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A complete list of CSU’s 1st-year student signings

Damon Cook and Emma Askren

November 17, 2023

Collegian | Chloe Leline

Editor’s Note: This post will continue to be updated as more athletes sign their national letters of intent to play at Colorado State.

Colorado State had a busy signing day after the official window opened Nov. 8. Here’s a list of everyone that CSU officially signed from all Division I sports, except football.

Women’s basketball

Kloe Froebe is a 5-foot-8-inch guard from Lincoln, Illinois. She currently attends Lincoln Community High School and committed to CSU Nov. 8. Froebe won WCIA 3 Girls Basketball Player of the Year in 2023.

Brooke Carlson is a 5-foot-8 guard from Batavia, Illinois. She currently attends Batavia High School and committed to CSU Nov. 8. Carlson averages 17.3 points per game, according to MaxPreps, and will be an ideal addition to CSU’s roster.

Caitlin Kramer is a 6-foot-3 guard and Colorado resident from Colorado Springs, Colorado. She currently attends Air Academy High School and committed to CSU Nov. 8. Kramer was third in points scored per game in the state at an average of 26.5, according to MaxPreps.

McKenna Murphy is a 5-foot-11 guard from Omaha, Nebraska. She currently attends Elkhorn North High School and committed to CSU Nov. 8. Murphy has an impressive shooting ability and is able to remain calm under defensive pressure outside the paint.

Olivia Pawlicki is a 6-foot-1 forward from Shakopee, Minnesota. She currently attends Shakopee High School and committed to CSU Nov. 8. Pawlicki is able to read plays well and will be a beneficial addition to CSU’s roster.

Men’s basketball

Kyle Jorgensen is a 6-foot-9 forward from Minneapolis who signed with CSU Nov. 8. Jorgensen was the 167th ranked prospect out of Minnesota in 2022, according to MaxPreps. The tall guy showcases his ability to score on all three levels and shows rim protection abilities on defense at Washburn High School.

Jaden Steppe is a 6-foot-8 forward from Tualatin, Oregon, who signed with CSU Nov. 8. Steppe is a three-star prospect and is ranked No. 2 in the state of Oregon, according to 247Sports. Steppe is a three-level scorer and has some ball handling abilities.

Darnez Slater is a 6-foot-3 guard from Eastvale, California, who signed with CSU Nov. 8. Slater is a combo guard with elite scoring potential. According to Sports Illustrated, Slater scored 52 points Jan. 26, breaking the Eleanor Roosevelt High School record for most points scored in one game.

Jon Mekonnen is a 6-foot-8 forward from Eagan, Minnesota, who signed with CSU Nov. 9. Mekonnen is a three-star prospect, according to 247Sports, and chose the Rams over other Division I offers from schools like Loyola of Chicago, Drake and Wyoming. Mekonnen is the sixth ranked prospect in Minnesota and is a high-flying athlete who will bring versatility to the Rams’ front court.

Volleyball

Erin Debiec is a 6-foot-1 setter from Potomac, Maryland, who signed with CSU Nov. 8. Debiec is a part of the Bishop O’Connell High School varsity team, which has only lost 10 sets in over 20 games this season as of Nov. 11.

Jessica Lawton is a 6-foot opposite hitter from Hales Corners, Wisconsin, who signed with CSU Nov. 8. During her senior season, Lawton has achieved 230 kills in 97 sets with a .183 hitting percentage, according to MaxPreps.

Jordyn Tynsky is a 5-foot-8 libero and defensive specialist from Decatur, Texas, who signed with CSU Nov. 8. According to MaxPreps, she attended the 2023 Under Armour All-American camp and has a .500 varsity career hitting percentage.

Brooke Holman is a 6-foot outside and opposite hitter from Centennial, Colorado, who signed with CSU Nov. 8. Holman has made consistent improvement over her three-year span on the Littleton High School varsity volleyball team. During her senior season, she has made 205 kills in 70 sets played and is hitting .143, according to MaxPreps.

XC/track and field

Brett Ephraim is a distance runner from San Clemente, California, who signed with CSU Nov. 8. Ephraim set personal records his senior season in the 3-mile, 2.93-mile and 5,000-meter events. He ran times of 14 minutes, 50.0 seconds in the 2.93, 14:06.8 in the 3-mile and 15:29.3 in the 5,000, according to athletic.net.

Adam Hellbom is a thrower from Stockholm who signed with CSU Nov. 8. Hellbom set several personal records this season in discus throw and hammer throw. In outdoor competition, he hit 50.93 meters in discus and 58.32 meters in hammer throw, according to World Athletics.

Annastasia Murphy is a jumper from Aurora, Illinois, who signed with CSU Nov. 8. Murphy is a state-qualifying athlete who holds the women’s high jump record at Matea Valley High School, where she jumped 1.67 meters.

Ella Pickron is a pole vaulter from Bulverde, Texas, who signed with CSU Nov. 8. Pickron hit her season high of 12 feet in the women’s 5A state championships. Pickron finished the championships in fifth out of nine contestants, according to athletic.net.

