Glenwood Springs senior Mason Markovich has found his next home. The standout two-way player committed to Colorado State University Pueblo on Tuesday, where he will continue his football career at the collegiate level.

The ThunderWolves have built a powerhouse program in Division II football. CSU Pueblo won the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championship this past season, entering the NCAA Division II playoffs as a No. 1 seed. They fell in the second round to Minnesota State. Notably, the ThunderWolves won a national title in 2014.

“When I visited Pueblo, it just felt different,” Markovich said. “The coaches, the energy, the guys they’re bringing in, I could feel something special happening. It wasn’t just about playing football. It was about being part of a program that expects greatness.”

---

---

Markovich considered several schools, including Western Colorado and Adams State. South Dakota showed early interest, but a rule that granted additional eligibility to junior college transfers prevented them from offering him a spot. That left Western and CSU Pueblo as his top choices, but after visiting both, the decision was clear.

“I went to Western first, and it was a solid visit, but when I got to Pueblo, I knew,” Markovich said. “I sat in that room and listened to their head coach talk about his vision for the team. You could tell he believed in it. He wasn’t just selling something — he was building something. That was the kind of program I wanted to be part of.”

---

---

At CSU Pueblo, Markovich will primarily play linebacker but could also see time at running back or on special teams. He plans to report for summer workouts in early July.

His commitment marks the next step in a career that saw him cement his name in the record books at Glenwood Springs.

Markovich rushed for 2,957 career yards and 38 touchdowns, ranking second in program history behind Henry Hill, who recorded 3,845 yards and 41 touchdowns in 2014. On defense, his 231 total tackles trail only Nick Ciani’s 240 from 2010.

This past season, he was one of the top players in Class 3A, finishing third in the division in rushing yards (1,361), total points (140), and touchdowns (23). He led the 3A Western Slope League in all three categories and was named first-team all-state after earning an honorable mention as a junior.

“It’s crazy to look back and see everything I’ve done,” Markovich said. “When you’re in the middle of it, you don’t really think about it. You’re just focused on the next game, the next rep. Now, seeing my name up there with some of the best to come from our area, it’s surreal.”

Glenwood Springs head coach Mike West, who took over the team this season, said Markovich was the backbone of the program, both on and off the field.

“Mason is the kind of player who sets the standard,” West said. “He leads by example. He works harder than anyone. He never backs down from a challenge. Players like him don’t come around often, and I think everyone on this team looked up to him.”

Markovich’s leadership was especially important in a program that has seen five head coaches in four years. The constant change could have broken some players, but Markovich embraced the challenge.

“It would’ve been easy to make excuses, but I wasn’t going to let that happen,” Markovich said. “I wanted to make sure the guys around me knew that no matter who was coaching us, we had a standard to live up to. I wanted to leave this program better than I found it.”

West said Markovich’s commitment to the team, even through all the changes, showed just how much he cared about the program.

“He could have easily looked at the situation and decided to just focus on himself, but that’s not the kind of player he is,” West said. “He wanted to lift up the guys around him. He wanted to set an example for the younger players. That’s what makes him so special.”

With his mind set, Markovich is focused on finishing high school strong while preparing for the jump to the college level.

“I just want to enjoy everything — my friends, my teammates, all the little things before I leave,” Markovich said. “But at the same time, I’m locked in. I know what’s coming. I want to show up in the best shape of my life and prove that I belong from day one.”

Markovich knows the transition to college football won’t be easy, but he’s ready to embrace the challenge.

“I know it’s going to be different,” Markovich said. “The speed, the competition, the physicality, everything is going to be at another level. But that’s why I’m putting in the work now. I want to step in and contribute as soon as possible.”

He also wants to make an impact off the field, helping to build the same kind of relationships that made high school football so special to him.

“Football is about more than just the game,” Markovich said. “It’s about the friendships, the brotherhood, the bonds you create with your teammates. I’ve had that at Glenwood, and I see that same kind of culture at CSU Pueblo. That’s something I want to be part of.”

More than anything, he hopes his journey can inspire younger players in Glenwood Springs to chase their own football dreams.

“High school football is special. You’re playing with your best friends, for your town, under the lights on Friday nights. You don’t get that feeling anywhere else,” Markovich said. “I just want more guys to buy in and realize what this game can do for them. Football gave me this opportunity, and I hope more guys step up and make the most of theirs.”

Markovich will officially sign with CSU Pueblo during a ceremony at Glenwood Springs High School on Wednesday.