PUEBLO, Colo. - Colorado State University Pueblo Track & Field Head Coach Matt Morris spoke about the excitement and readiness surrounding the ThunderWolves as they return to competition for the 2025-26 indoor season. After a long break between the end of outdoor season and the start of winter training, Morris emphasized how eager the team is to finally get back on the track.
The ThunderWolves are bringing back major firepower, headlined by superstar Helen Braybrook, the reigning RMAC Athlete of the Year and 800m National Champion, who returns as one of the most decorated athletes in NCAA Division II. CSU Pueblo also returns three of the four legs from last year's National Championship DMR squad—Braybrook, Jadyn Herron, and Gabby Dunich—solidifying one of the strongest relay cores in the country entering the indoor season.
The lone opening on that championship relay may spark one of the most exciting internal battles of the year, as newcomer standouts Charlotte Young and Olivia Drodz are both expected to compete for the final DMR spot. Their arrival adds even more depth to an already potent mid-distance group.
On the men's side, Tim Anstett returns in the 800 meters after a breakout season that saw him qualify for and race in the national finals last indoor season. His experience on the championship stage positions him as a key contributor once again.
The men's DMR squad, which finished fourth at the NCAA Indoor Championships a year ago, enters the new season with a very different look. The ThunderWolves return just one member of that national-caliber relay in Jon Sweepe, and will now look to rebuild around him. The Pack will more than likely turn to some of their young guns—including Anstett, Caleb McLeod (an outdoor All-American), and Kam Eustace—to fill the void and keep the relay in national contention as the season progresses.
In the throws, Febe Wessels returns poised for another big campaign after earning All-American honors in the shot put last winter. The veteran finished fifth at the NCAA Indoor Championships and remains a reliable national scorer with podium potential.
Morris highlighted that this year's roster blends experience with new talent, creating healthy internal competition across multiple event groups. He praised the athletes for their offseason work and noted that many returners are positioned to make significant strides from where they finished last year.
The ThunderWolves will open the indoor season on two different fronts. Braybrook and Herron will travel east to compete at the prestigious Boston University Sharon Colyear-Danville Season Opener, a meet known for producing some of the fastest distance times in the nation. The rest of the squad will head to Gunnison for the Western Colorado Open, giving the majority of the team an opportunity to knock off rust and set early-season benchmarks.
Overall, the interview reflected a program that feels rejuvenated, focused, and poised to build momentum as the ThunderWolves kick off the indoor campaign this weekend.