Allison Pippert is a distance runner from Thornton, Colorado, who signed with CSU Nov. 9. Pippert set several PRs her junior season at the 2023 Nike Outdoor Nationals. In the 3,000-meter race, she ran 10:00.52, in the 2-mile she ran 10:37.84 and in the 5,000-meter race, she ran 17:33.53, according to athletic.net.

Shea Volkmer is a distance runner from Moraga, California, who signed with CSU Nov. 9. Volkmer set a PR in her lone event so far in her senior season. She ran a 4:54.26 in the 1,600-meter event at the Mid-Season Mania 1600m Invitational, according to athletic.net.

Owen Casselman is a distance runner from Highlands Ranch, Colorado, who signed with CSU Nov. 9. Casselman set two PRs his senior season. In the 2-mile race, he ran 10:01.0, and in the 5,000-meter event, he ran 14:58.3, according to athletic.net.

Kaleb Kimaita is a jumper from Thornton, Colorado, who signed with CSU Nov. 9. Kimaita set his high jump PR at the USA Track & Field Colorado Association Junior Olympic Championships, where he jumped 6 feet, 6 inches and placed first, according to athletic.net.

Amara Thomas is a jumper and sprinter from Moreno Valley, California. She signed with CSU Nov. 13 and currently attends Valley View High School. Thomas’s record height for high jump is 5 feet, 6 inches at the 20th Annual California Relays, according to athletic.net.

Men’s golf

Charlie Tucker is from Castle Pines, Colorado, and signed with CSU Nov. 8. Tucker is the 156th ranked prospect, according to the American Junior Golf Association.

Bryant Hernandez is from San Marino, California, and signed with CSU Nov. 13. He is currently the 585th ranked prospect and has an average of 2.123 points, according to the American Junior Golf Association.

Women’s golf

Jacinda Lee is from Camas, Washington, and signed with CSU Nov. 8. Her best performance at a tournament was at the Coca-Cola Junior Championship at Sugarloaf, where she scored an average of 1.538 points, according to the American Junior Golf Association.

Ebba Thalen is an international signing from Stockholm and signed with CSU Nov. 8. Thalen is currently ranked 870th in the European Golf Rankings and brings a lot to the table for the Rams.

Abigail Taylor is another international signing from Adel, England, who signed with CSU Nov. 8. She attends Prince Henry’s Grammar School and averages 81.75 points, according to the European Golf Rankings.

Swim and dive

Carly Nelson is from Homer, Alaska, and currently attends Connections Homeschool. She signed with CSU Nov. 8 and specializes in butterfly and freestyle. Nelson placed first at the 2022 Alaska School Activities Association State Championship in the 500-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly, according to SwimCloud.

Addison Wicklund is from Rogers, Arkansas, and currently attends Rogers High School. She signed with CSU Nov. 8 and specializes in breaststroke and butterfly, which also allows her to be a dual threat in the individual medley events. Rogers is ranked second in Arkansas and 366th in the nation, according to SwimCloud.

Makenna Post is the first diver signing for CSU, committing Nov. 13. She is from Gig Harbor, Washington, and currently attends Peninsula High School. Post competed at the 2023 USA Diving Zone E Championships, where she placed 30th with a score of 275.75 in the 1-meter, according to DiveMeets.com.

Riley Lee is the second diver signing for CSU, commiting Nov. 15. She is from Discovery Bay, California, and currently attends St. Mary’s High School. Lee competed at the 2023 USA Diving Junior Region 10 Championships, where she placed 23rd in the 1-meter and 19th in the 3-meter, according to DiveMeets.com.

Softball

Kyra Smith is from Puyallup, Washington, and currently attends Puyallup High School. She signed with CSU Nov. 8 and is a right-handed batter who plays first and third base. Smith was on the Tacoma News Tribune 2022 All-Area First Team and the 4A South Puget Sound All-League First Team, according to SportsRecruits.

Autumn Rutherford is a Colorado resident hailing from Longmont. She signed with CSU Nov. 8 and currently attends Niwot High School. Rutherford is an ambidextrous hitter and strong utility player with a .533 batting average and .857 fielding percentage, according to MaxPreps.

Madilyn Eslinger is a hometown hero from Fort Collins and currently attends Loveland High School. She signed with CSU Nov. 9 and is a catcher who also plays infield. Eslinger is 5 feet, 6 inches tall and is a right-handed batter.

Jac Smith is another Colorado resident coming to Fort Collins from Centennial. She signed with CSU Nov. 9 and attends Eaglecrest High School. Smith plays middle infield and is a right-handed batter with a .413 batting average, according to MaxPreps.

Clarissa Castillo is from Rialto, California, and currently attends Wilmer Amina Carter High School. She signed with CSU Nov. 9 and is a left-handed batter who plays outfield. Castillo has a .414 batting average from 34 games played, according to MaxPreps.

