NHS band and cheer seniors recognized at final football game

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 individual hours each student puts forward once," said Wade Hendricks, Director of Bands at Niwot High School. "I don't remember what the total was, but I know it was astonishing."

Cheerleading seniors who were recognized at the game were Fernanda Laguna-Perez and Monica Sanchez. Laguna-Perez is a four-year member of the team serving in a leadership role for the past two seasons. Sanchez has been a part of the team for one season as a first time cheer athlete who Christina Ayers, coach for the Niwot cheerleaders, describes as a "wave of inspiration for our team." Ayers added, "I am very excited to see where they take their talent and knowledge in the future.... I will be one of their biggest cheerleaders."

Twenty-five members of the "Pride of Niwot" Marching Band also received recognition during the pregame for the final football game of the season, including Jasper Allison, Hayden Baldwin, Merrick Blondeau, Kaiya Brown, Kaven Dewey, Grace Dietzen, Anna Enssle, Bean Feitler, Natalie Fitches, Noah Hadders, Natalie Ingegneri, Ella Lamkin, Eleanor Long, Hunter Maasen, Chase Maasen, Maez Mayer-Cardona, Irena Podger, Owen Powers, Zander Sherrs, Rae Sweeney, Lily Sykes, Grecia Torres-Bravo, Max Wall, and Noah Wurth. Unable to attend senior night were senior members Leo Coble, Alex Fick, and Ash Trujillo, who still deserve special recognition for their contributions to "The Pride of Niwot."

All members of cheer and band showed great support, encouragement, and admiration for their graduating members. Instructional staff for both groups also expressed high praise for the dedication these members have put forth this season. Whether someone had contributed to their respective teams for four years, one year, or somewhere in between, seniors have provided underclassmen with inspiration and served as role models for their peers.

"This is a special group of seniors whose first year of high school (band) occurred during Fall 2020," said Hendricks, "a time when students were separated into cohorts, (there were) no performances, and overall student motivation was low." Hendricks continued by praising this group for sticking together, even growing in numbers, and helping everyone realize how special it is to be a part of a team. "This Fall has offered a very rewarding marching band experience because of the strength of this group, led by these strong seniors," Hendricks concluded.

The seniors were escorted down the sideline by family and friends as they received recognition in front of their peers and the crowd in the stands during pregame ceremonies.