Brian Raymond is walking on Colorado State's running program in the fall as a freshman. Raymond, a senior at Spring Valley also applied and was accepted to North Carolina State (Wolfpack), Virginia Tech (Hokies) and Clemson (Tigers). "These schools interested me because they have had my major - Fisheries Science/Biology," said Raymond. "And they all have good cross-country/track teams."
Raymond visited all four schools with his parents. The senior Viking made trips to Colorado State (Rams) and Virginia Tech during spring break. Raymond mentioned how Fort Collins, CO. is located 65 miles north of Denver. "The area is so beautiful with the Rocky Mountains to the west and a large clear lake next to the football stadium," said Raymond. "While we there, we saw deer, prairie dogs and a coyote less than a mile from campus."
Raymond mentioned that Coach Hessel at Colorado State is sending him a summer training schedule and that he will still run this with summer with the Spring Valley XC team.
"In my college search I found that very few xc/track teams offer full scholarships to freshman," said Raymond. "Colorado State has 160 plus, athletes and gets only 12 scholarships for the entire team.
"My five years with the Spring Valley XC/Track team have been very memorable and I will miss the guys and Coach (John) Jones," said Raymond. "I am looking forward to the next chapter in my education and running career, but (I) will never forget the feeling of winning both the individual and team State Championships. It was a great way to finish my senior year."
Raymond finished second in the 2004 4A 1600-meter State Championship event with a 4:23.08 finishing time and the Viking placed fifth in the 3200-meter run in 9:56.10. In Raymond's last cross-country season at Spring Valley he placed first in 15:38.28, leading the team to the 4A team title.
Colorado State is a D-I member of the Mountain West Conference. The university's athletic website is www.csurams.com.
Raymond visited all four schools with his parents. The senior Viking made trips to Colorado State (Rams) and Virginia Tech during spring break. Raymond mentioned how Fort Collins, CO. is located 65 miles north of Denver. "The area is so beautiful with the Rocky Mountains to the west and a large clear lake next to the football stadium," said Raymond. "While we there, we saw deer, prairie dogs and a coyote less than a mile from campus."
Raymond mentioned that Coach Hessel at Colorado State is sending him a summer training schedule and that he will still run this with summer with the Spring Valley XC team.
"In my college search I found that very few xc/track teams offer full scholarships to freshman," said Raymond. "Colorado State has 160 plus, athletes and gets only 12 scholarships for the entire team.
"My five years with the Spring Valley XC/Track team have been very memorable and I will miss the guys and Coach (John) Jones," said Raymond. "I am looking forward to the next chapter in my education and running career, but (I) will never forget the feeling of winning both the individual and team State Championships. It was a great way to finish my senior year."
Raymond finished second in the 2004 4A 1600-meter State Championship event with a 4:23.08 finishing time and the Viking placed fifth in the 3200-meter run in 9:56.10. In Raymond's last cross-country season at Spring Valley he placed first in 15:38.28, leading the team to the 4A team title.
Colorado State is a D-I member of the Mountain West Conference. The university's athletic website is www.csurams.com.