We are entering a new segment of the “Excitement and Growth” period that the University and the Department of Athletics have had the good fortune to experience since that spring day in 2007 as the CSU System Board of Governors gave permission to President Joe Garcia to proceed with athletics expansion. 

From that day, the University pretty much changed forever.  I must say that this was a situation of the University having the right leader, Joe Garcia, at the right time for all things to come together and create this change.  President Garcia was afforded a great opportunity from community leader and former student-athlete for the University, Dan DeRose, and the Friends of Football members.  He seized the moment and the rest, as they say, is history.  Thanks so much Joe and Dan!

I personally have been at the University for 23 years and I can attest that the fact that through the years, this has always been an outstanding institution with very dedicated administration, faculty, staff members, and an outstanding group of students.  Of course, there have been many ups and downs during the years. However, the school has been a learning and development vehicle for so many of our fine students that have attended and graduated.  We all know of so many success stories on and off the fields of competition in the school’s history. 

However, the school just couldn’t get over the hump in regards to perception issues within the community of Pueblo, stagnant enrollment, and the inability to gain any real interest in the University up and down the front range of Colorado.  The situation has drastically changed since spring 2007 with the announcement of sports expansion and in particular the return of the football program. 

The excitement throughout the community during this time, regarding the University as well as the athletics program, has been amazing.  The community of Pueblo is now once again proud of its University and will contribute so much to the future success of the school as a strong partnership has been created.  The media coverage afforded to the University during this time has been priceless.  So many more folks in the region are now aware of CSU-Pueblo, and more importantly, so many more future students are now looking into the University as a school of interest. 

Our new facilities across campus have been a huge part of the resurgence of the school.  New residence halls, the student recreation center, and the new and renovated athletics facilities have all contributed to the University's rebirth.  New undergraduate and graduate programs have been developed during this time and more outstanding programs will follow.  All of us now have a campus to show off to prospective students as they take a look at us.  The opening of the renovated library during the upcoming year will be another boost to the development and growth of CSU-Pueblo. 

Enrollment “growth”, from 3,900 in 2007 to over 5,000 students today, and increased “excitement” during the past three years, has been a great experience for all involved.  The fruits of labor from so many past and current faculty and staff members at CSU-Pueblo are taking place before our very eyes.

In athletics, we believe that we must now turn to the “Achievement” phase.  We may not grow in the total number student athletes involved in the athletics program, however there are still possibilities of two or three new programs being added in the future.  We will only maintain and increase the excitement around the program if we do in fact achieve at a very high level.  The “Achievement” phase has begun!

Here is a question for you to ponder: What if the University’s enrollment increases to 8,000-10,000 students? Imagine if that enrollment growth, along with all the new academic programs and enhanced student life options, were to be combined with a national championship in the sport of football.  What would life at CSU-Pueblo be like if all that were to occur?  Exciting to think about, isn’t it? 

In my next installment of the letters from the AD, we will outline our department road map and goals to assist us in being successful during the period of “Achievement” in athletics.  

We would like to give special thanks to all of our senior student-athletes.  On Saturday, May 1, our seniors took part in the graduation ceremonies for the University and received their college degrees.

This was a tremendous milestone in their lives and the CSU-Pueblo Department of Athletics gives them a hearty congratulations!

Our seniors endured many ups and downs both on the fields of play and in the classroom during the time they spent with us.  It took a great deal of dedication, commitment, hard work, time and perseverance to ultimately succeed both in the classroom and on their team.  Student-athletes must be able to balance their time between academics, sport commitments, social lives and quite possibly holding down a part-time job.  This group of ThunderWolves came through with flying colors.

Primary goals of athletic program are to assist student athletes in succeeding both on and off the fields of play and also contributing to the personal growth of the kids we are blessed to work with.  We are confident that through the outstanding education received at the University and through their participation in ThunderWolves Athletics that our seniors will be equipped with a skillset to be a success in whatever they choose to do.

We have had many success stories by our former student-athletes and at the end of the day, their successes after leaving the University are the true bench mark for an athletic program.  Through the years, our graduates have made us all proud.

As this outstanding group of seniors leave the University and begin to make their mark in life, I would have a final request.  Please keep in contact with your coaches and athletic staff members.    We all are interested in hearing about your accomplishments, where your dreams have taken you or just to learn how you are doing.  All of you have made your mark in the athletic program and will always be a part of the ThunderWolves' family.

