SPRING 2021
THE WESTERN COLORADO UNIVERSITY ALUMNI MAGAZINE
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Behavioral & Social Sciences Politics & Government
Model UN provides global experience for Western students Politics and government major and Honors Program graduate Kirsten Companik, ’19, currently works for the Bureau of Counterterrorism in our nation’s capital. In her position, she is responsible for assisting in drafting potential legislation as it relates to counterterrorism. The knowledge of global issues she gained in Western’s Model UN and through the Honors Program have been critical in her role. Companik’s employment follows a summer internship for the Supreme Court Marshall’s Office and an eight-month internship with the U.S. State Department. She prepared research for thenSecretary of State Mike Pompeo on topics such as Middle East peace talks and repatriating citizens during a global pandemic.
“I had the benefit of learning from students all over the world. It opened my perspective on policy and politics and that has only benefited me now.” - Kirsten Companik
Professor Maria Struble diagrams relationships with Greece during a Model UN meeting.
She’ll admit she swam in some deep waters during her internship, working with peers from the Ivy League and other renowned institutions. Still, by participating in rigorous classes in politics and government, the Honors Program and the Model UN, she said she held her ground, graduating from a small school in the mountains of Colorado that provided her with transformational leadership opportunities. “I had no idea where it would lead,” said Companik. “I really enjoyed every experience at Western. Fortunately, I took on many roles and leadership positions. Those experiences benefited me greatly.” Companik was also a dedicated NCAA athletic on Western volleyball team. Model UN is a simulation of the U.N. General Assembly and its other multilateral bodies where students perform the role of delegates from U.N. Member States. By doing so, students learn the art of diplomacy and gain a view of pressing world topics. The program, led by Professor of Politics & Government Maria Struble, Ph.D., is in its eighth year on the Western campus and has about 10-15 active students. This year, the students were assigned to represent the country of Greece. To do so, they immerse themselves in research about the country to understand its positions on issues such as nuclear nonproliferation, women’s rights, the environment and development. Each year culminates with a trip to New York City for a convening of close to 2,000 students from around the world. However, this year’s event will be conducted virtually. “There are different committees within the Model UN. Representatives come together with delegates from other countries to
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propose solutions to pressing problems,” said Struble, who serves on the National Model UN New York Faculty Advisory committee. “At the conference, students are responsible for networking, drafting resolutions, delivering speeches and voting on solutions.” Like Companik, senior Honors student Emily Eads took a chance on Model UN. She now finds herself drafting a position paper representing Greece on the establishment of a nuclear weapons free zone in the Middle East, advancing responsible state behavior in cyberspace and the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons. “I hadn’t yet taken a class that relied so heavily on research, public speaking and concise writing,” said Eads. “I’ve been able to hone in on these skills while simultaneously learning more about the international political sphere. It’s very challenging, but it is also incredibly enjoyable and rewarding.” Both Companik and Eads were able to take the already demanding material to an even deeper level by adding Honors credit to their Model UN coursework. The Honors curriculum provides ample opportunities such as this to allow students to immerse themselves in a project, thereby exemplifying program values of risk taking and autonomy. “Among the many campuswide partnerships the Honors Program is involved with, Model UN is among the most gratifying to see the students grow into creative thinkers whose skills shine on a national platform,” said Honors Program Director Kelsey L. Bennett, Ph.D. The work is intensive, Eads continued, as she has gone through nine drafts of the position paper, something that Struble believes further helps students develop their critical thinking and technical writing skills. “It’s not personal. We need to submit good work,” Struble said. “The position paper pushes students out of their comfort zone to be resilient and successful.” That is something that has paid back in professional dividends for Companik. “I had the benefit of learning from students all over the world,” said Companik. “We pushed each other to be better. It opened my perspective on policy and politics and that has only benefited me now.” Written by: Chris Rourke Photos: Chris Rourke Cover Photo: F4D Studio
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Behavioral & Social Sciences New Master of Behavioral Science in Rural Community Health
Addressing gap in rural and tribal areas Almost one-fourth of the United States population lives in rural areas. Of those 62 million Americans, nearly 20% of them struggle with some form of behavioral health issue, ranging from substance dependence to mental illness. In Colorado, there are some substantial differences in behavioral health outcomes and issues. Obesity, drug overdose deaths, mental health resources and poverty are significant factors and can lead to stress, food insecurity and low birth weight. Stigma, isolation, economic factors and a lack of resources can limit assistance to those who need it. Additionally, social issues, especially in under-resourced communities only contribute to the need.
