05/07/2026
That’s our dude!
DENVER, CO (May 7, 2026) – For the second consecutive year, the Positive Athlete organization is recognizing local high school athletes from across the state of Colorado as high-character kids who have been nominated and confirmed by their schools as the most representative of “How Positive Athletes O.P.E.R.A.T.E.”.
Optimistic
Puts Team First
Encouraging
Respectful
Admits Imperfections
True Heart for Others
Embraces Service
This year, Positive Athlete is naming 28 different Colorado high schoolers as the “Most Positive” male and female student-athletes across the state, while also recognizing two coaches, one athletic director, one athletic trainer, and three schools as “Most Positive” within their respective areas. The multiple of 7 theme stems from the number of attributes (7) called out above.
More than 920 nominations from coaches, athletic directors, athletic trainers, principals, teachers, guidance counselors, and parents were submitted for the Positive Athlete program state-wide, representing 292 different public and private high schools (equivalent to 78% of all Colorado high schools with formalized athletics programs—the highest such percentage in the country). Nominations covered all 27 state-sanctioned sports as well as e-sports, archery, climbing, cycling, equestrian, martial arts, powerlifting, rugby, Unified Sports, and more. The Colorado awards are part of the national expansion of Positive Athlete, which was created by sports industry veteran Scott Pederson in the early 2010’s as a movement for more positivity in youth sports. In addition to excellence on the field, each nominated Positive Athlete was required to show the above characteristics in order to be nominated.
Congratulations Carson!