Chadron State College Men's Track

Gamble said. I also would like to thank my close friend and mentor, Ryan Bailey, for giving me a chance years ago to become his assistant coach. His work ethic and passion are two things I will strive to meet day in, day out.   Gamble, a national champion in the heptathlon in 2011 for the Eagles, is no stranger to Chadron State. Despite only competing for the Eagles track and field team one year, he distinguished himself both indoors and outdoors. He set a Division II Indoor Track and Field National Championship meet record while winning the heptathlon and he followed that up with a runner-up finish in the decathlon at the outdoor national championships.   The native of Eagle, Colorado, has been on the CSC coaching staff since the fall of 2011. During that time, he has coached 10 All-Americans, 33 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference champions, 4 National Champions, and guided the Eagles to three runner-up finishes at the conference championships. Gamble was named RMAC women's head coach of the year for the 2015-16 season. The women's team took home the RMAC championship the same year.   He is the 25th track and field coach in Chadron States history.   It is very special for Coach Medigovich and me to move forward with this program. I am proud of the culture that is created here with our staff, as well as our team, he said. I cant thank our team enough for the work they have done, and more importantly, the attitudes they have done it with. It is a reflection of the great students we have at this school.    Prior to Chadron State, Gamble had a solid career at Hastings College, becoming a two-time All-American before graduating with a degree in physical education in 2010. Following his graduation, he taught at Eagle Valley High, his alma mater, and coached the throwers.    Gamble graduated with a masters degree in organizational management with an emphasis in sports management from Chadron State in May 2014.    

Ritzen is a former golf instructor at Ridgeview Country Club in Chadron, where he worked for six years giving lessons and helping with the junior golf program. He continues to be involved with individual training as an instructor in the CSC Health, Physical Education, and Recreation department, where he has a main unit devoted to golf in his Individual Sport Activities class. He also served as a volunteer assistant with the CSC track and field program, where his primarily responsibility was jumps. This past season alone, CSC had two NCAA champion long jumpers, Stachia Reuwsaat and Damarcus Simpson, who each earned a runner-up finish as well with indoor and outdoor seasons combined. Both jumpers competed well at the U.S. Track and Field Olympic Trials last summer, accompanied and coached by Ritzen. For the short term, he will continue to devote some of his time to that program as he exchanges roles. Ritzen, a Chadron native, is a 2010 CSC graduate and also received his master's degree from the school in December 2012. He is currently in progress towards an Ed.D in Sports Management from the U.S. Sports Academy.