After another year of graduations and signings within Pioneer athletics, Denver’s 17 teams will still be solid with an accomplished line-up of incoming freshman for Denver.
Recently, several of the incoming Pioneer athletes for the 2012-2013 season have appeared in the news, earning various recognitions for their respective sports.
On the men’s side, tennis player Henry Craig of Murrieta, Calif., was featured on TennisRecruiting.com, while incoming soccer freshmen Chandler Crosswait and Reagan Dunk led their team to the Dallas Cup Championship. Incoming hockey freshman Quentin Shore helped lead the U18 Men’s National team to the IIHF Championship.
For women, women’s basketball guard Kailey Edwards earned the Ms. Colorado Basketball award, while fellow incoming basketball guard Michaela Neuhaus was named, alongside Edwards, to the All-Colorado girls basketball team.
Hockey – Quentin Shore
Following in the Shore legacy, incoming freshman Quentin Shore has made it into the news for his hockey success.
Youngest brother of Drew and Nick Shore, Quentin will join the Pioneers after claiming the U18 IIHF World Championship in Germany on April 22, as the team stomped Sweden 7-0.
Shore, a forward, played alongside Team USA in the tournament. Throughout the six-game hunt, the team allowed only four goals. Shore tallied five points off three goals and two assists.
Men’s tennis – Henry Craig
Craig, a California native, began tennis later than most at age 10, but it did not keep him from being a top recruit, who eventually signed with the Pioneers. TennisRecruiting.com featured Craig on April 10 about his beginning tennis and his choice of signing with DU.
“I know I made a great choice,” said Craig in the article. “The team is incredible and I really like how hard they worked when I was there on my official visit. It just seemed like they were working harder than everybody else and had more intensity.”
According to Craig, he brings strength to the Pioneers in his forehand and mental toughness, a key aspect of tennis.
“Those are the two biggest things by far that help me on the court,” said Craig. “I know I can always rely on those to get me through matches.”
Men’s soccer – Chandler Crosswait, Reagan Dunk
Incoming men’s soccer freshmen Chandler Crosswait of Bedford, Texas, and Reagan Dunk of Dallas, Texas, claimed one final championship before becoming Pioneers. The duo helped lead their U19 Solar Chelsea soccer team to win the prestigious Dallas Cup on April 8.
The team topped Arsenal FC USSF Academy 3-1 in the championship game. With the help of Crosswait and Dunk, the team outscored their opponents 22-4 in the six-game tournament. Crosswait also netted a goal for the team in the opening match of the contest.
Women’s basketball – Kailey Edwards, Michaela Neuhaus
Previously opponents in high school, Edwards of Legacy High School in Broomfield, Colo., and Neuhaus of Highlands Ranch High School in Highlands Ranch, Colo., will now be teammates as Pioneers, and are two of five named to the All-Colorado girls basketball team.
After leading her team to the Class 5A Championship title this spring, Edwards was also named Ms. Colorado Basketball in addition to the All-Colorado team.
“Ending [my high school career] the way I did was everything I wanted,” said Edwards in an interview with The Denver Post. “But I’m also counting down the days.”
During her senior season, Edwards proved that she could be a strong player, putting up a game-high 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds in the state championship game against league rival Monarch in the 58-51 win.
“[She’s] a coach’s dream,” said her coach Craig Van Patten to. “She could average 25 points if she wanted to. She involved her teammates, did whatever we needed.”
Neuhaus will also come into Denver as a member of the All-Colorado girls basketball team. During her four years at Highlands Ranch, she averaged 22.9 points per game, putting up 595 points as a Falcon.
The duo will join the Pioneer ranks this fall to play the 2012-2013 season under new head coach Kerry Cremeans.
Also joining the Pioneers next season are Paige Bradley from The Woodlands, Texas, and Kelly Preston of Waunakee, Wis.
Bradley, a guard, averaged 10.5 points per game, putting up 335 total points during her career.
Preston will join the Pioneers as a forward who boasts All-Area, All-Metro and All-Conference First Team awards.
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