Coaches’ Corner

BY BRUCE WARREN

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NHS Football

Niwot is 1-3 in the books and 2-2 on the field after the first four games. The Cougars won their first game against Adams City on the field, but had to forfeit due to use of an ineligible player under CHSAA rules.  The player in question, a sophomore, played only a few plays late in the game, but it was enough to cause the forfeit.  The player, who lives in Niwot, had enrolled and played football at Silver Creek last year as a freshman. This fall he is attending a small, private school in Boulder which does not have a football team.  Coaches believed he was eligible to play at Niwot because he has always lived in the school attendance area, but CHSAA rules require a half-season of ineligibility for any athlete who changes schools in a sport without a parental move into the new school’s attendance area.  As a result of his participation, the player now has to sit out 70 percent of the teams’s games before he is eligible.

The team followed the Adams City game with a victory over Skyline, but lost a close game to Greeley Central by a touchdown.  The Cougars played well, with Dillon Manzanares scoring on an 80-yard run on the first play from scrimmage. But a dropped pass in the end zone in the last minute followed by an interception ended their chances.

The following week saw Niwot come back from a 31-0 halftime deficit to Greeley West to make it a game, before losing 58-31.
“We’re staying healthy for the most part,” head coach Ron Tesone said. “Dillon Manzanares has been great. He has 650 yards after four games.”  In addition to his star running back, Tesone also singled out quarterback Nate Merriman, receiver Max McCaddon, and tight end Cahill Kelleghan on the offense for their exceptional play. “Elijah Noterman is only a sophomore, but he’s a special kid. He got his first touchdown.”

Tesone also noted that Tommy Dyer played very well in all aspects of the game. “He had an exceptional night last night,” Tesone said. “He had one or two picks, kicked a field goal and caught his first pass.”  One of the “picks” was a dual possession catch with Dyer defending on the play.  The officials gave the ball to Greeley West even though Dyer came up from the ground with the ball.

One player who has had injury problems is receiver and defensive back Nate Edwards, who will be out for a couple of games with a growth plate fracture in his wrist. Edwards played one game with a cast, but the pain and chance of further injury put him on the shelf.

Tesone also singled out the offensive line. “They’ve all contributed.  Kyle Howe was playing well, but he’s out for awhile with a knee injury.  Wyatt Wood, Nate Shipley, Akil Bhagat and Roman Sharp have all played well.  Sean Harrison has been rotating in, and Brandon Slepicka, who’s just a sophomore, has started to help.”

“Jake Sarosi has been an absolute force at fullback,” Tesone said. “He’s been solid on both sides of the ball. One of the biggest surprises has been sophomore Bryan Meek.  He’s turned out to be a great player at linebacker.”

Rick Faulkner and Nick Stager were others noted for their play on defense.  “Nick is getting back in game shape after coming back from an injury.  Sage Eckman has really done a nice job.”

Tesone also cited junior cornerback Kyle Conarro for contributing on defense.  “Bryan Hawthorne has been a nice surprise at safety,” Tesone said.  “Sophomore Jack Setter has been seeing some action at cornerback and safety, and Joey Lambert has been solid on special teams.”

The Cougars have two sophomores starting at defensive end in Damien O’Hare and Wyatt Sigafoos.  “When they get just a bit bigger, they will be a force,” Tesone said.

Jake Thramann, another sophomore, has been spelling Sarosi at fullback.  Backup quarterback Billy Drake is out with a concussion, leaving Sarosi next in line at QB if Merriman goes down.

“We’re really moving the ball,” Tesone said.  “We’ve got a lot of young guys seeing the field, including Sean Larson, Jacob Little and Grant Sherman on the defensive front.  We just need more depth.”

Tesone noted that assistant coach David Ross called the defensive signals for the homecoming game against Greeley Central.  Tesone’s brother Jim Tesone is in his first year as defensive coordinator, but had to miss the game due to his daughter’s wedding.  “They thought a Thursday night would be safe when they scheduled it,” Ron Tesone said, of the homecoming game/wedding night.

NHS Boys Soccer

Coach Rob Johnson’s squad is off to a 7-1-1 start, with the only loss coming to Centaurus.  “We’re 2-0 in cross-town games,” Johnson said, “and 2-1 in league. We got behind early to Centaurus. They scored two goals in the first 10 minutes.” 
“Josh Watt has been outstanding in goal,” Johnson said. Watt had to sit out the first part of the season because he played part of last season when he was ineligible due to a transfer.  Johnny Cooper filled in at goalkeeper for Watt before moving back to his normal position as starting right defender. “He did a great job for us.”

