Ron Baretta (2002) - Colorado State Athletics Hall of Fame

Ron Baretta

Induction:
2002
Class:
1969

Gymnastics (1966 to 1969)

Ron Baretta, a 1965 graduate of Denver North High School, came to Colorado State University in the spring of 1966 after a brief freshman year at DU and UNC. He immediately helped to build coach Steve Johnson’s CSU Gymnastics teams of the late 1960s into a championship squad. With a large number of injuries in his sophomore and junior seasons, Baretta excelled in his senior year of 1969 to become one of the leaders on the gymnastics team. He helped lead CSU to their first ever WAC championship in gymnastics beating the University of New Mexico. Baretta also won the 1969 individual all-around WAC championship, becoming the first CSU gymnast to win in that competition. In the 1969 NCAA championships, Baretta finished 8^thin the nation.

After graduation in the spring of 1969, Baretta began a teaching career at Poudre High School in Fort Collins. He received his master’s degree from CSU in 1975 and also owned and operated a gymnastics center in Fort Collins for many years now known as the Mountain Center. The Mountain Center has provided more than 30,000 youths in Fort Collins the opportunity to take lessons in gymnastics, dance, cheerleading swimming and more.

Other Accomplishments: