Left Hand Valley Courier - All Local, All The Time

In an effort to help area families save some money, Niwot High is teaming up with Gunbarrel Family Medicine to provide free sports physicals to students participating in athletics in the upcoming 2019-20 school year. 

“Sports are expensive, from buying equipment, to fees, and everything else that goes with it,” new Cougars athletic director Joe Brown said. “So any opportunity we have to reach out to our community and find scholarship ways to help lower barriers for kids to participate, we want to do it.”

On Thursday, August 8, Dr. Shane Jueneman and Dr. Corey McCarty will be conducting the no-cost screenings at Niwot High (8989 Niwot Road, Niwot), starting at 8 a.m. Students can sign up online for a 15-minute slot in the morning session, which lasts until noon, or the afternoon session, which runs from 1-4 p.m. Walk-in exams are also available, but sign-up is encouraged. Participants should bring a copy of the St. Vrain Valley School District physical exam form signed by a parent and with the medical history portion completed. Athletes cannot participate in practice or games without a valid sports physical on file with the school administration. 

Brown said this initiative came together at the behest of principal Eric Rauschkolb, who then turned to the athletic department and the Niwot High School Education Foundation (NEF) to bring it to fruition. Members of the NEF then reached out to Gunbarrel Family Medicine, which quickly agreed to what Brown called “a generous donation.”

“There were a lot of people involved in getting it set up, and it was a great team effort,” Brown said. “We always say it takes a village, and this was another opportunity for our village to come together and provide a great opportunity for our kids.” 

To reserve a slot in the morning or afternoon session, visit signupgenius.com/go/8050945AEAB2EAAFD0-free. A copy of the St. Vrain Valley physical form is available at svvsd.org/files/Physical-Form-2015.pdf.