This year, the town of Greeley has gained its first NPL –National Platform League– team through the Northern Colorado Rush organization. This team is filled with players from multiple high schools including Greeley Central, Greeley West, Roosevelt, Frontier Academy, and Valley. The players from West include juniors Henry Vicente, Ben Feinberg and sophomore Alan Quiroz.

Vicente has been playing with Rush since he was 13 and has continued to play with them the whole time. Vicente is honored to be a member of this team and represent Greeley at a high level. “ It’s an honor to be a player for the first NPL team in Greeley and I am grateful for this opportunity brought to us by the Rush organization”. Vicente explained

Being at the NPL level means traveling across the country to play. So far the team has played in Florida, Arizona (twice), and this past weekend played in South Dakota.

Quiroz has been playing with Rush for seven years and some of his best memories with the team is the traveling. “My favorite memory with this team is the team trip to Florida because it was the first time we all traveled as a team together and it really helped our team create a strong bond.” Quiroz explained.

The team is led by coach Kylan Crafts-Thimmig of NORCO Rush.

 Crafts-Thimmig is very proud of how the team has competed this season in the NPL league and the Presidents cup tournament. “Our greatest achievement this season would be making it to the president’s cup finals even though we took second it still was great for the boys to make it that far, there hasn’t been a finalist from Greeley in over 20 years. The team is also sitting undefeated in our SCA league and have only been scored on twice.” Crats-Thimmig explained.

The two captains of the team are Kambiz Sedaghat and Orlando Esparza. 

Sedaght is honored to lead this team and being apart this team sets him up for the next level. “It feels surreal to be captain of the first NPL team in Greeley and I enjoy and feel honored to be able to lead this team. Also, being on this team has set me up for the next level by exposing my name to coaches and teams at the next and higher level as well as improving my skills and mindset.” Sedaghat explained.

Esparza believes being on this team has helped him improve his skills and qualities he needs to have to reach the next level. “Bein on this team has helped me improve my qualities and skills as a player, I have seen what qualifies to be in that top level and I have opened my eyes to a different position in where I want to be. I have grown as a player and teammate, knowing what it means to work hard and the consequences for not keeping up with standards. This team has set me up to build the foundation of what I need to be in order to reach the next level.” Esparza explained.

The players will finish up their spring season and return back in the fall to play for their various high schools.