What a year it was for DU athletics.
From a record-breaking 10th national championship in hockey to an individual national champion in triathlon; it was a successful season for the athletic program. The program is now tied for 14th all-time in D-I national championships with Oklahoma at 35.
Henry Hargrave, former DU Clarion Sports Editor, came up with the great idea to recap the athletics seasons by highlighting the best performances across DU athletics. For the second straight year, instead of one person giving out “awards,” the whole Clarion sports desk will be contributing their thoughts and opinions on the best team and individual performances in the 2023-24 athletic season. So now, for the fifth year in a row, it’s time to recognize the best of what Denver’s 18 varsity programs had to offer this past year.
*Person bolded is who gave reasoning to each answer
Best Male Athlete
Riley, Josie & John – Tommy Bruner, men’s basketball
I predicted it last year; the 2023-24 season was in the hands of Bruner, and oh boy, did he exceed expectations. The No.1 scorer in the country for most of the season averaged 24.0 points per game and dropped an astounding career-high 49 points against South Dakota in January. Bruner was absolutely snubbed of the Summit League Player of the Year award but did make the Summit League First-Team. DU will absolutely miss the outstanding scoring and leadership Bruner brought to the program.
Sam – Zeev Buium, men’s hockey
While Bruner is a worthy choice and I almost picked him, it is hard to overstate how exceptional Zeev Buium was in his freshman season. Buium was the highest-scoring defenseman in the NCAA in a season where he did not turn 18 until December. He was the best player on a team that won a national championship and will be a top-15 (at least) selection in the NHL Draft in a couple of months.
Best Female Athlete
Riley & Sam – Jessica Hutchinson, women’s gymnastics
The illustrious career of Hutchinson has come to an end and what a way she went out. She was a First-team All-American in every event except bars, NCAA Regional champion in beam and floor and tied the school record for a 39.825 all-around score twice this season. What a season for Hutchinson and the DU fanbase will greatly miss her performing at Magness Arena.
Josie & John – Julia Gilbert, women’s lacrosse
Julia Gilbert is an exceptional athlete who earned the Big East Co-Attacker of the Year award and USA Lacrosse All-American honorable mention this year. She was one of the best offensive players in the nation, with eight game-winning goals, and tied for first with five player-up tallies. In 2023, she recorded career highs in goals (59) and points (67) while starting 23 games as a captain.
Male Newcomer of the Year
Riley, Sam, Josie, John – Zeev Buium, men’s hockey
Considering he is projected to be the fifth DU player to go into round one of the draft should say enough. The freshman defenseman played in 42 games this season and scored 50 points. He was a freshman who was nominated for the Hobey Baker Award which is an amazing feat in and of itself. He also was a key player on the gold medal-winning US World Juniors team earlier this season.
Female Newcomer of the Year
Riley & Sam – Liv Moritz, skiing & women’s soccer
It’s hard to make an impact in one collegiate sport and it’s even harder to make an impact in two. Moritz had an outstanding freshman year on the pitch and the slopes. In the fall, she was awarded the Summit League Newcomer of the Year award after scoring seven goals and four assists. On the mountain, she picked up one win, two podium finishes and five top-20 finishes in six races. Moritz has already made a big impact on both the skiing and soccer programs.
Josie – Maira Carreau, women’s triathlon
When you pull up Carreau’s page on the athletics website and you click on honors and awards all you see are “First Team” and “National Champion.” Denver Triathlon and Carreau didn’t wait long to be put on the radar and she became the first Denver triathlete to win an individual national title and also the first to finish on the podium in the championship race as the team is only a few years old. To win the national championship, she completed the over 15-mile course in just over an hour.
John – Oliva Penoyer, women’s lacrosse
Oliva Penoyer is not just the best passer in women’s lacrosse but also an academically bright mind. She did her undergraduate studies at Yale University with a degree in psychology and is doing her master’s in social work at DU. Penoyer has an impressive resume with All-Ivy League first-team awards (2022-23) and a 2019 All-Ivy League Honorable Mention. She finished her carrer at Yale with 106 assists and 81 goals for 187 points. Now making her impact at DU, she recorded 56 assists and 26 goals with a shooting percentage of .657, combined for a stellar season.
