Team Members

Founded in 1974 by the YWCA of Metropolitan Denver, in cooperation with Gart Brothers Sporting Goods Co., Sportswomen of Colorado is recognized as the first community-based organization in the nation to solely honor female athletes, celebrate their achievements and recognize those whose efforts have advanced girls’ and women’s individual and team sports endeavors.

Sportswomen of Colorado in a Nutshell

Executive Director and Team

Jennifer Anderson-Ehrlich

Executive Director

Jennifer Anderson-Ehrlich

Executive Director

On September 1, 2024, Jennifer Anderson-Ehrlich began her appointment as the organization’s fifth Executive Director. Anderson-Ehrlich, a seasoned professional with a diverse background in fitness, coaching, and education, brings a wealth of experience and vision to the organization.

Jennifer Anderson-Ehrlich joins Sportswomen of Colorado (SWOC) from the fitness industry, where she established herself as a successful businesswoman, personal trainer, and Pilates instructor. Over the years, she designed and marketed numerous specialized workshops, including “Pilates for Golfers,” “Active Aging and Balance at Home,” and “Pilates for Tennis.” Her expertise in these areas not only highlights her understanding of the importance of staying active but also her commitment to improving the quality of life for her clients through targeted exercise programs.

A former collegiate athlete, Anderson-Ehrlich played basketball for Metropolitan State University of Denver. Her passion for sports continued as she transitioned into coaching at the college level. She later pursued teaching credentials, which she utilized while educating young minds at a Montessori school in northwest Denver.

“Two years ago, after attending my first Sportswomen of Colorado awards ceremony I left feeling inspired by the work of the organization. Their commitment to honoring and awarding the women and young female athletes of Colorado left me full of gratitude and I was so honored to be able to sit in a room full of such greatness. Upon leaving, I could not help but wonder to myself “How else might I get involved?” When this opportunity arose, I could not pass it up!”

In her new position, Anderson-Ehrlich aims to further the mission of Sportswomen of Colorado. Her multifaceted background and proven leadership in business, fitness and education make her uniquely qualified to lead the organization into its next chapter.

“Deep down I’m still a little girl cartwheeling down the court and cheering for all the female athletes out there – young and old breaking records, knocking down barriers and changing the landscape for all of us out there. I love all celebrations of all female athletes in all realms. I love the stories and I believe in the mission of the Sportswomen of Colorado.” “Jennifer’s diverse experience and passion for empowering women through sports and fitness make her an ideal fit for our organization,” said SWOC Board of Directors President Laura Fischer. “We are confident that under her leadership, Sportswomen of Colorado will continue to thrive and expand its impact.”

As she steps into her role as Executive Director, Anderson-Ehrlich is expected to bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to enhance the programs and initiatives of Sportswomen of Colorado. Her vision includes expanding outreach efforts, creating new partnerships, and continuing to build on the success of the annual celebration which honors the state’s top female athletes, coaches, and contributors each March.

“I am excited to mesh my teaching, coaching, love of fitness and sports to continue the work SWOC has achieved over the past 50 years and continue to elevate our statewide focus. I expect to maintain the current relationships with supporters and strive to create new opportunities with new community members with whom I have established relationships. I look forward to expanding the work currently in elementary schools between college teams and Physical Education teachers and aspire to create more opportunities for our youth statewide.”

Email:jandersonehrlich@sportswomenofcolorado.org

Marty Cesario

Media & Communications Coordinator

Marty Cesario

Media & Communications Coordinator

Cesario is entering his 16th season as the sideline reporter and pregame host for football broadcasts on the Colorado State Sports Network. Marty is also the play-by-play voice for the Colorado State Men's Lacrosse program. Along with his national experience covering bowl game broadcasts for ESPN Radio and national lacrosse events, Cesario has been a familiar face across Colorado through more than two decades as a prep and college sports reporter, including 13 years covering high school athletics and RMAC sports for Comcast Entertainment Television and later MTN TV. He continues to work as a play-by-play broadcaster for CHSAA championship productions on the NFHS Network, including both women's and men's lacrosse.

As a content specialist, Marty has previously worked as a freelance media director with Athletics & Beyond, Colorado Preps Network, National Volleyball Showcase, National Basketball Showcase, National Soccer Combine, and FanVu Sports.

