Niwot High School wrestling to host 20 programs at annual Gary Daum Classic

Niwot High School’s annual Gary Daum Classic has quickly grown into one of Colorado’s premiere boys wrestling tournaments.

Named in honor of former NHS boys wrestling head coach Gary Daum, who passed away in 2012 following a battle with cancer, the mid-season tournament returns to Niwot on Saturday, Jan. 6, with a bevy of big-name programs attending. Twenty-one teams, including Niwot, will be competing at this year’s event, the 11th under its current title.

“This year, we've added Air Academy, Berthoud, as well as Pueblo County, which is a perennial top 10 program every year,” current Niwot head coach Bobby Matthews said. “We have Thompson Valley there (and) Roosevelt, so we've created it to be quite a tough tournament.”

Last year, 15 total schools competed, with Thompson Valley winning the team title. Niwot’s Gavin Burrage, then a junior, took second in the 175-pound division. Matthews expects this year’s tournament to be another valuable challenge for Burrage and junior Ryder Evans, in particular.

“It's huge for them to see those top 10 programs in the state,” Matthews said. “It's going to make you realize, 'Okay, where are you at?'"

After Niwot struggled with injuries and illnesses in December, Matthews expects his Cougars to be an overall healthier bunch, although some wrestlers will be out of town.

The Gary Daum Classic will always be a special event for Matthews, who continues to cherish the close relationship he had with Daum. Despite having no wrestling background, Daum coached the sport for nearly 30 years at Niwot and even watched his son, Garin Daum, win a state title before retiring in 2005. Daum was also a special education teacher at Niwot and an assistant football and softball coach.

“He's always been a big influence in my life in the way he was an educator and a coach,” said Matthews, who first met Daum while wrestling at Frederick High School. “It wasn't just his wrestlers — he didn't just touch their lives. He touched the lives of so many kids that walked through the doors at Niwot High School.”

Matthews called on former NHS students, wrestlers and current community members to attend this year’s Gary Daum Classic, which is expected to begin around 8:30 a.m.

“If any alumni or anybody like that is around, we'd love for them to come watch,” Matthews said. “There's going to be a lot of really good wrestling.”

On Friday, Jan. 5, the eve of the Gary Daum Classic, Niwot hosts Berthoud in a dual meet.