All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Niwot High School senior Braden Saunders has always felt at home in the water. From the time he was five years old, slipping and sliding across his backyard on store-bought splash mats, he knew swimming was something he loved. The early connection blossomed into a full high school career with the Silver Creek boys swim and dive team, a district program made up of athletes from Silver Creek, Niwot, Erie, Dawson, and Frederick High Schools. But it was not until his final season that Saunders...
Mike Moat was not supposed to go to Niwot High School. He spent his younger years in Gunbarrel on the Boulder Valley School District side of the line. His older sister Christine had gone to Boulder High School. After his parents divorced, his father still lived in Gunbarrel, but his mother moved to Niwot. Their son spent alternate weeks with each parent. Although his home in Gunbarrel was targeted for Boulder or Fairview High School, he ended up a Cougar because of a neighborly favor, one that...
On Wednesday, May 7, Niwot High School celebrated 30 student-athletes at its Spring Signing Day ceremony. Held in the Commons during lunch, the event honored seniors who signed National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic and academic journeys at the collegiate level. With teammates, coaches, classmates, and loved ones in attendance, the signees celebrated their accomplishments and their future ahead. "This is the largest class of signees in my six years at Niwot," said Athletic...
With swimmers and divers from five different schools joining forces, the Silver Creek boys swim and dive team put together a solid performance at the Class 4A State Championships, finishing sixth overall at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in Thornton. Held May 7-10, the state meet saw the district team, which includes athletes from Silver Creek, Niwot, Erie, Dawson, and Frederick, scored 211 points, just two behind Cheyenne Mountain High School. Monarch High School took home the state title with 409.5 points. Silver Creek’s performance w...
With a district-wide roster and plenty of postseason firepower, the Mead High School girls lacrosse team has earned its place among the final four in the Class 4A state tournament. After receiving a first-round bye as the No. 4 seed, the Mavericks opened their playoff run at home with a dominant 20-2 win over No. 13 Telluride High School on Thursday, May 8. In front of the home crowd, Mead made it clear early on that the Mavericks meant business, scoring 10 goals in the first half and another...
Niwot High School’s boys volleyball team capped off a memorable season with a trip to the Class 5A State Tournament, where they competed in a round-robin play-in format at Trojan Arena in Fountain. Entering the tournament as the No. 8 seed, the Cougars faced top-seeded Littleton Public Schools. Niwot held its own in two of the three sets, but ultimately dropped the match in straight sets, 25-23, 25-13, 25-13. Littleton Public Schools would go on reach the championship match before falling to Eaglecrest High School, 3-1. The following day, N...
The Niwot High School Cougars had a solid showing at the St. Vrain HOKA Invitational on Friday, May 9, held at Everly-Montgomery Field in Longmont. Senior Reese Kasper led the way for the girls, taking first place in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 13.99 seconds, finishing half a second ahead of the second-place runner. Kasper earned second place in the 400-meter dash, running 54.38 seconds. Kasper’s time in the 400-meter, along with that of the first place finisher Kiana Cumings from Windsor High School (53.89), broke both the meet r...
Senior Kate Schmidthuber has made a name for herself on the track, not just for her individual achievements, but also for the way she thrives as part of a team. As a key member of the Niwot High School track and field team, she helped lead the 4x200-meter relay to a 2024 state championship and earned All-State and All-Conference honors along the way. Now, as her senior year winds down, Schmidthuber is focused on finishing strong and reaching new personal records. Schmidthuber first started...
The Niwot High School track and field teams swept the Granite Peaks Conference Championships this past weekend, May 2 and 3. Both the boys and girls teams took first place with dominant performances across the board. Longmont and Erie High Schools followed in second and third place, but the Cougars were clearly in a league of their own. Friday, May 2, consisted mostly of preliminary runs, but some events held finals. On the girls side, senior Jade West continued to impress by winning the discus...
The Niwot girls soccer team closed out its 2025 season with a mix of celebration and reflection, capped off by a 3-0 home loss to Mead High School on Thursday, May 1. Although the result was not what the Cougars hoped for on Senior Night, the evening was a meaningful send-off for five dedicated seniors. Just two days earlier, Niwot secured its most decisive victory in weeks with a 3-1 road win over Frederick High School. Sophomore Diya Mehta led the charge with two goals, while freshman Tori...
