In Memory of Anthony Boettcher - Former Evergreen Hurricanes Coach

Welcome to the first annual Anthony Boettcher Memorial invite.  We are so thrilled to have you all.  Before we kick off, I’m going to say a few words about the man we are here to honor. 

Anthony Boettcher was a revered member and pillar of the Colorado Swimming community for over 50 years, who  passed away far too soon in the spring of 2023.  

Among the many swimming related accolades we’ll honor today, Anthony will be remembered for his sense of humor, dedication to his athletes, his integrity and perseverance, and generous personality.

Anthonys engagement with CSI spanned from being an athlete, to summer club coach, high school coach, USA Swimming Coach, and a college coach. He was a dedicated volunteer who maintained a presence in CSI governance throughout his long career. 

He was a dedicated volunteer, advocate, and champion for swimmers across the state. He both attended and served as the Team Colorado Head Coach at the Western Zone and All Star meets a total of 12 times throughout his career, a prestigious honor and opportunity to volunteer supporting and developing Colorado’s most elite age group athletes.

In 1998 and again in 2003, USA Swimming gave Boettcher it’s Phillips 66 Outstanding Service Award for his role as a volunteer.

For his success and dedication to Colorado Swimming, Boettcher won CSI Age Group Coach of the year in 1998, 2003 and 2005.

Anthony was also a dedicated high school coach. His high school boys won 58 straight dual meets from 1995 through 2003, winning 9-of-11 Jefferson County titles in the process, and finished in the top three at the Boys 4A state meet numerous times. Many of Anthony’s athletes achieved all-conference, all-state and All-American status. He retired as the winningest coach in the history of Jefferson County men’s swimming, and was awarded CHSAA coach of the Year in 2000 and 2002. In addition, Boettcher won the Jefferson County High School Swim Coach of the Year 10 times, and the Jeffco League honored him with their 2001 Boy’s Coach of the Year Award for all sports.

Most notably for this crowd, Anthony coached the Evergreen Hurricanes from 1990 to 2005. 

As the head coach for the Evergreen swim team, Boettcher built what was known as a small-town powerhouse, posting consistent top 10 finishes at the Colorado State Junior Olympics. His athletes there won over 60 individual state titles, five relay titles, and set numerous state records. Athletes from the hi Evergreen Swim Team have competed at Zones, Sectionals, Junior and Senior Nationals, and Olympic Trials, with 20-plus athletes going on to compete at NCAA Division I schools.

One of Anthony’s most successful swimmers still holds among some of the oldest records on our current team record board.  Swimming for Anthony beginning at age 9 until just after high school graduation, where he went on to compete on a Division 1 scholarship at the University of Arizona, was Nate Rothman – who we are honored to have here as our Age Group Coach, continuing Anthony’s legacy of excellence in the sport and commitment to swimming here in Evergreen and beyond. 

After his time at Evergreen, Anthony went on to coach at the collegiate level for the United States Air Force Academy. Tomorrow several of his swimmers will be in attendance to say a few words related to his impact and legacy. 

In attendance here today we have several of Anthony’s family members including Anthony’s sister Theresa and her husband Charlie, their son Tom and his wife Annie and 3 children, and their daughter Katie and her 5 children. Anthony was loved by so many and we are grateful to feel that community deeply here today. 

Thank you for joining us – now let’s have fun swimming fast and cheering loud!