GILPIN COUNTY - It was a bright and lively morning at Pete Gones Memorial Park in mid-Gilpin on Saturday, October 4, 2025, as families filled the sidelines and kids in colorful jerseys took to the field for the last round of Peak to Peak Soccer games for the year.

Three games were played simultaneously on fields of varying sizes according to age. 

The event included players from three local districts—Nederland,  Clear Creek, and Gilpin—for a day of games marking the final round of their fall season.

The park was brimming with activity across multiple age divisions, from tiny cleats chasing the ball to middle schoolers showcasing more advanced skills. 

Coaches and parents said the day wasn’t about trophies or standings: it was about giving every child a chance to get in the game. “We technically don’t keep score, you know, it’s that kind of league,” League Director Susan Hall said. “It’s just for fun, to play.”

The league keeps a focus on recreation and community. “We’re all about having fun, learning the game, becoming a team,” added Hall. And fun was had, by children of all ages, engaged in the spirit of the sport. 

110 kids, nine teams, three districts

Hall said that this fall’s season included about 110 kids across nine teams. “We have, yeah, 110 kids. We have nine teams. Everything from 7 and under, 9 and under, 11 and under, and 14.”

All three participating recreation departments—Peak to Peak Endurance in Nederland, the Gilpin County Recreation Department, and the Clear Creek Recreation Department—help organize local teams under the same umbrella.

Hall explained how to find out more information: “Go to Peak to Peak Endurance.com for the Nederland area, Gilpin County Rec Department for Gilpin, and Clear Creek Recreation Department for the Clear Creek.”

And anyone can join. “It’s a totally separate, recreational league, not related to any of the schools,” she said.

Soccer season

The league’s schedule follows the school calendar, giving kids a chance to ease into the season as classes begin. “We start practices the first week of school,” Hall said. “We have practices throughout the week, after school at the Nederland Elementary, and then our big kids’ middle school team play at the Middle School High School.”

When asked what days practice occurs, she replied “It depends on the team, it depends on the coach availability. Kind of changes each year.”

The season runs roughly eight weeks, from August to October. Registration opens early summer. “Registration opens June first, goes through the end of July,” Hall noted.

For families thinking ahead to next season, the message was simple: show up ready to play and have fun.

As players wrapped up their final matches, proud parents and family members clapped from the sidelines, celebrating a season built on teamwork, community, and the joy of soccer.

For more information, visit https://www.peaktopeakendurance.com/soccer.