We were only going to name one coach of the year but this year we felt like we needed to do two, so without further ado the coaches of the year are Travis Peeples from Wellington and Andy Lowry of Columbine.
Coach Travis Peeples
Wellington Eagles’ Rise Under Coach Travis Peeples: Its all about Buy-In
Starting a new football program at a new school is hard. There is a never ending list of things that have to be done, equipment to be bought, coaches to by hired, planning to executed. Now add in the fact that the school will not have seniors and you are looking at a potential recipe for disaster.
Here we are two years in and the Wellington Eagles are anything but that. Under the tutelage of Coach Peeples, the Eagles soared to a 9-1 overall record, dominating the 2A Patriot – Central Division with an unblemished 5-0 league record. There are so many things that we love about what Coach Peeples has done at Wellington that we had to make a bullet point list to go through them all.
- Getting a new program off the ground to a winning record in only two years
- Managing to get get buy in from the players, parents and entire community (just look at how many people attend Eagles games, its crazy!)
- The above is even more impressive given that usually new schools get kids that are rejected from other schools or disenfranchised by other schools. If you’re already playing somewhere with your friends and enjoying it, why would you switch schools?
- Choosing to run the double wing offense was a genius strategy for a blue collar agricultural town like Wellington
- Creating a great staff and trusting the process of offseason improvement
- Creating a great off season program
- And the list goes on.
Under his guidance, Wellington executed a balanced attack, amassing 361 points while conceding a mere 144 throughout the season, underscoring their offensive potency and defensive resilience. A major part of their success stems from the fact that Peeple’s scheme fits their players. Its as simple as that. Tanner Gray is the perfect fit as their QB in a run heavy double wing offense. Getting someone that big and strong as a freshman certainly helps your cause, but I would argue that other talented athletes like Cash Altschwager who are no where as big also had success – which means everyone up front is doing their job. That seems to be the theme at Wellington. Everyone works hard, does their job and doesn’t complain about doing it.
Congratulations to Coach Peeples and his whole staff. Very impressive work this year and it is exciting to think about the fact that next year is the first year there will be seniors. In our opinion Wellington is a front runner for a 2A state title next year.
Coach Andy Lowry
Its all about beating the odds, facing personal battles, and the incredible power of teamwork
Andy Lowry, a name many in the sports world will recognize, wrapped up an unforgettable season as head coach of Columbine High’s football team. He’s been dubbed the Denver Post’s All-Colorado Coach of the Year for 2023, the Don Shula High School Coach of the Year Award and has had his name all over the papers for good reason.
Andy isn’t your average coach. He’s the kind of guy who’s led his team, the Columbine Rebels, to a flawless season and snagged his sixth state championship in three decades. But it’s not just the victories on the field that make his story remarkable. This year, Andy and his team took down the four-time defending champs, Cherry Creek, in the Class 5A title game. And they did it without a single FBS scholarship offer among them, proving that heart and hustle can outmatch size and stats any day.
As he mentioned in a couple interviews, Andy’s “junkyard dawg” approach really resonated with his team. When you are playing 5A football, there are a lot of really good athletes on the field. To make it to the top it’s all about grit, toughness, and not backing down, no matter how intimidating the opponent. This mindset was key to their success and it was really put on display against Cherry Creek.
Behind the scenes, Andy faced personal challenges that tested his strength like never before. He mourned the loss of his niece in a tragic accident and supported his wife through her ongoing battle with cancer. Through these tough times, Andy was quoted as saying he found solace in his faith, his team, and his coaching staff. It’s a reminder of the struggles we all face, often unseen by others, and the resilience needed to push through.
The Rebels’ season was nothing short of cinematic, with some very close games and a historic 300th win for Andy. Their run-heavy, strategic plays and the unexpected air attack showed their versatility and tactical versatility. But more than the plays and the wins, it’s the lessons of perseverance, teamwork, and community support that stand out. We have heard stories of coaches with challenging seasons but this one is at the top of the list.
Andy’s story is a testament to the impact of dedicated coaching and the strength we find in facing adversity together. We obviously love Cherry Creek and they have some amazing players but it was hard not to root for Columbine in that title game.
Congratulations to Andy and his entire staff and we look forward to what you guys bring to the field next year.