He also spent several years early in his career as a radio personality and music director, working at rock and pop stations in Fort Collins, Topeka, Memphis, and Denver.

Personally, Cesario is a proud alumnus of Colorado State University. Marty spent decades skiing Mary Jane and Copper Mountain before choosing Arapahoe Basin as the place where his daughters developed their own love for the mountains. He has also logged countless miles stompin' trails and clickin' glory pics throughout Colorado's foothills and high country, including 32 career summits of Colorado's 14ers.

His wife is a veteran critical care registered nurse at a large Denver metro hospital. Their oldest daughter is a Division II lacrosse student-athlete who earned President's List and Academic All-Conference honors during her freshman year. Their youngest daughter is a multi-year starter for her Class 5A high school lacrosse program, a former middle school state gymnastics champion, and enters her senior year with a cumulative 4.56 GPA.

Abbey Glynn

Camps, Clinics, and Community Outreach

Abbey Glynn

Camps, Clinics, and Community Outreach

Growing up, Abbey Glynn competed in volleyball, basketball, and track and field at Mead High School, where she experienced firsthand the confidence, discipline, and opportunities that sports can provide. That passion led her to the University of Colorado, where she competed as a Division I track and field athlete, earned eight All-American honors, and qualified for the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials. She graduated in 2024 with degrees in Psychology and Leadership & Community Engagement.

Following graduation, Abbey continued pursuing her dream of competing professionally in the 400-meter hurdles while representing Team USA on the international stage. In the spring of 2026, she earned a gold medal at the World Athletics Indoor Championships as a member of Team USA's 4x400-meter relay, adding another milestone to her remarkable athletic career.

Abbey's journey with Sportswomen of Colorado began as a collegiate intern, where her passion for empowering girls through sport quickly became evident. As her responsibilities grew, so did her impact, leading to her current role as Camps, Clinics & Community Outreach Coordinator. Today, she leads the organization's youth programming by connecting Title I elementary schools with high school and collegiate athletic programs to create meaningful sports experiences for girls across Colorado.

Drawing on both her educational background and athletic journey, Abbey is passionate about creating environments where girls build confidence, develop leadership skills, and discover what is possible through sport.

One of Abbey's favorite parts of her role is watching girls grow in confidence as they interact with female athletes who serve as role models, mentors, and living examples of what is possible. She is equally passionate about honoring the women who have paved the way, ensuring their stories continue to inspire the next generation of girls in sport.

Abbey believes every girl deserves the opportunity to discover her potential through athletics. She hopes each participant leaves a Sportswomen of Colorado program knowing she belongs, her goals are worth pursuing, and she is capable of achieving extraordinary things both on and off the field.

Board Members

Linda Lappe

President

Linda Lappe

President

Linda joins the Sportswomen of Colorado Board of Directors after serving in the Executive Director capacity. She currently works full time at United Airlines in the Flight Training Center as a Supervisor for the Part 142 Contract Training Center. Prior to joining United, she worked at University of San Francisco where she served as the Senior Women’s Administrator and Senior Associate Director of Athletics since 2019. While there, she led the internal operations of the organization which included all facets of enhancing student-athlete experience.

Prior to joining the staff at USF, she worked in the non-profit sector as the Senior Vice President of Competition and Regional Services at Special Olympics Colorado. Using sports as a vehicle to promote inclusion and acceptance, she supervised all areas of community programming in 22 sports for 13,000 athletes during 4 seasons throughout the state of Colorado.

Linda also spent fourteen years as a collegiate basketball coach with nine of those being as a head coach in the state of Colorado, first at Metropolitan State University of Denver and then at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Linda received a B.S. in Business from the University of Colorado. She was a two-time captain of the women’s basketball team and participated in three NCAA Tournaments. In her free time, Linda enjoys biking, camping, and spending time with her dog.

Tanya Haave

Vice President

Tanya Haave

Vice President

Tanya Haave is the Director of Athletics Development for MSU Denver Athletics and the former Head Women’s Basketball Coach at Metropolitan State University of Denver, where she guided the program to unprecedented heights, including appearances in the NCAA Elite Eight and Sweet Sixteen. In her current role, Haave works to advance the mission of Roadrunners Athletics through fundraising, donor engagement, and strategic development initiatives that support student-athlete success.

