Cougar Connection
March/April 2008
Join Cougar Athletics on Friday May 9 for the Ninth Annual CCU Golf Classic
Don't forget to mark Friday, May 9, on your calendar, as CCU hosts the Ninth Annual CCU Golf Classic at the beautiful Raccoon Creek Golf Club in Littleton.
This year's event will feature a morning session only which begins with an 8:00 a.m. shotgun start.
Participants will be treated to a continental breakfast, an afternoon lunch, and will have the opportunity to compete for a variety of prizes.
Please contact Aimee Davison at adavison@ccu.edu or 303-963-3185 for more information.
Men’s Basketball Completes Historic Season with NCAA Bid
For the first time in 14 years, the CCU men’s basketball team capped off a fantastic season with an invite to the NCAA national tournament in Winona, Minnesota.
Led by pre-season all-American, Brian Stamer, the Cougars finished the regular season as RMAC East Division champs, advanced all the way to the RMAC title game and earned the eighth seed in the Big Dance.
Stamer almost singlehandedly willed the Cougars through the opening rounds of conference postseason action, posting 23 points and 17 rebounds in a win over Metro State, before unloading for 40 points and a RMAC tournament record 21 rebounds in a 78-68 win over Nebraska-Kearney in the conference semi-finals.
The Cougars dropped a narrow six point decision to Fort Lewis in the RMAC Championship game, before running into a brick wall in the Winona State Warriors one week later in the national tournament.
The regional host Warriors were victors of the 2006 National Championship, finished the 2007 season as the National Runner-ups and featured 6’8” all-American forward John Smith, the 2008 Division II Player of the Year.
Facing a packed house of hostile Winona supporters in the biggest game of the year, CCU pulled ahead 2-0 early on thanks to a Brendan Puckett baseline jumper. The Cougar defense shut down the paint early on, forcing some tough Warrior jumpers that failed to find the mark. The potent Winona offense would not be held down for long however, as the hosts erupted for six three’s over the next five minutes to pull ahead 25-9.
The Cougars answered with a 5-2 run that cut the margin to 13, but Winona fired right back thanks to a 
14-6 scoring streak that resulted in a 41-20 CCU deficit heading into the half.
A memorable season came to a 78-45 end that night, and the Warriors kept rolling through the North Central Region Tournament, eventually capturing the 2008 National Championship in a nationally televised 87-76 win over Augusta State.
Despite the disappointing ending, the Cougars can be proud of one of the best seasons in CCU history and can now look to build on this year’s momentum heading into the future.
Kaiser Tosses CCU's First Shutout, Named RMAC Pitcher of the Week
Andrew Kaiser made CCU history in the month of March, tossing CCU’s first-ever complete game shutout in a 4-0 victory over New Mexico Highlands, while earning CCU’s first-ever RMAC Pitcher of the Week award.
The senior ace out of Broomfield, Colorado was untouchable in the conference opener between the two teams, facing 33 Cowboy batters, striking out six of them and walking only two.
Kaiser allowed only four hits on the afternoon and improved his record to 4-2 with the win.
On the year, the 6’3” senior pitcher out of Broomfield, Colorado, stands at second in the RMAC with an impressive 3.89 ERA, while striking out 38 batters this season – a number that is good for fourth in the conference.
Cougar Golf Gains Momentum in Spring
With the return of warmer weather, the Cougar men’s and women’s golf teams are back on the links and right in the thick of RMAC competition.
The women got the spring rolling in style, as sophomore Tedi Thorne logged scores of 77 and 76 to earn first place by a decisive seven stroke lead at the Regis Invitational.
On the men’s side of the action, Clifton Sebra and Patrick Kent tied for second place overall at the Mines Spring Invite, while leading the team to a third place finish among a tough field of opponents at Fox Hollow Golf Course in Lakewood, Colorado.
Sebra and Kent each finished with a 146 (+2), only one stroke behind the medalist Stephen Bidne of Division I Northern Colorado.
In the second place finish, the two also edged out Division I competitors Riley Andrews of the University of Colorado, as well as Jon Lopez from Denver University.
An outstanding fall season has Mark Hull’s men’s team right in the thick of a chance to make CCU’s first-ever appearance in the NCAA Super Regional’s which will be held at the Adobe Creek Golf Club in Petaluma, California.
Caucutt Joins Cougars as New Men’s Soccer Coach
The Cougar Athletic Department is pleased to announce that Joshua Caucutt will be taking the helm of the CCU men’s soccer team for the 2008-09 season.
Caucutt joins the Cougars after spending four seasons as the head men’s and women’s soccer coach at NCAA Division III Maranatha Baptist Bible College in Watertown, Wisconsin.
Joshua earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics education at Maranatha in 1999, before completing his master’s degree in arts and counseling while with the Crusaders in 2001.
Coach Caucutt is licensed by the United State Soccer Federation, and also holds a regional, national and advanced national diploma from the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA), in addition to an NSCAA state goalkeeping certificate.
With 11 years of combined coaching experience on his resume, Caucutt brings a thorough understanding of soccer strategy and technique, as well as a strong work ethic and a passion for developing student athletes.
“I am excited that Coach Caucutt is joining our athletic staff,” stated CCU Athletic Director, Darren Richie. “Caucutt will bring back the winning tradition to our men’s soccer program. His background and experience will bring accountability and discipline, and a desire to mentor and train our student-athletes to become stronger players who have a desire to honor and follow Christ both on and off the soccer field.”