Senior Keegan Geldean has made the most of his time at Niwot High School, both on the cross-country trails and on the track. From helping his team win the Nike Cross Nationals to dominating the 1600-meter and 3200-meter this spring, Geldean has proven to be an athlete who thrives on both competition and camaraderie. This past fall, he was part of the Niwot boys cross country team that won the Nike Cross Nationals in Oregon, an experience that left a lasting impression on him. "Winning was an...
Needing a bounce-back week, the Niwot girls soccer team showed flashes of strong play but could not find the results they sought. On Tuesday, April 22, Niwot traveled to Holy Family High School and battled hard in a tight 2-1 loss. After a scoreless first half, the Cougars broke through in the 43rd minute when sophomore Diya Mehta found the back of the net off a clean assist from sophomore Hannah Wurth. The Tigers answered back quickly, tying the match with 30 minutes left and later scored the...
As the season starts winding toward its homestretch, Niwot track and field is hitting its stride. At the Stutler Bowl on Friday, April 25, Niwot's boys and girls were all over the leaderboard. On the boys side, senior Weston Domich came away with a win in the long jump, hitting a mark of 22 feet, 8.75 inches, while also placing 14th in the 200-meter dash with a time of 22.69. On the distance side, the Cougars kept rolling. Junior Rocco Culpepper led a pack of Niwot runners in the 800-meter, fini...
For Niwot High School senior Ayla Schatz, this golf season has been one to enjoy. "It's more fun this year and a lot less stressful," Schatz said. "It's felt very calm." Schatz has been a part of the girls golf program since her freshman year, but she has been swinging a club for much longer. She started playing when she was about 11 or 12 years old, encouraged by her dad to give it a try. "My dad was the reason I got started," she said. "He really wanted me to play." Over the years, golf...
The Left Hand Valley Courier has featured each of the nine Niwot High School students who signed National Letters of Intent on the Nov. 13, 2024 fall signing day to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. From soccer to track and field, these athletes represent a diverse array of sports and dreams fulfilled. This is the final profile in the fall series. Eliana Henriques has been around track and field for as long as she can remember. With her dad, Maurice "Coach...
The score lines were not pretty, but Niwot soccer stayed spirited through a challenging two-game week at home. On Tuesday, April 15, the Cougars hosted Fairview High School and were handed a tough 7-0 loss. The Knights struck early, breaking through in the 13th minute and adding two more goals before halftime to take a 3-0 lead. Fairview did not let up in the second half, tacking on goals in the 56th, 59th, 66th, and 75th minutes. Two days later, the Cougars returned to the pitch for their...
Niwot High track and field had a strong showing at the Centaurus Twilight meet on Thursday, April 17. Despite the cancellation of the Dakota Ridge Invitational due to weather on Saturday, April 19, the Cougars made sure they got their racing in. For the boys at Centaurus, it was clear that depth is one of Niwot's biggest strengths. In the 400-meter dash, senior Weston Domich placed third with a time of 50.93, just ahead of junior Townes Bernstein in fourth and sophomore Quinn Sullivan in fifth....
Niwot High School senior Marcus Vock has been playing lacrosse since he was 11, when his mother signed him up "just to give it a try." Now, it is a big part of his life. He is a co-captain on Erie High School's St. Vrain Valley district team, along with Braylon Englehart, Luke Foley, and Cooper Riley. Vock was named second team all-conference last season. This year, he is looking to take things a step further. "I want to be nominated as All-Conference," Vock said. "And as a team, I want us to...
It was a busy weekend for Niwot High School's track and field team, with athletes split between two meets in two different states. While a handful of runners headed west for one of the biggest meets in the country at Arcadia High School in California, most of the team stayed close to home and dominated the Boulder County Championships at Longmont High School. At the Boulder County Championships, the Cougars proved once again why theirs is one of the top programs around. Both the boys and girls...
After a tough loss earlier in the week, the Niwot High girls soccer team bounced back in a big victory Thursday night, April 10, delivering a gritty 2-1 win over rival Silver Creek High School and ending the Raptors' eight-year win streak in the matchup. It was a high-intensity contest from the opening whistle, and the Cougars found success in the first half from sophomore Ava Inguagiato, who buried a first-half goal to put Niwot on the board. Silver Creek tried to take the upper hand heading...
