Being a student-athlete at a collegiate level takes great skill. However, we tend to think that out of all people college athletes have it easy. From maintaining your eligibility to staying organized, it is a real commitment. Missing classes for travel trips and games make it easier to fall behind and even harder to catch up. While professors are supposed to stay flexible with athletes, that is not always the case.
Four student-athletes at Denver Taélyr Gatlin, Ellie Anderson, Uju Ezeudu and Eli Bucksbaum shared their stories on what it is like to be a student-athlete playing at a high level. They share their team environments, experiences and commitments. The load constantly placed on them pulls stress from every which way. Regardless of what happens, they continue to stay motivated and strive for greatness. By no means do they ever say it is easy, but the three individuals make it clear that it has shaped them into who they are today.
Looking through the eyes of Taélyr Gatlin
Entering his senior year, men’s basketball player Taélyr Gatlin (Jackson, Miss.) is looking to finish his career in Crimson and Gold with a bang. The multiple-year starter gives everything he has on and off the court without a doubt.
The veteran has played in 81 career games and started in 61 for a total of 1,841 minutes. Throughout his collegiate career, Gatlin has proven to be an excellent free throw shooter averaging .646 percent. During his junior year, Gatlin was a force beyond the arc making 24 out of 53 3-point shots—almost 50 percent effective from the field.
Gatlin is a strong defensive presence, collecting 50 steals, 13 blocks, and a total of 134 defensive rebounds during his time here at Denver. During the 2019-20 season, he earned Defensive MVP for DU.
In the past, DU has been a place for professional teams to practice. For Gatlin, his favorite moment was when the Golden State Warriors came to practice in Hamilton Gym to prepare for their big game against the Denver Nuggets.
After a year without fans in Hamilton gym, Gatlin is looking forward to playing in front of an audience again.
“I’m just ready to play again with fans. COVID-19 took that away from everybody, and I like the energy in the building,” Gatlin said.
COVID-19 made things tough for a lot of athletes around the world. What made it hard for them was motivation, which a lot of them lacked. What kept Gatlin motivated was knowing the outcome.
“Me setting a goal for myself at a high standard, knowing what I can achieve out of it is motivation,” he said
During his time here, he has learned a lot of lessons that he will carry for the rest of his life. The biggest thing for him was to manage his time. Simultaneously juggling academics, practice, lifting and other extracurricular activities “helped mature and prepare me for what I may face post-collegiate career,” Gatlin said.
Another lesson he learned was how to be a great teammate. Creating the connections and strengthening them throughout the years played a large role.
“It doesn’t only apply in sports or athletics, but it correlates with any business that I may be involved in,” Gatlin said. “I know that if I take what I have learned from being a good teammate in basketball, I can apply it to the workforce.”
After his college career, Gatlin plans to play overseas.
“I would like to play in Spain or France because I am familiar with both languages, and I am intrigued by their competition level.” After his basketball career, he looks forward to coming back and starting his career as a personal trainer and coach.
The four-year veteran is looking to make the most out of his final season at DU.
Starting the season with a whole new team and coaching staff, Gatlin had no trouble fitting in.
“It’s healthy with contagious energy. Everyone gets along and there’s a lot of trust that has been built, especially in the locker room,” he said. For him and his team, the locker room is a place where trust is built and connections are made.
The team snagged their first win of the season on Nov. 9 against Regis.
From Nov. 15-17, Denver travels to San Antonio to play in the UTSA Invitational for preseason. Their next home game is Nov. 21 against Houston Baptist. Follow along and cheer on Gatlin and his team this season. Just like Gatlin, many players create their favorite moments at DU or during their time competing. These moments that they’ve created will last a lifetime and impact how they continue down their path. In the next story, this player knows all about having favorite moments with the best people.
Ellie Anderson dominating her fifth year at DU
Ellie Anderson (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) has made a reappearance to DU women’s volleyball roster for her fifth and final year. The graduate student is breaking down barriers and proving what it means to play at a high level.
Anderson has been playing the sport of volleyball and performing at a high level since she was young. Thinking back to her younger self there are things she would tell little Ellie.
“Don’t let anyone doubt you, define you, or alter your self-confidence. Prove them wrong,” Anderson said.
With COVID-19 altering a normal volleyball season, she finally gets a chance to cap off her career wearing Crimson and Gold. One thing that the super-senior is mindful of is enjoying the experience.
“[I’m] very grateful to have been able to play a 5th year of Division I sports. I’m very fortunate to still be participating in the sport I love—something that not many athletes get to be a part of,” Anderson said.
The Iowa native has created a strong presence and a name for herself at DU and the Summit League. The 5-foot-8 setter has already surpassed the achievement of 2,500 career assists, making her the fifth player in program history to achieve this milestone.
When Anderson hit 2,500 career assists, she described it as a special moment. “I’m very fortunate to have been surrounded by a lot of talented players throughout my career to make that milestone achievable as a 6-2 setter,” she said.