“Often…in rural areas you see that rugged individualism…‘I will pull myself up.’ But people need other people, and the program demonstrates that.” - Kari Commerford
Psychology Senior Lecturer Kari Commerford helped develop the practicum portion of the new Master of Behavioral Science in Rural Community Health degree.
With this in mind, Western Colorado University is launching a new master’s degree that will train future health professionals to address this growing gap in care. The Master of Behavioral Science (MBS) in Rural Community Health will launch in Fall 2021. It will feature such courses as health disparities, violence and trauma, lifespan development, program planning and evaluation, and behavioral health for rural and tribal areas. The program aims to increase students’ abilities to engage communities in developing ways to address the social dimensions of health in rural areas. For example, one area students will examine is the impact of childhood trauma—such as bullying—which can lead to a host of behavioral problems when left unaddressed. “Bullying in schools is a health issue, because it can contribute to a rise in stress hormones. There are long term consequences of early life experiences, and behavioral health is wide-ranging,” said Matt Aronson, associate professor of sociology. “At the other end of the life cycle, there are long standing concerns about the elderly and the loneliness and isolation they experience.” Students will learn how to increase collaboration among agencies and organizations within a community to address persistent issues, such as substance use, social isolation, opioid addiction, suicide and interpersonal violence. Plus, they will gain insight to develop healing practices and social support in rural areas. “Rural communities are unique in another way,” said Aronson. “The stigma around mental health and the hesitance people have with outing themselves or acknowledging they have some struggles—it plays out differently in rural communities because of
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Associate Professor of Sociology Matt Aronson will direct the new Master of Behavioral Science degree in Rural Community Health.
their small size and the density of social ties in those communities.” There likely is no one better acquainted with the challenges of addressing behavioral health issues in a rural area than Kari Commerford. As the Gunnison County Juvenile Services director, Commerford has worked with programs such as the Gunnison County Substance Abuse Prevention Project, which helps educate youth about the impacts of their choices. Commerford also is a lecturer in psychology at Western and has helped formulate the practicum aspect of the new master’s degree. “This is an area that I have always been passionate about, and nine years ago I taught our first Rural Behavioral Health class in the Honors Department,” said Commerford. “There is a huge need in training the workforce to address rural behavioral health and there’s no better place to do it than in a rural area.” Commerford has worked with local, regional and state stakeholders in addressing behavioral health and substance
abuse needs. She wants students to learn not only how to handle the psychological needs of a community, but also to form strong partnerships with organizations that provide support. As part of the practicum course, Commerford said students will spend a semester creating a plan that will better serve the community. The effort will involve data analysis and planning to form evidence-based strategies to address behavioral health needs. “They’ll put their heads into an area of their interest, survey the needs in that area, and then do the ground work of connecting with that organization and really laying out the service they’ll provide,” said Commerford. “There’s going to be a lot of intellectual rigor and professionalism as part of their project.” With faculty mentorship, students will complete the project that they have designed while becoming integrated into the community. “The opportunity we have with this program in rural behavioral health is to illuminate that everybody needs community, often that’s what you see in rural areas,” Commerford said. “You see that rugged individualism—‘I will pull myself up.’ But people need other people, and the program demonstrates that.” Written by: Chris Rourke Photos: Chris Rourke
CONTACT ALUMNI RELATIONS western.edu/alumni | alumni@western.edu | 970.943.3464
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Behavioral & Social Sciences Alumni Profile: Mike Bauer ’05
The Power of Language: How One Mountaineer Built Dual Careers in Law and Music Mike Bauer (Political Science) always pictured himself in some version of his current life—at the heart of the action in a big city. As a deputy district attorney in the largest DA’s office in the country and a singersongwriter in the Los Angeles music scene he’s managed to bring his dream to life. But his path wasn’t a straight shot. Bauer confesses that initially he wasn’t thrilled to be at Western. As a self-described 19-year-old punk he had no interest in a small school in a remote town. “I always said I’d go to a big city and do big things,” says Bauer. While Gunnison, Colorado didn’t fit his image of where he belonged it’s where he found himself his freshman year.