The Denver Broncos Foundation is giving Niwot High School (NHS) football players a major equipment upgrade this year, at no cost to the school or families. As part of a groundbreaking initiative called "All In, All Covered," the Broncos Foundation is donating 15,516 top-of-the-line Riddell Axiom helmets to high school football programs across Colorado over the next four years. As of Tuesday, April 1, the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) schools will be participating in this $12 million...
As the starting goalkeeper and captain for Niwot High School girls varsity soccer, junior Mariah Fletemeyer approaches each game with a focus on precision, consistency, and constant improvement. "My mindset as a captain is just to keep learning," Fletemeyer said. "I know my team and my coaches always have my back, so I just want to always be adapting to help my team be successful." That mindset has already paid off. Last season as a sophomore, Fletemeyer tallied 93 saves and allowed just 19 goal...
The Niwot High School girls soccer team put together a solid week, picking up two road wins before falling in a close match at home against a top-ranked opponent. The Cougars kicked things off Tuesday, April 1, with a 2-0 victory at Severance High School. Senior Tori Villavicencio scored her first goal of the season, and freshman Sonya Holmes added another goal and an assist. Sophomore Liz Robbins chipped in with an assist as well. In net, sophomore Larkyn Young and junior Mariah Fletemeyer...
Several of Niwot High School's top track and field athletes took to Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, over the weekend to compete in one of the nation's premier high school meets. The Oregon Relays, held Friday and Saturday, April 4-5, brought together elite competition from across the country, and the Cougars delivered strong performances across the board. Sophomore Quinn Sullivan made his name known on the national stage. He placed third in the 1500-meter with a time of 3:55.02, which ranks...
Senior Samantha Zacky has spent the past four years making her mark on Niwot High School's tennis program. A dedicated doubles player, she has built a strong partnership with her teammate Anne Haley and has cherished every match they have played together. She thrives in the strategy of doubles play and the energy of team competition, but what she values most is the support that comes with it. "I always have so much fun every game, no matter the outcome," Zacky said. "That's what I love most...
The Third Annual Niwot Invitational took place on Saturday, March 29, at the Art Stapp Sports Complex at Niwot High School, bringing together some of the top track and field talent in the state. Before the rain rolled in, the day featured warm sunshine, great competition, and even a few shattered meet records. Though a lightning delay cut the meet short, plenty of standout performances made their mark. For Niwot Head Coach Maurice "Mo" Henriques, hosting this event is the fulfillment of a...
The Cougar girls soccer team had a rough home opener against Erie High School on Thursday, March 27, but bounced back two days later with a dramatic last-second win over Steamboat Springs High School. These results bring Niwot High School to a 1-2-1 season record. Against the Erie Tigers, Niwot struggled to find its rhythm as the Tigers controlled the game from the start. Erie wasted no time getting on the board, scoring just 10 minutes into the match. Despite Niwot's efforts to regroup, the...
Keynes Chen, Niwot High School's orchestra and mariachi director, has been named Niwot High School's Teacher of the Year by the St. Vrain Valley Schools Education Foundation. His recognition comes as no surprise to those familiar with the remarkable growth and success of the school's music program under his leadership. Since starting at NHS in January 2019, Chen has built the school's orchestral music programs into something extraordinary. What began as a small program has grown into three...
Drew Stapp is the definition of a two-sport athlete. A senior leader for Niwot High School's baseball team and a top golfer, he has been making his mark on both fields of play. With a career .291 batting average and .344 on-base percentage, Stapp has been a reliable presence at the plate this season, hitting .312 through the first six games. This past weekend, Cougar baseball traveled to Queen Creek, Arizona, for a tournament, where Stapp went a perfect 3-for-3 in the opener on March 20 and...
The Niwot High School track and field team braved another windy spring day on Saturday, March 22 at the Broomfield Shootout. The girls team placed second overall, behind only host Broomfield High School, while the Niwot boys tied for 20th with Air Academy High School. Senior Reese Kasper continued to prove she is a top hurdler in the state, winning the 300-meter hurdles in 43.05 and taking third in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 14.81. Kasper was not the only Cougar bringing home...
