All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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A purple haze of funk and nostalgia swept through Whistle Stop Park on Thursday, June 19, as Prince tribute band Paizley Park made its Rock & Rails debut, following an opening set from Colorado favorite Wendy Woo, performing with longtime collaborator Gilly Mack. Woo and Mack kicked off the evening at 5 p.m. with their signature guitar-driven mix of jazz, blues, and power-pop. Woo, a five-time Westword Music Award winner, has long been a crowd favorite across the Front Range, and the chemistry...
Dancing Under the Stars launched its 2025 season on Friday, June 20, bringing music, movement, and community back to Cottonwood Square. After a 100-degree day, the evening cooled slightly, making for a nice setting for the dancers, as long as they had some water nearby. "Welcome to our launch," announced Catherine McHale, one of the event's organizers. She welcomed new and returning attendees and highlighted a new addition to the sponsor lineup: Snowhawk Productions, which also served as both...
It is hard to picture Charlie without Haden, and vice versa. The Shaw twins have been fixtures in the Niwot baseball program for the last four years, starting side-by-side since their freshman season. Whether it is tracking down fly balls or gunning down runners from third, the Shaws have built their high school careers together. And now, they are taking the next step together, too. This fall, Charlie and Haden will head to Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colorado, to continue their...
Tori Villavicencio has been playing soccer for as long as she can remember. She first stepped onto the field at age four, and from the moment she started running around, the sport stuck. Over the years, her love for the sport only grew stronger. Whether it was the bonds she formed with teammates or the rush of scoring a goal, Villavicencio found plenty of reasons to keep coming back. By the time she reached Niwot High School, soccer had become more than just a hobby, it was a key part of who...
The second week of Rock & Rails brought a burst of energy to Whistle Stop Park on Thursday, June 12, despite a cool breeze in the middle and a few raindrops. The second performance in the 2025 Rock & Rails series featured a pair of Niwot favorites, starting with singer-songwriter Dean Himes, followed by the Rock & Rails debut of the headliner, House Blend Band. As the skies drizzled, Himes took the stage at 5 p.m. for a lively, guitar-forward set. A 2022 Colorado Country Music Hall of Fame...
Dancing Under the Stars is back for another season of music, dance, and community. Starting Friday, June 20, Cottonwood Square will come alive with energy and rhythm as the outdoor dance series kicks off for the summer. Held every Friday night through September 19, the event promises a lively atmosphere where people of all skill levels can enjoy dancing under the Colorado sky. The season opens with a salsa night, led by Joseph Snowhawk. A fun, beginner-friendly lesson will kick off at 7 p.m., of...
If you had asked Kye Toothaker a few years ago, running was just a tool to get better at soccer. He did not expect it to become his main sport, let alone the thing that would take him to college. "I initially ran cross country and track to get fit for soccer, but then decided to focus on it full time," he said. "I stuck with it because of the people on the team and coaches being so supportive." Now, the recent Niwot High School graduate is headed to Pomona College in California to compete in...
The weather was no match for the dedicated crowd at the first Rock & Rails concert of the season on Thursday, June 5. Despite the cool temperatures and persistent drizzle during the headliner, fans filled Whistle Stop Park to enjoy an unforgettable start of Niwot's beloved summer concert series. This was not a concert to miss. The night opened with Mark Oblinger, a renowned musician and Emmy-winning composer, who took the stage with Linda Lawson and two other award-winning musicians. Oblinger's...
While Bob Underwood may be a familiar face around Niwot, he is undoubtedly also a familiar voice to many. Having been the voice behind Niwot High School's varsity baseball games for over three decades, Underwood's presence in the community has extended well beyond his role as an announcer. His connection to Niwot runs deep, as he spent nearly 30 years as an English teacher at Niwot High, while also supporting various sports programs throughout the years. Underwood's journey into announcing...
Rising Niwot High School senior Diego Kheng was not sure what to expect from his recent volleyball season. This past spring season, as a junior, he switched positions, adapted to a different role, and felt like he was not playing quite as well as he had as a sophomore. But even in a year of transition, his impact was undeniable. Kheng finished the 2025 boys volleyball season with 324 kills, 142 digs, 79 total blocks, and 11 assists while playing in 142 sets. He posted a .234 hitting percentage...
The first thing anyone who knows Arlo Richards will tell you is that he works hard. Whether he was in the outfield, at the plate, or unexpectedly on the mound, the 2025 Niwot High School graduate gave everything he had on and off the diamond. He was known to frequent the field in the offseason, always putting in the work to get better. And in the final week of his high school career, that effort paid off. Richards took the mound and came through in relief during both of the Cougars' last games....
The 2025 Night of Champions ceremony unfolded with pride as students, families, faculty, and community members gathered in Niwot High School's auditorium on Sunday, June 1, to recognize the outstanding academic and athletic achievements of the year. Principal Eric Raushkolb opened the night by describing a remarkable school year including a 99.3% graduation rate and over $29 million in scholarship offers, which was a new school record. In Niwot High's 51-year history, Cougar athletes have...
On Sunday, June 1, members of the Niwot community gathered in Niwot High School's auditorium for the annual Night of Champions celebration. After the student-focused portion of the evening, NHS principal Eric Rauschkolb transitioned to the second inaugural Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Olympian Elise Cranny, former professional baseball player Mike Moat, and longtime school supporter Mabel Miyasaki were each recognized for the profound impact they have had on Niwot High School, the Niwot comm...
