All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Every day was "leg day" this fall for Niwot High School senior Paris Lee. After balancing both soccer and kicking/punting duties on the varsity football team over the past few months, Lee said he could barely walk when it was all over. "I was very sore," Lee said. "After my first three days of not having both (sports), I wasn't able to walk up the stairs." Although NHS certainly doesn't lack multi-sport athletes, very few manage to play two sports during the same season. Lee's weekday afternoons...
As the whistle blows and the 2023 season comes to a close, the Niwot High School volleyball team reflected on a successful and memorable season. The Cougars finished their season with an impressive 8-1 record in the Longs Peak League, and an overall record of 17-10, with 11 of those victories coming as sweeps. With a remarkable record, hardships the team faced were well hidden and attested to the quick adjustment the team was able to make to ensure a successful performance from the beginning of...
Elise Marylander, who has served as Assistant Editor of the Left Hand Valley Courier since July 2022, has dropped "Assistant" from her title, and is now the Editor of the Courier. Bruce Warren, who had served in dual roles of Managing Editor and Editor of the Courier since April 2022 when former editor Jocelyn Rowley left to take a full-time position with a Loveland newspaper, will continue to serve as Managing Editor of the Courier. Marylander's duties as Editor include determining content for...
The Niwot community was shocked and saddened by the death of Niwot Market owner Bert Steele following a short illness last summer. A wrestling scholarship at Niwot High School was established in his memory at the request of his family, but many in the community looked for an opportunity to create a permanent visual memorial to beloved businessman and philanthropist, who for over 20 years, quietly got to know his customers and supported every event and project in Niwot, with little to no...
Niwot High School student Rae Sweeney has been an outstanding leader of the Niwot High School Color Guard for the last two seasons. The Color Guard performs with the marching band at football halftime shows, in parades, and at competitions, using a combination of flags, sabers, mock rifles, and other equipment, as well as dance and other interpretive movements. Its main purpose is to interpret the music that is being played by the band through dance and synchronized movements. Sweeney remembers...
Niwot High School's art show, hosted by the NHS Booster Music Performance and Art under the umbrella of the parent-run Niwot High School Boosters, Inc., is returning for its sophomore year Dec. 4-6 from 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. each evening. The art show is sponsored, in part, by the Boulder School of Fine Art. "Niwot High School is not only academically and athletically driven, but artistically driven," said Lydia Moy, Chairman for NIwot High School Booster Music Performance and Art, who helped to organ...
The Niwot High School cheerleading squad is headed to the state competition, tentatively set to begin Friday, Dec. 8, at the Denver Coliseum. Coach Christina Ayers's squad just finished the high school football season, and has already begun appearing in local and regional competitions. Squad members include Ashley Lavato, Audrey Perez, Ayushi Bhandari, Azariah Lucero, Cassidy Skole, Clara Rhea, Elizabeth Sullivan, Fernanda Laguna-Perez, Isaac Lopez, Juliette Cook, Juliette Sales, Kyla Helme, Lib...
All around the country, we honor and thank United States Veterans for their military service on November 11. This originated after World War I to commemorate the armistice reached during the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. Every year in honor of Veterans Day, the Niwot High School "Pride of Niwot" Marching Band marches in full uniform down Main Street in downtown Longmont playing, and singing the lyrics, to "The Army Song" (also known as "The Caissons Go Rolling...
Mia Prok has enjoyed quite an impressive past few weeks. First, the senior helped Niwot High School win its sixth straight Class 4A girls cross country state title on Oct. 28. Then, only 11 days later, she signed her national letter of intent to continue her running career at Wake Forest University. After committing to the Division I Demon Deacons in March of last year, Prok was thrilled to finally make things official. "It was cool to actually sign the papers and see it in writing," she said. R...
The Niwot High School volleyball team season finally came to an end, but not until the Cougars were eliminated at the state Class 4A tournament Nov. 10. The Cougars got to state by knocking off cross-town rival Longmont High School, a higher seed, on the Trojans’ home floor Nov. 4. At state, Niwot was seeded 11th out of the 12 teams that qualified, and found themselves paired up with No. 6 seed Palisade High School in the first round on Thursday, Nov. 9. Niwot started strong, winning a hard-fought first set 25-23. Palisade regrouped to win t...
