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Tag: Denver7 Sports

  • Colorado steps up to support kids through Youth Sports Giving Day

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    From the moment Laila Armstrong was born, she was destined to get in the game.

    “My dad played Division 1 football, my mom played Division 1 basketball,” says Armstrong, a rising freshman at Vista PEAK Preparatory in Aurora. “It’s just always been a family thing.”

    Lindsey Armstrong, Laila’s mom, understands the importance of sports in a young person’s life.

    “Playing sports is what gave us the skills of goal setting, of finding out within ourselves that we can do hard things,” says Lindsey. “So we decided it was best to have all of our children [play sports].”

    All six of the Armstrong kids are involved in sports, which admittedly creates a little chaos—but they couldn’t imagine life any other way.

    “It would be so boring and sad,” says Laila about a life without sports.

    Unfortunately, for too many kids in Colorado, that sad and boring life is their reality.

    “What we know is that one in three kids in Colorado is unable to participate in sport due to the costs associated with it,” says Vickie Puchi, executive director for Chance Sports.

    Founded in 2022, Chance Sports is a nonprofit organization that helps cover the annual cost of play for children through scholarships. They’ll support any kid ages eight to 19 with financial need who wants to play any sport in Colorado, so long as they earn a spot on a team.

    “Chance Sports has been able to fund over a million dollars in scholarships to over 800 athletes in Colorado in just over two years,” says Puchi. “What this funding does for athletes is it provides them the opportunity to grow and dream and be the best that they can be.”

    Puchi and her team work hard raising money to support their cause, but with so many kids struggling with access, they needed help to reach further into our community.

    That’s why Project Play Colorado and the Daniels Fund are stepping up to help build that bridge.

    In 2024, they launched Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day, a collaborative effort with hundreds of nonprofit organizations dedicated to raising awareness and funds for youth sports programs across the state.

    The program runs for two weeks, from Sept. 3 through Sept. 17.

    Last year’s inaugural event was a game-changer, raising an incredible $3.7 million for 175 nonprofits dedicated to empowering kids ages 18 and younger to experience the joy and benefits of sports.

    This year, thanks to a groundswell of grassroots financial support statewide, the Daniels Fund announced an additional $500,000 donation to the Youth Sports Giving Day incentive fund, which will increase the impact of contributions. This additional investment brings the total matching funds contributed by sponsors to more than $2 million.

    Since the two-week funding campaign was launched, nearly 2,600 grassroots donors have contributed over $2.6 million to support youth sports groups across Colorado, with the goal of making sports more accessible and affordable.

    “I’m just grateful,” says Lindsey Armstrong. “I’m just grateful someone thought to do that, that someone thought how we think, [that they believe] sports are a critical part of growth and development for kids. We can’t say thank you enough.”

    The Armstrongs talk the talk and walk the walk – in addition to supporting their own six children playing sports, they’ve reached out into their community to financially support several other kids in their athletic endeavors.

    “When we see kids going through hard stuff, or they need those extra role models in their lives, if we can [step up] then we’re willing to do it,” says Armstrong. “It’s one of those things that just pulls at your heart. It’s important for all kids to be involved in sports. It’s for their safety, it’s for their growth and development, and if they’re not involved in sports, it can be dangerous. If they’re not involved in the greater community, it’s not a good thing.”

    Donations continue rolling in for Colorado Youth Sports Giving Day. If you’d like to get involved, click here.

    Every dollar donated goes to a kid like Laila, who’s hoping to live out their dream on a basketball court, soccer pitch, or driving range.

    “Everyone should be able to get to play sports,” says Laila Armstrong. “It gives people a sense of belonging, collaboration, and always feeling like they belong somewhere.”

    “For me, what’s exciting is whenever I see a donation come in, I think of a kid in my mind who I know is out there playing because of that,” says Puchi.

    Coloradans making a difference | Denver7 featured videos

    Denver7 is committed to making a difference in our community by standing up for what’s right, listening, lending a helping hand and following through on promises. See that work in action, in the videos above.

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    Nick Rothschild

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  • 52 years summed up in 24 hours: Cherry Creek HS lifts Marc Johnson to epic exit

    52 years summed up in 24 hours: Cherry Creek HS lifts Marc Johnson to epic exit

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    It’s rare for a career as long as Marc Johnson’s to be so perfectly summed up in a matter of moments, but if the look on his face after the Class 5A state championship game on Saturday afternoon doesn’t do it justice, then the preceding 24-or-so hours is Johnson’s baseball microcosm.

