(Photo: Nicholas Badders/WCSN)
Since the NCAA voted triathlon as a sport in Jan. of 2014, Cliff English has built his
Arizona State Sun Devil triathlon team into the sport’s first empire at the collegiate ranks.
This season has been a continuation of the Devils dominance. The NCAA triathlon
season is short, starting in August and concluding in November with only four events on the
schedule. Through three events this year, the Sun Devils have won all three.
The team has been so dominant that oftentimes the race for the podium lies solely on an
inter-squad battle between Sun Devils. Feelings can get hurt oftentimes when the race for the win
comes down to teammates, but English says his team handles their internal competition the right
way.
“There’s no slacking off,” English said. “They are competitive with each other, but that’s
important and they know that. But they respect each other, so we’re in a good spot.”
Still, English and his team have noticed the growth of the sport, and are aware that with
each passing year, the task to repeat grows more difficult as their competition grows stronger.
English noted that he feels “more of a target” this year than in any year prior.
On Nov. 16, Tempe will play host to the National Championships once again. The
story will be all about Hannah Henry, the Sun Devil who is going for her third straight individual
championship in a row. While English says Henry has been spectacular this season, he believes a
few athletes on his team can give Henry a run for her money at Nationals.
“We’ve got girls on the team that are saying, ‘Oh wait a second. Don’t forget about me, I
feel like I can do this,’” English said. “So it’s a good place to be in, everyone is dreaming,
everyone is motivated.”
The most important key to Arizona State’s success has been culture, according to
English. Most coaches want their athletes to “buy-in” to their gameplan, English has taken that
mantra to another level. His modus operandi as a coach is all about individual “ownership.” So
far, he says he has gotten that from his team.
To foster a culture of success, English has frequently brought his team together outside of
the practice arena. Each week, the team will go to English’s house for dinner.
“We just go eat and have a good time,” Liberty Ricca, a freshman from Colorado Springs
said. “We’ve gone on little trips together. We went to a lake earlier this year and they
showed me around Arizona.”
This year, Ricca finished third overall at Junior Elite National Championships and had a
second place in Virginia last week. Ricca, who competed with teammates Kira Stanley and
Olivia Jenks before coming to ASU, says she embraces the competition amongst her team.
“It’s really good actually,” Ricca said of the competition. “Whoever wins, wins, and
there’s no hard feelings.”
Kira Stanley, who was fourth at the National Championships last year, has also had a
very successful season. She finished second, one spot ahead of Ricca, at the Junior Nationals and
has been to the podium multiple times this season. Like Ricca and English, Stanley loves the
inter-squad competition.
“We work together on the bikes (in the races),” Stanley said. “It feels a little more
comfortable because, yes, we’re racing each other, but we’re also there to help each other.”
Stanley says the nature of co-opetition extends to international races as well. The Devils
sport a diverse roster, with athletes from all over the world. Both Stanley and Ricca
acknowledged finding their teammates upfront is comforting, as they understand each other’s
tendencies.
While the Devils have taken their dominance all over the country this year with wins in
South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Virginia, the familiarity of the Tempe course will give the team a
certain advantage as they go for their fourth title in a row.
“We know we need to go out there and perform,” English said. “This is our backyard, we
have incredible support from everyone.”
English picked out Queens University and South Dakota and the University of San Francisco
as three schools that could potentially unseat the Devils from their triathlon throne. Still, the
coach is well aware of the work his talented team has put in to be prepared for a four-peat.
English describes himself as a process-oriented coach and says quiet confidence is the way he is
approaching Nationals.
“We’re in a great spot,” English said with a smile. The coach then turned and knocked
three times on a wooden case, as if to ward off any bad omens that may have arisen from his
comment. “Hopefully it all works out.”