Wednesday, Nov. 8, was a busy day at Niwot High School as ten student-athletes signed National Letters of Intent to continue their athletic careers at the next level. The athletes represent a cross-section of fall sports at Niwot, including soccer (2), volleyball (2), cross country & track (2), softball (1) and golf (1). In addition, two athletes signed to play lacrosse in college, a sport not offered at Niwot High. Ashton Karch, who played football at Niwot, will play lacrosse at Westminster...
BASEBALL Niwot was represented at the World Series by Patrick Perry, a 2001 NHS grad, who is an area scout for the Texas Rangers. Perry was able to meet up with Matt Mercurio, a former teammate from Perry's days in the Boston Red Sox organization at the World Series. Mercurio, who played first and third base for the Lowell Spinners in 2005, is now a scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Perry, was a catcher for Lowell in 2005 after being drafted out of the University of Northern Colorado. Skyler...
Lulu LaFortune, a Niwot High School graduate, is conquering the world of design by making a name for herself as a furniture, textile, and interior designer in Los Angeles with her company "Lulu LaFortune Limited" brand. LaFortune graduated from Niwot High School in 2014, and went to the Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Furniture Design and Manufacturing, as well as minors in Textile Design and Interior Design. Though she initially...
When Niwot High School music students traveled to Europe for two weeks last summer, visiting Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, and Finland, one of the highlights of the trip for violinist Ian Springsteen was the visit to the Sibelius Academy and the Jean Sibelius house in Finland. Sibelius, who is widely known for his symphonies and tone poems, especially "Finlandia," now ranks among Springsteen's favorite composers. It was an inspirational trip. Springsteen remembers that their group performed in...
"Puffs, or Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic" is Niwot High School's fall theater production. This show is entertaining, comedic, and witty. It is also rated PG-13 because it includes adult language and situations at times. Amanda Foust, Niwot High's theater director and teacher, has put an immense amount of thought and effort into this show. The production has two full casts, both of which are full of talent. The characters in this show each have very...
Thursday Nov. 2 was the final football game for the Niwot Cougars' 2023 season. However, it wasn't just the final game for seniors on the football team; senior members of the cheerleading squad and marching band also had their last experience as students performing on Everly-Montgomery Field that night. Throughout the season, and for many, the past four years, students have dedicated hours of practice outside of school and performing at various sporting events and exhibitions. "I calculated the...
In the gymnastics world, just a fraction of a point can make the difference between ultimate success and shattered dreams. After the 4A state championships last weekend, the Niwot Cougars felt the disappointment of their sport's reality. As Niwot Coach Marisa Purcell predicted prior to Friday night's team competition at Thornton High School, the girls from Palmer Ridge High School would spring to their first state championship while just tenths of a point would separate the runners-up. After...
With its season on the line, the Niwot High School girls volleyball team won twice in a rival's gym to earn a spot in the upcoming Class 4A state tournament. The Cougars first cruised past Denver North High School (25-17, 25-13, 25-17) before beating host Longmont High School in four sets (25-21, 21-25, 25-20, 25-18) at the 4A Region 11 championships on Saturday, Nov. 4. Obviously, the stakes were higher than a typical match, but because Longmont was seeded three spots higher than 14th-ranked...
Head coach Tony Engel was overcome with emotion when asked about the importance of Anne Haley to his Niwot High School girls volleyball team. "Anne's a flat-out winner and she's been a winner since her freshman year when she walked into the gym," Engel said. "There's not many kids that do that, so she's special. I really appreciate everything that she brings." After missing about one month of the season with an ankle injury, Haley recently returned to Niwot's lineup, and the junior setter's...
The Niwot High School football season is officially over. Niwot played its final game Thursday, Nov. 2, against Denver North High School, which was also Niwot's Senior Night. The Cougars lost the game, 24-14, dropping to 3-7 on the year. Niwot struggled early against the Vikings as they went scoreless in the first three quarters before mounting a near comeback. The Cougar defense played a strong game throughout, giving Niwot a chance to wi Niwot started the game with the ball, but an errant...
