Student-Athletes

CSU/SigEp has a long tradition of excellence in both the classroom and the athletic field. In fact, most of our founding members were student-athletes. They were highly visible on campus and in the community. As such, they set the high standard for representing both SigEp and CSU.

In fact, two of our founding members Elwood (1915) & William Nye (1920), both who ran track for Harry Hughes, created the University’s most coveted athletic award The Nye Trophy. The first trophy was presented in 1929, It is awarded to the University’s top senior athlete each year. The award was sponsored and presented by the Nye brothers, until their deaths.

To date (2019), 43 Nye Trophy winners have been inducted into the CSU Sports Hall of Fame, 22 winners have played in the NFL, 6 that have played in the NBA, 2 are in the College Football Hall of Fame and 1 has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Three have been CSU/SigEp’s; Samuel C. Campbell, 1935, William E. Wagner, 1937, and Pittsburg Steeler Dale F. Dodrill, 1952.

Elijah Smid 2026

Eli plays soccer outside back, and midfield for the Colorado State Men’s Club Soccer team. He is from Fort Collins, Colorado and is part of the 2022 freshman class. He attended Fossil Ridge High school before coming to CSU this fall. Playing soccer has taught him many important skills and lessons in life.

Jaden Weiss 2026

Jaden is a Forward for Colorado State Rams Club Hockey Team. He is from Vail, CO, and is part of the 2022 Freshman class. Jaden previously played for Battle Mountain High School.

Playing hockey for the Rams allows me to play the sport I am passionate about. Hockey instills hard work, dedication, and academic success into its program. My brothers at Sigma Phi Epsilon help ensure I successfully balance my academic and extracurricular activities and help provide me with the best success possible!

Brendon Beaver, 2023

Brendon plays for the Colorado State Men’s Division One Club Hockey Team. Brendon plays defense. Before attending CSU, he played juniors for the Wisconsin Muskies. He also served as an assistant captain for the Syracuse Stars of the United States Premier Hockey League.

Daniel Ton-That, 2023

Daniel plays defense for the Colorado State Division One Hockey Team. Daniel has played 4 years of varsity in High school and played AAA hockey since middle school. Two-time High school state champion, four-time AAA state champion, two time AAA district champion. Daniel has been playing since 9 years old.

Cooper Coonan Liggett, 2009

Bachelor's Degree in Finance - 2009

VP of Finance - 2008

CSU Club Baseball, Pitcher - 2007, 2008, 2009

National Club Baseball Association (NCBA) World Series Champions - 2008, 2009

NCBA First Team All-American - 2008

Pin Number: 050-2207

Timothy Aaron Hoa LeBlanc, 2008

Tim received two varsity letters in football as a full back as he worked on a double major in restaurant & resort management, and business marketing.

As a senior Tim played in all 12 contests as fullback and the coverage teams. As a Junior he played in first six games. As a sophomore he saw action in only in four games (Minnesota, Air Force, Wyoming, New Mexico). As a freshman had playing time in four games (Minnesota, Montana State, Utah, UNLV).

At Woodland Hill High School in Texas Tim earned first-team all-county and all-area at punter, while garnering honorable mention all-district honors.

Bryan Addison Rye, 1969

Bryan was a star sprinter on the CSU swim team when in 1969 he transferred to the US Air Force Academy, where would go down in Falcon history after he won the 50 and 100 free and anchored the 400 free relay team with a 45.6 split, one of the fastest splits in the country. Rye also beat CSU's All- American sprinter, Dennis O'Connor, three times that day.

The U.S. Air Force Academy Men’s Swimming & Diving most Valuable Swimmer Award is named in his honor and given each year at the Annual Individual Awards Banquet.

R. Duane Knox, 1961

Duane received 3 varsity letters as end. He was Skyline Athletic Conference in 1960 and was selected for the Associated Press and United Press International all-conference first team. Duane was also selected for the 1960 All-SigEp Football Team.

Alfred M. Henderson, 1961

Al Received 2 varsity letters as tackle. Played in the 1959 Copper Bowl. Drafted by the NFL Boston Patriots in 1960. Al elected to finish his studies.

Ronald D. Stehouwer, 1959

Ron received 4 varsity letter in football, he played both tackle and guard. He was all-conference in 1959. Played in the 1959 Copper bowl. Ron was drafted in the 12th round (136 over-all) in the 1959 NFL by the Detroit Lions. He played for 5 seasons , 1960-1964.

Arlan E. Straub, 1952

Arlan received 2 varsity letters, was a sharp passing quarterback from Pittsburgh, Pa. Majored in physical education.

Don “Rack” Reichert, 1952

Physical education major, safety on the defensive unit and ran from the fullback slot on the offensive team. Held many track and field records. Don, was the 1952 Skyline Conference champion wrestler in the 177-pound class.

William E. Noxon, 1952

Bill receive 1 varsity letter playing right end, He majored in physical education.

Robert “The Toe” Hainlen, 1950

Bob is the youngest starting quarterback in CSU history, he was only 17-year-old, a true freshman, he was also the punting specialist for the football team, in fact his nickname ‘‘The Toe” stems from the fact that he kicked more field goals, twice as many in as, than any other collegiate player in the United States.

Bob went on to receive 4 letters in football (‘45, ‘46, ‘47, ‘48), was the starting quarterback in the 1949 Raisin Bowl (CSU’s first bowl appearance) and made all-conference that year.