Haave has been involved in athletics for her entire life on every level. After a successful high school career participating in volleyball, basketball, and track, Tanya went on to become an All American in both basketball and volleyball at the University of Tennessee, where she played for legendary basketball coach Pat Summitt.

A member of the Sportswomen Hall of Fame along with being named the 1980 Sportswoman of the Year, Tanya joined the Sportswomen of Colorado Board of Directors for a number of reasons. She loves what this unique organization stands for in promoting, honoring and empowering female athletes. Also, as a former athlete she recognizes that she had the help of many people and would like to be able to give back and “pay it forward” to help athletes now thrive and succeed.

Tanya believes it is important to increase the profile of Sportswomen of Colorado particularly on the collegiate level. Tanya’s goal is to increase Sportswomen of Colorado’s exposure to Colorado’s collegiate institutions through an increase in nominations and ultimately award winners from those institutions.

Tanya enjoys hiking, biking, and golf.

Terri Ward

Vice President

Terri Ward

Vice President

A lifelong Niwot community member and 1976 Niwot High graduate, Terri dedicated herself to girls’ athletics. As Head Coach, she led the Girls Basketball program for nearly 30 years and the Volleyball program for 10 years. She served as a Physical Education teacher at Niwot High and Niwot Elementary for over two decades. Inducted into the Colorado High School Activities Association Hall of Fame in 2018, the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports Hall of Fame in 2022 and is in the Niwot HS Inaugural Hall of Fame Class in 2024. Terri has tirelessly advocated for girls’ sports nationwide. She has also spent the last 20 or so years being a part of the USA Basketball Family. In addition, Terri was the President of Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports for nearly 30 years.

“It’s about being a teacher, teaching the game, teaching kids the love of the game and teaching them about life more than anything,” Ward said. “You’re more than just a basketball coach. During the season, you spend more time with them than their parents do. You’re responsible for making sure they’re good people and realizing there are other things outside of athletics like being a good student and a good member of your community.”

Terri joined the Sportswomen of Colorado Board of Directors because she had the utmost respect for Joan Birkland and Joy Burns because of their insight into how important it was/is to have an organization for and about girls and women in sports in the State of Colorado.

Lynn Barczuk

Treasurer

Lynn Barczuk

Treasurer

Lynn is a Colorado native and currently lives in Centennial. She brings extensive experience in non-profit tax and other reporting compliance. She is the owner and principal of LW Barczuk & Co. LLC., a local CPA firm. She has been involved with Sportswomen of Colorado as a Board member and volunteer since 2002. She has volunteered as a board member and committee participant on a variety of girls and women’s sports organizations and teams over the past three decades.

“The annual Awards Celebration is a marvelous tribute to the hard work and dedication of girls and women of all ages and never ceases to inspire”. Expanding the visibility, preserving the history and ensuring the future of the organization for subsequent generations is her continuing goal as a member of the Board.

Lynn enjoys spending the time with her family, participating in and following a variety of sports, travel and enjoying life in Colorado.

Laura Fischer

Secretary

Laura Fischer

Secretary

Laura is a retired teacher and administrator, with over 40 years in the field of education. She coached a variety of sports at the middle school, high school, and Division II levels. Laura attended the University of Denver in the ’70’s and was afforded the opportunity to play basketball and field hockey for the Pioneers due to Title IX. She had no prior experience of playing a team sport, as it was illegal for girls to play on a high school team in Illinois until 1975. This opportunity instilled a passion in Laura to work to further support opportunities for girls and women in sport.

Laura received the Sportswomen of Colorado’s Contribution to Sport Award in 1983 for her work with the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports leading them through the first six years of their Annual All-State Games. She has experienced and seen the attributes that athletic opportunities offer and wants to be a part of supporting girls and women in their athletic endeavors. She is honored to be an intricate part of Sportswomen of Colorado.

Niceta Bradburn

Board Member

Niceta Bradburn

Board Member

Niceta Bradburn is an attorney at Ciancio Ciancio Brown, PC. Her current law practice focuses on dependency and neglect cases as a GAL and CFY, divorce, parental rights allocation, and child advocacy. She has been recognized as the CASA Barry Glasgow Award-winner for GAL (Guardian Ad Litem) of the Year and a Best Lawyers in America as published in Best Lawyers. She is currently a Board Member for Raise the Future and a member of the Foundation for her children’s school. She is also the current President-Elect of the Irving P. Andrews National Inn of Court.