In the past, Denver volleyball has played well-known teams within the Power Five conferences. It was steep competition at a high level, but DU struggled to pull out a win. However, this year was different for the Crimson and Gold. They not only competed, but they conquered.
Anderson’s most memorable moment was from her fifth and final year.
“My most memorable moments as a DU Volleyball player from my last season would definitely be upsetting a top-25 ranked team during pre-season. It was a thrilling five-set match against USC and we came out on top for their home opener,” Anderson said.
This thrilling five-set match set the tone for the team, letting others know that they were here to dominate for the entire season.
On Saturday, Nov. 20, the women’s volleyball team will have their final home game of the regular season. Before the game, they will be commemorating the seniors. For Anderson, this will be her second senior night and final game in Hamilton Gym.
“I will miss spending time with my teammates, traveling to competitions and exploring the beautiful state of Colorado,” she said.
With only two games of conference play left, Anderson and her teammates are looking to close the season out with wins and move to the Summit League Conference Tournament. Unlike her previous four years, Denver now has multiple formidable conference competitors—South Dakota and Omaha.
“This season has been the most dominating the Summit League has been in my five years here, which is really exciting to see,” Anderson said. Moving closer to the tournament, it will be very competitive, but that doesn’t scare Anderson at all.
After DU, Anderson plans to attend physical therapy school in the Fall of 2022 to pursue her career in that field.
Anderson has set a high standard for those donning the Crimson and Gold. Among other accomplishments, she has created history, allowing future players to walk in her footsteps and be influenced by her level of play.
Anderson and the volleyball team will close out their conference by competing in Hamilton on Nov. 18 and Nov. 20. Support them and their seniors this weekend against Kansas City and Oral Roberts.
Playing at a high level is nothing new for a lot of athletes at DU. Many look forward to being in the top three seed and dominating in the conference tournament to get the chance to play in the NCAAs. Like Anderson, this next player wants to be the best at what she does.
Uju Ezeudu reaches for the Summit
Since day one, women’s basketball player Uju Ezeudu (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) has been repping the Crimson and Gold consistently showing that she has what it takes. The junior is starting off the season strong, letting the Summit League know she has what it takes to be on top.
When November comes, it is the season of basketball. All the hard work put in during the off-season is finally put on display. For Denver, basketball’s regular season runs long compared to other sports at DU. The team is on campus for the majority of the summer and has only four days for Christmas break.
“It’s a season you have to really be mentally locked in for [over] a long period of time,” Ezeudu said.
Ezeudu is a forward for DU’s women’s basketball team. Starting off her third year, she’s been a strong offensive force, averaging 18 points a game.
To kick off the preseason, she earned player of the game against Air Force and Missouri S&T. Last year, the junior ranked sixth in the Summit League for scoring. For the 2020-21 season, she earned All-Summit League Team. This followed over into her junior year placing her in the preseason All-Summit League Second Team.
“It was a great accolade to receive. I’m glad I’m being recognized by other teams in the league now. My freshman year I didn’t make the freshman team so I was kind of upset about that. But also it was motivation to work harder and prove something to myself and not just the league,” Ezeudu said.
During the win over Missouri S&T, Ezeudu finished with her eighth career double-double. She snagged 17 points and 17 rebounds, tying for fifth in Denver’s Division I history. This is no surprise for the 6-foot forward, as this is the 36th time she has finished with double figures while wearing Crimson and Gold.
Preseason is just the start of it all. When the regular season comes around fans can expect Ezeudu to truly ball out. Going into her third year, the star is looking forward to playing with a crowd again.
“I am an energetic person, and I love feeding off of cheers or boos. I’m looking forward to the addition of our new pieces on the team and just being able to turn a corner to really be a force in the summit league this year,” Ezeudu said
A few not-so-meager goals she set for herself this season are to be above a .500 win percentage, to win the Summit League and to make an appearance in the NCAA tournament.
It’s been two years since DU women’s basketball has fallen under new leadership. Like many others on the team, Ezeudu has grown to build a strong connection with Head Coach Doshia Woods and her coaching staff. In her experience, playing under Woods is a great experience.
“[It’s great to have] a coach that lets us play and make mistakes but also learn from them. She is a person [whose] her energy is contagious, and it makes you want to be great and be as energetic as she is,” Ezeudu said.
Coach Woods has built a different culture that Ezeudu is very excited to be a part of. She is looking forward to seeing the program grow for years to come.
For Ezeudu, there were many memorable moments to think of. Her top moment was going to the final four her freshman year of high school. She described it as the first time in her playing career that she actually felt like she was a part of a team that wanted to do great things.
“I had a really tough freshman year of high school, personally, and basketball became super difficult in the middle of the season. But when my team went on a run and my teammates lifted me up, I remembered why I loved playing this game,” Ezeudu said.