“Being at Western is what made me competitive. Period. When you’re in a small community you realize how important reputation and perception are.” - Mike Bauer The only things he knew for sure at that time were that he was interested in music and he wanted to be a lawyer. When Bauer was in high school an ex-boyfriend shot his mother. Thankfully she survived but the incident left Bauer with a desire to protect victims of crime. Becoming a lawyer seemed the best way for him to do that. After a rocky first year, Bauer eventually found his way and things began to fall into place. He knew political science classes could be a good background which led him to Professor William Niemi who became a guidepost for Bauer during his time at Western. There were times Dr. Niemi intimidated Bauer but “seeing how he attacked language and crafted arguments expanded my horizons and showed me my own limitations.” And being in small classes did more than humble him. “When you’re in a small community you realize how important reputation and perception are. You have to be accountable,” he says. Bauer admits his undergraduate grades weren’t stellar but it didn’t worry him because he knew he was challenging himself. He took Spanish and Economics classes because he was curious. He says, “It wasn’t about padding my stats. It wasn’t about pedigree, it was about learning.” His curiosity guided him outside of the classroom as well. He remembers teaching himself to play the guitar on cold winter nights. He began writing songs and recalls taking his lyrics to Professor Nate Liederbach who took his interest in songwriting seriously and helped him improve his craft. Looking back, Bauer realizes how much he gained during his time at Western. He credits his experiences in college with building grit, accountability and communication skills that propelled him into the next stage in his life.
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After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles where his sister, a professional cellist, was living. “I had $84 in my pocket,” says Bauer, “and a loose plan.” He knew he wanted to get into law school and give himself a chance to build a career in music. He spent four years working on his music. Then, in 2009, he entered Southwestern Law School. He put music aside until one fateful night out with law school buddies. “We went out to a karaoke bar,” says Bauer. His friends knew nothing of his musical background and when he sang a song they were blown away. “Before I knew it everyone was pushing me to use my student loan money to buy some recording equipment,” says Bauer. He recorded his first album “Financial Aid, Volume 1”. That same year he graduated law school and ended up playing at South by Southwest. “I kind of fell into it, especially with the right people around to push me,” he says. Bauer has gone on to collaborate and receive encouragement from some notable mentors. He wrote with music legend Richard Rudolph (whose credits include Minnie Riperton, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Stevie Wonder). Bauer says one of the many lessons Rudolph taught him was to hone in on each word. “He got me to think about using words in ways they aren’t typically used,” he says, “and to be very surgical with my writing. I’m more poetic with my writing now.” Bauer has since released Financial Aid, Volumes Two and Three. And in 2019 he released four new singles and sold out the legendary Troubadour Club in West Hollywood. “I wish I would’ve created an alter ego for my music career,” says Bauer. Every now and then, especially at crowded shows, he has a concern that an enemy from court could show up. As a Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney, he handles complex multiple defendant crimes. “I see people at their worst moments. Defendants, victims, witnesses.” says Bauer. “No one wants to be there.” But he views the legal system and his own work from an optimistic perspective. “I have a duty to protect people, victims of crime, and also make sure defendants get a fair trial,” he says, “I get to tell the truth all day long and I love it.” Bauer finds the energy and time to devote to these two demanding careers through discipline. “If you turn off the TV, get rid of your cable subscription,” he says, “you find you have a lot of time.” When he’s working on a trial he doesn’t think about music, and when he prepares for a big show he manages to schedule his cases so he’s not quite so busy. While they are very different worlds, he recognizes his interest in law and music come from the same place — the desire to communicate in order to make the world better and safer.