Niceta received her bachelor’s from the University of Dayton, where she played Division I basketball, volleyball, and ran cross-country. After spending years working with children in wilderness therapeutic programs and educational experience programs, she moved to Colorado to earn her Juris Doctorate from Sturm College at the University of Denver. During her time at law school, she interned for the Attorney General. In this time, she also completed her clinic work with the Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center, establishing her focus on children early on.

“Sports was such an important and huge part of my own life and gave me so much purpose while I was growing up. I want all girls/women to have that same opportunity and I want it to be celebrated and championed. I realized I needed to do more and to show up more. I came upon Sportswomen of Colorado and was thrilled to see how long this organization had been around and the ways it was championing women in sports.”

In her free time, Ms. Bradburn loves spending time with her four children and cheering them on from the sidelines! As a family they love to volunteer and hike, enjoying the beauty of Colorado.

Jennie Wray

Board Member

Jennie Wray

Board Member

Attorney Jennie Wray is one of The Harris Law Firm’s most accomplished attorneys, achieving both a position as partner at the firm as well as being named a Super Lawyers® Rising Star℠ and has been named Super Lawyer since 2022. For perspective, an attorney who is named to the Super Lawyers list is considered a top attorney in their field, they must undergo review under 12 different criteria, and the list only represents the top 5% of all lawyers in that state.

For someone to be a Rising Star, they must either be under 40 years old or have been practicing for less than a decade, while fulfilling the Super Lawyer requirements. The list has confirmed that Ms. Wray is among the top 2.5% of attorneys in her state, as rated by her colleagues. She also has a BV® rating on Martindale-Hubbell® and was nominated for Denver Business Journal’s Top 40 Under 40 list for 2016 and 2017.

However, her awards, though impressive, do not fully express the excellence and passion that Ms. Wray brings to her practice. Her law career began at the Vermont Law School, where she externed for New Jersey’s Presiding Judge in the Civil Division, as well as for the Hudson County Superior Court, Family Division. In both positions, she gained valuable insight into family law and court proceedings. After graduation she became a law clerk for the Superior Court Judge in Family Law, further deepening her knowledge of divorce, child custody, and spousal/child support. Her extensive knowledge of inner court workings serves her today as a family law attorney at The Harris Law Firm. Attorney Jennie Wray’s accomplishments and career are rooted in one thing: her unrelenting determination to provide a voice to the voiceless, to make the law clear and accessible to those that need it most.

In addition, she donates her spare time to volunteering for the Colorado Lawyers Committee where she advocates on behalf of children in her community.

Leslii Lewis

Board Member

Leslii Lewis

Board Member

Leslii is a native of Colorado, is married and has 3 daughters and her cousin. For 25 years she’s worked for the State of Colorado in the Department of Regulatory Agencies. She has over twenty years of experience in conflict resolution, leadership, and community organizing. Leslii has served on various Boards and Commissions and actively volunteers in the community. She’s volunteered on various DPS committees being honored with the Outstanding Alumni Achievement Award for her commitment to community service. She was appointed by the Supreme Court to the Licensed Legal Paraprofessionals (LLP) Committee. Leslii is a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Leslii graduated with a B.S. in Psychology from Clark Atlanta University and a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Regis University. Leslii and her family have a passion for sports, which have been woven into the fabric of their lives. Raising daughters increased Leslii’s passion for sports. Her daughters are trained in martial arts, played basketball at the collegiate level, participated in track and field, and her oldest daughter even tried flag football. Leslii appreciates women sports because it develops and boosts self-esteem, teaches leadership, fosters positive relationships, and develops social skills; to list a few qualities. Her oldest daughter is a personal trainer, community organizer and entrepreneur. Her twin daughters coach basketball while focusing on player development and mentor.

“I am honored to be a part of an organization that raises awareness about the value of sports for girls and women. My goal is to raise awareness about the importance of providing equal opportunity and access to girls and women in athletics. My motivation is to be a part of an organization that supports well rounded healthy development of girls and women in sport while celebrating their successes.”