I personally would like to thank all of our student-athletes, coaches and athletics staff members for all of your efforts given during the year.  You all represented the University in a first-class manner and accomplished a great deal.  Thanks for a job well done! 

DID YOU KNOW that athletic programs are considered the “Front Porch” to a university or college?  Many times, the first time that a person or prospective student hears about a university is through media outlets that cover athletic programs, seeing a team from a university perform in their area of the state or country, or through a friend that is being recruited by a member of a coaching staff to attend a school.

DID YOU KNOW that a student athlete attending a university will bring from one to three friends or relatives to also enroll at the university?

DID YOU KNOW that student-athletes enrolling at CSU-Pueblo will be admitted on average with a higher high school GPA and higher test scores than the average of the student body?

DID YOU KNOW that student-athletes at CSU-Pueblo produce a higher retention rate, average GPA and graduation rates than the average of the student body? 

We in athletics are proud to be a part of Colorado State University-Pueblo and certainly hope that the athletic program and our student athletes contribute to the overall success of the University.  It is a part of our mission in athletics to illuminate a bright light at the “Front Porch” for the school, enhance the campus life through the many exciting games that folks can attend - To cheer on the ThunderWolves and be entertained by the cheer and dance team as well as our new and awesome band - and afford a strong link to the community of Pueblo through the athletics contests and special community engagement events that are held on campus each year.

As we all know, CSU-Pueblo is on the move and we are excited about the future of our University under the strong leadership of President, Joe Garcia.

I also wanted to congratulate our winter sports programs for their outstanding seasons.  The wrestling team, in only its second year of existence, improved drastically, winning a dual over rival Adams State and sending three wrestlers, Louie Desantis, Justin Grant and Patrick Carey, to the NCAA wrestling tournament this week end in Omaha, Neb. 

The women’s indoor track program, also in only its second year of existence, made great strides this past season.  The team improved from last in the RMAC a year ago to a sixth place finish.  Danita Wyatt and Krista Wiltberger each qualified provisionally for the NCAA national meet. 

The men’s and women’s basketball teams both had successful seasons and the women are not finished yet.  The women’s team, under the direction of Coach Kip Drown, recently won another RMAC Tournament Championship with an exciting 61-60 win over rival Fort Lewis.  This was the fourth tournament title if the past five years and the team earned another berth in the NCAA regionals.  The ThunderWolves will take on Wayne State (Neb.) in the opening round of the tournament this Friday. 

The men’s team rode a strong finish to the season and advanced to the RMAC Shootout in Pueblo last week with a big win over nationally-ranked Mesa State on the road.  This was the second year in a row that the men advanced to the Shootout.

Our student athletes had a very successful winter season and aren’t finished yet.  I wish the best of luck to the women’s basketball team in Durango and the wrestlers in Omaha this weekend.

As we look forward to an exciting spring season with the baseball, softball, women’s track, and men’s and women’s tennis and golf teams, I want to wish all the student athletes the best of luck.  KEEP THE “FRONT PORCH” LIGHT BURNING BRIGHT!

As we all enter another holiday season, we in athletics wish you all (student athletes and families, athletic program fans and boosters, fellow university staff members and Pueblo community members) a happy holiday season and a very prosperous new year. 

I would like to especially thank our student athletes and the members of the athletic staff and coaches for their great efforts and accomplishments during this past fall semester.

Our student athletes are a great representation of the university and this fall was no exception.  I personally see as many games and contests as I can each season and enjoy watching our kids perform.  Two of the primary things I always look for is how hard our teams and student athletes compete and how well they represent the university.  I am very seldom disappointed and this past fall was no exception as the CSU-Pueblo ThunderWolves were awesome ambassadors for the school and community as they traveled throughout the region competing against tough NCAA Division II schools.

The highlight of the fall for me had to be when I traveled to Chadron, Neb. to watch the football team beat up on Chadron.  As you know, Chadron had been the premier football program in the RMAC for the past ten years and hadn't lost a home game for twenty eight straight games.  Our kids won the game which was great, however the way they accomplished the victory was even better.  What a show of class exhibited by the players and coaches!  I was very proud to be on the sideline that day and it was especially gratifying to me as I shook hands with the Chadron athletic director and have him compliment our kids and program on a job well done.