The Niwot High School boys soccer team started their week with a Wednesday matchup against the Skyline High School Falcons to advance to the quarter finals. Niwot went into the game as the 11th seed against the sixth-seeded Falcons. Niwot was able to pull off a 4-2 upset victory over Skyline to advance to the Class 4A quarterfinals against third-ranked Battle Mountain High School, but the Cougars came up short in the Saturday, Nov. 4 game, which ended the Cougar's year in a 3-1 loss. The...
Outstanding depth and tremendous individual performances were the key all season for the Colorado Class 4A State Cross Country Champions from Niwot High School. Those efforts were recognized by this year's 4A Girls and Boys All-State Team selections. The Cougars' two sophomore standouts, Addison Ritzenhein and Rocco Culpepper, led the celebration with first team All-State honors. Ritzenhein, who also earned Runner of the Year honors, was joined by senior teammates, Olivia Alessandrini, Sarah...
Jan Bova was a go-getter - and a "go-giver." Innately adventurous, she loved to inspire others to join in the fun and turned her many passions into a lifetime of volunteer service. Jan didn't just take up skiing - she got her whole family involved, started a ski club at her daughter's school in Poland, Ohio, and moved to Colorado. She didn't merely help at a local children's theater - she designed and sewed countless costumes and pitched in on set building and painting. And she didn't just save... Full story
For the sixth time in six years, the Niwot High School girls cross country team reigns supreme in Colorado. And, not to be outdone, after a disappointing two-year hiatus, the Cougar boys team reclaimed its state title at this past weekend's 4A Colorado State Cross Country Championships. Taking advantage of their outstanding individual leaders and incredible team depth, the Cougars wrapped up their near perfect season with two runaway victories on the Norris Penrose Event Center course in...
Snow came early on Saturday, Oct. 28, but it did not deter the hundreds of costumed children (and adults) who gathered in Niwot for the annual Great Pumpkin Party. Pat Murphy, who has been the champion and chief sponsor of the event for over 25 years, was on hand to welcome the children and their parents. "Such a great turnout," she said, in spite of the weather. Murphy's The Niwot Group at Compass Realtors offered treats and hosted a petting zoo for the children. The Niwot Business Association...
For the first time since 2018, the "Pride of Niwot" Cougar Marching Band attended the Greeley Invitational Marching Festival on Saturday Oct. 21. High schools from Greeley, Loveland, Longmont, and the towns in between were invited to come perform their halftime shows. Marching bands who attend the Greeley Invitational receive a score between one and one hundred. Scores are based on musical ability, marching performance, and a general effect category. However, bands do not compete against each...
When Allison Gundmundson was in elementary school, she learned that Candlelight Dinner Playhouse hosted acting classes that included children. Whenever she could find the time, Gundmundson would join in. Her theater repertoire expanded quickly, with roles in the junior production of "Mary Poppins," and roles in "The Aristocats," and "Beauty and the Beast." She also worked in two junior shows at Longmont's Jesters Dinner Theatre, including "Alice in Wonderland" and "Snow White and the Seven...
The Sunset Middle School seventh and eighth-graders in Advanced Band joined the Niwot High School Marching Band in the Longmont Halloween Parade on Oct. 28. The event provides middle school students an almost immediate connection and sense of community with their high school colleagues. It also provides a unique opportunity for Sunset students to get a taste of what marching band will be like when they join the high school marching band - a very different experience than concert band. "My...
Mission accomplished. In a complete team effort, the Niwot High School girls gymnastics squad met this past week’s goal of winning their regional meet, which propels the Cougars into the 4A state championship meet Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3 and 4, at Thornton High School. The Cougars scored 176.15 points to edge out Roosevelt’s 173.30 points behind all-around champion Maeve Flentie and individual apparatus winners Heidi Herbert (bars), Kylee Schlepp (vault) and Lilly O’Neill (beam). Juniors Flentie and Claire Vardas combined with O’Nei...
The Niwot High School Cougars split four games at the Cheyenne Mountain tournament in Colorado Springs over the weekend. The tournament invites only go to the top 10 teams in Class 3A, the top 12 teams in 4A and the top six teams in 5A, based on criteria that extend over the last three seasons. After the tournament, Niwot accepted an invitation to return for the next two seasons. Each match was best-of-five-games, with team standings based on cumulative scores. The Cougars began Friday with a...
