Club sports athletes at the University of Colorado at Boulder won national championships in five different sports in 2005, continuing a little-known but long tradition of athletic and academic excellence at the university.
"2005 is one of the best years we've ever had," said club sports director Kris Schoech. "CU club sports may go largely unnoticed locally, but we are recognized around the country as one of the top three collegiate club sports programs."
The 2005 club national champions at CU-Boulder were triathlon, cycling, mountain biking, men's ice hockey and men's soccer. Schoech said it was an exceptional year for CU-Boulder to have five national champions, but noted that in his 19 years with the program the university has averaged three national champion teams a year.
"Eleven out of the past 12 years, the CU triathlon team has won a national championship, and that is just due to the type of student-athlete who trains here at the University of Colorado," he said.
"The club athletes take their competitions just as seriously as a varsity athlete," he said. "They dedicate a lot of time to their sport, and that's why we've been so successful."
Approximately 1,300 to 1,500 students participate in 34 club sports teams at CU-Boulder. The teams are completely student-run and represent a wide variety of individual and team sports. Student-athletes are responsible for budgeting, fundraising and selecting paid, part-time coaches.
Schoech said the CU-Boulder club sports program is consistently ranked in the top five in the nation for both the athletic and academic performance of its teams.
"Our club sports athletes come from all over the country, and they might be a Division 1-caliber athlete, but they come to CU-Boulder for the education," he said. "They come here knowing they can get a really good education and still compete at a very high level. We give them that opportunity."
The character of the athletes in the club sports program was illustrated by the 2005 men's ice hockey team, Schoech said, when they forged a dramatic come-from-behind national championship victory.
"They went undefeated through the season, but they were behind in the national championship game 6-2 in the third period. They came back to win, and that just shows the character of that team," Schoech said.
For more information on CU-Boulder club sports call (303) 492-5274.