Spotlight: Frontier Academy

We are thrilled to spotlight the incredible journey of the Frontier Academy Varsity Girls’ Basketball team from Colorado, led by their inspiring coach, Kim Fornall.

Coach Kim’s first year with Frontier Academy was nothing short of transformative. With over 20 years of coaching experience, mostly with club teams, this was her inaugural year as the head coach of a high school varsity team. She inherited a team with no seniors, only two juniors, and a history of unreliable leadership. Determined to change the culture, Coach Kim worked tirelessly with her two juniors, Macee (2024 Green 13 Winner) and Loryn, meeting weekly from summer through the season.

The duo expressed frustrations from past years, highlighting a lack of dependable leadership and an inconsistent team culture that lacked unity. Under Coach Kim’s guidance and the implementation of Lead ‘Em Up exercises, everything began to change. They had 12 Saturday meetings, accumulating 24 hours of leadership and culture building, and completing 24 exercises as a team!

Macee & Loryn: Beacons of Leadership

“My favorite exercise was the Toiletry Bag. I was able to dig deeper into my leadership and see areas that I need to improve myself as well as understand what my teammates thought they needed to work on as well. The call and response aspect of the activity also allowed us to give feedback, positive or constructive, so that our teammates could either, see that what they’re worrying about is not a team-spread perspective, or see that they may be oblivious to some aspects that will improve their confidence and leadership, but will also improve the team dynamic and community.” -Macee

“Lead ‘Em Up had an immeasurable impact. Our weekly meetings and lessons helped us grow and work together, translating into better on-court performance. Especially toward the end of the season. Even though our record didn’t represent our effort and heart, we were able to learn and grow and move on, as a team because of how Lead Em’ Up connected us. I think right now we are in such a great place because we are going to be using this program again next year, which will only build our culture, and take the team to bigger and better things. Even though I won’t be able to see the full impact that Lead Em’ Up will have on future teams (since I am an ingoing senior), I know that this team is going to go places because of the trust that was instilled in each other through Lead Em’ Up.”  -Loryn

Achievements & Impact

The team’s dedication and commitment paid off. They became the talk of the school, with teachers and staff praising their transformation. They wrote heartfelt thank you cards for every game, which made a significant impact. One official even shared how receiving a card made him cry, highlighting the deep character and empathy these young women displayed.

This season marked the beginning of a cultural shift at Frontier Academy, with Macee and Loryn leading the charge. They are determined to make the team a program that everyone wants to be a part of, fostering a sense of pride and unity. The journey they’ve started promises a bright future for Frontier Academy Girls’ Basketball.

Join us in celebrating the incredible progress and leadership of Coach Kim Fornall, Macee, Loryn, and the entire Frontier Academy Varsity Girls’ Basketball team. Their story is a testament to the power of dedication, leadership, and the transformative impact of Lead ‘Em Up.