Johnson also noted that Taylor Payne and Quinton Pearson, a freshman, were very good center defenders.  “We have two freshmen starting,” Johnson said.  “Cau Xiong, who is a cousin of Tommy Xiong is the other one.”  Tommy was an outstanding player for the Cougars last season before graduating.

Luis Montealegre at center midfield was also cited by Johnson for outstanding play.  “Tommy Hoffman, a senior, is our goal scoring leader,” Johnson said. “We’re working hard.”  The Cougars hope to finish well and earn a good seed for the playoffs.

NHS Gymnastics

Coach Mallory Lang, now in her fourth season at Niwot, describes this as “more of a rebuilding year than in the past.”  But even with the loss of six seniors to graduation, the Cougars have won two meets this year, including a triangular meet with Fort Morgan and Lone Star (formerly Sterling) and a home dual match with Thompson Valley.

The team, which includes athletes from throughout the St. Vrain Valley School District, has been led by Niwot senior Ariel Mosier.  “She’s done really well on the beam and bars,” Lang said. “Allie Koldeway has been really good on the floor and vault.”  Koldeway is a sophomore at Niwot.

Niwot senior Rachel Hillen has also been doing very well, according to Lang.  “She’s one of the few who have been here all four years.”  In addition to the graduation losses, the Cougars also lost senior Debi Johnson for the season with a back injury. “We really miss her,” Lang said.  Johnson attends Silver Creek.  That leaves Niwot with 16 healthy athletes on the squad.

“The freshmen are doing really well, and will only get better as the years progress,” Lang said.  “We have a lot more freshmen this year.”  Gabby Casey of Niwot and Lexi Frank of Frederick High School have impressed Lang.  “It’s a brand new situation for them.  As they grow and get used to high school gymnastics, they’re going to get better and better.”

Assisting Lang this season are Katie Sherman, back for her third year, and Kerrie Munger, who teaches P.E. at Niwot.  Munger served as an assistant coach at Broomfield for 14 years before taking the last two years off.  Sherman is learning how to spot this year.  Lang, who is expecting her second child in January, is not able to spot as much as she did last year.  “I don’t want to put myself in a position where I’ll get hit,” Lang said.

NHS Volleyball

Coach Chris Koerner is pleased with his team’s efforts midway through the season.  “The team is coming together,” he said. “  It’s trusting whoever’s next to you more.”

“Becca Chavez is setting really well.  Katie Meek and Julia Teta are really playing well in the middle.”  Cori Kirschling, a freshman, swings up to varsity from the JV squad almost every game as she is the top backup at the middle hitter position.

Koerner also noted that outside hitters Tara Buck and Julia Vaiser were playing well.  He was also pleased with back row defensive specialists Mandy Newton and Jacqui Sigg.  “Jacqui plays libero, so she can go in for anybody,” Koerner said.   “Mandy goes in for Katie in the back row.   Renee Plomondon has also played well when she’s had the opportunity.  She’s our third outside hitter.”
“There’s a bunch of teams right in the middle of our conference,” Koerner said. “Our conference is probably the toughest conference in the state.  We’re 3-4 in the league and the top five (out of eight) from our conference make the playoffs.”

NHS Softball

First-year coach Bobby Matthews is looking forward to a strong finish to the regular season, and expects to make the playoffs.  With four games to go, the Cougars are 8-2 (11-4 overall) and in third place, with games against the top teams, Broomfield and Silver Creek, still ahead.  “We control our own destiny,” Matthews said.

Niwot has posted some impressive wins along the way, led by pitcher Nickie Blue, who has three no-hitters and an ERA under 1.00.  “She’s a phenomenal athlete,” Matthews said.  “She’s been a rock. And she’s the second fastest player on the team.”  Blue has been recovering from an injured non-pitching hand, but it hasn’t shown.  She leads the team with four homeruns and is hitting over .500.

Niwot beat fourth-place Thompson Valley, 1-0 with Blue striking out 15 batters.  “One girl tripled and she was the only runner who got to third base,” Matthews said.

Matthews also credits catcher Taylor Supino for some of Blue’s success.  “It’s been a nice transition from Liz Paterra,” Matthews said. Paterra caught for Niwot for three years before graduating last spring.

Raven Baca, defensively, has been solid for the Cougars at second base.  Baca committed her first two errors of the season in a loss to Mountain View in late September.  Matthews also cited Jordan Eutsler at shortstop for outstanding play. “She’s come up with some big his in crucial games.”

It’s somebody else stepping up every day,” Matthews said. “We’re playing as a team.  Tonight (Sept. 22) it was the 7, 8 and 9 hitters.”  Halie Artzer had a single for the first hit of the game and scored from first on a well-placed bunt by Baca, which the fielder threw into right field for an error.

