Barry on Wirt: “Randie Wirt will play primarily the power forward position. I’d like to keep her out of the center spot. Randie’s conditioning is at an all time high but for her the question is, will she be able to hit the outside shot for us when the defenses slack off.”

Senior Season: After three seasons in a plethora of roles, Wirt is a starter at the power forward position. She is one of CU’s top rebounders, and has improved offensively every season so this one should be no different. One of CU’s most experienced and most important leaders on and off the floor, Wirt will continue her charge as one of Colorado’s most solid role players.

2002-03 (Junior): One of Colorado’s most consistent players, Wirt started nine of Colorado’s 32 games and was one of the team’s first players off the bench when she wasn’t in a starting role. She backed up both Sabrina Scott at the forward position or could come in to relieve Tera Bjorklund down low at center. She was second on the team in blocked shots (15) and also hits the boards on both ends of the floor with 184 offensive rebounds in her career, only 45 less than her 229 defensive rebounds, to lead the team in that category. Wirt only scored in double-figures three times during the 2002-03 season, but led the team in scoring twice when she scored a career-high 15 points against Buffalo, and had 11 versus Texas. She had four points and nine rebounds, seven off the offensive glass, in the win over Evansville during the Oakland Tribune Classic. Wirt had a career night against Missouri on Feb. 2, scoring eight points and grabbing four rebounds, but more impressively, receiving career highs in steals with four and also blocked shots with three, while turning the ball over just once in a career-high 38 minutes. She scored five points in both the first and second round NCAA Tournament games against Brigham Young and North Carolina. She was third on the team in rebounds, averaging 4.09 boards a game. Wirt received First Team Academic All-Big 12 honors for the second year in a row.

2001-02 (Sophomore): Highlighted by her two free throws with eight seconds left to clinch a 62-59 win over No. 2 seeded Stanford to advance to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament, Wirt was looked at to make big plays for Colorado in both a starting role and in the role of reserve. She was in the starting lineup for 15 games but also received valuable time backing up Sabrina Scott in the latter part of the season. Although she was not looked at as the primary shooter on the team, Wirt hit 52 percent of her shots and only gave the ball away 22 times in 474 minutes of floor time. She scored a season high seven points versus Colorado State. In one of her final starts of the season against Oklahoma State, Wirt pulled down 10 rebounds and had three assists to go along with her four points. She had a solid outing when Missouri was in town as she hit 2-3 from the field finishing with six points, but it was her defense that impressed as she collected a career high four steals and grabbed four rebounds. Despite only playing three minutes in Colorado’s lone Big 12 tournament game against Iowa State, Wirt came back to play 15 minutes in each of CU’s first two NCAA tournament games. Six days after their victory over Louisiana State, Colorado was up 60-59 versus Stanford, who had previously lost just three games. Cardinal freshman T’Nae Thiel got free underneath the Stanford basket with 10 seconds to go, but lost control. The ball became free and Wirt came up with the loose ball before being fouled by Lindsey Yamasaki. With eight seconds left Wirt stepped to the line in front of 5,794 spectators in the stands and a nationally televised audience on ESPN and put in what she called, “just another two free throws,” to help seal the deal for Colorado to advance to the Elite Eight. Off the court Wirt picked up her first postseason honor being selected First Team Academic All Big 12 earning a 3.679 GPA.

2000-01 (Freshman): Was most definitely Colorado’s biggest surprise of the season, as the freshman moved into the starting lineup for 14 of CU’s 31 games. Wirt’s double-double performance against Albany in the home opener was quite a showing for a few reasons. She became the first freshman to record a double-double in a regular season debut since Kim Jackson did so on Nov. 19, 1982. Wirt’s double-double was the first by a newcomer in a debut since Isabelle Fijalkowski had 18 points and 10 boards in her debut against Stephen F. Austin on Nov. 25, 1994. Had 11 boards and eight points in the win over Ok-State in Stillwater, just one basket shy of a double-double. She then had nine against Howard in Coors Classic play, followed by a quiet seven points and eight boards against UCLA. Wirt then had a game-high and career-high 14 boards in the CSU game, including nine offensive boards, the top effort on the offensive glass for Colorado in 2000-01. Grabbed 10 boards and added seven points in Colorado’s defeat over Florida on Dec. 22. Was one of three Buffs (Hartshorn, Lappe) to grab double-digit rebounds, the first time CU had three players with double-figure boards since Jan. 28, 1994 against Oklahoma. Was one point shy of a double-double in the first round of the Masry and Vititoe Basketball Classic. Wirt had additional strong games in Big 12 play, most notably a nine-board effort against Texas Tech on Feb. 21. She was named to the Dean’s List following the fall semester, as well as earning a spot on the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll.

High School: Wirt wrapped up her career at New Prague as the record holder for career points (1,793), career rebounds (1,578), and career games started (100 not including eighth-grade numbers) and was the first NPHS girls’ player to exceed the 1,000-point plateau. As a freshman, she was an all-conference pick when she averaged a double-double 15.9 points and 12.9 rebounds on New Prague’s 21-4 team that was the Missota Conference Champions and sectional runner-up. She repeated her All-Missota Conference accolades as a sophomore with 16.8 ppg and 14.1 rpg, and led the Trojans to a 21-3 mark, the sectional championship title and when the team finished fourth in the Minnesota State Tournament, Wirt was named to the all-state tournament team. During her junior campaign, the prep power forward would average her third consecutive double-double, 18.8 ppg and 11.9 rpg, en route to all-conference, first-team all-state and all-state metro area recognition when New Prague finished the 1998-99 season as section runner-up. She was tabbed one of the top-100 juniors in the nation by several recruiting services. As a senior, she earned first team all-conference, all-metro and all-state honors again, while leading the Trojans to the 1999-2000 AAA State Championship, earning a spot on the all-state tournament squad. She was also one of five finalists for the state’s Miss Basketball honor, after averaging 19.2 ppg and 13.5 rpg during her final season. In summer play, Wirt was a member of the North Tartan AAU that has advanced to the AAU national tournament every year since the eighth grade. She was a member of the North Tartan Elite Team that won the United States Junior Olympic National Championship in Cleveland, Ohio in 1999. A multi-sport athlete, Wirt was an all-conference performer in volleyball as a middle hitter and in softball at first base, both following junior-year seasons.

Off The Court: Randie Lyn Wirt was born July 25, 1982 in New Prague, Minn. She is the middle child of Robert and Debra Wirt, with an older brother, Ben and a younger brother, Joe. She is majoring in psychology at Colorado and is also interested in elementary education. She lists the biggest moment of her high school career as New Prague’s come from behind victory over North High School in the state championship game, upsetting the defending state champions. Wirt enjoys shopping and swimming in her free time.