This year, one of Boulder County's biggest wrestling tournaments is getting a new name.

Formerly known as the Boulder Valley Invitational, the area's premier early-season tourney will now be named after its founder -- Gary Daum -- and will be known henceforth as the "Gary Daum Classic." 

"Gary has been a longtime teacher and coach at Niwot High School and has meant so much to Niwot wrestling and the community at large over the past 30 plus years," current Niwot head coach Scott Sanchez said.

Daum was head wrestling coach at Niwot High from 1977 to 2005. He also coached football and softball, and founded the Niwot Youth Wrestling program in 1978.

At one point in its history, the Boulder
Valley Invitational, which used to rotate between Boulder County Schools, was in jeopardy of being canceled. But Daum kept it alive and the tournament has been at Niwot High ever since.

Still at Niwot, this year's tournament will be held on Jan. 12, 2013.

Daum died Sept. 24 after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. His son Garin Daum was Niwot's second individual state title, winning the state title at 119 pounds in 1993.