Mac Ferguson is the fourth Colorado softball player signing with CSU. She is from Arvada, Colorado, and currently attends Arvada West High School. She signed with CSU Nov. 9 and is a right-handed pitcher and first baseman as well as an ambidextrous batter. Ferguson has a 3.5 earned run average, according to MaxPreps.

Karlie Cooledge is the fifth Colorado softball playing signing with CSU, hailing from Littleton and attending Chatfield Senior High School. She signed with CSU Nov. 9. Cooledge is a right-handed pitcher, utility player and batter; she has a 4.36 ERA and 127 career strikeouts, according to MaxPreps.

Rylee Gonzalez is from Huntington Beach, California, and signed with CSU Nov. 10. She is a 5-foot-7 right-handed batter who plays third base. Gonzalez attends Marina High School and has a .985 fielding percentage on top of 130 put outs this past season.

Tennis

Paisha Douglas is CSU tennis’ first signing, hailing from North Las Vegas, Nevada. She signed with CSU Nov. 9 and attends Palo Verde High School. Douglas is currently ranked 61st in the nation, according to the Tennis Recruiting Network.

Soccer

Amalia Lopez is a 5-foot-5 midfielder from Tyler, Texas, who signed with CSU Nov. 8. Lopez currently attends North Mesquite High School and was on Mexico’s U17 National Team Roster, according to Top Drawer Soccer.

Kaja Dionne is a 5-foot-4 forward from Saint Petersburg, Florida, and currently attends Shorecrest Preparatory School. She signed with CSU Nov. 8 and received a U.S. National Team training invite, according to Top Drawer Soccer.

Aspen Olson is a 5-foot-8 goalkeeper from West Jordan, Utah, and currently attends West Jordan High School. She signed with CSU Nov. 9 and will provide necessary depth to CSU’s goalkeeper lineup.

Reach Damon Cook and Emma Askren at sports@collegian.com or on Twitter @dwcook2001 and @emma_askren.

About the Contributors

Damon Cook, Sports Editor

Damon Cook is returning as one of the sports editors for fall 2024 at the The Collegian. He's been at the paper since August 2022. After starting as a construction management major at Colorado State University, Cook quickly found out he didn't have a passion for it. After taking a year off, he realized he could work in sports — something he has always been passionate about. So with newfound aspirations, he switched his major to journalism and media communication to chase those dreams. After a year of working as a beat writer covering volleyball and women's basketball, Cook took over as sports editor in summer 2023. Since then, he has become established in reporting on football and men's basketball and looks forward to providing that coverage this upcoming season. Cook will begin his third semester as the sports editor before graduating in December, having borne witness to some of CSU's historic feats. His passion for bringing readers the best coverage has only grown. Having started in the wake of a complete overhaul of The Collegian sports desk, Cook has watched the desk grow considerably, thanks to the efforts of so many amazing people he gets the pleasure of working alongside. Having learned so many things from so many people, including to never wear a tie, Cook looks forward to helping The Collegian sports desk reach heights never imagined before. With a much greater understanding of the power of words, one of Cook's inspirational quotes for this upcoming year has been from Eric Cartman in South Park: "Respect my authoritah."

Emma Askren, Sports Editor

Emma Askren, alongside Damon Cook, is the fall 2023 sports editor for The Collegian. She began working at The Collegian during her first year in the fall of 2022, when she covered the swim and dive team as well as anything sports-related. She is currently a sophomore at Colorado State University, where she is majoring in journalism and media communication and double minoring in Spanish and sports management. During her first year, she joined the rowing team, began working as a reporter for The Collegian and working at the Student Recreation Center. Askren applied to CSU as a journalism major, knowing she wanted to combine her passion for sports and writing to create a fulfilling career. Upon realizing that Rocky Mountain Student Media was hiring for first-years, she jumped at the opportunity to become a writer for The Collegian. While working for the sports desk, Askren has had the opportunity to write about hockey, logging, whitewater rafting and the importance of women in sports. As a woman in a male-dominated industry, she seeks to break the status quo and become a successful sports journalist following graduation. Following a year as a sports reporter, Askren became a co-editor for the sports desk alongside Cook. Together the duo seeks to create a new and improved sports desk that caters to all readers of The Collegian and beyond.

Chloe Leline, Print Editor

Chloe Leline is a fourth-year art student majoring in graphic design and is the current print editor for The Rocky Mountain Collegian. Some of her duties include overlooking and editing the majority of the layout design in the newspaper and pushing the creative limits of the overall paper design. She was born and raised in a one-stoplight Michigan town and moved with her family to the big city of Austin, Texas, at 10 years old. There, she was able to get more in touch with her creative passions. In middle school, she discovered her love for design, and in high school, she became the editor in chief of her school's yearbook. These passions led her to Colorado State University. Art and print production give Leline an outlet to express her love of everything visual. Whether it’s a spread design in the newspaper or a quick sketch in her notebook, creating tangible things brings her happiness every day. Working alongside other driven individuals at The Rocky Mountain Collegian brings Leline the extra inspiration that she has been longing for. She hopes her love for design can shine throughout the paper and bring readers that extra spark of joy she was lucky enough to find.

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