Wyoming football coach Dave Christensen was named the Mountain West coach of the year on Tuesday after leading the Cowboys to an 8-4 record, 5-2 in league, and a berth in the New Mexico Bowl.
Wyoming quarterback Brett Smith was named the conference’s freshman of the year. Air Force senior safety Jon Davis, senior offensive lineman A.J. Wallerstein and junior kicker Parker Herrington were selected to the first team. Davis is the first Falcons safety to earn first-team honors.
CSU sophomore defensive lineman Nordly Capi was the lone Rams player to make the first team.
Wyoming had 10 players receive mention on the all-conference lists, CSU placed nine overall and Air Force seven.
Irv Moss, The Denver Post
Embree gets oral commitment from defensive end.
The defensive line is a position of need for Colorado, so Buffs coach Jon Embree was “very excited” to get an oral commitment from John Stuart, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound defensive end from Westlake Village (Calif.) High School.
Stuart picked CU from an offer list that included Washington State. He told that he informed Embree of his commitment Monday night during a home visit by Embree.
“It was funny to see (Embree’s) reaction, but he was very excited,” Stuart told . “I wanted to commit to him in person.”
Stuart joined high school teammate Justin Solis, a 6-3, 287-pound defensive tackle, on Colorado’s commitment list. Stuart recorded seven sacks as a senior this fall, forcing three fumbles. He also played tight end.
Westlake Village High School is regarded as one of the top programs in California and will play Oaks Christian on Friday for a divisional championship.
National signing day is Feb. 1.
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
Metro men improve to No. 2 in poll.
The Metro State men’s basketball team moved up one spot to No. 2 in this week’s National Association of Basketball Coaches NCAA Division II top-25 poll. It is the highest ranking for the Roadrunners since being No. 2 on March 8, 2005.
• The Metro State women’s basketball team is ranked No. 3 for the second consecutive week.
Wyoming wrestler LeBlanc honored.
University of Wyoming 184-pound senior Joe LeBlanc, a graduate of Meeker High School, has been named the Western Wrestling Conference wrestler of the week after winning a title at the prestigious Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational last weekend.