Best Individual Performance
Riley – Maira Carreau, NCAA Triathlon National Championships
Carreau captured the attention of the Triathlon world after winning the NCAA Championships as a freshman. She became the first Denver triathlon athlete to ever win an individual national championship on November 11 after recording an impressive 1:03:22 final time. Carreau is a big name to look out to succeed going into the 2024-25 athletic season.
Josie – Tristan Broz, 2 NCAA OT winners
Not many people can say that they scored two overtime game-winners in back-to-back games, let alone that feat in the NCAA tournament. As many players on the hockey team had huge roles in the national championship efforts, Broz’s performance was the one that helped to guarantee the national championship.
Sam & John – Matt Davis, NCAA Frozen Four
This was an obvious choice. Davis played at what Davis Carle called a ‘superhuman” level in the Frozen Four making a number of breathtaking saves. In the NCAA tournament, Davis posted a .979 save percentage and led Denver to a National Championship.
Best Team Performance
Riley – Swim & Dive at Summit League Championships
For the second year in a row, I have chosen the Swim and Dive team for producing the best team performance throughout the season. Once again, the team dominated the conference tournament in Minnesota in February and only three events finished without a Denver athlete on the podium. The two squads have won 21 titles total in their 11 years in the conference, and are slated to continue to dominate for years to come.
Josie & Sam – Men’s Hockey, Nationship Championship
I don’t think any other performance can outway winning a national championship, let alone the second in three years. They shut out the long-time nationally ranked number-one Boston College which was the Eagle’s first shutout of the season. Two players with Minnesota affiliation, Jared Wright (native of the state) and Rieger Lorenz (drafted by the Wild) scored in the game which just added to the perfect game.
John – Men’s Lacrosse, Win vs Syracuse (May 19)
With a high, flying, and slashing Crimson and Gold men’s Lacrosse record of 13-5, they competed in the second round of the NCAA tournament against Syracuse on May 19. DU was unstoppable in passing precision, shooting around the net, and ball handling with the stick. What led to the incredible shutdown, was 1 on 1 defense, with relentless coverage. DU will hopefully top this game, with a win against Notre Dame in the semifinals on Saturday.
Most Improved Team
Josie & Sam – Men’s Lacrosse
Just to highlight the stats from last year, last year’s team went 10-5 while this year’s team is 12-3. Last year’s team also failed to make the NCAA tournament but currently, this year’s team is in the third round of the tournament for the first time since they won the national title in 2015. They also had a stint being the number-one ranked program in the country this season. The team also has a rookie coach this year which adds to the improvement of this year’s team from last year.
Riley & John – Men’s Tennis
Just to highlight the stats from last year, last year’s team went 15-8, while this year’s team went 23-1. Last year’s team also failed to make it to the NCAA Tournament, but this year’s team made it to the first round of the NCAA tournament. It was a big jump for the program which will look to replicate the same success next year.
Best Coach
Riley & Sam – David Carle, men’s hockey
David Carle hoisted a second National Championship in three years for Denver. The 34-year-old is arguably the biggest up-and-coming coaching star in all of hockey at any level. Carle also led the US to gold at the World Junior Championships to add to his resume. Carle is undoubtedly the best coach in college hockey.
Josie & John – Matt Brown, men’s lacrosse
In his first year as head coach, he led the team to a record of 13-3, and DU made it to the NCAA tournament. Before his head coaching position, he was an offensive coordinator for 14 seasons under coach Bill Tierney. Brown DU lacrosse was ranked as one of the top offenses in the nation and ranked top 10 in scoring. He was on the Crimson and Gold team, which won a 2015 championship, and is seeking his first as head coach on Saturday in the semifinal matchup against Notre Dame.
Best Overall Team
Riley, Josie, Sam, John – Men’s Hockey
I mean, the men’s hockey team became the winningest team in college hockey. After losing by five at home on February 3 to Western Michigan, they turned it around, went 15-1-1 and won the Frozen Faceoff and the Frozen Four. They also overcame injuries of many of their star players like Carter King and Massimo Rizzo. In their postseason run, they also stuck it out in four overtimes, one coming in the Frozen Faceoff and three coming during the Frozen Four run including a 2OT versus UMass.
What an ending to a great season for the men’s hockey program and what a season for the rest of the 17 D1 programs.
