Mesa guard hits transfer portal; Men's lacrosse has statement win
Christopher Speller was brilliant in the Colorado Mesa men’s basketball team’s run to the Sweet 16. Christopher Speller, a guard for the Colorado Mesa men’s basketball team, has announced he is entering the transfer portal, following his teammate Trevor Baskin's decision to leave the team. Speller had been instrumental in the team's successful run to the Sweet 16, averaging 13.5 points per game in six postseason games. He also had nine assists in the South Central Regional and seven in the second round. Myah Arrieta was named the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II National and RMAC Player of the Week for her performance. Robert Sharrar was named RMAC player of the week for the second consecutive week. The team's lacrosse performance was also well-received, with Dillon Pless scoring two goals in a game against Florida Southern. The Mavericks finished fourth at the Midwestern State Invitational and Timmy Cavarno had the best score for the team with a score of 220.
Published : 4 weeks ago by SENTINEL STAFF in Sports
Christopher Speller was brilliant in the Colorado Mesa men’s basketball team’s run to the Sweet 16.
Speller announced on the social media site X on Tuesday night that he’s entering the transfer portal, the same day coach Mike DeGeorge resigned to become the coach at Division I Cal Poly and one day after fellow teammate — and RMAC player of the year — Trevor Baskin opted to hit the portal.
Speller has one year of eligibility left. He averaged 13.5 points per game in the Mavericks’ six postseason games with a high of 18 points in the Sweet 16 loss to West Texas A&M. He also had nine assists in the first round of the South Central Regional and seven in the second round.
Speller was selected the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference’s Freshman of the Year in the 2020-21 season and was a two-time All-RMAC honorable mention.
He and his brother, Christian, both came to the Mavericks by way of Rangeview High School in Denver.
Colorado Mesa junior Myah Arrieta was selected as both the Louisville Slugger/NFCA Division II National and RMAC Player of the Week for her performance last weekend.
The Central High School graduate hit eight home runs and went 13 for 16, good for an .812 batting average, during the Mavs’ series sweep of Black Hills State University. Arrieta also had a double, scored 11 runs and had 14 RBI throughout the series.
She was also the Louisville Slugger/NFCA National Player of the Week on March 7 of 2023 and becomes only the second Maverick in program history (AnnMarie Torres — 2019 and 2022) to receive the award twice. Brooke Hodgson (2018) and Ellie Smith (2021) are the program’s other recipients.
CMU’s Robert Sharrar was the RMAC player of the week for the second straight week.
Sharrar has been on an absolute torrid pace for the past three weeks and he just added to it in the series with Colorado Christian. He batted .647 (11 for 17) with four doubles, a triple, and two home runs. He added two stolen bases, seven RBI, seven runs scored and an OPS over 2.000 to help the Mavericks to the four-game series sweep of Colorado Christian.
The Mavericks will be back on the diamond beginning today in Denver as they take on Regis in a four-game series.
It’s time to take Colorado Mesa seriously.
Last week, the now-No. 17 Mavericks lost to No. 15 Florida Southern 13-12, beat Flagler 12-11 and beat No. 20 Westminster 13-12 in overtime in a matchup of RMAC heavyweights.
Dillon Pless scored his second goal of the game to clinch the win over the Griffins (5-2, 1-1 RMAC). He also had three goals against Florida Southern (6-2).
JJ Brummett scored eight goals last week for the Mavericks (5-3, 2-0).
Colorado Mesa hosts CSU Pueblo today at 7 p.m. and Adams State on Saturday at 11 p.m., with both games at Community Hospital Unity Field.
The Mavericks (3-3) split two games last week. They beat Rockhurst 13-9 but lost to No. 12 UIndy 18-7.
Kelsey Viger was selected the RMAC Defensive Player of the Week for the second time. The redshirt senior scooped up six groundballs and forced seven turnovers.
The Mavericks next travel to Salt Lake City to play Westminster at 4 p.m. on Friday. Their next home game is against Regis at 3 p.m. on April 5.
The Mavericks finished fourth at the Midwestern State Invitational on Monday at Wichita Falls Country Club in Wichita Falls, Texas.
Colorado Mesa’s tally of 886 was nine strokes behind winner Dallas Baptist.
Timmy Cavarno had the best finish for the Mavericks, tying for 10th with a 7-over-par 220. He opened the tournament with a 68 but carded a 76 in both the second and third rounds.
The Mavericks next play at the Hot Dirt Desert Shootout on April 5-6 in Goodyear, Arizona at The Golf Club at Estrella Mountain.
CMU tied for seventh at the Southern Colorado Open at CSU Pueblo on Sunday. Thirty-six holes were played because of weather on Monday.
Sadie Kelley had the best showing for the Mavericks, posting a 15-over 159. She carded an 80 in the first 18 holes and a 79 on the second round.
The Mavericks next play at the Hardrocker Spring Invitational on Monday in Rapid City, South Dakota at Arrowhead Country Club.