    Cherry Creek claimed their 9th state crown by beating Regis Jesuit 5-2, knocking off the Rangers in back-to-back games to claim the title. Add in their defeat of Grandview on Friday and that makes one magical day to end a 52-year career.

    “It’s really not about me, in my whole 52-year career I never got on the field to play ever,” said Johnson, affectionately known as “Jay Bird.”

    “I was the jockey that rode the horse, slapped them on the butt and said play as hard as you can. For whatever reason it worked out for me.”

    Johnson’s coaching style is direct, demanding, yet light and loving. He understood the impact he had on the lives of every kid who stepped onto the diamond at Cherry Creek.

    “It’s been an awesome run,” said Coach Johnson. “I’ve loved every second, every day that I’ve coached, every kid that I’ve coached, it’s out of this world. It’s a story, I could write a book based on this final season. It’s unbelievable.”

    The novel based on this past season, let alone the final days, would almost certainly be a best seller. Johnson’s connection with his teams – all 52 of them – creates relationships worth reading about.

    52 years summed up in 24 hours: Cherry Creek lifts Marc Johnson to epic exit

    “Ever since I came into Creek freshman year he’s always been there for me,” said Ryan Falke, a junior pitcher who tossed every pitch of the championship game. “Everyone says he’s the GOAT, and he truly is the GOAT. 52 years is hard to do and he’s done it really good, I’m glad we could give him another state title.”

    “I don’t think I’d be the same without [Coach Johnson] in my life,” said senior outfielder Eddie Esquivel. “Every player here could say the same thing.”

    What’s next for Coach Jay Bird? Only time will tell. For now, however, he rides off into the sunset as a kind conqueror – and the greatest baseball coach in the history of Colorado.

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    Bradey King

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  • How a No. 1-ranked Denver fighter is inspiring Colorado kids to chase their dreams

    How a No. 1-ranked Denver fighter is inspiring Colorado kids to chase their dreams

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    After beating champion Brandon Moreno, Denver’s own Brandon Royval claimed the title of No. 1 contender in the UFC’s flyweight division. That means in May, Royval will have his shot at the championship at UFC 301 in May.

    However, Brandon’s dream’s are bigger than a championship belt. He wants to create a better world by harnessing the power of Colorado’s kids.

    His passion stems from knowing what life would be like without mixed martial arts.

    “I feel like MMA gave me a purpose and an identity,” said Royval, who’s spent the last 15 years training for these kinds of moments. “It gave me a reason of being. It pulled me out of a lot of place that I could have been, a lot of possible trouble.”

    In years past, Royval needed to carry a second job to support his dream of fighting in the UFC. One of those jobs was at the Lookout Juvenile Correctional Facility.

    What he saw there was untapped potential, and it sparked his drive to reach kids.

    “When you work in the juvenile facility for years you see kids that are actually leaders,” Royval said. “Maybe they’re not using their leadership for the best reasons. Instead of being on the side of where they messed up and where the problems occur, being on the preventative side I think is what will make the biggest difference.”

    That motivation led him to the Denver Dream Center, a group dedicated to helping people rebuild their lives and restore their dreams by providing free resources and services that address immediate and long-term needs in the areas of homelessness, hunger, poverty, addiction, abuse, and education and assisting those transitioning from various levels of incarceration.

    Every Wednesdsay night the Dream Center hosts a safe space called “Vibe Night” for young people to drop in and hang out.

    Royval is there every Wednesday.

    “Humbled,” he said. “I’m constantly being humbled.”

    In addition to admittedly losing in a lot of the games they play, Royval provides a shining example of dreams realized to the kids he works so hard to connect with.

    “Anything’s possible really,” Royval said. “I’m making my dreams come true. I became number one off of hard work and consistency.”

    “They can definitely see that through me because they’re not seeing an athlete at all,” he said with a wry smile.

    Someday, Royval would like to open his own space where kids could learn the martial arts. That way he could dedicate more of his time and resources to keeping kids out of that juvenile facility.

    “Having that open to you, having a high-level facility at a cheap rate would be ideal for me,” said Royval. “In the future that’s something I want to open up. A safe haven, a place where kids can learn martial arts and get away you know.”

    Until then, Brandon Royval will keep fighting – and winning – inside and outside of the UFC octagon.

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    Nick Rothschild

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