Just recently, I was afforded the opportunity to accompany the women's basketball team as they traveled to Las Vegas, Nev. for a two day tournament.  What a class group of kids and coaches.  I can assure you all that they represented Pueblo and the university in a first class manner.  I was a little disappointed when on the morning after the trip that I went back to an apple and a cup of coffee for breakfast instead of the awesome breakfast buffet that the Paris Hotel offered us.

Our student athletes got the job done in the classroom as well this fall.  We have close to 425 student athletes and supporting students in the athletic program and they collectively achieved a 2.92 GPA during the fall semester.  This took us a step closer to achieving our current goal of 3.0.  It is gratifying to see that our student athletes and coaches take education seriously and I am confident that a high percentage of our current athletics will earn their college degrees along with completing their athletic eligibility at the university.

The winter sports have started strong with wrestling, women's indoor track and men's and women's basketball all showing promise for outstanding seasons.  The wrestling and women's track team are much improved over their inaugural year last year and both the men's and women's basketball teams are currently in first place in the Western Division of the RMAC.

I would like to end this edition of "From the Desk of the A.D." by thanking the athletic staff and coaches for the great work they all do in the program with our student athletes.  We believe that it is a great honor to be able to be a part of the great profession of working and coaching in athletics and we also know that we all have a huge responsibility in working with the kids in the various programs.  "Developing Champions Through Athletics" is our motto and I am confident that our staff is totally on board with the motto and are doing a great job.  Thanks!  

It is always nice to take a little breather at this time of the year and for all to be able to spend time with families and loved ones. However I am, anxiously awaiting the new year so I can get back out there and watch more ThunderWolves action!

Friday, October 30 will be a night to be remembered.  On that evening the inaugural Colorado State University-Pueblo Athletics Hall of Fame Banquet was held at the Union Depot in downtown Pueblo.  We had a great turnout of over 200 people in attendance.

Eleven individuals and the 1961 National Championship Men's Basketball Team were entered into the hall of fame.  They were preceded by Charter Members Harry "The Chief" Simmons, the legendary basketball coach and athletic director of Pueblo Junior College, as well as Southern Colorado State College and the University of Southern Colorado, and Jessie Banks, longtime coach for the women's basketball team among other sports and the founder of women's athletics at the University.

Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed the evening.  It was great to see and visit with the inductees that I had met before or that had been student athletes during my time at the University.  I was also able to meet some of our great ones for the first time including Frank Grant, a former football and track great as well as a former NFL player, and John Martinez, a former track star and a national champion in the mile race.

Please go to our Hall of Fame link on the athletics website to learn more about this outstanding group of people.

As I listened to each speaker about their experiences in athletics, school and the community of Pueblo,  it once again reaffirmed just how important athletics is to the mission of a university and how important it is for our staff to do as good as job as possible with the student athletes that come through our programs.  Each speaker had their unique story to tell, however the common theme was how appreciative they were of the opportunities afforded them through the medium of athletics, how fond their memories were of the coaches and teammates that they received mentoring from and competed side-by-side with and how humbled each inductee was during the evening.  The quality of the 2009 Hall of Fame class was a great representation of the quality of the student athletes that have come before us and also of our current student athletes. 

CSU-Pueblo is a great place that affords opportunities for young student athletes to achieve a college education, compete in the sport that they love, meet what will become lifelong friends, and grow as an individual to assist them to create their own success stories as they leave the University.  Who knows - perhaps some of our current student athletes will be inductees of the future - the opportunity is out there for the ones that want to work hard enough to achieve.

The Colorado State University-Pueblo Department is committed to providing the very best atmosphere and program for our student athletes to achieve their goals both in the classroom and on the playing fields.  We have developed the "Big 5," which we emphasize in the athletic program.  We hope our student athletes achieve and excel in all five of the areas.

The "Big 5" in CSU-Pueblo Athletics are: 

1.  GRADUATE: The ultimate goal for our student-athletes is to obtain their degree in their chosen field of study. Athletics is very important to all of the student athletes in our program, however if they do not leave the University with a degree in hand, what's the point of it all?  The achievement of a four-year college degree is an outstanding accomplishment for a person and will undoubtedly open some doors for them in their future years. "Now is the time-get it done"

2.  CLASS ACT: We want our kids to act in a first-class manner on and off the field.  It is of the utmost importantance how one interacts with and treats others. This is something we emphasize a great deal in the athletics program, which we want to a positive for the University.  As members of the athletic program, all of us, staff and athletes, are representing the University, the athletics program and ourselves in most everything we do.  "What do we want to be known for?"

