The Niwot boys volleyball team came from behind to defeat Monarch 12-15, 15-6, 15-7 to capture the 2000 Colorado High School Boys Volleyball Association state championship  May 13 at Doherty High School in Colorado Springs.  After finishing the regular season with a 15-2 record, the team  placed second in its regional May 6 to secure the fifth seed in the eight-team final field.  Also making it to the finals were Longmont, Rocky Mountain, Regis, Smoky Hill, Monarch, Broomfield, and Arvada West.

Niwot defeated Broomfield in the quarterfinals and Regis in the semifinals to set up the championship match against second-seeded Mon-arch.  With the championship, the team finished the season with a record of 20-3.

Coach John Kohut attributed the team’s success at state to great team unity and the ability to attack other teams’ weaknesses.  Senior Chris Payne and sophomores Tim Maguire and Alex Gallegos were named to the all-state tournament team.  In addition, Kohut praised the steady play of junior setter Uriel Trujillo as a key to the team’s success.  Also contributing to the victory were sophomore starters Patrick Padden and Willie Trujillo.   Senior Dan Terpstra, junior Chris Browne, sophomores Brent DePuy, John Corbin, and Jeff Younkin, and freshman Josh Anfang provided strength off the bench for Niwot. 

It was a fun and exciting year for Niwot volleyball.  Among other things, the team  donned sombreros for Cinco de Mayo before the regional matches and all players and coaches bleached their hair before the state tournament.  Boys’ volleyball has now grown from six to 33 teams in the past few years and Kohut hopes to see the sport sanctioned by CHSAA in the near future.  "Volleyball is fast-paced and exciting for both the players and the crowd," he said. "It also helps develop jumping ability, footwork, and other skills that are useful in basketball and other sports."

Niwot celebrates after taking state volleyball title: Back row (L to R): Coach John Kohut, Alex Gallegos, Dan Terpstra, Chris Browne, Chris Payne, John Corbin, Tim Maguire, Uriel Trujillo. Front row (L to R): Assistant Coach Dave Rose, Jeff Younkin, Brent DePuy, Patrick Padden, Willie Trujillo.