The words “get loud” flashed on a scoreboard Thursday afternoon during a UNC Bears women’s basketball game at Bank of Colorado Arena.
The message was unnecessary.
Late in the second quarter against Big Sky Conference opponent Idaho, the arena was already loud — having reached a deafening level earlier in the day. Behind the unusually active and high-energy crowd for the noon tip-off were about 2,600 Greeley-Evans School District 6 students, who attended the game as part of Kids Day at the University of Northern Colorado.
For the last decade or so, UNC and District 6 have worked together on a Kids Day game to show the younger students a university in their own backyard.
Amir Yussuf, a fourth grader from Dos Rios Elementary School, cheers for UNC while wearing a "I Love UNC" sticker on his forehead during D6 Kids Day at the Northern Colorado Bears women's basketball game against Idaho at Bank of Colorado Arena on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)The District 6 students were in grades 3-8 and represented 13 schools, according to director of district athletics and activities Sean Scribbick.
Maria Escobar, a Spanish teacher at Brentwood Middle School, said each school set criteria to decide which students participated in the field trip. At one school, the criteria was based on completed assignments. Another school opted to select certain grades.
About 200 students from Brentwood attended the game.
“I think it’s cool for them,” said Escobar, who earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UNC. “A lot of our teachers are UNC graduates. It’s cool for the kids to be part of the college experience and the fun part.”
Northern Colorado Bears forward Tatum West (24) attempts to put up a shot during D6 Kids Day at the Northern Colorado Bears women's basketball game against Idaho at Bank of Colorado Arena on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)Former UNC Athletic Department administrator David Sabolchik started the event about 10 years ago, Scribbick said. Sabolchik reached out to District 6 with an interest in the school district students supporting the local college students.
Sabolchik left UNC in 2024 for a position at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
Among the students in the stands were girls basketball players from Bella Romero Academy, a K-8 school in east Greeley. Eighth graders Kaehlyn Hoisington and Yvette Villegas waited in line for concessions at halftime. Hoisington said she’s been to a few UNC women’s basketball games. She called the experience inspirational, knowing that maybe one day she could be in a college uniform.
“They’re playing a lot of help side defense, and they’re working together,” Villegas said, adding she was grateful to be at the game.
Jovani Barca Chapparro, a fifth grade student from Ann K Heiman Elementary School, center, cheers as the Northern Colorado Bears women's basketball team enters the arena during D6 Kids Day at UNC's women's basketball game against Idaho at Bank of Colorado Arena on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)The District 6 students filled the arena on all four sides, giving the much-improved women’s team its largest home crowd of the season with a total attendance of 2,810. Idaho beat UNC 62-55 with a 20-point fourth-quarter on almost 64% shooting to move into a tie for first place with Montana State in the Big Sky standings.
Idaho is 16-5 overall and 7-1 in the conference with its fifth straight win. UNC is 15-7 and 6-3, with both win totals matching last season overall and in the conference. The Bears, in second place in the conference, leave Friday for a Saturday afternoon game at Eastern Washington in Cheney, Washington.
The District 6 students visited the concession stands — where there were long lines. Three girls in line for slushies were thrilled to snap a photo of Klawz, the big, brown UNC Bear mascot, as he moved through the crowd.
Students from S. Christa McAuliffe STEM Academy cheer on UNC during D6 Kids Day at the Northern Colorado Bears women's basketball game against Idaho at Bank of Colorado Arena on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)Students from Brentwood and Prairie Heights middle schools wore mascot costumes from their schools of a tiger and hawk, respectively, as they walked around the arena.
Escobar said she heard from a student observing the differences between the costumes of the Brentwood tiger and UNC’s Klawz. The student told Escobar the Brentwood tiger needs to consume more protein.
“Our mascot is scrawny, and he’s (Klawz) really buff,” Escobar said she heard from the student.
In the stands, where UNC President Andy Feinstein handed out “I Love UNC” stickers, the students were active, moving around to the upbeat music — including “Baby Shark.”
The kids responded loudly to the arena’s “6-7” cam at the end of the first quarter, with many of the students moving their hands up and down while celebrating the popular internet meme.
“It’s a very special event and it’s another link in the chain combining UNC, Greeley and the school district,” said John Kietzmann, UNC’s senior associate athletic director for external operations. “Everyone in Greeley should be a Bears fan, and it starts young having District 6 kids join us.”
Students enter the Bank of Colorado Arena during D6 Kids Day at the Northern Colorado Bears women's basketball game against Idaho at Bank of Colorado Arena on the campus of the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026. (Brice Tucker/Staff Photographer)Hence then, the article about greeley evans students take over arena for unc bears women s basketball was published today ( ) and is available on GreeleyTribune ( Saudi Arabia ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
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