Written by: Liz Renner Photos: Mike Bauer
CONTACT ALUMNI RELATIONS western.edu/alumni | alumni@western.edu | 970.943.3464
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Campus News Alumni Profile: Melvin Foote ’73
African advocate; from Western to the world It was his interest in basketball that brought alumnus Melvin Foote to Western Colorado University. Little did he know that the connections made on campus would lead to a lifetime of service on a global stage. Foote has spent almost 40 years as an advisor and proponent of African issues and has been called upon by several U.S. presidents for his expertise on critical issues in about 30 different countries. He spoke to Western Vice President of Enrollment & Student Success Abel Chávez, Ph.D., during a speaker series on Zoom called “Lunchtime Charla: From Western to the World.” Charla is Spanish for “chat,” and during this lunchtime event, Foote described his humble beginnings at Western that led to a long career in Africa and Washington D.C. Foote, who was born and raised in Rockford, Illinois, came to Western to play basketball. Coming from the Midwest, it was the mountains that kept him here. While at Western he began to write a column for the Top o’ the World campus newspaper. Through his column “The Back of the Bus,” which focused upon Black issues in the 1970s, he met a friend who shared with him the Peace Corps. Foote said it sounded like the perfect fit for him. He applied, was accepted and assigned the country of Ethiopia.
“I put myself in the space of, ‘let’s do this together,’ a constituency for Africa and building a base for Africa.” - Melvin Foote “I didn’t even know where Ethiopia was,” said Foote. “Back then, there wasn’t Google. So, I went to the library and saw it was in Africa.” And thus, the journey began. During his time overseas, he worked in 30 countries undergoing various challenges: civil war, famine and drought. With each experience, he grew to understand the challenges faced by the African countries and their people. He began to collaborate with various organizations bringing them under one tent of action. “There are a lot of organizations that consult on Africa,” said Foote. “I put myself in the space of, ‘let’s do this together,’” a constituency for Africa and building a
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base for Africa.” By doing this, Foote founded and is the head of “Constituency for Africa,” a nonprofit organization that educates the United States public and influences policy regarding African nations. Foote, who lives a mile from the White House, is called upon regularly by U.S. leaders. “You know, I always wanted to help Black people. I always wanted to help my people,” he said. “But I wasn’t thinking about it globally….Then I thought I should think globally, so when an opportunity came up to help Africa, I was open to it.” With this world view, he still remembers his humble beginnings at Western at a time when the country struggled with its own unrest—protest over the Vietnam War and civil rights issues that dominated headlines in the 1960s and ’70s. “(Western) didn’t have all the distractions that you have in the urban areas,” he said. “What I appreciated most about it is, it gave me time to think.” “Lunchtime Charla: From Western to the World” continues in March and April: Thursday, March 25, will feature Miss Alyssa Magalong ’16, who has earned the title of Miss Colorado Earth. On Thursday, April 22, we’ll hear from Los Angeles Deputy District Attorney Michael Bauer ’05, who has tried more than 70 crime cases.