Bob not only lettered in multiple sports , he competed in multiple varsity sports in the same time. He was the starting shortstop on the baseball team for 3 of his 4 years while competing in the long jump and high jump for the track team 2 of his 4 years. He received a total of 9 letters.’

Leon “Red” Eastlack, 1942

Red was named to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, served on the Student Council, U.S.M.O.T.C., and earned nine (9) letters in three sports (football, baseball, basketball) while at Colorado State from 1938 to his graduation year of 1942. His athletic ability was evenly spread across the three sports he played, earning honorable mention all-conference in football and basketball. In his senior year of 1942, Red was captain of the baseball team and named all-conference his senior year.

Red was inducted into the Colorado State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993. He also named to Denver’s East High School Hall of Fame.

Pin Number: 050-0369

Walter “Bus” Bergman, 1942

Bus was named to Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities, elected student body president in 1941, and was in the U.S.M.O.T.C. program.

Bus came to Colorado State in the fall of 1938 after a stellar career at Denver’s North High School. Bus took to the gridiron with great success in his sophomore year and was the football team co-captain in his senior season of 1941. Bergman also lettered in basketball and lettered all four years in baseball earning a total of ten (10) athletic letters during his four years as an Aggie student-athlete.

Bus was offered to join the Philadelphia Eagles for the 1942 season, but chose to enter into the Marine Corps and fight in the South Pacific during WWII.

Bus was inducted into the Colorado State Athletic Hall of Fame in 1993.

William Emery Wagner, 1937

Bill Wagner, Chapter Comptroller, America's Who's Who of Colleges and Universities; President Sigma Tau (Engineering Honorary), Scabbard and Blade (Military Honorary), Vice-President of the student body.

Bill was awarded the Nye Trophy in 1937, he received his varsity letters all four years in both football and basketball.

In basketball Bill was the main stay of the team for four seasons. He was mentioned on several all division teams his senior year, he was the high scorer for the Aggies during the last campaign season and one of the leading scores among all guards in the conference.

Ray E. Frisbie, 1932

Chapter President 1931, Played varsity football all 4 years, received 3 varsity letters. He was captain of the football team his senior year, and was selected as a pacemaker. was named a Silver Spruce Pacemaker. A Pacemaker, was a graduating senior who was selected by the Silver Spruce Yearbook Staff for having maintained superior grades, lead an exemplary student life and most likely will succeed in life after college.

William Thomas Vaughn, 1930

William was both Senior Class and Chapter President in 1930. Received 4 varsity letters two in football, honored as halfback on the All-SigEp Football 1930 team. William also received two letters in baseball.

J. Ray French, 1929

Ray was President of the Chapter in 1928. He first participated in Wrestling in the 1926-27 school year and as a sophomore won the conference championship in the 158 lb class. French repeated his feats on the mat in 1928 and 1929 turning in his best performances in his senior season. In football French was quarterback of the 1927 conference championship team and played for the Aggies only in his junior and senior years. He was a constant threat in the Aggies’ backfield.

Ray was inducted into the Colorado State University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.

Pin Number: 050-0090

George L. Anderson 1924

Chapter President 1924. Received 4 varsity letters in football, 4 letters in wrestling, and was an all-conference selection three times. In 1923 he started coaching freshman football and they won state championship of Colorado.

Douglas A. Wigle, 1923

Major- Civil and Irrigational Engineering, Played tackle 1920 -1923, all-conference honors 1922 & 1923, Captain of the football team 1923.

All Sig Ep Football Selection in 1923 and All Time All Sig Ep Football Selection in 1927.

William C. Nye 1920

William attended Colorado Agricultural College (CAC) from 1914 to 1920, his service in WWI interrupted his collegiate career. William was a member of the 1915 and 1919 track team. In 1919 they won the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC) Championship.

William was on the RMC championship football teams of 1915 and 1919. A season-ending injury before the 1916 football campaign kept William from being on his third RMC Championship football team.

Harry Priestly, Scott, 1919

Harry received five varsity letters three for play fullback on the 1915, 1918 and 1919 football teams. They won the Rocky Mountain Conference championship in 1915 and 1919. and he was voted all-conference honors 1918 & 1919

A bad case of pneumonia kept him from lettering in the 1917. Harry also received two varsity letters in the 1918 & 1919 basketball seasons.

Henry Lewis Nicholls, 1918

Henry received 2 varsity letters playing guard. He played in two consecutive Rocky Mountain championships 1915 1nd 1916. Received letters as catcher for the varsity baseball team.

Charles Noah Shepardson, 1917

Shep was an honor student played in two consecutive Rocky Mountain championships 1915 1nd 1916 and selected three times as an All-Conference player as the center on the football team 1915-1917.

After returning from World War I, Shep was the Assistant Aggie football coach for the 1919 season.

James E. Morrison, 1916

It has been said that Jimmy made letter in all branches of athletics except track, for which he did not go out.

He received 2 varsity letters playing right half back. He played in two consecutive Rocky Mountain championships 1915 1nd 1916. Was given honorable mention in the 1915 All-Rocky Mountain Team.

Received his letters in football and basketball both years.

Elwood L. Nye 1914

Petitioning Member of Tau Alpha to Sigma Phi Epsilon national headquarters for a Chapter to be granted to the Colorado Agricultural College CAC.

Elwood was a star member of the track team and ran for the school’s new coach, Harry Hughes. He held the CAC track record in the 100-yard dash 9.8 seconds (with out the aid of starting blocks). The record stood for more over 40 years.