Mines Athletics to Deliver Again Diving

By: Sam Boender

GOLDEN, Colo. – Colorado School of Mines will carry again males’s and ladies’s diving to compete on the NCAA Division II degree beginning with the 2025-26 season.
 
Bruno Albertoni and Gabi Batol would be the first Oredigger divers to compete for Mines in additional than a decade. Albertoni arrived in Golden this fall as a real freshman. Batol is in her second yr at Mines however nonetheless retains 4 years of collegiate eligibility. Katherine Andrie will coach the duo and look to regrow this system within the coming years.
 
“Returning a program with such rich history is a truly special opportunity,” mentioned Colorado School of Mines Director of Athletics David Hansburg. “Having divers back in an Oredigger uniform provides additional opportunities for conference and national recognition, enhances the overall Mines experience, and bolsters one of the best departments in all of NCAA Division II.”
 

The historical past of Mines diving consists of 12 all-Americans, a person nationwide champion, one of many first ladies in Mines Athletics, and a number of members of the Harry D. Campbell Oredigger Hall of Fame. A number of of these corridor of fame members embody NCAA Division II National Champion Rick Williamson, former head coach Bob McCandless, the 1983 Women’s Swimming & Diving workforce, and the Men’s Swimming & Diving groups from 1981-84. That wealthy historical past threads completely with the present targets of this system and the division.
 

“Bringing diving back has been a long-term vision for this program, and I am ecstatic that 2025 is the year diving returns to Mines,” mentioned Oredigger swimming & diving Head Coach Claire McDaniel. “I cannot thank Coach Andrie enough for being so wonderful to work with as we navigate this new venture. She is an excellent diving coach and has an invigorating passion and excitement for Mines and diving. Swimming plus diving is true synergy, and I’m excited to see how Mines diving grows over the coming years.”
 

Coach Andrie joins the workers with each a formidable résumé as a diving coach, and a private familiarity with Colorado School of Mines. Two of her kids, Marty and Carlie, attended Mines and competed for the Orediggers. Marty was a nine-time all-American in cross nation and monitor & subject and a member of the 2015 Men’s Cross Country workforce which gained the NCAA Division II Championship. That workforce was inducted into the Harry D. Campbell Oredigger Hall of Fame in 2023. Carlie competed in triathlon and for the membership water polo workforce throughout her time at Mines. On deck, Coach Andrie boasts a number of many years of highschool and membership teaching expertise with stops at quite a few excessive colleges within the Denver space together with Valor Christian, Littleton, Douglas County, Smoky Hill, and extra. She was named East Metro Diving Coach of the Year in 2011 and CHSAA 4A Dive Coach of the Year in 2018.
 
“I am honored to be chosen to re-launch the diving program at Mines,” mentioned coach Andrie. “The Orediggers have long been known for their reputation of excellence in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, and the return of diving will compliment a talented pool of coaches and student-athletes already in the program. I am excited to see some very talented divers jumping into this season and the next. Bruno Albertoni and Gabi Batol are eager to show off their talent and Oredigger spirit by representing Mines at the conference and national level. This will be a fantastic and fun year for Colorado School of Mines swimming & diving.”
 
Albertoni signed with Mines after attending Colorado Early Colleges whereas competing for Highlands Ranch High School and Mile High Dive Club. His membership profession led to appearances at USA Diving Junior Nationals in 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. At the USA Diving Zone E competitors, Albertoni completed first in all three occasions together with the 3-meter springboard, 1-meter springboard, and platform. He was additionally acknowledged nationally for his educational accomplishments in 2025.
 
Batol, who’s a sophomore at Mines, attended and competed for Hawaii Preparatory Academy in Waimea. She gained gold within the ladies’s 1-meter springboard on the Big Island Interscholastic Federation (BIIF) Championships. She additionally completed fourth within the 1-meter at Hawaii’s state championships. Batol’s excessive rating in a 1-meter 11 dive meet was 406.5. She competed in gymnastics as nicely.
 

The first occasion of the season for Oredigger swimming & diving would be the Alumni Meet on Oct. 4 throughout Mines Homecoming Weekend. Official competitors beings Oct. 10-11 when the Orediggers host Adams State. Albertoni and Batol will look to make their collegiate diving debuts on Oct. 24 in opposition to Colorado College contained in the Mines Natatorium.
 

Fans can sustain with Mines swimming & diving on “X” (previously Twitter) and Instagram. They may also sustain with Colorado School of Mines Athletics all yr lengthy on Facebook, “X” and Instagram utilizing the deal with @MinesAthletics.