Written by: Chris Rourke Photo: Alumnus Melvin Foote (right) with African leader Nelson Mandela
CONTACT ALUMNI RELATIONS western.edu/alumni | alumni@western.edu | 970.943.3464
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School of Business Four tips to protect your investments during a pandemic
Do not panic. Although the pandemic is seemingly approaching an end, most epidemiological experts believe this is not the last global pandemic that the world will experience. Particularly in the age of mass international travel, viruses that in the past that would have been contained to certain regions can now rapidly spread across the globe. That said there are many similarities and differences between a pandemic and other financial crises. This pandemic is similar to 9/11 and the great recession that began in 2008, specifically because panic dramatically affected the financial markets. The most significant difference is that the pandemic offers a more predictable timeline to when the economy will recover. With the other two events, it was unknown when people would be willing to get onto airplanes again or, in the case of the great recession, when the economy could recover from a highly complex financial meltdown. In all cases, investors would have benefited from a long-term investment mindset. It is critical to remember that a long time in the market is more important than market timing. Even with these financial shocks, the S&P 500 has averaged approximately 10% annually dating back to the 1920s.
Be prepared for the next time. No one can predict when the next shock to the economy or the market will be.
Although there is a temptation to keep all emergency funds invested, the reality is when there is a crisis, it is likely that your invested assets will take a substantial financial hit. No one wants to face an employment crisis, or risk a fall in his or her home 10
Mason Schultz
The only thing you can expect is that there will be another one. Many people were caught off guard, suffering layoffs, and unprepared to weather the storm financially. Financial advisors recommend that you have at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses saved in an emergency fund. These savings must be liquid and assessable in the event of another financial crisis.
price or investments all at the same time. Unfortunately, when crises hit they impact all areas of people’s financial lives. This fact is why it is important to be diversified, including in areas that don’t have risk.
Re-finance your mortgage. With mortgage rates at their lowest levels in decades, you could save hundreds of dollars per month with a 2.5% or lower monthly mortgage rate. Current mortgage rates are low now because the Federal Reserve is interested in continually stimulating the economy until the pandemic dissipates. However, there is a limited window for these low rates. Now is also a good time to reduce your mortgage’s duration from 30 to 15 years. Depending on the rates, it is possible that the new mortgage payment will be similar or even lower than your existing mortgage. While there are significant fees with refinancing, in most cases, given the extraordinarily low rates that are available now one could likely recoup those fees within a year.
Re-examine your car insurance.
Written by: Peter Sherman, Ph.D. and James Harriss, Ph.D.
F4D Studio
If you are driving less during the pandemic, your insurance company may waive several months’ premiums or significantly reduce those premiums. Families with multiple cars can save even more. It is essential to check in with your insurance agent with some frequency to discuss opportunities. Additionally, financial experts suggest you price your policies with another company every three to four years to make sure you are getting financially prudent policies.
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Natural & Environmental Sciences Anthropology students dig on Tenderfoot Mountain
Western students preserve the past while building their future Preserving the past while paving the way for the future—that’s the result of a collaborative project between a major corporation, the state’s historical preservation commission and faculty and students at Western. The project—which took place during July and August 2020—gave students the opportunity to gain practical skills, making them career-ready when they graduate, better prepared to enter the field of archeology and historical preservation. It also fulfilled requirements by the State Historic Preservation Office for communications company AT&T to begin improving cell phone service to the south end of the Gunnison Valley.
“I was itching to get some experience in the field and ready to explore Tenderfoot.” - Remy Schultz
Anthropology lecturer David Hyde shows students proper methodology in excavating a site.