3.  GIVE THE GAME THE BEST YOU HAVE: It is amazing how fast an athlete's college career goes.  It seems that one day they are freshman and before you know it, they are seniors.  We in athletics don't want our student-athletes to look back with a lot of regrets regarding their athletic experience.  Our staff emphasizes that this is their time to compete and be the best possible player that they can be in the sport of their choice.  The collegiate athletic experience is awesome and we certainly want our kids to take advantage of the opportunities afforded them.  "Seize the Moment"

 4. GIVE SOMETHING BACK: Giving back is very important and this is stressed in all of our programs.  Community service is important to us and our student athletes log over 3,000 hours of service each year.  A primary emphasis is helping the youth in the community through clinics and presentations to youth teams, elementary and middle school classes and to various youth groups in the community.  "We all have received help, now is a time to give back"

5.  TAKE SOMETHING WITH YOU: A major part of a student-athlete's experience at a University is what they take with them as they complete their eligibility and earn their degree.  Our coaches and staff believe that it is important to stress things "beyond the games" to our kids and to help them grow as individuals, not just athletes.  We want them leaving with the confidence and tools to be able to create their own success stories as productive citizens.  "Equipped with a skill set for Success"

Our coaches and staff believe in the "Big 5" and know that if our student-athletes excel in these principles, we are right on the mark for conducting a high-quality and worthwhile athletics program.

Welcome to the 2009-10 school year at CSU-Pueblo. We are looking forward to another exciting year. Excitement and Growth are the words that best describe ThunderWolves athletics. During the 08-09 year we were able to add three new programs (football, wrestling and women's track and field). These programs resulted in creating a tremendous amount of excitement on campus and the community of Pueblo as evidenced by an average of 7,800 fans showing up during the inaugural football season. The new programs also brought 194 additional student athletes into the program and they were a major reason for the increase in student enrollment at the University. Five programs (women's basketball, softball, baseball, men's golf and men's tennis) made the NCAA playoffs and 75 of our athletes made either all academic or all conference in the RMAC. It was truly an exciting year!

As we look forward to the upcoming year I would like to emphasize that we have high expectations for our student athletes and individual sports programs. We want all of the student athletes to reach their potential both on the playing fields and in the classroom. Personal and team growth are the name of the game in CSU-Pueblo Athletics and our coaches and staff pledge their best efforts to help you succeed.

Taking part in Division II athletics is a great opportunity. The D2 approach provides growth opportunities through academic achievement, learning in high-level athletic competition and development of positive societal attitudes in service to community. The balance and integration of these different areas of learning opportunities provide Division II student-athletes a path to graduation while cultivating a variety of skills and knowledge for life ahead.

Again, welcome to ThunderWolves Athletics and we wish you all the very best during the upcoming year. We are looking forward to another year of great accomplishments and our outstanding group of student athletes and premier coaching staff will be the driving force behind the program's success.

BRING THE THUNDER!

Sincerely,

Joe Folda

CSU-Pueblo athletics has enjoyed a great relationship with friends and boosters through the years.  We have received several large donations that have come in the form of endowments which have resulted in many scholarships for our student athletes.  One of our athletic department endowments which was provided by Art and Lorraine Gonzales has funded all baseball scholarships for several years.  Years ago Bob Rawlings provided the funding for the Rawlings Sports Complex which houses our baseball, softball and soccer programs.   This past year the University was able to bring back football, wrestling and women's track and field due to the unbelievable generosity of Dan DeRose and family and the Friends of Football.

Each year the athletic department also receives assistance from boosters, corporations and fans to allow the program to meet its yearly budget.  CSU-Pueblo Athletics has over 150 boosters contribute each year along with over 100 corporate partners as well as the many fans that attend departmental special events and our scheduled intercollegiate games.  Last year, the athletics department's total revenue through fundraising and gate revenue was just over $450,000.  Without this help each year, athletics would not be able to meet budget commitments and goals.

