Written by Student Assistant Christian Bond

Hall of Fame Registration 

TACOMA, Wash. - Still holding the program record in women's high jump, Denise Bruce is leaping her way into the Pacific Lutheran University Athletics Hall of Fame, class of 2017, for her efforts on the Lute track & field team from the late 1980's.

Denise Bruce was facing a major choice coming out of high school. It wasn't which university she would choose to attend. It was weather or not to have spinal surgery. That led her to search for a university that was close to home, with an excellent pre-med program. She found a home at PLU and the opportunities followed.

"When I was a freshman, I qualified for the national outdoor track and field meet held in Charleston, West Virginia," Bruce said. "It was very exciting and my first time on an airplane and on the East Coast! I was very honored to be a part of the event. I even got to meet one of my heros, Bruce Jenner, who hung out with us on the field near the high jump pit. Afterward, the team got to spend a day in Washington, D.C., and I was amazed at the Smithsonian Institute, all the monuments and memorials. While we were touring the White House, we saw a helicopter land and President Reagan got out."

To this day, Bruce's high jump mark of five feet, nine inches is still tied as the best the school has ever seen. Bruce was a two-time NAIA National Champion and All-American in the high jump, winning the event in both 1986 and 1987.

Bruce was a four-time conference champion in high hump and a four-time national meet qualifier. She led the Lutes to four straight conference titles.

"Individual accomplishments are sweet also, in that you know you alone are responsible for any success or failure," Bruce said. "The feeling of winning a national championship is unreal. I worked very hard for it. Endless hours of training and preparation, on the field, in the weight room, jumping the back gym stairs, often by myself. High jump can be a lonely event. Nobody else really does what you do."

"My teammates were awesome," Bruce said. "They were so talented and we had so much fun on road trips. Going to nationals each year was definitely a college highlight. There were so many special memories. In my junior year, I shared a house with track teammates, three of us were team captains, and we had a lot of adventures together."

Bruce graduated with a bachelor's in Communication and minors in Biology and Psychology. She used her communication degree since she graduated, working in corporate communication for large organizations in the Puget Sound area. Currently, Bruce works for King County doing employee communications.

At one time, Bruce faced major spinal surgery. She chose to forgo that, to compete in Track & Field at PLU. She holds the record for women's high jump and now, she holds a place in the PLU Athletics Hall of Fame.