Student-Athlete of the Week - Keegan Stobbe

Ever since joining the varsity squad as a freshman, Keegan Stobbe has energized Niwot soccer's attack with his speed and intensity, not to mention his scoring average of nearly two points per game. But midway through the 2021 season, the senior took his talents to Niwot's back line and put his energy into preventing scoring chances rather than creating them. So far, it's been a winning trade-off for both Stobbe and the Cougars, who are a serious contender for this year's Class 4A state soccer title.

"I've been dropped onto defense because last year and the year before, when we got kicked out of the playoffs, it was mainly defensively," he said. "Recently, we've just been trying to add more defense, so we have that on lockdown, and it gives us more and more chances as a whole."

So far, the longtime midfielder is relishing his new role, even if it does require him to exercise more patience than usual. He's also still apt to take advantage of any scoring opportunities that come his way, as one did after a corner kick in Niwot's first-round playoff win over Coronado on April 22.

"Someone headed it out, and I'd just been waiting for that trash ball all game," he said of his second half goal, his sixth of the season. "And then finally it dropped, and I got my chance to hit it, and just finished."

But Stobbe also has a personal reason for his move to the defense. Next year, he will be suiting up there for Regis University Rangers men's soccer team, and is eager to get more experience in the unfamiliar position. That was good news to Niwot head coach Stephen Dimit, who is also enjoying having another "weapon" in the back, especially one as talented as Stobbe.

"He's just been the heartbeat of the team for four years," Dimit said. "Even when he was a freshman, he was always just on fire to play games to practice hard."

That's almost certainly due to the influence of Stobbe's older sister Kailee, a 2017 Niwot graduate and standout midfielder, who went on to play for two seasons at Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts. Keegan said it's hard to overstate the impact of watching Kailee "dominating and slide tackling" during her four years as one of Niwot's leading attackers.

"She just encouraged me to just come in and basically try to do better than her," he said.

Whether he's accomplished that goal is probably a question best left up to the siblings, but, for Dimit, both Stobbes will always occupy a special place in Niwot soccer history.

"Keegan's one of a kind, and impossible to replace," Dimit said. "He's that unique as a player, just like his sister. They'll leave, but there's nobody who does that exact thing."

When he's not on the pitch for Niwot, Stobbe enjoys his English classes, and counts Coach Dimit among his favorite teachers. He also enjoys skiing and riding his dirt bike in his free time.

Stobbe hasn't quite decided what he will study in college, but he is eyeing a potential career as an athletic trainer, or possibly in business.