Dominic Coleman

Growing Hometown Pride

Love of sport and community keeps this athlete at the top of his games.

When he was a little boy watching his older cousins compete in sports, Dominic Coleman dreamed of nothing more than one day donning the high school colors himself and bringing home wins for his community. The first part of that dream came true Dominic’s freshman year when he became a starter on four different varsity teams. The second part, however, took a little longer. When Dominic started playing, all of his teams had losing records from previous seasons, but he didn’t let that discourage him. Instead, it motivated him to work harder and, as captain, to inspire his teammates to do the same. The extra effort paid off as all four teams turned things around and have become contenders at the state level. “It was a great feeling of accomplishment because none of us liked losing, and as a team, we developed a winning culture,” Dominic says.

Whether he’s on the mound, calling plays in the huddle, sinking yet another three-pointer, or setting the pace on the track, the wins mean a great deal to Dominic personally. They are also one way he gives back to a community that he feels has done so much for him. But building local pride is just the beginning of the ways in which Dominic pays it forward. He gives his time on weekends and in the summer to coach and mentor younger student athletes. He volunteers at a variety of community events each year. He has been instrumental in the effort to make Camp Amache, a former Japanese internment camp located in his town, a national historic site. As a volunteer for the Amache Preservation Society, Dominic gave a tour of the site to Colorado Representative Ken Buck, one of four members of a congressional delegation responsible for introducing the Amache National Historic Act, which could put the site and the community officially and permanently on the map. “We are truly blessed to have Amache because it is such an important part of history. Amache is on its way to becoming a national historic site, and with that comes many, many more tourists,” Dominic says.

While Dominic has done much to serve his community, he isn’t done. His teams have come close, but they have yet to claim a state title. Dominic hopes to change that this year. He keeps his coach’s words of encouragement always at the forefront of his mind. And he keeps his head held high, even when things are tough or the numbers on the scoreboard are not in his favor. “I keep a positive attitude and work hard in the summer so that way, we can make it to the championship game. There are always better days ahead.”