All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Coach Jeremy Steen celebrates with his 3/4th grade Honey Badgers after their tournament victory. From left to right: Coach Jeremy Steen, Isla Ferris, Natalie Vaughn, Hayley Zimmer, Sydney Steen, Cordelia Heintze, Addie Peterson, Lizzie Racz, assistant coaches Mike Radz and Aaron Vaughn.
NYS Hot Shots receive their second-place medals at the Rocky awards ceremony. From left to right: Brooke Amaya, Reese Macchia, Sammie Johnson, Annelise Lee and Brynn Reeves.
The winter 2023 Rocky Mountain Youth Basketball League hosted 120 teams for its end of season tournament on Saturday, March 11, at the Rocky Churches in Niwot and Frederick. By day's end, nine of the Niwot Youth Sports recreational basketball teams came away with first or second-place finishes.
NYS sent 20 teams to the tournament in three age groups. Rocky created a dizzying and impressive tournament bracket with up to five division tournaments per age group.
The winning teams and coaches are:
Rocky Youth Basketball Tournament Champions:
1st/2nd Grade Boys Orange Division: The Rockets coached by John Getter, Jody Proctor, and Jeremy Deems
3rd/4th Grade Boys Green Division: The Wolverines coached by Kyle Wente
3rd/4th Grade Girls Yellow Division: The Honey Badgers coached by Jeremy Steen
5th/6th Grade Boys Blue Division: The Thunder coached by Kevin Willard
Rocky Youth Basketball Tournament Runners Up:
1st/2nd Grade Boys Yellow Division: The Rhinos coached by Kyle Wente
3rd/4th Grade Boys Yellow Division: The Banana Slugs coached by Todd Stoneman
3rd/4th Grade Boys Green Division: The Owls coached by Jason Christopoulos
5th/6th Grade Girls Red Division: The Hot Shots coached by Greg Macchia and Carey Kauffman
5th/6th Grade Girls Boys Green Division: The Mud Hens coached by Chad Theis
Two NYS coaches were awarded Coach of the Year for their great attitude, coaching, and support for their athletes on and off the court. Girls Coach of the Year went to Jeremy Steen, who coached his 3rd/4th grade girls to a victory in their division. Boys Coach of the Year went to Kyle Wente, who took his 3rd/4th grade boys team all the way to their division championship and his 1st/2nd grade boys to a second place finish in their division.
Many NYS athletes were also chosen by their coaches to compete in the All-Star Games for their respective age groups on March 4th, and were rewarded with t-shirts and trophies at the end-of-season awards ceremony held Sunday, March 12. NYS gifted all of its athletes sling bags at the ceremony and all 120 teams were treated to a slide show and presentation organized by Rocky Church to celebrate the season.
In other NYS news, the Monarch Improvement Project (MVP) is still underway and donations are picking up. For more information head to http://www.niwotyouthsports.org. MVP fundraising director Riki Frea is working tirelessly to continue funding the project, which still needs $150k to complete construction. NYS recreational baseball and softball registration closes on March 27, and opening day is Sunday, April 30, at the Monarch Field Complex. Coaches and umpires are still needed. Anyone interested should contact NYS Baseball Commissioner Ben Bernstein at ben@niwotyouthsports.org.
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