Cal Poly Development

Meet Taryn

Taryn (Sperry) Dritz fondly remembers the Cal Poly band playing a special song for her when she was on a hot streak in Mott Gym. As a power forward on the Cal Poly Women’s Basketball team, Taryn recalls feeling the energy of the community that filled the stands. The song’s lyrics of “Hey No. 30” is a memory that lives on with Taryn as she reminisces on her Mustang experience. 

Recently, Taryn visited her old stomping grounds at Cal Poly for a women’s basketball game and was greeted by the same conductor who played her fight song 20 years ago. Orchestrated by Head Coach Faith Mimnaugh, Taryn felt overwhelmed with the amount of love the Mustang Family continues to have for its alumni.

Her freshman year at Cal Poly, Taryn tried out for the team and made it as a walk-on. Soon into the year, she earned a starting spot on the roster and at the end of the season, the coaching staff awarded her a scholarship. This rewarded Taryn for her work ethic and solidified a support system that cared for her as she played the sport she loved and received a first-class university education.

“The Mustang Family goes beyond to make its alumni feel at home. When Coach Faith had the band sit in front of my entire family and sing my song to me, I was tearing up thinking about the impact Athletics has had on my life. Coach Faith and the whole staff believed in their student-athletes and brought the best side out of us all. They supported us on and off the court and encouraged us to be better people. After all this time, she is still reminding me that I’m part of the community. It amazes me to think about all the lives she’s touched in so many ways.” -Taryn Dritz

Creating a Better Future

Taryn and Tyler emphasize that one of their biggest priorities is to find places that are underfunded where they can be truly impactful and improve the lives of others, since Taryn benefited from another’s generosity when she was awarded a scholarship in 1998. It is important to the Dritz family to pay it forward and continue to support the Cal Poly Women’s Basketball program because it gives female student-athletes opportunities to grow in a university environment while playing the sport they love for a community that appreciates them endlessly. 

“In general, women’s sports are underfunded and underappreciated so it’s important we support as much as we can. I saw first-hand how someone’s generosity giving a walk-on like Taryn a four-year scholarship could change their life. I remember thinking that if I ever had the means, I’d love to give that gift back in some way. The fact that Coach Faith has been there for 20+ years also built up excitement to give back since she is so enthusiastic about the team.” -Tyler Dritz

No matter the size of your support, the impact is meaningful for student-athletes who may not have had a Cal Poly experience otherwise. Paying it forward for future student-athletes creates a positive domino effect and makes the Mustang Family tighter with every growing year.