Student Athlete of the Week Ero Tenz

Niwot High School sophomore Ero Tenz made history this fall as a defender on the first-ever varsity girls field hockey team in the Boulder Valley School District.

Based out of Boulder High School, the BVSD varsity team supports two players from the St. Vrain Valley School District (Tenz and Erie High School junior Sunny Wolver), which doesn't support a girls field hockey program. The BVSD program had competed only at the sub-varsity level for the past two years.

As the lone Niwot student on the 25-player inaugural varsity team, Tenz holds a unique experience.

"It's a bit awkward since not everyone can remember which school I'm from," said Tenz, a C-Team player last year. "I have this entirely different schedule to most people, so they are usually a little confused about certain things that happen."

Tenz even admitted that when she tells other NHS students about her extracurricular activity, they're typically unaware that field hockey is a growing sport in the area. But with time and increased awareness, Tenz hopes her classmates will soon follow.

"I'm going to try and recruit people from Niwot to start playing as well, so I'm not the only one from Niwot," Tenz said.

BVSD owns a 7-5-2 record as of Oct. 20, with one regular season game remaining, meaning the Panthers will finish with a winning regular season mark in its first varsity campaign. After facing Denver East High School on Wednesday, Oct. 22, they will compete in a 16-team postseason field.

Besides growing her field hockey skills, Tenz has learned a few important life lessons throughout her second high school season.

"I sometimes underestimate myself or underestimate others," Tenz said. "Maybe people are not as intimidating as they look."

Tenz began playing the sport while growing up in Germany, which plays a somewhat different style of field hockey.

"There's a lot less aggression behind it (in United States field hockey)," Tenz said. "The communication aspect is also a little different because in Germany we didn't really talk much. We just shoot at each other, and we figured it out from there. Whereas here, there's a lot of communication needed."

This winter, Tenz plans on playing club field hockey in either Denver or Boulder for the Colorado Bears.