After leading Niwot High School's girls soccer team in goals last season, junior forward Heather Humphrey does not plan on slowing down. "I really enjoy the competitive and cutthroat environment of the game, along with the intensity and teamwork," Humphrey said. "Playing striker allows me to be the most creative and aggressive, which drives me to be a better player. Scoring for my team is an unmatched feeling." That drive has fueled her success, something Niwot Head Coach Stephen Dimit has seen...
Niwot High School's girls golf team hit the ground swinging this week. With a young team, the Cougars faced their first test of the season, competing in two tournaments and gaining valuable experience as a team. The week started on Monday, March 10, with the MeadMont Scramble at the Twin Peaks Golf Course. Junior Emmy Hostelley, freshman Sonya Homes, and sophomores Wendy Cheruiyot and Adison Murphy got some early-season reps. However, the real test was Saturday's Chilly Chili Invitational at...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is featuring each of the nine Niwot High School students who signed National Letters of Intent on the Nov. 13 fall signing day to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. From soccer to track and field, these athletes represent a diverse array of sports and dreams fulfilled. For Reese Kasper, track and field was never the original plan, but competing in a Division I level sport was. Growing up as a gymnast, she dedicated years to the...
The Niwot High School girls swim and dive team wrapped up a successful season with a ninth-place finish at the 4A state championships and multiple individual honors. Led by senior Izzy Fay, the team put in hard work all season, improving meet after meet and finishing strong. Fay capped off her high school career in the best way possible, winning the 4A state diving championship and earning CHSAA's 4A Diver of the Year award. "It's a recognition of my dedication and commitment to the sport," Fay...
The defending 4A state champion Erie High School lacrosse team opened its season with a hard-fought 11-9 victory over Boulder High School on Thursday, March 6. The St. Vrain Valley School District team combined team, which pulls athletes from several nearby schools, saw key contributions from Niwot High School players. Senior Tyler Chivukula scored twice, while senior Marcus Vock added a goal and three assists. Sophomore Drake Chivukula finished with a goal and an assist. The Tigers are coming off their first-ever state title after winning the...
The Niwot High School girls soccer team's season is officially underway, though the first game did not go their way. The Cougars opened on the road against Mountain Range High School on Tuesday, March 4, falling 2-1 in a nonconference matchup. Head coach Stephen Dimit believes the team's response in the days following was just as important as the result itself. Sophomore Diya Mehta scored Niwot's lone goal, while goalkeepers Mariah Fletemeyer and Larkyn Young split time in the net. With club...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is featuring each of the nine Niwot High School students who signed National Letters of Intent on the Nov. 13 fall signing day to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. From soccer to track and field, these athletes represent a diverse array of sports and dreams fulfilled. Anne Haley's journey in volleyball began at a young age, influenced by her mother's love for the sport. From the early days of recreational volleyball to becoming a f...
As the Niwot High School girls soccer team gears up for a new season, head coach Stephen Dimit is optimistic about the squad's potential. With strong returning players, a deep talent pool, and a competitive schedule ahead, the Cougars are looking to build on last year's foundation and make an impact in their league. Among the key veterans are senior Greta Stauch, juniors Mariah Fletemeyer, Heather Humphrey, and Brynn Schlarb, and sophomores Mirjam Bos, Ashley Grier, Ava Inguagiato, and Hannah...
As the Niwot High School girls golf team enters its tenth season, the Cougars are preparing for an exciting spring. Head Coach Ed Weaver is back at the helm following an eventful boys golf season, and he will be joined once again by assistant coaches Chad Richert and Byron Rudisill. Rudisill is rejoining the staff after taking last spring season off following the birth of his second child. Leading the team this season is sophomore Wendy Cheruiyot, who had an impressive freshman campaign....
The Cougar unified basketball team took part in an exciting end-of-season tournament on Saturday, Feb. 22, at Skyline High School. Teams from Erie, Silver Creek, Mead, Longmont, Skyline, Frederick, and Niwot high schools came together for a morning of basketball and community. Niwot's first game of the day was against the Mead Mavericks. Junior Jack Frailey, sophomore Dallin Easton, and sophomore Te Esquibel-Davis all contributed to giving the Cougars an early 16-12 lead. Freshman Sawyer Gall sh...
