably my biggest goal,” quarterback Louis Cortes said. “I think that would be the team’s biggest goal too, and we want to show that Metro State would be a good place for a football team.” Their first game of the season is April 19. “Fans need to come out and watch us play because we put on a good show,” Cortes said. “We’re really exciting to watch.”
Kicker Rory McGarry practices with the Metro club football team at Denver West High School April 2, 2011. This year’s team begins its season April 19. File photo by Sean Mullins • smullin5@mscd.edu
MetOnline Visit metnews.org/sports for more info on all Roadrunner athletics. This week, look for Nick Ohlig’s column about the Rockies as they begin their season. In addition, check out all archived stories from years past, including club football coverage from Metro’s inaugural season last year.
The spring season Roadrunner roundup Tennis The men’s team is on a tear right now, wining five of their last seven matches while extending their record to 10-5. The women’s team, 8-9 overall, recorded back-to-back shutouts on March 24 and 27 before being shutout in their last match March 31. Both teams face Colorado Christian University at Gates Tennis Center April 4 for their next match.
Baseball
Freshman outfielder Mitch Gibbons slides into third base in a game against Regis University. Metro lost three of the four games at Regis, which went from March 30 to April 1. Photo by Rachel Fuenzalida • rfuenzal@mscd.edu
The Roadrunners dropped three of four games to Regis University March 30 through April 1, bringing the teams record to 9-17 this season, 6-14 in conference play. Metro’s lone victory against the Rangers came in a 4-3 effort in which senior pitcher Ty Jacobs recorded two strikeouts en route to his second win of the season.
Track and Field Both the men’s and women’s track and field teams head to Colorado Springs April 7 for the Air Force Relays. Coming off the indoor season, Metro sophomore Kirk Harvey was named first team RMAC All-Academic on the men’s side. In addition, senior Kerry Allen was named second team RMAC All-Academic for the women.
Softball Metro’s softball team has hit a rough patch, losing five of their last six games. Most recently, the ’Runners were swept at home in a four game series against Colorado School of Mines March 31 through April 1. Metro is 16-22 this season, 1313 in conference play, and sit in 8th place within the division.