The Niwot High School football team has fallen for the fifth straight time in a competitive game, this time against the 8-1 Riverdale Ridge High School Ravens. Niwot lost 35-17 but played close until the fourth quarter. The Cougars are now 3-6 on the year with their final game of the season this Thursday, Nov. 2. Niwot started the game with the ball, pounding Riverdale Ridge with a run game that brought the Cougars to the 30-yard line where their drive eventually fizzled out after a failed... Full story
The Niwot High School's soccer team is moving on in this year's 2023 playoffs, making it out of the first round with a win against the Pueblo Centennial High School Bulldogs. Niwot won the game 2-1, with a back-and-forth second half falling in Niwot's favor. Niwot is now in the top 16 teams for Class 4A, where they will take on a strong Skyline High School team. Niwot's game against Pueblo Centennial started slowly as neither team could find a way to put the ball into the goal. The Cougars held...
Another memorable season for the Niwot High unified bowling team is nearing its end. Comprised of NHS students with disabilities, the program's final regular season competition was held on Monday, Oct. 30, with regionals coming up next on Friday, Nov. 10. The program is led by coaches Amy Holle and Dawn Zwisler. Holle and Zwisler are also aided by "partners" - students without disabilities who volunteer their time helping the team. The relationships formed between the partners and the athletes...
Bo Gardner's first career postseason goal came at an opportune time for the Niwot High School boys soccer team. Stuck in a 1-1 deadlock with Pueblo Centennial late in the second half, Gardner received an assist from fellow senior Josh Ary and netted the game-winner in Niwot's Class 4A first-round state playoff game on Oct. 26. "It was definitely one of the top goals in my career," Gardner said. Gardner, who scored five goals in the regular season, gave all the credit to Ary for setting him up...
The Great Pumpkin Party is one of Niwot's most beloved traditions, with costumed children of all ages, often accompanied by pets dressed up as well, going trick-or-treating at Niwot businesses in Old Town and Cottonwood Square. This year, the event will be held on Saturday, Oct. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. And as is customary, 2nd Avenue will be closed briefly at 11:30 a.m. for a children's parade. The 2-block affair kicks off with a choral performance by students from Niwot Elementary School in...
Brian Dietzen, a 1996 Niwot High School graduate, has gone on to a Hollywood acting career, where he is known mainly for his recurring role in the popular drama “NCIS.” Born in Illinois, he moved to Colorado and started acting in Niwot Elementary’s Christmas pageant and various school plays. After graduating from Niwot High School where he performed in several theater productions, Dietzen went to the University of Colorado at Boulder to study theatre and get his BFA in acting. He got his start...
The "Pride of Niwot" Cougar Marching Band has made monumental strides in recent years as they keep adding new traditions and energy to their program. Most recently, a group of students from the band traveled to the Niwot football game against Mead High School on Thursday, Oct. 19. "This is the first time I am aware of [that this has happened]," said Wade Hendricks, Director of Bands at Niwot. "Having a group of students who love having the opportunity to play this much is great, even if we...
Seven schools from the St. Vrain Valley School District participated in the annual SVVSD High School Fall Choral Festival, Thursday Oct. 19, in the Longmont High School auditorium. Two choirs from each of Erie High School, Longmont High School, Lyons High School, Mead High School, Niwot High School, and Silver Creek High School participated, with each choir singing one selection. Skyline High School also participated and was represented by one choir. Sedalia and Chamber Singers represented...
After battling COVID-19 earlier in the month, Niwot High School cross country senior Olivia Alessandrini was unsure how well she’d run at regionals on Oct. 19. Her stamina was still in recovery mode, and because the North Area Athletic Complex in Arvada is no easy course, she wasn’t exactly confident heading into the meet. Regardless, Alessandrini embraced the challenge and completed the 5,000-meter race with a personal best time (at altitude) of 17 minutes, 49 seconds. Alessandrini’s confi...
