Changing Bases

On October 25, Conifer’s Varsity Softball team made the Elite 8 in their state championships at the Aurora Sports Complex, having advanced past the first round against Berthoud 11-6, and losing their second against Holy Family 13-2. This is the 3rd time the softball team has made Elite 8, the final eight teams in Conifer’s division at state championships since head coach Carrie Oletski has been coaching.

Following the end of the season, coaches Carrie Oletski and Jayme Thompson will retire from the team. Eight seniors will also be graduating, reducing the team to eight members—half of its original size. The team will lose seniors Bella Alley, Sydney Aikin, Finley Johnson, Avrie Bunchman, Kiki Pell, Jesse Nichols, Eleanor Sikora, and Ruby Haver. 

Jayme Thompson has been assistant coaching the team for 11 years, having previously played on the team from 2005 – 2009. 

“I love it, it’s something extra to do outside of my regular job,” Thompson said.

Thompson is graduating from Nurse Practitioner School and plans to get a job in the medical field. Leaving the team, she hopes that they keep their spirit going forward.

“I hope we’ve instilled in the team a love of the sport and the love of being a Lobo,” Thompson said.

Head coach Carrie Oletski has been coaching the Conifer Softball team since 2007. She is currently the caregiver to her mother, who is developing dementia. Paired with losing a close friend over the summer and her long work hours, she has decided to retire from coaching to spend more time with her family. 

“My mom is one of my best friends, and I need to make sure that I give her the best quality of life,” Oletski said.

Oletski plans to remain supportive of the team and visit games in the future, as she loves the community that she’s been a part of. She appreciates all the support she’s received from students, staff members, and families.

“I feel that these kids are family too. Ask any of them and they’ll tell you

the same,” Oletski said.

In Oletski and Thompson’s place, assistant coach and Conifer staff member Rhonda Sims will become the head coach of the team. Her daughter, Drew Sims, who played for the team before graduating in 2019, will continue assistant coaching the team, having begun coaching in 2023.

Haver and Sienna Shields are students at Evergreen High School who are on the Conifer softball team. Last year, Evergreen lost its softball team due to a lack of members. Sienna, a junior, and Ruby, a senior, joined Conifer’s team in hopes of finding a new opportunity.

“Ruby and I were both really scared to come to Conifer, it’s our rival school, but the team really accepted us. It’s honestly one of the best experiences I’ve ever had,” Shields said. 

Haver and Shields have played softball together since they were little, always playing on teams together. The two had been hoping that Evergreen would not get a softball team this year, because they wanted to continue playing with the girls that they had bonded with over the past 2 seasons.

“I showed up, and all the girls were immediately supportive, and I’ve enjoyed every second of it since,” Haver said.

Haver has potential plans to play club softball in college, but if she was given the opportunity, she would come back to play softball at Conifer. Haver and Shields hope that the girls at Evergreen get the opportunity to play softball, both at Evergreen and Conifer. 

“If you do wanna come, do not be scared at all, it’s amazing, and all the girls are lovely,” Haver said. 

Matt Nichols, the father of senior pitcher Jesse Nichols, watched the team make Elite 8 for the first time since his daughter was on the team.

“As a father, I feel very proud, and more importantly, I hope Jesse is proud of what her team is doing,” Nichols said.