In an announcement today, “The Summit League’s Presidents Council agreed to delay the start of fall sports for member institutions until Sept. 23 based upon the recommendation from the League’s Joint Council due to the COVID-19 pandemic.” The statement went on to state that the Council would continue to be “flexible in an ever-changing environment”.
As for DU athletics, the delay will result in a conference-only schedule for the sports of women’s soccer, men’s soccer and volleyball. Competitive schedules for men’s and women’s men’s and women’s golf and men’s and women’s tennis will also be delayed until September 23. The delay will not impact any Summit League winter or spring sports at this time. Continue reading Summit League Pushes Fall Sports to Conference-Only Schedule Starting September 23rd→
While the Power 5 conferences (PAC-12, Big 10, Big 12, SEC, ACC) remain steadfast in fall sports, many other smaller conferences have decided to cancel, postpone or push their fall sports into the winter or spring. If DU was to make such a move, men’s and women’s soccer and volleyball would be the most impacted by such a move. Continue reading Fall Sports Beginning to Feel Effects of COVID Cancellation/Postponement→
It won’t begin until next year, but the St. Thomas Tommies will be officially joining the Summit League for the 2021-2022 season. The NCAA notified the University of St. Thomas Wednesday that it will officially become the 10th member of The Summit League. The NCAA Division I Council made the unconventional call to provided the Tommies with a waiver to make the jump from DIII to DI. Continue reading It’s Finally Official, Tommies Officially Join Summit League→
With a grant from USA Triathlon, DU is adding a 18th sport, women’s Triathlon.
Triathlon was added to the list of NCAA emerging sports for women at the 2014 NCAA Convention and the USA Triathlon established grants aimed at sponsoring the sport at the collegiate level. The ’emerging sports program’ was created to help schools provide more participation for female athletes – the sport has a 10-year window in which to establish 40 schools sponsoring the sport before it can become an official NCAA championship. Continue reading In midst rampant national athletics cuts, DU announces addition of women’s triathlon→
The NCAA issued a statement today which allows St. Thomas (DIII) to reclassify and move to the DI Summit league. The statement read that while the new guidelines for reclassification are under consideration, “the Council indicated it would be receptive to a formal waiver request from Division III St. Thomas (Minnesota) and the Summit League that would allow the school to begin the reclassification process.” Continue reading St. Thomas is (almost) in→
The April membership vote was delayed by COVID-19 but the NCAA 40-man committee reconvenes this week to determine if St Thomas University can make the unorthodox jump from DIII to DI and the Summit League. The Tommies certainly have the capability to make the move after being rejected by their old conference, the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, for being ‘too good’. Continue reading St. Thomas University to Get NCAA Hearing, Decision this Week→
During this time of uncertainty, what do top coaches do to create stability and plan for success following the COVID-19 pandemic? Just take a look at one of DU’s most successful programs, volleyball, to find out. Led by head coach Tom Hogan, assistant head coach Katelin Opitz and staff, the program believe they can use this uncertain time to build a stronger team and create a competitive advantage. Continue reading Denver Volleyball Keeping Eye on the Ball→
The first sign of sports returning to DU comes from an unusual (but not unexpected) place – eSports.
The club participants will be playing League of Legends tournament in mid-June. League of Legends is a multiplayer online battle arena video game developed and published by Riot Games for Microsoft Windows and macOS. Inspired by the Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne mod Defense of the Ancients. eSports connect students and bridge social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Last week, forward Alperen Kurnaz (6’8″, 220 lbs.) announced his intention to transfer from DU. Kurnaz was a positive force on the squad but his overall contributions on the floor were modest last season with 3.4 ppg. and 2.8 rebounds in 16.6 minutes per game. Then, this week, center/forward David Nzwekwesi (6’9″, 240 lbs.) joined Kurnaz in the transfer portal. He scored 5.7 points last season with 3.3 rebounds in 16.6 minutes. Kurnaz and Nzekwesi mark the third and fourth Pioneers to transfer this offseason, as the first transfer was sophomore shooting guard Joe Lanzi, and the second was little-used freshman forward Owen McGlashan. None of the four have announced a destination after leaving DU. Continue reading Nzekwesi and Kurnaz Enter Transfer Portal→
