Congrats to Mariah Fletemeyer on winning our October 2025 UCHealth Player of the Month award!
Mariah is a goalkeeper for our Rapids 07/08G North ECNL-RL team, known for her determination, optimism, and love for the game. From the moment she fell in love with soccer, Mariah has shown quiet confidence and a relentless drive to compete at the highest levels. Mariah’s constant grit and courage make her a great nominee for Player of the Month.
Off the field, Mariah founded the Niwot Women’s Sports Collective (NWSC) after noticing the difference in attendance between women’s and men’s sports at her school. The club meets regularly to plan fundraisers, attend games, and support women’s teams and athletes at Niwot High School. She is also a member of the National Honor Society.
This November, Mariah will be presented with a plaque and a gift card to acknowledge her achievements. We met with Mariah to learn a bit more about her. Check out the full interview below!
What influence has soccer had in your life?
Over the course of my life, soccer has been so much more than just a game. It has taught me so many lessons, and I cannot attribute anything to my success more than this sport. First, it has given me a sense of purpose more than anything ever could. After a hard day at school, or when dealing with stress, I always know that as soon as my feet touch the pitch, none of that matters. The ability to have this escape, whether it’s working hard at practice, or competing in a game, Is an indescribable feeling. Along with this, soccer has also taught me a lot about hard work. I have begun to understand how important consistency, and repetition truly is. The small amounts of work that you put in everyday might not seem significant to start, but over the course of weeks, months, and even years, this hard work all adds up and you begin to see progress. Lastly, soccer has taught me a great deal about friendship, and connections. The effort that you put into creating a good team environment has life long effects on all of the players, including myself.
Why do you believe that you were nominated for this award?
I believe that my hard work, and my commitment to this sport, led me to be nominated.
(As well as my amazing family who nominated me!!)
What do you enjoy most about playing for Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club?
My favorite part about playing for the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer club are the ECNL tournaments that we are able to attend. Having the privilege to travel, explore new places, and being able to play for my club in another state is such a memorable experience, and is by far the most enjoyable part of playing for the Rapids.
What soccer accomplishment are you most proud of?
I am most proud of being the starting goalkeeper on my high school soccer team since my freshman year, and being named captain my junior year. Taking on these leadership positions has allowed me to become a well rounded person, and I really enjoy creating these special relationships with my teammates and coaches.
What academic achievement are you most proud of?
Academically, my biggest accomplishment has been my focus on my grades, and the amazing classes that I have been able to take because of that. This year, I am taking the brand new AP African American Studies course, and it has been beyond eye opening for me. I believe that taking hard classes has led me to have a more expansive view of the world, and also challenges me to manage multiple things at once.
How do you think your teammates would describe you?
I believe that my teammates would describe me as kind, chatty, positive, and committed. I really enjoy bringing a positive and lighthearted energy to the game, while also being able to channel that into intensity in high stakes moments, especially during games and practice. I always try lift up others, while also challenging my teammates so we can all succeed together.
What is something that shows your exemplary character, commitment to sportsmanship, community involvement, etc..?
During my Junior year of high school, I created a club called Niwot Women’s Sports Collective. (NWSC).
The goal of this club is to create a more supportive environment for the girls who play sports at my school, and create awareness for women’s sports overall in our community. While women’s sports is becoming more popular, It often gets put on the back burner when it comes to financial and physical support. (Such as people attending the games) The purpose of this club is to end the stigma of girls sports being secondary, and get people to support no matter their affiliation with the sport themselves.
What’s your favorite soccer player and team?
My favorite soccer player is Tim Howard, and my favorite teams are The Colorado Rapids, and the US Women’s National Team.
What do you hope to pursue in the near future?
In my future, I would like to play soccer in college, study politics, help my community in anyway that I can, and build new relationships. I am very interested in learning new things, and I definitely want to continue being curious after high school.
Who inspires you and why? This can be someone famous or someone you know personally!
My biggest inspiration throughout my career has been Tim Howard. (Former Colorado Rapids Goalkeeper.)
The reason he is my idol is because of his hard work, his talent, and his character. While he is one of the most amazing goalkeepers ever, and was incredibly skilled, he has such a humbleness to him that many famous athletes do not have. I appreciate the way he views the world, other people, and his overall respect for the people around him. I was fortunate enough to meet him in person, and I have never met a more kind person, and I definitely hope to continue emulating that as well.
What else do you enjoy outside of playing for CRYSC?
Some things I enjoy include reading, being in involved in my community, working out/going to the gym, spending quality time with the people I love, and watching soccer.
Since 2018, CRYSC and UCHealth + CU Orthopedics and Sports Medicine have worked together in an effort to grow the safety and health resources that are available for Rapids Youth players and members.
As our partnership strengthens with UCHealth, we want to work together to highlight the amazing players within the Colorado Rapids Youth Soccer Club with a monthly ‘Player of the Month’. Check out the criteria and nominate any players that deserve to be highlighted by UCHealth and CRYSC on the UCHealth Player of the Month page.
