As a parent of a high school athlete, I know firsthand how intense and competitive the world of youth sports has become. The pressure for students to specialize in a single sport, play year-round, and chase college scholarships often feels overwhelming—not just for the kids, but for their families as well. So when I look at the experience my son is having at DC, I am filled with gratitude. Because here, things are different.
My son is a good athlete. He’s committed, competitive, and gives his best every time he steps onto the court or the field. But he doesn’t expect to play sports in college—and that’s never been the goal. What matters more to him, and to us as his parents, is that he’s growing—athletically, yes, but even more so in character, in resilience, and in faith. And that’s exactly what’s happening at Denver Christian.
It’s worth noting that while my son doesn’t have the desire to compete at the college level, Denver Christian absolutely supports and develops student-athletes who do. Many DC athletes go on to compete at the next level, and the coaching staff is fully equipped to help them pursue those dreams. What I love is that whether your child is aiming for college athletics or simply loves the game and wants to grow through it, they are seen, supported, and valued.
And let’s be clear: Denver Christian has a very strong athletic program. This is not a school where kids simply “get to play”—they compete and they excel. Our teams have achieved remarkable success: four-peat state titles in cheer, back to back state titles in baseball, a state championship runner up for our girls basketball team, and the boys soccer team making it to the state semifinals two years in a row, 3rd in state for golf, several state finishes in track and field, cross country… just to name a few of the recent athletic achievements. These aren’t just participation trophies—we’re talking about real, high-level achievement. And perhaps most importantly, our kids get to be contributors on their teams—not just sit the bench. That kind of opportunity is rare and meaningful.
What makes DC unique is that it offers the best of both worlds. Our student-athletes are challenged to be their best, to go all the way, to win championships—and they do. But in the midst of all the competition and drive to succeed, the coaches never lose sight of what matters most: the heart, the character, the person.
A recent example illustrates this perfectly. Recently, during the basketball off-season, the DC boys played in a spring league game against a much larger 6A school. (DC is a 3A school, for context.) According to my son, “It was brutal; we got destroyed.” The final score was 67–42. They were down 20–0 before scoring their first bucket. Oh, and they only had four players.
Later that night, the basketball coach communicated with the boys by showing them a picture of the scoreboard. Here’s what he also said:
“I am encouraged by YOU! This was the final score of our 1st of 2 spring league games last night. Remember, we were down 20 – 0 before we even scored our first 2 points. You may be thinking—’but coach, we lost the game.’ Well, we ONLY had 4 players, therefore know that any time you never quit, anytime you persevere and any time you persist with the Lord’s character; YOU WIN! I’m extremely proud of you for your diligence, for staying in the faith through a game played with just 4 players when the other team had 5 players. Conditions were not perfect, but God said, ‘The race is not given to the swift nor to the strong, but the race is won by the one who endures to the end.’ … Your endurance and faithfulness is worth celebrating because you persevered through tough conditions.”
That message stopped me in my tracks. Because that is what I want my son to learn. That’s what I want spoken over his life. That perseverance, humility, and integrity are the real wins. That showing up with courage, regardless of the scoreboard, is the kind of “champion” God celebrates.
In many programs—both school and club—coaches are under enormous pressure to win at all costs. That pressure often trickles down to the athletes in the form of relentless practices, harsh criticism, and a performance-above-all mindset. But at Denver Christian, I’ve seen a different kind of leadership. Yes, our coaches want to win. They’re building competitive, successful programs. But they never let the scoreboard define their players’ worth.
They understand that the goal is not just to raise good athletes, but to shape godly men and women. Young people who know how to serve, to lead, to show compassion and joy—on and off the court. Coaches who model integrity and remind their teams that God’s definition of success isn’t always the same as the world’s.
As a parent walking through the teenage years alongside my kids, I can tell you: this matters. We need voices like these in our children’s lives. We need mentors who believe in them, invest in them, and remind them who they are and whose they are. Even professional athletic careers come to an end. But the character our kids build today will stay with them for a lifetime.
So today, I just want to say thank you. Thank you to the coaches at Denver Christian for seeing our kids as more than athletes—for calling them to be the men and women God created them to be. Thank you for defining “winning” in a way that aligns with the Kingdom. Thank you for challenging them to pursue excellence, while never losing sight of their hearts.
We are truly grateful.
—A Proud DC Parent