Colorado House Bill 1169, known as “Housing Developments on Faith and Educational Land,” was introduced on Feb. 4, 2025, to the Colorado General Assembly by 14 Democrats as sponsors. It aims to make it easier to build housing on land owned by religious institutions, school districts, and state colleges or universities. The sponsors say the bill is part of an effort to address Colorado’s growing housing affordability crisis by allowing residential development on these properties, even if current zoning laws would not normally permit it. If pa...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is featuring each of the nine Niwot High School students who signed National Letters of Intent on the Nov. 13 fall signing day to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. From soccer to track and field, these athletes represent a diverse array of sports and dreams fulfilled. Elizabeth "Izzy" Fay has made a big splash in Niwot High School athletics. The standout diver, who signed with California State University, Bakersfield, has made wave...
The Niwot High School girls basketball team experienced a mixed week, falling 53-15 to Legacy High School on Feb. 4 before bouncing back with a 56-47 Senior Night home victory over Silver Creek High School on Feb. 7. Heading into their matchup against the Legacy Lightning, the Cougars held a 9-9 record, while Legacy stood at 10-7. Despite the close records, the game quickly turned lopsided as the Cougars struggled offensively. Niwot shot just 17% from the field and hit only one three-pointer...
In a thrilling showdown on Tuesday, Feb. 4, the Niwot High School unified basketball team faced off against the Erie High School Tigers in an energetic back-and-forth contest. Despite a hard-fought effort, the Cougars narrowly fell to the Tigers, 64-62, in a game that kept fans on the edge of their seats until the final buzzer. The Tigers won the opening tipoff, but it was Niwot sophomore Dallin Easton who put the first points on the board, giving the Cougars an early 2-0 lead. Junior Emmett...
The St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD) has once again achieved the highest graduation rate among large metro-area districts in Colorado, reaching an impressive 94.3% for the 2023-2024 school year. This milestone reflects the district's longstanding commitment to providing high-quality education and comprehensive support systems that keep students engaged and on track for graduation. Superintendent Don Haddad attributes this success to a combination of early childhood education, rigorous...
Niwot High School's unified basketball team traveled to face off against the Frederick High School Eagles on Tuesday, Jan. 28. Despite a determined effort by the Cougars, Frederick secured the win with a final score of 77-73. The game began with freshman Isaiah Richart winning the tipoff for Niwot, setting the tone for an energetic contest. Freshman Sawyer Gall put the Cougars on the board first, but the Eagles responded quickly to tie the game. Senior Jake Hostelley followed up with a basket...
The Left Hand Valley Courier is featuring each of the nine Niwot High School students who signed National Letters of Intent on the Nov. 13 fall signing day to continue their academic and athletic careers at the collegiate level. From soccer to track and field, these athletes represent a diverse array of sports and dreams fulfilled. From a young age, track and field was a natural part of Jade West's life. Her father, La'Mar West, was a former thrower for Niwot High School and later returned as a...
For the second consecutive year, Niwot High School’s Addison Ritzenhein has been named the Gatorade Colorado Girls Cross Country Player of the Year. The announcement, made by Gatorade on Jan. 16, highlighted the junior’s exceptional accomplishments both on and off the course, cementing her status as one of the nation’s premier high school athletes. “It feels very honorable and exciting,” Ritzenhein said. “I’m very grateful to have received this two years in a row and couldn’t thank my coache...
The Cougar boys basketball team faced a challenging week with two tough losses in conference play, falling to both Centaurus High School and Mead High School in home matchups. Niwot struggled offensively in a 55-22 loss to the Centaurus Warriors on Tuesday, Jan. 21. The Warriors' balanced scoring and suffocating defense kept the Cougars at bay throughout the game, with Centaurus outsourcing Niwot in all four quarters. After a competitive first quarter, the Cougars trailed by just one point,...
Niwot High School's unified basketball team dominated in its second home game against the Mead High School Mavericks on Friday, Jan. 24. In front of an enthusiastic crowd, the Cougars sealed a 56-44 victory, making them 2-0 on the season. The game started in a back-and-forth fashion before Niwot found a rhythm with multiple players finding the basket. Right before the halftime buzzer, senior Jake Hostelley scored, leaving the Cougars with the lead, 22-20. Coming out of the break, Niwot extended...
