Greeley-Evans students take over arena for UNC Bears women's basketball

District 6 students fill the stands for annual Kids Day game against Idaho

Jan. 30, 2026 at 4:07pm

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Over 2,600 students from Greeley-Evans School District 6 attended the UNC Bears women's basketball game against Idaho on Thursday, creating a lively and energetic atmosphere at the Bank of Colorado Arena. The annual Kids Day event has been running for about a decade, giving local students a chance to experience a college basketball game and support the hometown team.

Why it matters

The partnership between UNC and District 6 helps introduce younger students to the university in their own community, fostering school spirit and potentially inspiring them to attend UNC in the future. The large student turnout also provides a significant boost in attendance and energy for the UNC women's basketball team, which is having a strong season.

The details

The District 6 students, ranging from 3rd to 8th grade, represented 13 different schools. They filled the arena on all four sides, leading to a total attendance of 2,810 - the largest home crowd of the season for the UNC women's team. The students were active and energetic throughout, cheering loudly, dancing to the music, and even wearing mascot costumes from their own schools.

  • The game took place on Thursday, January 29, 2026 with a noon tip-off.
  • The annual Kids Day event has been running for about 10 years, according to UNC officials.

The players

UNC Bears women's basketball team

The home team that hosted the District 6 students for the game against Idaho.

Greeley-Evans School District 6

The local school district that partnered with UNC to bring over 2,600 of its students to the game as part of the annual Kids Day event.

David Sabolchik

A former UNC Athletic Department administrator who started the Kids Day event around 10 years ago, reaching out to District 6 to get local students involved in supporting the college team.

Sean Scribbick

The director of district athletics and activities for Greeley-Evans School District 6.

Maria Escobar

A Spanish teacher at Brentwood Middle School, one of the 13 District 6 schools that participated in the event.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's cool for them. 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.”

— Maria Escobar, Spanish teacher, Brentwood Middle School (fortmorgantimes.com)

“It's a very special event and it's another link in the chain combining UNC, Greeley and the school district. Everyone in Greeley should be a Bears fan, and it starts young having District 6 kids join us.”

— John Kietzmann, Senior associate athletic director for external operations, UNC (fortmorgantimes.com)

What’s next

UNC and District 6 plan to continue the annual Kids Day event, providing local students the opportunity to experience a college basketball game and support the hometown team.

The takeaway

The partnership between UNC and Greeley-Evans School District 6 demonstrates the value of connecting younger students with their local university, fostering school spirit and potentially inspiring them to pursue higher education. The enthusiastic turnout and energy from the District 6 students also highlights the importance of community engagement for college athletic programs.