Communications towers have been a feature for decades, high atop of Tenderfoot Mountain, south of the Western campus. However, the mountain is also home to an archeological site dating back to about 12,000 years ago. The site, once inhabited by the Folsom people, a Paleo-Indian people indigenous to Colorado, has long been the focus of Professor of Anthropology Mark Stiger and his program at Western. AT&T decided it wanted to replace an aging cell tower, upgrading it with the latest technology to improve service. Federal and state law requires that before construction permits can be issued at such a location with historical significance, a cultural resource study involving excavation of the area must occur. AT&T contracted with Western, Anthropology lecturer David Hyde and four Western students who spent five weeks sifting through the soil where the tower would be built. From there, the earth gave up her treasures, revealing more about life on the mountain nicknamed for having the Western “W” emblazoned on its side. The group spent weeks focused on a square plot measuring 8-by-8 meters, with each square meter divided into four quadrants. The soil was excavated down to bedrock with samples brought back to the campus lab for analysis. Through water screening, it was determined 296 of the 655 samples had evidence of artifacts—flakes and other proof that the Folsom people sat at the edge of the mountain and sharpened stone tools. Perhaps, the group surmised, the Folsom people were eying animal movement and observing anyone who may try to approach
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The archeological site atop of Tenderfoot—or “W” Mountain
as they worked. The student archeologists also found a material called “daub,” a baked clay used in building structures. “I was itching to get some experience in the field and ready to explore Tenderfoot,” said Anthropology student Remy Schultz, who graduated five months following the dig. “Mostly, I learned how to identify the materials that the Folsom tools were made from, how to set up a test-pit, keep good field notes, and I learned about daub, a rock which indicates hearth and fire use when it’s charred.” Developing those skills, Hyde said, gives students an edge as they enter their professional fields. Cultural resource management, he said, is a primary function of trained archeologists, as historical sites are nonrenewable resources. The methodology of analyzing a site and the critical thinking required are essential to the work, he said, and aren’t always fully realized in the classroom. Fieldwork, Hyde continued, enhances a new graduate’s ability to jump right into the industry.
But Schultz took far more than technical skills away from the dig. Following the discovery of an ashen pit, Schultz brought his best thinking into interpreting what the artifacts mean. By doing so, he brought a modern-day interpretation to events that occurred tens of thousands of years ago, providing clues to the essence of humanity. “I constantly wonder about the interplay between mountain and Folsom—about the human ethno sphere,” Schultz said, ruminating on his experience. “What could be their knowledge contribution to the way we live life in Gunnison now? What did they believe in? What are we forgetting that they knew? And how exactly did they regard the mountain?” Those kinds of questions essentially bring life to mere fragments of history, giving us insight to the past and the present. Following a preliminary report by Hyde on the excavation, the State of Colorado will provide AT&T a permit to begin construction. However, the final report due in three years is an ongoing project for the anthropology lecturer. Meanwhile, Hyde shares the lessons from the excavation in the classroom. “It was fun and interesting,” said Hyde. “We used this experience in the fall 2020 semester in archeology class. We took some of the artifacts, looked at them and analyzed them, to see the laboratory side of the process.” Written by: Chris Rourke Photos: Remy Shultz and David Hyde
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Campus News Women’s Basketball
Soaring to national ranking Much like the iced over Gunnison River at the end of winter, the Western Colorado women’s basketball program had the potential to thaw its freeze and break free from the bottom half of the RMAC standings in the mid-2010s and become a strong, flowing current – not to be deterred no matter what stands in the way.
“Coming to Western and meeting my teammates and getting this experience, you just holistically become so much more of a person” - Mikaela Parker The program just needed the right people to shine the heat of high expectations and hard work to set it free – and that started with the hiring of coach Lora Westling in 2016. A year later, five freshmen from four different parts of the country joined the Mountaineers to rebuild a program that had won 19 games in four seasons before Westling went 7-19 in her first season – the most wins in four years for Western women’s hoops. These five – Jessie Erickson and Jadyn Kanzler from Cheyenne, Wyoming, Katie Dalton from Magnolia, Texas, Samantha Coleman from Las Vegas, Nevada, and Mikaela Parker from Calhan, Colorado – knew they were entering a program trying to reestablish itself that just five years prior was finishing a run of four consecutive RMAC Tournament trips. Fast forward four seasons and each of these five Mountaineer seniors played critical roles in guiding Western Colorado from the bottom of the RMAC standings to a top-10 nationally ranked team in 2020-21. But it wasn’t easy, nor did it happen overnight.