Nazrawit Medhanie

Board Member

Nazrawit Medhanie

Board Member

Nazrawit (Naz) Medhanie is an accomplished international development professional with over 20 years of experience, specializing in Sub-Saharan Africa. She was recently named the Executive Director of Africa Development Promise (ADP), a Denver-based organization dedicated to empowering rural women in Rwanda and Uganda by providing training and resources that enable them to compete and succeed in the marketplace. Prior to this role, she contributed to ADP as an International Programs Consultant and Regional Program Director.

Medhanie’s career in international development began with Right To Play in Accra, Ghana, where she led initiatives focused on play-based child development, HIV/AIDS education and prevention, and local stakeholder engagement. In Washington, DC, she furthered her career by managing and monitoring USAID-supported economic and trade development projects in Sub-Saharan Africa. Nas has also served as a mentor and youth basketball coach across Sweden, Ghana, and the U.S.

“I have been involved in sports since I was 6 years old and have gained so much in life as a result! Thanks to sports, I learned to compete, developed important life sills, was afforded opportunities to travel and see the world, made connections with people from different walks of life, and gained greater understanding of and respect for others. I’m passionate about girls and women’s participation, competition, and ability to excel in sports; learn life skills; lead healthy lives; and thrive in their personal and professional lives.”

Originally from Eritrea and raised in Sweden, Naz holds a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University and a Masters of Arts from the University of Denver. While at Duke, she was a member of the Duke Women’s Basketball Team, helping the team reach the NCAA championship game in 1999.

Rachel Sanford

Board Member

Rachel Sanford

Board Member

Rachel’s passion for Sportswomen of Colorado began during the 2022 Annual Awards Ceremony when one of her Evergreen H.S. lacrosse players won an award.

“I am blown away by how much potential this organization has and am happy I can be more involved. I coach and officiate lacrosse and have enjoyed competing at all different levels over the years.”

Rachel works as a coach and consultant for RMS Coaching and Consulting LLC in Denver. As a leadership development expert, she led career development and networking workshops for 75 women for the Career Combine, a network of former college athletes in CO, MA and NYC. She also partnered and co-wrote “Compete Confidently: A Workbook for Female Athletes” and facilitated a leadership curriculum for high school athletes and conducted in person workshops and online webinars.

In 2012, she launched girls programming for 3D Lacrosse LLC which up to that point, only offered programming for boys. She recruited, trained, and evaluated all coaches and created a culture of development.

Rachel graduated with a B.A. in Sociology from Duke University and with a M.B.A. from the University of Denver.

Elissa Soden

Board Member

Elissa Soden

Board Member

Elissa has over 25 years of experience in growing mission-driven organizations through fundraising, partnership building, account management, and program creation and execution. Her work spans varied sectors of industries including education, health care and professional sports. Most recently, she has worked consulting with organizations both locally and nationally to support their growth and impact. She currently works as a Senior Consultant for Social Impact Advisors.

Highlights of her work include the strategy, creation and execution of development and fundraising at Teach For America – Colorado, partnerships, strategy, and fundraising for the Girls Athletic Leadership Schools (G.A.L.S.), and public affairs and advocacy at Children’s Hospital Colorado. In the sporting arena, Elissa managed a charitable foundation for a professional basketball player and worked in community relations with both the Atlanta Falcons and Kroenke Sports Enterprises.

“I am inspired to join the Board of Directors and believe deeply in its mission to promote, honor and empower girls and women. Girls and women in this state are breaking through barriers each and every day and these efforts, accomplishments and successes should be honored and celebrated.”

Elissa holds a B.A. from the University of Colorado at Boulder where she competed on the Division I Women’s Tennis Team and graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She and her husband live in Denver with their two children.

Jenny Collins

Board Member

Jenny Collins

Board Member

Jenny Collins brings to the Sportswomen of Colorado Board a deep commitment to advancing opportunities for girls and women in sports. With a background in Division I women’s soccer at Colorado College and commercial real estate law, she contributes strategic thinking, a collaborative approach, a pledge to elevating female athletes, and supporting programs that expand access to sports statewide. She strongly believes that athletic participation fosters leadership, resilience, health, and community values central to the Organization’s mission.

Originally from Colorado, Jenny enjoys cross-country skiing, road biking, and cheering on Colorado’s sports teams with her family reflecting how sports have shaped her life personally.

Our Team

Team Members

Executive Director and Team

Board Members