STRENGTH IN THE HERD
7/12/2024 11:08:00 AM | Football, General, Men's Golf, Men's Tennis, Women's Gymnastics
Each summer, the Boise State Athletic Department takes a week in which it recognizes the accomplishments of the previous year. Please join us this week as we celebrate the success of Bronco student-athletes from the 2023-24 academic year.
Boise State student-athletes combined for eight conference championships, seven All-Americans and numerous all-conference awards. Feature stories include the following.
Men's Tennis Resurgence
Women's Gymnastics Dominates MW Conference
Individual Championships for Emma Loyim, gymnastics, and Cole Rueck, men's golf
Football's Rally to the MW Championships
MW Champions
- Teams: Football (tri-champion regular season and championship game), Gymnastics, Men’s Tennis (co-champion regular season and tournament champions)
- Individuals: Emma Loyim, Gymnastics (Beam and Floor); Cole Rueck, Men’s Golf
All-Americans
- Football: Kage Casey, James Ferguson-Reynolds, Ashton Jeanty and Andrew Simpson
- Gymnastics: Courtney Blackson
- Softball: Sophia Knight
- Volleyball: Paige Bartsch
Conference Accolades
Player of the Year
- Paige Bartsch, Volleyball (Mountain West)
- Sierra Land, Beach Volleyball (Southland Conference)
- Emily Lopez, Gymnastics (Mountain West)
Tournament Championship MVP
- Sam Sippel, Men’s Tennis (Mountain West)
Offensive Player of the Year
- Ashton Jeanty, Football (Mountain West)
Freshman of the Year
- Julia Kiesler, Women’s Cross Country (Mountain West)
- Sophia Knight, Softball (Mountain West)
Newcomer of the Year
- Cindy Conner, Soccer (Mountain West)
- Marlayna Bullington, Beach Volleyball (Southland Conference)
Gymnast Specialist of the Year
- Emily Lopez , Bars (Mountain West)
- Adriana Popp, Beam and Co-Specialist (Mountain West)
Beach Volleyball Pair of the Year
- Marlayna Bullington & Sierra Land (Southland Conference)
Coach of the Year
- Gymnastics: Tina Bird (Mountain West)
- Men’s Tennis: Luke Shields (Mountain West)
Boise State Men’s Tennis Returns to the Top of the Mountain
Boise State's men's tennis team stands as one of the most successful programs in the university's athletic history. It secured 15 conference tournament championships, three regular season titles (competition began in 2009), and 18 NCAA Championship berths from 1993-2015.
The Broncos have shown remarkable resilience after a period of challenges (2016-22), regaining their former glory under the leadership of head coach Luke Shields, who took over the program for the 2022-23 campaign. Under Shields, Boise State won a share of the 2024 Mountain West regular-season title and captured the Mountain West Championship crown in 2023 and 2024 to earn the conference’s NCAA berth in back-to-back years.
The 2024 campaign was a year of triumph for the program, marking several key milestones. The team clinched its first conference regular-season title in 10 years and fourth overall, won back-to-back conference tournament titles for the first time since 2015, its 18th all-time, and made a second-consecutive NCAA tournament appearance, marking the program’s 20th overall. These achievements are a testament to the team's hard work and dedication.
Individually, the Broncos witnessed Sam Sippel become the first Bronco to reach the singles main draw at the ITA All-American Championship since 2013 and the first to make the NCAA Men’s Tennis National Singles Championship since 2014. Boise State also had a doubles team invited to the NCAA Championship for the first time since 2009.
In the last two years, Boise State has had three Broncos reach the round of 16 at the ITA Mountain Region Championship in singles, two advanced to the quarterfinals, and one, Simon Arca Costas, played in the 2022 semifinals, the first Bronco to make the semifinal round since 2013.
The Broncos also dominated the 2024 MW Championship honors. Sippel was named the tournament MVP and first-team all-tournament at No. 1 singles. He and doubles partner Jan Lucca Marquardt made the all-tournament team at the No. 1 position. In addition, James Van Herzeele and Marquardt made the all-tournament team in singles at the No. 3 and 4 positions, respectively, while Jett Middleton and Caden Moortgat received all-tournament accolades for doubles on court two.
Boise State’s original tennis dominance began with the arrival of coach Greg Patton in 1993 when he led the Blue and Orange to its second conference tournament title in history. He went on to win five-consecutive Big Sky Conference titles from 1993-97.
Patton left for a few years to coach with the USA National Team program, during which time the Broncos won two more titles under Jim Moortgat's leadership in 1999 and 2000.
In 2003, Patton returned to Boise State and led the program to eight more conference tournament titles, including the first four years as members of the MW (2012-15). During that time, the conferences that the Broncos were members of started to compete for a regular-season title, starting with the Western Athletic Conference in 2009. Boise State won the inaugural title and followed with two more in 2012 and 2014 as members of the MW.
