Nominees for Bronco Coach of the Year

Consider the following nominees, then vote for your choice as Bronco Coach of the Year on the Blue Turf board on Broncocountry.com


Tina Bird and Neil Resnick, gymnastics--Bird and Resnick led Boise State to the WAC Championship, a #12 ranking and a third-place finish at the NCAA Regional Gymnastics Championship.  Boise State was 25/1000th's of a point away from beating #1 Florida and advancing to their first National Championship as a team.  Two Broncos, Becky Gher and Amy Glass qualified for the NCAA National Championships individually and Glass recorded the second-highest finish ever for a Bronco, 19th in the all-around competition.  Along the way, Glass achieved the highest scores ever by a Bronco in the national meet on both the floor and on vault.


Kristin Hill, swimming and diving--Hill's Broncos amassed 835 points at the WAC Championships, the ninth-highest total in league history.  Boise State's margin of victory (258 points) also set a record.  Boise State received the first votes in school history for the Top 25 this past season.  Two of Boise State's swimmers (Amber Boucher and Stephanie North) became the first representatives in school history at the NCAA National Swimming & Diving Championships, and Boucher scored the first points in school history.


Chris Petersen, football--Petersen led Boise State to a #2 ranking at one point in the year and compiled a 11-0 record before a loss to Nevada on the final weekend of the regular season.  Boise State then blitzed Utah 26-6 in the Las Vegas Bowl.  Three of Petersen's players (Titus Young, Austin Pettis and Brandyn Thompson) were drafted in the NFL Draft with Young going in the second round and Pettis in the third.  Additionally, Petersen's quarterback, Kellen Moore, became the first Heisman Trophy finalist in school history.  Academically, Boise State placed 12th in the nation.


Greg Randall, wrestling--Randall led his team to the Pac-10 Championship and a national ranking as high as #2.  The Broncos finished ninth at the NCAA Wrestling Championships with Andrew Hochstrasser finishing second in his weight class, Jason Chamberlain finishing third and Adam Hall fifth.  Four Broncos (Alan Bartelli, Michael Cuthbertson, Hall & Josh Strait) were named to the All-Pac-10 Academic team.


Leon Rice, basketball--All Rice did was come in to Boise and, in his first year, lead Boise State to a 24-13 record and second-place finish in the WAC.  Boise State advanced to the WAC Championship game against nationally-ranked Utah State before bowing out.  Rice's Broncos were one of the final collegiate teams playing as Boise State defeated Austin Peay and Evansville in the CBI Tournament before losing in the CBI semifinals at Oregon.  Rice was responsible for Boise State recording the seventh-biggest increase in attendance in the nation.


Erin Thorpe, softball--In the third year of the program, Thorpe led Boise State to a 33-19 record, including a sweep of nationally-ranked Fresno State at the end of the season.  The Broncos finished tied with Fresno State for second in the WAC and then finished third in the WAC Tournament.  Three Broncos--right fielder Devon Bridges and pitchers Allie Crump and Aubray Zell were named All-WAC.

Nine Broncos Qualify for NCAA Regional Track Championships

Last week, I told you that eight Broncos were in line for the NCAA Western Regional Track Championships in Austin.  That has now been confirmed by the NCAA today along with more good news--Racquel Jones also qualifies for those Championships coming up May 27-28.

Alex Nelson, ranked #11 in the nation, and Trevor Kraychir (#21) will compete in the hammer throw.  Sawyer Bosch, #12 in the steeplechase. Eetu Viitala, #16 in the long jump, Pontus Thomee (#21 in the javelin), Alex Cartwright (#40 in the javelin), Chase Sexton (#29 in the shot put) and 400-meter hurlde man Rolando Trammel (#40) will represent the Bronco men while Jones qualified in the women's long jump.

From there, these student-athletes will need to finish in the top 12 to qualify for Nationals.