Many championships have been won and more importantly, so many student athletes have grown and developed through their experiences at the University and in athletics which has enabled them to be successful after earning their college degree.  We are very proud of the accomplishments of our student athletes not only during their days at CSU-Pueblo but in the years after as well.  A great deal of any success that we have had in athletics and the success of our student athletes can be traced right back to the generosity of our athletics donors, boosters and fans.

This letter is meant to be a special thanks to you all and want you to know that we couldn't do this without your help.

On a sad note, as many of you know Kay Becher recently passed away.  Kay and Madge were two of the first people that I met upon my family's arrival in Pueblo in 1987.  Kay and Madge have been unbelievable loyal fans of our student athletes and the athletic program forever and I want to say that Kay will certainly be missed.  We truly have lost a great fan, however I know he will be cheering from above for our teams in the future.  It is the many loyal fans such as Kay and Madge Becher that we are so fortunate to have that we can always count on to assist us in any way that makes working and competing at CSU-Pueblo such a great experience.

The department of athletics has created a booster brochure for your information.   As members of the NCAA, our program has many rules that need to be strictly adhered to in order for us to remain in good standing with the national organization.  It is important for us to give you the opportunity to be informed so that you do not unknowingly commit an NCAA violation with one of our student athletes.  With all the exciting things going on in athletics, we certainly don't want anything to happen which could jeopardize the opportunity for student athletes and our sports programs to continue to bring positive publicity to the University.  Please take time to review our booster brochure by clicking here. If you have any questions after reading through the brochure, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Again, we in athletics cannot thank our boosters, corporate partners and fans enough for your outstanding support of ThunderWolves Athletics through the years.

May 2nd was graduation day for CSU-Pueblo students and many of our student athletes.  We are very proud of the accomplishments of the student athletes both on and off the fields of competition.  NCAA Division II stresses balance between athletics and academics and we believe that our student athletes understand the concept and do a great job in meeting the demands of being a student athlete, completing all academic requirements and maintaining their grades, spending time with community service projects within the athletics program and having a responsible social life.

This spring nearly fifty student athletes received their college degrees from CSU-Pueblo.  It was great to see the kids walking across the stage to shake hands, receive their degrees and the showing of enthusiasm in accomplishing a major milestone in their lives.  A highlight for athletics this spring came when Jenna Garcia, a former volleyball student athlete, received the University's most prestigious honor when she was named the recipient of the Threlkeld Prize for Excellence. 

Also, CSU-Pueblo athletics had two academic all conference players of the year in Trevor Martinet in men's soccer and Jason Fobes in baseball, both of which were named CoSIDA Academic All-Americans.   I also need to mention that two of our student athletes served as the president (David Fresquez) and vice president (Allan Chacon) for the associated student government.  Both of these outstanding young men received their degrees from the University this spring.

A primary goal of the athletics program is to assistant student athletes to leave the University equipped with a skill set for success after graduation.  Judged by the visits, emails, and phone calls that the coaching staff receive from former players each year to say hello and let the coaches know of the success that they have had, we believe that our program has recruited quality kids through the years and that we are emphasizing the right things in the athletics program.  The coaching staff should be commended for their efforts along these lines and I know that the student athletes that come through our programs appreciate the efforts of their coaches. 

I would also like to congratulate the achievements of the spring sports.  The baseball, softball, men's tennis and men's golf teams all made the NCAA playoffs.  Spring sports at CSU-Pueblo have always been some of the most successful from a competitive stand point and this past spring was outstanding.

In closing this edition, on behalf of the athletic department, I would like to congratulate all of the student athletes in the program for a job well done during the year.  We had so many exciting things happen at the University this past year and athletics played a major part in it all.  New programs, new facilities and the many outstanding accomplishments by our kids both on and off the court have helped raise CSU-Pueblo Athletics to another level and we are already getting excited about the upcoming year. 

In the fall of 1990 the University of Southern Colorado (our name in those days) chose to join the NCAA at the Division II level.  The reasons for becoming members of the NCAA back then were:

                1.  The NCAA was a more prestigious organization than the NAIA of which the school was currently affiliated with.

                2.  The NCAA paid all or part of the cost for teams that made the NCAA Tournaments.  As a member of the NAIA, only the men's basketball teams received any assistance to attend national tournaments.  There were cases where some of our past teams were not able to attend because of budgetary concerns.

