Student-Athlete of the Week: Ayden Bartko

For anybody who has followed Niwot football over the past few years, the name Ayden Bartko should ring a bell. Niwot's senior quarterback has just three games remaining in his high school career and his departure will leave a gaping hole for the Cougars.

Between the lines, Bartko has racked up 2,865 passing yards in 32 career games dating back to his 2017 freshman year. At 6-foot-5 and 205 lbs, Bartko towers over his teammates and uses his height to comfortably read the field. Although it hasn't been easy from a team perspective, Bartko's leadership skills have been valuable for the future of a program which includes 23 freshmen.

"I'm kind of taking all of them under my wing," Bartko said "I just say (to the freshmen), '(If) you guys need anything, let me know. If you need help with academics, let me or one of the other seniors or upperclassmen know.' ...(It) kind of makes them feel welcome because everybody knows what it's like to be a freshman and some of us never had that type of leadership as a freshman and I just want to give that to them."

Head coach Nik Blume has noticed Bartko's knack for helping out his teammates. "He continues to put guys on his shoulders," Blume said after Niwot's week one game against Holy Family.

People are beginning to take notice outside of the Cougar locker room as well. Bartko was named a Colorado Prep Report 3A preseason top-10 offensive player after throwing for 1,538 yards and 13 touchdowns last season.

Bartko's accomplishments and passion have him aspiring to play football at the collegiate level. Blume said that his senior QB has "a lot of heat right now" from interested college coaches.

"It's a very big deal to me trying to go play college football, trying to get a scholarship (and) trying to get some of the education paid for," Bartko said. "As for where I want to go, it's all over. I'm really open to where I want to go. The quarantine and during COVID situation, it's kind of nuts but it's basically all virtual like all the film and stuff. Luckily I had a good year last year and got all my highlights sent out, but they're just going off of transcripts and film from what they see."

In the meantime, Bartko will have two more challenges against Discovery Canyon and Mitchell High school, plus an add-in game, to prove himself worthy of college football.