Student-Athlete of the Week - Grace Wardle

Like all seniors in the class of 2021, Niwot girls basketball point guard Grace Wardle has been dealt a rough hand. The Cougars' season had already been cut down to 14 games and that number is even lower for Wardle. She has played in just three games this season and has missed another three and counting due to COVID-19 exposure protocols.

Wardle said it has been hard to watch her team play from the virtual sideline in what has been a "disappointing" thorn in her senior season. Despite the recent obstacle, she takes solace in the wisdom gained over her time at Niwot.

"I've learned (to) just keep my head up," Wardle said. "Even though the outcome may not be great, (I've learned) just to keep going forward and have a positive outlook on things and know that I'm a good player... I know what I'm doing (and know) not to let the records in the scoreboard dictate how I feel about myself and how I play."

Head coach Terri Ward added that it has been tough being without her senior point guard but expects her to return on Feb. 20 against Northridge. Despite Wardle's brief stint away from the team, her leadership skills continue to be a factor in moving Niwot forward.

"Especially with COVID and everything, I've had to grow a lot as a leader and as a person," Wardle said. "Just being able to comfort my team and being a leader in that aspect in (saying), 'hey this may suck, but we're going to get through it together,' and kind of being that positive outlet for our team."

Along with developing as a vocal leader, Ward has noticed the senior's ability to lead by example in terms of her work ethic.

"She really really works hard and when she could, she would spend a lot of time in the gym," Ward said. "She's worked hard on her skills and her ball-handling skills. I think the biggest thing I would say (with) the growth of Grace is her leadership ability and wanting to be a leader."

Since swinging up for two games on varsity during her sophomore year, Wardle has averaged just under two points per game. She broke out last year with a career-high nine-point game against D'Evelyn and made two three-pointers in this season's opener against Roosevelt. Her ability to shoot beyond the arc has been missed during her absence according to Ward.

With just six games remaining after Feb. 18, Wardle has begun to look back on her time as a Cougar. She said that Niwot's Thanksgiving day practices will always be a fond memory but most importantly, she'll remember her teammates and coaches along the way.

"It's been such an honor to be able to play alongside all these amazing girls and people that I've played with," Wardle said. "Just remembering all those things is going to be a fun way for me to look back and be like, 'hey, I did something pretty cool with some cool people."

Wardle's plans after high school include attending the University of Colorado Denver to study elementary education.