During their decades of dominance, the Broncos saw seven players combine for 11 All-America honors, including three by current head coach Luke Shields. The program also had seven conference players of the year and five freshmen of the year, 49 all-conference first-team honors and 16 second-team honors in singles, and 20 all-conference first-team and 14 second-team honors in doubles.
Boise State lured Shields home in summer 2022. Since his return, the program has experienced consecutive 20-plus win seasons, won three championships, and advanced to the NCAA Championship twice, marking the program's resurgence to being a factor in the MW and region, leaving an exciting future ahead for the program and Bronco Nation.
Boise State Gymnastics Triumphs in Inaugural Mountain West Championships
Boise State's gymnastics team soared to victory at the inaugural Mountain West Championships, March 23, held at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in Logan, Utah.
Boise State clinched the championship with a score of 196.550 to defeat Utah State (196.500), San Jose State (196.400) and Air Force (195.450) to capture the program's impressive 18th conference title.
At the conclusion of the meet, Bird was honored as the MW Coach of the Year, marking her seventh such accolade in her tenure at Boise State. Emily Lopez also made history by earning the MW Gymnast of the Year award, becoming the 10th Bronco to receive this recognition.
The competition began with freshman Mahleea Werline setting the tone with a solid performance on bars, matching her career-high score of 9.875 to tie for second place. Emily Lopez, named MW Bars Specialist of the Year, contributed a 9.800, helping Boise State start strong with a score of 49.075 in the first rotation.
Boise State continued to excel on beam, delivering a record-breaking performance with a team score of 49.500, setting a new program record for the highest beam score at a conference championship and marking their best score of the season on the apparatus. Junior Emma Loyim shined on beam with a career-high 9.950, tying Boise State's highest beam score in conference championship history and claiming her first individual conference crown. Adriana Popp, named MW Co-Beam Specialist of the Year, added to the team's success with a score of 9.925, tying for second place.
Heading into the final rotation with an overall score of 147.675, Boise State maintained a lead of 0.375 points. Emma Loyim continued to impress on floor, tying for first place with a score of 9.900, becoming the ninth Bronco to win multiple events at a conference championship and the first since 2017.
In vault, Kho, Lopez and Popp each scored 9.800, contributing to Boise State's solid performance across all events. Kho achieved a career-high score on vault, further bolstering the team's final score.
With their victory secured, Boise State now sets its sights on the upcoming season, aiming to defend its MW Championships title with the same determination and skill that defined their performance in Logan.
“We were thrilled to come out on top, but are focused on hitting better routines at the championship meet to make that a season high score,” Bird said. “Competition in the MW is high level and all of the teams bring out the best in each other, so it will be a battle, as always.”
Loyim Shines at Inaugural Mountain West Championships
Emma Loyim etched her name into Boise State gymnastics history at the inaugural Mountain West Championships, March 23, held at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in Logan, Utah.
Loyim returned to Boise as a MW team champion along with two individual conference crowns, becoming the ninth Bronco to win multiple events at a conference meet and the first to do so since 2017.
The junior began on beam, where she executed a career-high score of 9.950. This not only marked Boise State’s highest beam score in conference championships history, but also secured Loyim her first individual conference title. She has tallied up four beam titles throughout her career, making this her second this season. Loyim's strong performance set the tone for the Broncos, propelling them into the lead after the second rotation.
I can't even put into words how amazing it felt,” Loyim said. “Although, going into the meet, I didn't really go in hoping to win individual or personal titles. Thinking about conference, my first priority was the team because I knew how much we wanted it all together. We have been thinking about this meet and our goal of taking home the title since before preseason. It's just something that we all always wanted so bad.
As the competition moved to floor exercise, Loyim once again excelled and tied for first place with a score of 9.900. This marked her fourth career floor win and third this season.
Loyim's exceptional performance throughout the championships not only earned her individual accolades but also played a pivotal role in Boise State's team victory. The Broncos clinched their 18th conference title with a score of 196.550.
Looking ahead, Loyim remains focused on continuing to elevate her gymnastics and contributing to Boise State's ongoing success. With ambitions to compete at the national level and defend their Mountain West Championships title, Loyim and her teammates are already preparing for the upcoming season
Cole Rueck On Track to Reach Goals
Ahead of the 2023-24 season, Boise State men’s golfer Cole Rueck had lofty expectations for his sophomore season: to make the postseason.
Rueck had turned in a solid freshman season for the Broncos a year ago, as he finished second on the team with a 73.55 average and cracked the top 25 three times. To make the postseason he knew there needed to be a large jump in his play.
Rueck made that jump, and then some. His sophomore season was filled with accolades:
- NCAA Stanford Regional participant
- Mountain West Individual Champion
- Battle of Idaho Co-Medalist
- Genesis Collegiate Invite Champion
- Three-time Top-10 finisher
“He’s had a great year, a great spring. Nobody deserves it more than him,” said Boise State head coach David Trainor.
