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Athletics

Lower School

The Lower School physical education and kinesiology programs promote and foster a lifelong love for physical activity that creates lasting growth in physical skills and fitness.

Students work through a series of athletic activities designed to challenge them as individuals and as a group, while reinforcing both gross and fine motor skill development, teamwork, and age-appropriate problem solving.

In Pre-K through Grade 2, the students:

Practice agility and balance skills with throwing, catching, and dodging
Learn kicking, punting, dribbling, receiving, coordination, and pattern work with a ball
Enjoy CA’s Scooter Highway—an award-winning activity and obstacle course based on the Colorado landscape and its mountain features—to build body control and muscle awareness
Practice basic and intermediate movement patterns
Use giant parachute activities to enhance listening skills and teamwork
Practice swimming in Fall and Spring

Grades 3-5, the instructors:

Introduce students to sports and activity offerings, including racquet sports, soccer, field hockey, volleyball, basketball, tennis, lacrosse, and softball/baseball
Reinforce skill development and problem-solving applications through large group activities
Reinforce basic and intermediate movement patterns
Begin the use of fitness testing
Offer swimming practice in Fall and Spring

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CA Lower School P.E. Faculty

List of 6 items.

Sean Stedeford

Director of P.E. Program, Coach
View Bio
Metropolitan State College of Denver - BA
At CA Since: 2008

Sean Stedeford is Director of the PE Program. Along with his coaching duties in both the Middle and Upper School, he teaches Lower School kinesiology in Grades 2 through 5, as well as both Grade 5 and 6 physical education. Stedeford is the Varsity Girls Soccer Head Coach, Varsity Boys Soccer Assistant Coach, and he also helps with both the boys and girls Middle School soccer teams. Most recently Stedeford has guided the Varsity Girls Soccer Team to back-to-back 3A state titles in 2014 and 2015, and a runner-up finish in 2016, and the 3A State Championship again in 2019. He also helped the boys win the 2012 and 2013 3A State Championships. Stedeford is very passionate and dedicated to helping the students of Colorado Academy enjoy the benefits of physical activity and providing them a better understanding of the human body in his kinesiology units.
Beth Folsom

Lower & Middle School P.E., Coach
View Bio
Northeast Missouri State University - BS
University of Northern Colorado - MA
At CA Since: 1999

Beth Folsom, a Preceptor, has been a physical education instructor and coach at CA since 1999. Prior to coming to CA, she taught at St. Mary’s Academy. Folsom has been the Upper School boys golf coach since 1999 and has coached the Upper School girls team since 2006. The girls were the 4A state champions in 2007, 2008, and 2019. She also coaches both the boys and girls Middle School golf teams as well as Middle School basketball. Folsom has been named Coach of the Year multiple times by the Metro League, state of Colorado (4A) and the Central Section of the LPGA. She received her MA from the University of Northern Colorado. After competing in golf at the collegiate level, Folsom joined the teaching division of the LPGA and is a Class A Teaching Professional. In addition to golf, she enjoys baseball, being in the mountains, snowboarding, cycling and reading.
Dan Pratt

P.E. Instructor, Coach
View Bio
Syracuse University - BA
At CA Since: 2011

Dan Pratt has been coaching at CA since 2011 and brought a wealth of experience as a lacrosse coach and player to his current position of Lower School PE teacher and coach of Boys Varsity and Boys Middle School Lacrosse. A Varsity defenseman at Syracuse University, he was named All-American in his senior year, and played professional lacrosse with the Detroit Turbos. In addition to coaching many Colorado youth teams and at summer camps, Pratt was also an assistant lacrosse coach at the University of Colorado and Assistant Coach and Defensive Coordinator for the Colorado Mammoth prior to coming to Colorado Academy.
Marcia Richards

Lower & Middle School P.E., Coach
View Bio
University of Arizona - BS
University of Louisiana - MS
At CA Since: 1996

Marcia Richards has been at CA since 1996 and holds the faculty rank of Master Teacher. She has been teaching physical education and coaching in the independent school system for more than 30 years. Richards received her BS in Physical Education from the University of Arizona, where she played competitive basketball, softball, and volleyball. Her master’s degree is from Louisiana State University. She teaches Kindergarten through Grade 6, and she coaches in the Middle School and Upper School athletic programs. Richards is the skills coach for the Freshman and C-level volleyball players and tennis team. Richards heads a successful racquetball program in the winter for Middle School and Upper School players. In her spare time she loves to play racquetball, ride bikes, and hike.
Robert Ulrich

Lower & Middle School P.E., Coach
View Bio
Colorado State University - BS
University of Northern Colorado - MA
At CA Since: 1989

Bob Ulrich has been at CA since 1989. He has served as the Director of Lower School P.E., teaches Pre-K through Sixth Grade, and is Head Coach for Varsity Volleyball and Girls Varsity Tennis, along with coaching Middle School volleyball and basketball. In 2010 Ulrich was named Metro League Volleyball Coach of the Year; in 2009 he was inducted into the Metro League Hall of Fame; he was named Metro League Tennis Coach of the Year in 2009, 2007, 2004, and 2003; in 2007 he was named Metro League Assistant Coach of the Year; in 2005 he was named Metro League Volleyball Assistant Coach of the Year; and in 1999 he was the recipient of the Yoeman Fisher Award for Teaching Excellence at CA, and is also a Master Teacher. Ulrich enjoys spending time with his family, and reading sports psychology and leadership books, along with suspense novels, lawn care, golfing, tennis, and fly fishing. Go Mustangs!
Hunter Worthley

Athletics Assistant
View Bio
Metropolitan State University - BS
At CA Since: 2018

Hunter Worthley joined CA’s Athletics staff in 2019 as the department’s Athletics Assistant. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Metropolitan State University of Denver, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science, with a minor in Management. She has coached Girls Basketball in middle and upper grades, worked as a student athletic trainer, and was a student-athlete at Northeastern Junior College. There, she was Captain of the Women’s Basketball team and was a National Junior College Athletic Association First-Team Academic All-American. She also has been a National Society of Collegiate Scholars honoree at MSU Denver for her academic excellence.

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