The Summit High School athletic department has a lot to be proud of this year. 

From state champions to playoff-winning teams, the athletic department has made a conscious investment in the long-term success of its programs and the student athletes within them.

The major accomplishments of the Summit athletic department and its programs over the 2024-25 academic year are as follows:

• Cross-country takes third and fifth at state meet.
• Senior Ella Hagen, 2024 Class 4A individual state champion.
• Boys soccer makes Class 4A playoffs
• Rugby wins 17th-straight state title 
• Golf program sends team to state tournament 
• Football sinks Steamboat Springs on homecoming 
• Volleyball leans on young roster, earning a record of 4-19.
• Boys Nordic ski team wins state; girls take second. 
• Junior Carter Niemkiewicz wins Nordic state classic race; Senior James Sowers wins Nordic state skate race.
• Boys and girls Alpine ski team takes third at state.
• Junior Seth Montgomery wins Alpine state slalom and giant slalom races.
• Hockey makes the playoffs for the second-straight season and advances to the Frozen Four.
• Wrestling sends two Summit students to the state tournament.
• Girls basketball makes the playoffs in its first season in Class 5A.
• Boys basketball earns four wins in its first season in Class 5A.
• Swim and dive team set two school records at the state meet.
• Track and field wins 4A Western Slope league meet for second-straight season
• Track and field earns the best finish in program history at the state meet.
• Girls lacrosse makes the playoffs in back-to-back seasons.
• Boys lacrosse wins first game in three years.
• Girls soccer begins the season with four wins for the first time in recent history.
• Baseball advances to the regional baseball tournament.

Second-year athletic director Bob Bodor could not be more thrilled about the continual development of the athletic teams that make up Summit High School.

“We have had a lot of individual and team success throughout the entire year,” Bodor said. “We are very proud of that success. Part of the success is because we are building great coaching staffs. The leadership from these men and women is what is making a difference.”

Bodor recognizes that playing at the high school level in Summit County is not an easy task. With limited field space, no rubberized track and substantial travel to and from games, student athletes are often tested in many ways throughout the academic year.

“Our athletes are tested beyond the sport,” Bodor said. “They are tested through what we ask of them as it relates to academics and attendance. They are tested simply because of where we are located and the challenges we face at times finding a practice field or having a practice field that is available. They are also challenged with very significant traveling.”

Despite these challenges, Summit finished the 2024-25 school year with all 19 of its athletic programs having a cumulative 3.0 GPA or better. The academic success is an encouraging sign for the athletic department, as Bodor believes that success in the classroom directly translates to success in sports. 

“If all of our teams are performing well in class and are committing themselves to the sport, or sports that they play, there is no doubt in my mind that we are on the right track to being the athletic department that we believe we can be,” Bodor said. 

While Bodor is immensely proud of Summit’s athletic teams, there is still plenty of room for growth. Like any athletic department head, Bodor wants to provide an opportunity for student athletes to not only grow in their sport, but also gain valuable life skills. 

The Summit athletic department will never have a win at all costs mentality, but Bodor stands by the fact that figuring out how to win as part of a team is an important skill that translates well beyond the confines of a high school hallway.

“We want to teach our kids how to win, because that is a life skill,” Bodor said. “And I have heard it said many times, teachers teach a person how to make a living, coaches teach a person how to live. … The people who get on the field are going to be the people who earn that through accountability, commitment and availability.”

Bodor is further imploring students to attend practices, attend class and to work hard. Those who are able to do that, outside of excused absences and injuries, will be given the first opportunity to play for their respective teams, he said.

“And we are not there yet,” Bodor said. “We can get a lot better when it relates to attendance in both school and on our teams. So again, I firmly believe we will win here more than we will lose. We are not going to focus on the winning without first considering the individuals that are on the team and what they are doing to earn that privilege.” 

One of the main ways the Summit athletic department will try to grow the level of commitment from its student athletes is enforcing a consistent standard for attendance.

“Once we get all our coaches on the same page, they are going to have the same expectations,” Bodor said. “We have a lot of new coaches, half of our coaches just finished their second year.”

Beyond improving student athlete commitment, Bodor would like to to see even more community involvement. 

“I think I need to do a better job of promoting what a wonderful experience it is to attend a Summit High School event,” Bodor said. “There is no better way to feel part of our community than sitting in our stands, cheering for our young people and being part of something special.”

Since Bodor was hired in 2023, he has seen pride in Summit athletic programs similar to those of small towns. From community members manning the score table, to families grilling up burgers for game-day grub, it is apparent that people care about the sports at the high school.

Over the next academic year, Bodor would love to see more people willing to coach and be involved.

“I have been here long enough to know that Summit County is a special place,” Bodor said. “So whether that is people in the community becoming involved as a coach, or becoming part of game day staff or forging a community partnership — we are always looking for additional community support. Our community is having an impact on this athletic department in many ways.”

At the end of the day, the success of Summit’s student athletes would not be possible without the coaches, the community and the district, Boder said.  

“I really believe that the athletic side will take care of itself,” Bodor said. “We have great coaches, we are building great staffs and we have tremendous support from our administration and our district.”