Athletics

The Mines quarterback is the first Oredigger to win the national award. Matocha, the 2022 Harlon Hill winner, received his bachelor's degree in computer science in May with a 3.64 GPA and will work on a master's degree this year in his final season of NCAA eligibility.

Twenty years after meeting on the Mines men's soccer team, Nicholas Clausnitzer ’07 and Michael Dixon ’06 still spend many waking hours of the day together as colleagues at Aera Energy.

June 12's College Athlete Day recognized champions from NCAA Divisions I, II, and III across all sports.

The anonymous gift, one of the largest to support athletics in university history, will provide about $440,000 for scholarships each year, fund improvements to the university’s track and field complex and build a cross country training facility on campus.

“Rarely do we see people like Coach Kay who have committed their entire life to one school and the surrounding community,” said Mines Athletics Director David Hansburg. "Marv Kay is clearly the greatest Oredigger of all time, and his legacy will live on forever in the hearts and minds of his countless friends." 

Whether you’re new to Mines or a long-time member of the Oredigger community, here are some of the Mines moments from 2022 we think are worth remembering.

Mines will play Ferris State on Dec. 17 in McKinney, Texas, for the national title. The game kicks off at noon Central Time (11 a.m. MT) and will air live on ESPNU.

For the first time, the NCAA Division II semifinals come to Golden as Super Region 4 champion Colorado School of Mines hosts Super Region 1 winner Shepherd on Dec. 10 for the right to a spot in the national final.

Dillon Powell's individual title set the pace for Mines history as the Oredigger men won their third NCAA Division II Men's Cross Country national championship since 2015, and Mines' women finished third in the nation.

The decorated distance runner and student researcher is the first Mines student-athlete to reach the finals for the prestigious national award. NCAA will announce the winner at its annual convention in January.