“When we have had our hiccups, against Broomfield and Mountain View, it’s everybody,” Matthews said.  The Cougars outhit Mountain View, 10-4, but lost 6-5.  “We had four errors and they scored five out of their six runs with two outs.”  Until then, the Cougars had only eight errors for the entire season.

“Haley McPherson has been doing really well moving to the leadoff spot.  Rosie VandeHoef hits the ball hard all the time, but she’s just hitting it at people.”  VandeHoef is a transfer from Silver Creek, and is recovering from Guillain-Barré syndrome which put her out last season.

Freshman Jessica Johnson has started every game in rightfield and has settled into the two-hole in the lineup.  Johnson even picked up a win as a pitcher in a tournament game.

Mikalah Artzer has also pitched for the Cougars, winning a tournament game as well as a conference game against Greeley Central.

“We don’t score a lot of runs,” Matthews said, “but we don’t give up a lot of runs.”  The Cougars have been adept at playing small ball, and used a victory over Longmont to work on the bunting game.  Matthews was the head coach at Longmont last season.  “We haven’t reached our full potential yet.  I think the girls realize the conference is in our hands.  You could see the focus in practice.”

NHS Boys Golf

Niwot coach Al Backlund’s squad finished the season with a tough day at regionals, where the Cougars missed out on qualifying anyone for state.  “We had guys who did well at conference meets,” Backlund said.  “We should have had one or two qualify.” 
Senior Sean Guderian and freshman Luke Toillion each carded an 89 at the Broadland course in Broomfield, but it took an 83 to qualify for state.  “Sean was the most steady golfer we had all season,” Backlund said.  “Luke ended up being our number two player.”

Senior T.K. Coody, who qualified for state last year, shot a 94 at regionals.  “He had done pretty well all season,” Backlund said.  Junior Sam Toillion completed the scoring with a 96 at Regionals.

“It was a disappointment to me,” Backlund said.  “They had some bad holes.  Luke had 41 putts, and normally 30 would be a bad round. Sean knocked two balls into the water on one hole. They tried hard. It was not for lack of effort.”

Sophomore Mike Tuttle also earned a varsity letter this year and will give the Cougars three returning varsity players next year.

NHS Boys Tennis

Coach Miikka Keronen is looking toward regionals as the end of the regular season nears. “We’re healthy, except for Spencer Lang, our number three singles,” Keronen said.  Lang is recovering from a thumb injury.  “We should have everybody for the regionals.”

Harrison Lang at No. 1 singles is undefeated so far.  The same is true for No. 2 singles player Michael Ogez.  Both won state titles at the same position in Class 4A last season.  Spencer Lang at No. 3 singles is also undefeated.

“Our number one doubles, Connor Mulshine and Matt Londa, is also undefeated except for a loss to Colorado Academy,” Keronen said.  The Cougars have had a few players miss matches due to injury or college visits.  Mulshine and Londa moved up to play No. 2 and No. 3 singles against Thompson Valley when the Lang brothers were out.  Ogez moved up to No. 1 singles and all three won their singles matches.

Sophomore Alex Pedraza has filled in when called upon.  “He’s our number 12 player,” Keronen said. Michael DeMatteo also filled in at varsity No. 2 singles in a loss to Colorado Academy.  Pedraza and DeMatteo teamed up at No. 1 doubles against Thompson Valley, but lost a tough match, 6-4, 6-4.

As for state, Cheyenne Mountain appears to be the team to beat.  Niwot lost a dual match to them, 4-3, with Niwot winning at singles and losing at doubles.  “We were missing Matt Londa that day,” Keronen said.  “Everybody is peaking at the right time.  It should be very interesting.  We should be able to finish in the top three.”

NHS Cross Country

Coach Doug Duffy is excited about the recent efforts of both the boys and girls squads.  “The boys won the Broomfield Invite,” Duffy said.  “Nick Harris and William Zimmerman finished one-two, and all of our scorers were in the top 15.”  Austin Schuler (11), David Schahrer (13) and Jacob Fisk (14) completed the Niwot scoring.

Kevin Bueno, Ryan Faulkner and Scott Everett all ran 18:30 or better as well.  “I think we can be a top five team at state,” Duffy said.

On the girls side, the Cougars finished sixth out of 12 teams at the Broomfield meet, but were only two points behind Evergreen, which is ranked second in Class 4A. The meet also included several 5A teams.

“We had two girls dinged up and one girl running out of state, so I was pleased with the results,” Duffy said.  Rachel Sharpe was the top Cougar runner, finishing 13th overall. Haley Dennerline (16), Madi Dolifka (33) Megan Tatusko (34) and Amber Liu (37) completed the scoring.  When the girls squad was at full strength a week earlier, they won the RE1J meet.