                3.  A total of seven Colorado small colleges; USC, Metro State, Colorado Christian, Regis, Colorado Mines, UCCS and Fort Lewis College agreed to make the move to the NCAA and formed the Colorado Athletic Conference .  The schools left the RMAC and the one thing that brought the schools together other than all being located in Colorado, was the fact that none of the schools had a football program except Fort Lewis.

The CAC served its purpose and was a strong league in the sports that the schools sponsored.  However, during the fall of 1995, the CAC members and the RMAC joined forces to form the expanded RMAC of which the ThunderWolves are current members.  This move was great for the schools involved from a stability and scheduling standpoint.

Being a member of NCAA Division II has been a great fit for our University through the years both philosophically and financially.  A key word in Division II is "Life in the Balance".  Division II athletics programs put the emphasis on the student-athlete experience and stress a comprehensive program of learning and development in a personal setting.  The Division II approach provides growth opportunities through academic achievement, learning in high-level athletics competition and development of positive societal attitudes in service to community.  A fact in Division II athletic programs is that the student-athletes retention rates, GPA's and graduation rates are above the rate for the general student population.   Three major initiatives in Division II that add to the total experience for student-athletes and fans are community service, community engagement and a positive game environment.

CSU-Pueblo athletics key words are "Developing Champions Through Athletics".  We believe in the Division II concept and are proud members of the RMAC and NCAA Division II.  Our coaches and staff members get our excitement and are so appreciative of our student-athletes as they represent our program and the University on the fields and courts as they compete as tough teams and competitors, as they walk across the stage on graduation day and as we see them go on to so many success stories as they pursue their dreams after their time at the University.

NCAA Division II has be great for us and we can truly say the "WE CHOSE DIVISION II"

Don't look now, but we have several teams in contention for advancing to NCAA tournament play later this spring.  Baseball and Softball are both leading their divisions and are ranked regionally.  Men's Golf and Men's Tennis both have great opportunities to advance to NCAA play also.  Our new women's track team is competing well and is in hopes of qualifying an athlete or two for the big show.  The best of luck to those teams as well as the women's golf and tennis teams as they compete the rest of the season.

In closing for now, I want to say how much we appreciate our outstanding student-athletes.  They are great and are the foundation of all that takes place in athletics.

Over 425 Student Athletes and Staff/16 Sports/1 TEAM

This is an exciting time to be part of CSU-Pueblo!  The University boasts an increased enrollment, new athletic programs and facilities and a renewed enthusiasm on campus and within the Pueblo community.  The addition of football, wrestling and women's track, along with the completed renovation of Massari and the construction of the Neta and Eddie DeRose Thunderbowl have played a significant part in the progress of the University during the past year.

Here's a quick recap of the fall sports: 

• Coach Wristen and his staff did a wonderful job of recruiting and building a team out of 125 new football student athletes. The team played before large and enthusiastic crowds and represented the University and community of Pueblo in a first class manner. The 4-6 record was an outstanding achievement for a first year program.
• Both the men's and women's soccer teams made the RMAC playoffs with the men just missing out on an NCAA tournament berth.
• The women's cross country and volleyball teams both went through rebuilding years, however the young student athletes in both programs along with strong recruiting classes have both programs excited about the future.

Currently the men's and women's basketball teams are competing to make the RMAC playoffs.  The women's team is ranked in the Central Region and with a strong finish could make the NCAA Regional Tournament for the third time in four years under Coach Drown.  The new wrestling and indoor track teams are competing and representing us very well under coaches Dax Charles and Chad Perry, respectively.  Both programs look to be outstanding programs in the near future.

The spring programs are off and running with baseball, softball, men's and women's tennis having already competed, while men's and women's golf and outdoor track preparing to begin competition in March.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of athletic corporate sponsors that support our teams and student-athletes.  CSU-Pueblo athletics has received tremendous cash and in kind donations throughout the years from the business community, without which we would not have a chance of competing in Division II and the RMAC.  Your business has provided many opportunities for our student athletes to be able to compete in the sport that they love, earn a college degree in their chosen field of study and give them a jump start to creating their own success stories in the future.  CSU-Pueblo athletics can't thank the Pueblo business community enough for your generosity and continued support.

Thanks Pueblo and GO THUNDERWOLVES!