Aly Brinkema is NFHS girls swim coach of the year

    A swim coach for Holyoke High School, Aly Brinkema has been recognized as the girls swimming coach of the year for the state of Colorado by the National Federation of State High School Associations. The distinction was made even before the season had ended, and a successful state meet Feb. 8-9 simply added to her already accomplished season.
    A 2001 graduate of HHS herself, Brinkema returned to Holyoke in 2006 and began coaching with her mother, Adria Colver, in both the summer Northwest Kansas Swim League and for the HHS girls. In 2016 she began coaching the high school boys as well.
    Prior to that, Brinkema coached the Bittersweet Summer Club in Greeley, as well as the Loveland Swim Club, Thompson Valley Junior High swimming and Mountain View High School girls swimming.
    “I love coaching high school student-athletes because they challenge me to keep learning new techniques, styles of coaching and communication,” Brinkema said. “To be recognized for something that I love doing only motivates me to keep improving for my team and future members.”
    Ever since her youth, Brinkema has been committed to the swim program, often going above and beyond and volunteering selflessly. As a high school student, she swam for Holyoke throughout all four years, though Colver had to make a special request to the school board to include the program.
    In Brinkema’s freshman year, there was only a 5A division, and in the following three years she competed in the new 4A division. She went on to swim for the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas.

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