Niwot High School girls softball team ended a spectacular season with a heartbreaking first-round playoff loss to the D'Evelyn Jr./Sr. High Jaguars, who were seeded No. 3 in the state. Niwot entered the weekend seeded No. 14. "I am so proud of the work that the players put in this season," said head coach Bobby Matthews. "They left it all on the field and they should not hang their heads at all. This game is tough, and sometimes the best team doesn't always win." The Cougars scored first on a ho...
The Niwot High School girls gymnastics team has been looking for a lift to propel it into the 4A regional and state championship meets. The boost came this past week as the Cougars notched their highest team score of the season, a 178.1 tally, in the final Front Range League meet of the season at Mountain Range High School. "I think we're sitting really well. We obviously had a great League meet," Coach Marisa Purcell said. "But we started off a little rough on the beam. So, it definitely took...
The Niwot High School boy's soccer regular season has ended with Niwot winning their final game of the year, 9-0 against the Riverdale Ridge High School Ravens (2-13). Niwot is finishing the regular season with a 10-3-2 (7-2 league) record that ranks them as the third-best team in the Longs Peak League, securing a playoff spot for the upcoming state playoff tournament. Niwot dominated against Riverdale Ridge, putting up nine goals while getting a shutout. Noah Beltran led the team in points,...
Niwot High School football has fallen into a bit of a slump as they fell to the Mead High School Mavericks this past Thursday, Oct. 19, in another close game. Niwot stayed competitive with Mead but struggled to convert in the red zone, leading to the loss. Niwot is now 3-5 on the year, with two more games left on their schedule. The Cougars started the game on offense, but quickly fizzled out, punting after three plays. Mead returned the punt into Niwot's red zone where Niwot quickly forced a...
For six seniors, Tuesday's volleyball game was about something beyond the court. After spending hours in the high school gym for practices and games, the seniors celebrated all they have accomplished while being a part of Niwot volleyball. Though the season isn't yet completed and the Cougars are now starting postseason, the underclassmen carried forward the tradition of decorating the gym for the veteran players. The Niwot High gym was decked out in pink for the victory against Riverdale Ridge...
All the hard work . . . all the long hours . . . all the miles of traveling . . . all of it is behind the Niwot Cougars’ cross country teams. Now, there’s nothing left for the runners to do but lace up their shoes and run for their ultimate goal . . . a 4A state championship trophy. Seven boys and seven girls from Niwot will don the green and silver and represent one of the country’s (not county’s) elite programs Saturday as they attempt to cap a nearly perfect 2023 racing season at the 4A State Championship Meet at Norris Penrose Event Center...
Niwot resident Art Stapp supported many causes during his lifetime, and at the top of his list was the St. Vrain Valley School District, and specifically, Niwot High School. Stapp died suddenly July 19, 2023 at the age of 74 of a heart ailment. Stapp was best known for Stapp Interstate Toyota, a business he and his father started in 1974 as Longmont Toyota. Stapp never sought recognition for his many charitable efforts in Niwot and beyond, but it is hard to find someone who has not been touched...
According to his teacher Laura Walters, River Osgood has been one of the most dedicated choir students at Niwot High School during his four-year tenure. Currently he is in three of the NHS choirs, and is a lead in the fall play, "Puffs." Theater and music have played a large role in Osgood's life. His parents met during one of their high school performances together. His sister was interested in theater, his older brother experimented with guitar, and his twin brother played the violin for a...
Three enterprising and compassionate high school students from the St. Vrain Valley School District are this week's Left Hand Laurel recipients for their creative – and highly successful efforts – to raise money for Ukrainian relief. They are Murray Avila, Tomas Dabove and Zach Rojo. In February 2022, Dabove, a sophomore in high school at the time, started obsessing about the terrible news of Russia bombing Ukraine with thousands of innocent people – adults and children – being killed. So he cam...
The Niwot High volleyball team likely doesn't come back to beat Frederick without senior Julia Dadey. After dropping the match's first two sets, Niwot's back row, which included Dadey, was the spark that got the Cougars going en route to reverse-sweeping (20-25, 17-25, 25-15, 25-16, 15-8) the Golden Eagles on Oct. 10. "There were four or five (plays) that Julia Dadey got on her horse and ran from sideline to sideline picking up balls," Niiwot head coach Tony Engel said following the match....