The catalyst for his goals was getting the opportunity to compete at the Genesis Collegiate Showcase, a one-day event for collegiate golfers ahead of the PGA Tour’s Genesis Invite. The winner of the collegiate event would get more than bragging rights this time around – they’d receive an exemption to July’s Genesis Scottish Open.
With the best average on the team at the conclusion of the fall season, Rueck earned Boise State’s lone spot at the Genesis Collegiate Showcase.
“I remember his parents thanking me for giving him the opportunity (to go to the Genesis,” Trainor recalled. “I told them Cole earned the opportunity.”
It took two playoff holes, but Rueck emerged victorious at Riviera, as he defeated Washington’s Petr Hruby on a short putt for birdie. Both players carded even-par 71s in the competition round to force a playoff, and hand Rueck the exemption to the Scottish Open.
From that moment on, Rueck’s spring season took an upward turn. He turned in three top-10 performances and turned in a 71.61 scoring average to become only the fifth Bronco golfer to earn all-conference honors in the Mountain West era.
“It’s definitely a big confidence (boost),” Rueck said to Voice of the Broncos, Bob Behler. “I knew I was playing in the Scottish Open before the spring season started. To get another big result and my first win (in college) just gave me confidence that I can compete against good players. My golf game hasn’t changed a lot but the confidence helps.”
Despite winning a major showcase to qualify for a PGA Tour event, arguably the biggest moment of Rueck’s season came at the Mountain West Championships.
Stepping off the course at 7-under 209 and riding a streak of 27-straight holes without a bogey, in the first groupings of the day, Rueck was hoping his score would earn him a place in the top 5.
Needing to remain close by for the awards ceremony, the Bronco golfers went to a Subway down the straight to get out of the rain. It was there the hours of being glued to their phones began.
““It was something I had never experienced before. Usually when you have a chance to win a tournament you’re paired with all the guys at the top and you’re playing at the time,” Rueck said. “It was tough, especially looking at the leaderboard. You’re hoping you don’t have to go to a playoff, but you’re reminding yourself that you might have to go out and play more golf.”
As more and more golfers moved on the course, more and more Rueck’s name rose on the leaderboard. Needing to get back in case the tournament went to a playoff hole, the team returned to Emerald Valley Golf Club just as the co-leader, Shea Lague of San Diego State, came to the 18th hole.
Lague’s birdie putt just missed the cup to hand Rueck his first career victory in a complete field. It marked only the fifth conference championship in program history, and the first since Brian Humprheys won the Mountain West in 2017.
“GIVE ME TWO WEEKS!”
The words hung in the air amidst anxious silence. Had they been uttered at the Grand Canyon they would have echoed seemingly without end. In the team meeting room at the Bleymaier Football Center, it was only a matter of seconds before the silence was broken by the speaker, newly minted Interim head football coach Spencer Danielson. But it felt like an eternity.
“Give me two weeks to finish this season for our seniors and for yourselves. Give me two weeks for this brotherhood. After two weeks, you can make the best decision for yourselves, but for two weeks I’m asking for your focus.”
With those few words, Danielson changed the course of the 2023 season for Boise State and completely rallied the Broncos to what would turn out to be one of the most improbable championships in program history.
Facing a 4-5 record following a loss at Fresno State and their worst record in November since 1997, Boise State faced a 0.1% probability of reaching the Mountain West Championship. A week later, after a win over New Mexico, Director of Athletics Jeramiah Dickey made the bold decision to make a coaching change, putting Danielson in charge. The rest, as they say, is history.
What followed was a riveting story normally only written in Hollywood. That story ended not far from the famed Hollywood sign.
The decision was announced – and the now infamous four words by Danielson turned into a challenge to the team – came on Sunday, Nov. 12. The following morning and throughout the ensuing week, the mood around the Bleymaier Football Center was as if nothing had happened the previous morning. Coaches intently focused on game planning and preparation. Student-athletes working as hard as ever in the weight room and on the practice fields. There was a focus as intense as anyone could imagine, but also lots of laughter.
The result? A 45-10 win at Utah State on Nov 18 when the Broncos shrugged off a 10-0 deficit. Then a 27-19 win on The Blue over Air Force, limiting the Falcons to more than 75 yards rushing below their season average.
Following Boise State edging San Jose State by the slimmest of margins in a tiebreaker that went to an average of computer rankings – an average of only 2.5 points – Boise State advanced to the MW Championship in Las Vegas. Tack on another week only this time, no motivational speech was needed. The team was already bought in.
Another dominant win resulted with a 44-20 victory over UNLV to claim Boise State’s fifth Mountain West title – the most of any program in the league’s history. A bid to the LA Bowl hosted by Gronk followed the next day.
The expectations are always high at Boise State, and rightfully so. It is a standard set decades ago and has not waivered despite the changing of time, coaches, conference affiliations, levels of national competition and more. However, the 2023 championship might taste a little extra sweet, considering the adversity overcome to reach the mountain top. It won’t soon be forgotten by Bronco Nation.
The Year in Review continues tomorrow to celebrate the Broncos academic excellence.