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Coleman, who this season became the program’s all-time 3-point leader and will be the ninth player in Western history to score 1,000-plus points, said she knew the challenges the program faced even before she committed to play in Gunnison. “Coach told me on my recruiting trip that she was wanting to rebuild the program and I was down,“ Coleman said. “I wanted to do that. I wanted to be a part of something that could make history. I knew with her being the coach and the right team, we could really do that. The first year was rough, but we grinded and knew it wasn’t the end.” The freshman year for the five seniors in 2017-18 saw the Mountaineers go 9-19 overall – another improvement from the year before, but a new, unwelcomed feeling for many of the freshmen coming from successful prep basketball programs. Dalton (10.4 ppg) and Coleman (8.6) were the top two scorers on the team while Erickson was fourth in scoring (7.0), led the team in rebounding (5.5) and was second in assists (2.7) and steals (1.3). Kanzler played in all 28 games (6.3 ppg) and Parker appeared in five games. “A lot of us had to make an impact that freshman year and got thrown into it right away,” said Erickson, who was high school teammates with Kanzler at Cheyenne East High School and ranks in the top 10 all-time in assists at Western. “Everyone’s high school teams did pretty well and we won state in high school so we were used to winning a lot. But it was a good experience because we had to learn how to be gracious when we lost. “After the first year, we had a good group and we had a mindset change. The culture of the program changed and coach instilled in us what she expects of us. We began to ask, ‘Why are we playing Western women’s basketball?’” A change came in the effort the student-athletes put into their craft, sacrificing their personal time to go the
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Campus News Women’s Basketball
gym and improve their game outside of practice. “I would say our culture has changed the most since our freshman year,” Kanzler said. “We all know that the only way we are going to get better is to come in and do our own stuff as well as practice. We realized that after our freshman year that we have to work hard for this if we want to be a successful program. Coach Westling led us in the right direction – anytime we needed to work on something she was there to help. She was just there for us.” The extra growth was evident in their sophomore year in 2018-19 as the Mountaineers improved to 16-11 overall – and more importantly – went 12-10 in RMAC play to qualify for the RMAC Tournament for the first time since the 2011-12 season. They were five of the top eight scorers on the team that season with Coleman leading the way at 11.5 points per game. Defensively they stepped it up a notch, led by senior Tammarrah Gothard, who was named the RMAC Defensive Player of the Year. Still, the group of then sophomores knew there was more room for growth. “Our sophomore year we got a taste of winning – but we definitely weren’t there yet,” Dalton said. “I feel like our junior season toward the end there was a point where we all flipped our mindset. We all got on the same page. We all knew that we weren’t going to get any better if we don’t get in on our own time.” That junior year in 2019-20 for the five was a season that won’t be soon forgotten. The Mountaineers went 20-7 overall (first 20-win season since 1986-87) and 18-4 in RMAC play (most conference wins in program history), but more importantly, Western received its first NCAA Tournament bid in program history. However, the postseason was canceled due to COVID-19. More focused than ever heading into an uncertain 2020-21 season due to COVID-19 – one of their T-shirts even features the phrase “Unfinished Business” – the Mountaineers picked up where they left off with their best undefeated (5-0) and one-loss (11-1) starts in program history. This led to the program being ranked nationally for the first time in program history – as high as No. 7 in the nation. The ending has yet to be written this season for this group of five – with a few opting to come back next season with this season being a “COVID redshirt” season for fall and winter sports. What is clear, however, no matter the ending these five have played a large part in freeing a program frozen in the bottom of the RMAC standings and not only returning it to respectability, but one to be reckoned with at the top of the conference. Even with all that Coleman, Dalton, Erickson, Kanzler and Parker have done for the program – they recognize that the Mountaineer women’s basketball program, and Western Colorado University itself, has given back to them just as much. “Coming to Western and meeting my teammates and getting this experience, you just holistically become so much more of a person,” Parker said. “So many of your characteristics are shaped and molded. I just take away that I’m so happy that I made the decision to come here. It has made my life so much better. “I don’t think I would’ve been this happy anywhere else.”
Written by: Clayton Jones Photos: Athletics
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