Keegan Geldean took his first strides as a runner when most kids were still figuring out how to tie their shoes. But after more than a decade of early morning practices, hot midday track meets, and national title races, the 2025 Niwot High School graduate is about to start a brand new chapter. Geldean is set to compete in cross country and track at Adams State University, a top-tier NCAA Division II program in Alamosa, Colorado. The decision came after a campus visit and a scholarship offer...
"My name is Rosalyn, like a rose." At just five years old, Rosalyn has already discovered something many adults spend a lifetime trying to understand. The joy that comes from spreading happiness. Every week, she walks around town with a bouquet of freshly cut flowers in her hands to deliver to local businesses, passing them out with a smile that lights up the room. She has learned this tradition from her late grandmother, Kate Ross, who once ran Belle Fiore Flower Farm in Niwot, a dream that...
Niwot High School Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Joe Brown has been elected President of the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) Board of Directors. His two-year term begins on July 1, 2025, following three years of service as the District 2 representative, a role that covers schools in the Centennial, Frontier, Northern Colorado Athletic Conference, and Longs Peak leagues. Brown has been part of Niwot High's staff since 2019. The presidency, Brown explained, is an...
When Elise Cranny picked up the phone and heard Niwot High School principal Eric Rauschkolb and athletic director Joe Brown on the other end, she did not expect anything out of the ordinary. "I just figured maybe it was something for the cross country team," Cranny said. "I didn't even think it could be this." Rauschkolb and Brown told Cranny she had been selected for the Class of 2025 Niwot High School Hall of Fame. The two-time Olympian, NCAA standout at Stanford, and professional runner was...
The Niwot High School girls golf team finished ninth at the 4A Girls Golf State Tournament at The Broadlands in Broomfield on Monday, May 19 and Tuesday, May 20, posting a two-day total of 558 points. The Cougars showed their strength in a highly competitive field, with Riverdale Ridge High School taking first place with 500 points, followed by Durango High School in second (513) and Ponderosa High School in third (529). Despite the challenges, the Cougars displayed resilience throughout the...
Baseball was already stitched into Kaige Kennedy's story before he ever picked up a glove or stepped onto a pitcher's mound. The 2025 Niwot High School graduate grew up immersed in the game. His father, Joe Kennedy, pitched seven seasons in the major leagues for several teams, including the Colorado Rockies. Joe Kennedy passed away in 2007 at the age of 28 due to an undiagnosed heart condition, when Kaige was only one year old. Kaige's mom, Jami Kennedy-Bierbrodt, later married Nick Bierbrodt,...
In the conclusion to another dominant Niwot High School track and field season, both the boys and girls teams walked away with team titles from the State Track and Field Championships held May 15 to May 17 at Jeffco Stadium. The Cougar girls claimed their sixth consecutive state title with 148 points over Windsor (79.5 points), while the boys topped the standings with 98 points over Roosevelt (56 points), marking their third first-place finish since 2019 after a runner-up performance last year....
For decades, Mabel Miyasaki was more than a familiar face at Niwot High School. She was its heartbeat. Whether she was working in the cafeteria, braving snowstorms to cheer from the stands, or sharing a laugh with students, Miyasaki left a mark on the school that has stood the test of time. Now, at 100 years old, she is being honored as a 2025 inductee into the Niwot High School Hall of Fame. Miyasaki's connection to Niwot did not begin in a classroom or on the sidelines, but as a mother...
Whether it was triple jump, long jump, or sprinting down the track, Weston Domich did a little bit of everything for Niwot High School this season. The senior helped the Cougars capture their first Class 4A boys state track and field title since 2021, capping off a high school career built on steady improvement and a strong team bond. Domich first got into track and field in eighth grade. At the time, his focus was not on jumping or racing. He only joined REAL Training to get faster for...
Niwot High School held its annual Department Awards ceremony following the final bell on Wednesday, May 14, in the Commons. The ceremony recognized students for their exceptional attitudes, achievements, and character across various subjects. In the physical education department, awards went to Axel Zamora Cano (9th grade), Hadyn Spires (10th), Irisel Valenzuela-Loya (11th), and Charlie Shaw (12th). The world languages department recognized Lia Lindseth (9th), Will Gabrielson (10th), Julia...
For Thalia Almaraz, basketball was part of her life from the very beginning. She first started playing when she was eight years old, but even before that, her dad said she always had a ball in her hand. He introduced her to the sport and she quickly fell in love with it. A four-year varsity athlete for Niwot High School, Almaraz finished her senior season with 230 points and was named the Cougars' 2025 Varsity MVP. She leaves the program with 416 total career points and a reputation as a...
After a thrilling finish, the Niwot High School girls golf team secured a well-earned spot at the state tournament following the 4A Region 3 Regional Tournament on Tuesday, May 13, at the Twin Peaks Golf Course. The Cougars, who shot a team score of 254, finished just one stroke ahead of Windsor High School (255). Riverdale Ridge High School claimed the top spot with a score of 237, leaving the Cougars with a strong second-place finish. What made the finish especially exciting was the tie...
Mead High School's girls lacrosse postseason journey concluded in the Class 4A state semifinals with a 16-10 loss to top-seeded Evergreen High School on Wednesday, May 14, at Englewood High School. Senior Lucy Connors, a Niwot High School student, led Mead's offense with seven goals, bringing her postseason total to 23. Juniors Morgan Elson and Emmy Tecu, the latter also from Niwot High, contributed two goals and one goal, respectively. The Mavericks fell behind early as Evergreen opened the...
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...