So far, Ezeudu has learned a lot at DU, shaping the person and player she is today.
“[DU] has taught me that it means a lot to be a student-athlete here. This is a great school to be a part of and get a degree from.” It has taught her that sometimes being overlooked is okay because it doesn’t matter as long as you compete.
After DU, Ezeudu doesn’t have a plan set in stone.
“Playing overseas would be a joy for sure because I’ve always wanted to travel and I love being immersed in different cultures,” she said. If that doesn’t happen, she plans on pursuing a career in social media management, PR, or marketing communication.
DU women’s basketball’s next game is at home on Nov. 15 against Wichita State in Hamilton Gym at 7 p.m. Catch Ezeudu and her team in action this season, cheering on their success in the Summit League.
Like Ezeudu said, it’s ok to be overlooked as long as you give everything you have each time you compete. There are many sports at DU that are not a varsity sport, but they give a 110% effort just like varsity athletes would. In this next story, we get to hear about how effort outshines it all even when no one is watching.
Walking in the shoes of Eli Bucksbaum
During his four years, the senior Eli Bucksbaum (Chicago, Ill.) has given definition of what it means to be a team player and give everything you’ve got while playing for DU men’s rugby. Despite being considered a club athlete, Bucksbaum and his teammates get the opportunity to compete at the national level in the NCAAs.
The sport of rugby originated in England making it foreign and confusing to many. Bucksbaum notes the aggressive sport to be similar to football. One thing you can see from players is their lack of shoulder pads and helmets. Unlike many in football, players are properly trained on how to correctly hit and not get hurt. Another interesting concept of the game of rugby is that all passes to teammates are backwards.
Before DU, Bucksbaum had never played rugby before. He became interested after rec night and decided he wanted to be a part of the team. Bucksbaum described rugby to have “two different games that can be played.” There is 15v15 which is generally in the fall season and 7v7 in the spring. Bucksbaum is a part of the fall team and plays as a lock.
“One through eight are the forwards and nine through 15, in terms of numbers on the jerseys, are the backs. Then, there’s a mishmosh of those two between the subs,” Bucksbaum said.
Those who play as forwards are the bigger players who take and give hits while the backs are smaller players who are fast and agile. For Bucksbaum and his team, their typical season involves practices Monday through Thursday with lifts every Monday and Wednesday in Pat Bowlen’s Training Center.
“We’ve been granted that privilege to work out there just like all the other D1 programs,” Bucksbaum said. On Tuesday and Thursday the team works out on the Diane Wendt Field for “field practice” and competes in games on Saturday or Sunday.
A rugby match lasts no more than 80 minutes and is split into two halves. This season Bucksbaum and his team had many home games playing many teams that D1 programs compete with during their preseason.
“We play against teams like the Air Force Academy, we play Regis, Colorado School of Mines, some New Mexico teams—New Mexico Tech and the University of New Mexico—and then play some scrimmage games that aren’t league games,” Bucksbaum said.
According to Bucksbaum, there’s a universal truth to rugby that we don’t get from sports like football, is that it’s a “gentleman’s sport.” The game of rugby is described to be a gentleman’s sport because discipline is a skill needed to succeed. For instance, a player is not allowed to talk back to the referee because it can result in further penalties for the team.
For Bucksbaum, rugby ignites something different for him and his team. He said that, “The culture surrounding rugby and the team is unlike any sport I’ve played to date. You’re putting your blood, sweat and tears out for your team.”
The intensity of the team is becoming stronger as well as playing more legit teams. “With that comes a lot more comradery and brotherhood. That’s honestly what excites me the most, [that] every year it’s becoming more and more serious and getting more people,” Bucksbaum said.
During his freshman year he did not play, but offered fundamental aspects to the team. Bucksbaum was the fundraising chairman, organizing events for the team to attend so they could raise money to travel.
“Being a part of the executive board [it] comes with so much respect,” Bucksbaum said. He described it as being similar to an organization. Everyone has a role on the team that is so important to help it run smoothly.
Some of Bucksbaum’s fondest memories come from his freshman year. The people he calls his best friends now were once people he barely knew and had to travel hours in a car on the way to a tournament. The one that stuck out the most was a trip to Philadelphia for nationals. During this time he learned how to be a teammate and a leader, teaching him so many things about the real world and the people that he plays with.
Bucksbaum is an art major at the University of Denver. He plans on staying in Denver and possibly starting an interior and exterior painting business when he graduates next fall. The senior says that he will continue to play rugby for a club called Queen City RFC which is located in Denver. Surprisingly, his coach here at DU also coaches for Queen City along with former players who play for the club now.
“We kind of have a pipeline from DU to Queen City, so it’s kind of a cycle of guys coming through DU,” Bucksbaum said.
If you’re interested in joining men’s or women’s rugby, regardless of previous experience, reach out to the clubs any time throughout the year via email duclubwomensrugby@gmail.com and dumensrugby@gmail.com.
