Pioneer Athletics
Anti Laaksonen played for DU for four years from 1993-1997 and completed his bachelor's degree in international business. His parents back in Finland asked him to finish the degree so he'd be prepared for life after hockey, and he's never regretted it.
Three cheers for the Pioneers
DU student-athletes excel on the field and in the classroom.
All Pioneer teams compete in the NCAA's Division I, the highest level in collegiate athletics. The men's ice hockey team competes in the nation's premier collegiate hockey league, the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while basketball and some other sports are members of the fierce Sun Belt Conference.
The Pioneer men compete in eight sports: basketball, golf, hockey, lacrosse, skiing, soccer, swimming and diving, and tennis. DU women compete in basketball, golf, gymnastics, lacrosse, skiing, soccer, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball.
Since DU launched its varsity athletics program in the late 1800s, Pioneer teams have filled the trophy case. Thanks to excellent coaching and dedicated student-athletes, the teams have a proud tradition of winning conference and national championships.
For decades, DU's powerhouse ski teams have dominated the slopes, winning 18 national championships-more than any other NCAA Division I program. DU skiers have been crowned champions in 52 individual events over the years.
The DU hockey team has seven NCAA Division I championships to its credit. Most recently, the Pioneers won back-to-back championships in 2004 and 2005. In 2006, DU defenseman Matt Carle won the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to college hockey's most outstanding player.
Just as important, the Pioneers achieve academically. Here are some statistics for the record books:
- Since joining the Sunbelt Conference in 1999-2000, the Pioneers have held the highest graduation rate for six consecutive seasons.
- One hundred DU student-athletes have earned academic All-America recognition since 1990.
- Out of this year's 367 student-athletes, 220 typically maintain a 3.0 GPA or better.
- DU student-athletes are routinely part of their conference's all-academic squads.
- An impressive 83 percent of DU student-athletes earn a degree. (The nation-wide Division I athletes average is 57 percent.)