CU Athletics Achievements: From Soccer to Heisman Honors
Soccer Success
(12-5-5, 4-2-5 Big 12) capped an outstanding season by earning an at-large bid to the 2024 NCAA Tournament.
The Buffaloes upset No. 7 seed Georgia 3-2 on Nov. 15, the program’s first NCAA Tournament win in five years.
While the Buffs stunned Georgia with second-half goals fromShyra James (MediaSt’24) andHope Leyba (IntPhys’27), the team couldn’t similarly rally to overcome a 2-0 deficit against No. 2 seed Wake Forest in the tournament’s second round, losing 3-1 Nov. 22.
“This team is so resilient,” said head coach Danny Sanchez.
Ranked as high as No.14 nationally, CU overcame their end-of-season 0-2-4 stretch when they defeated Utah in the Big 12 Tournament to earn the at-large bid.
Returning BuffsFaith Leyba (IntPhys’27) andAva Priest (EnvSt’27) were named First-Team All-Midwest Region, and goalkeeperJordan Nytes (Soc’26) was selected Third Team All-America.
“We could not be more excited about the future of CU soccer,” said Sanchez.
Buffs Bits
Jenny Simpson (Econ,PolSci’09) retired from professional running after finishing 18th at the New York City Marathon Nov. 3 ... (9-4, 7-2 Big 12) finished its 2024 season Dec. 28 with a 36-14 loss to BYU in the Valero Alamo Bowl. Wide receiver and cornerbackTravis Hunter (Psych’26) won the Heisman Trophy on Dec. 14, and quarterbackShedeur Sanders (Soc’25) won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation’s top quarterback on Nov. 29. ... Women’s basketball’sFrida Formann (EnvSt’24;MBusAna’25) was named a U.S. Basketball Writers Association National Player of the Week Dec. 24 after she led the Buffs to a 65-60 victory over No. 14 West Virginia. ... Outside hitterAna Burilović(Psych’27) was named to the 2024 All-Big 12 Volleyball 2nd Team Dec. 3 after finishing seventh in the Big 12 in points per set (4.12) and eighth in kills per set (3.55). … Tennis doubles teamAnya Nelson (Bus’26) andEma Bubalo (Biochem’27) reached the Sweet 16 at the 2024 NCAA Individual Championships in Waco, Texas.
Coach Talk
“Last season was about hope.This season was about expectation, and the expectation this year was to get Ms. Peggy to a bowl game — and we did that.”
— Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders on Dec. 8 after the Buffs were selected to face BYU in the 2024 Valero Alamo Bowl.
Stats
1st
InauguralBig 12 Lacrosse Championship to be held at CU’s Prentup Field, May 1-3, 2025.
#2
Two-time defending national champion UConn’s ranking when upset by CU men’s basketball 73-72 on Nov. 26 in the Maui Invitational.
30th
-Dean Casey’s (EnvSt’27) finish in the men’s cross country NCAA Championships Nov. 23 in Madison, Wisconsin.
36
Men’s golf strokes under par to place second at Hawai’i’s Ka’anapali Classic Collegiate in Lahaina, Maui, Nov. 2-4.
25
Career-high NBA points byTristan da Silva (Acct’24) to lead the Orlando Magic to a 106-97 win over the Toronto Raptors Jan. 3.
Photo courtesy CU Athletics