All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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Senior Kaige Kennedy left his mark on Niwot High School baseball's season-opening win over Severance High School on March 6. Along with finishing a home run shy of the cycle, the outfielder/pitcher drove in two runs and sealed the victory on the mound. The game also left its mark on him when he recorded the final out with a diving tag of a Severance baserunner, leaving Kennedy covered in chalk from the third baseline. With Niwot entering this season with increased expectations, Kennedy was...
The Niwot High School varsity baseball team kicked off its 2025 season in style on March 6 with a drama-filled win at Severance High School. Needing one final out to secure victory, Niwot senior pitcher Kaige Kennedy played hero in the seventh inning when he made Severance pay for a baserunning mistake. With Niwot up 8-6, Severance had runners on second and third base when Kennedy threw a wild pitch. The Silver Knight on third scored easily, but his teammate on second stumbled after rounding thi...
Niwot High School girls basketball's first state tournament game in 11 years ended in disappointment on Wednesday, Feb. 26, at Aurora Central High School. In a foul-filled affair, the Cougars entered halftime down 22-9 before putting up a valiant fight with their season on the line. Niwot began the third quarter on a 12-0 run to make things interesting but ultimately came up short when the final buzzer sounded, 35-33. While the Cougar program took a massive step forward by reaching the Class 5A...
While Peyton Rhodes would have liked to extend her high school career another game, the senior remains proud of what she and her Niwot High School girls basketball team accomplished this winter. After falling to Aurora Central High School on Feb. 26 in the Cougars' first state tournament game since 2014, Rhodes reflected on her now-complete high school career. Niwot won only nine combined games in Rhodes' first two varsity seasons before breaking through with 10 senior victories. "My first two...
Coming off back-to-back regional tournament appearances, the Niwot High School baseball team is aiming to take another step forward this spring. An experienced senior class lends reason to the Cougars' optimism, particularly at the plate. Brothers Haden Shaw and Charlie Shaw hit a combined .456 last season while fellow senior Kaige Kennedy batted .471 with five extra-base hits. Other seniors ready to mash include pitcher/outfielder Jagger Kilpatrick, first baseman Drew Stapp, and outfielder... Full story
Wrestling at 285 pounds, Niwot High School junior Jonathan Lopez achieved a major personal milestone earlier this month by competing in his first-ever state tournament. Lopez was one of three Cougars who suited up at Ball Arena in Denver, joining 144-pound senior Ryder Evans and 165-pound junior Eli Quesada. Neither of Lopez's two Class 4A state tournament matches went his way, but wrestling on Colorado's biggest stage remained special. "I'm pretty proud of making it," Lopez said. "It was a...
For the first time since 2014, the Niwot High School girls basketball team has qualified for the state tournament. On Feb. 23, the Colorado High School Activities Association released its 40-team Class 5A girls state tournament bracket, and the Cougars earned the No. 34 seed. Niwot will visit No. 31 Aurora Central High School on Wednesday, Feb. 26, in a first-round "play-in" game. After beginning the year 7-1, the Cougars finished their regular season at 10-13 (2-11 Granite Peaks League) with...
Although he views himself as more of a role player, junior Henry Noblin's on-court contributions have been invaluable to the Niwot High School varsity boys basketball team. Noblin makes his presence felt most prominently on the glass, leading the Cougars with 4.8 rebounds per game through Feb. 11. The 6-foot-1 forward is also a menace to opposing ball-handlers, as he's averaging a team-high 1.3 steals per game. Niwot head coach Walker Bounds is among those who appreciate Noblin's willingness to...
Despite a challenging past month-plus of Granite Peaks League play, the Niwot High School girls basketball team remains within striking distance of its first state tournament berth since 2013-14. As of Feb. 16, the Cougars are 10-12 overall (2-10 Granite Peaks League) and ranked No. 33 in the Class 5A Colorado High School Activities Association Selection & Seeding Index. The top 40 teams will qualify for the single-elimination state tournament, up from 32 teams last year. Niwot's regular season... Full story
The Niwot High School varsity boys basketball team has suffered its fair share of defeats this season, but that hasn't kept head coach Walker Bounds and his players from approaching each game with intensity. Following a particularly heartbreaking loss at Frederick High School on Thursday, Feb. 13, Bounds credited his Cougars for staying locked in through a difficult stretch. "I've been really pleased with the way this team has handled adversity," Bounds said. "We've had a tough year and a... Full story
When Eli Quesada decided to wrestle this year, the Niwot High School junior's goal was simply to make the varsity team. He picked up the sport intending to help his football career and didn't expect much in terms of results. Now, only months after his first high school match, Quesada is preparing to wrestle on Colorado's biggest stage. The 165-pounder earned a state championship bid this past weekend by placing fourth in the Class 4A Region 2 Tournament. "It's been crazy seeing how much I got be...
Led by star diver Izzy Fay, Niwot High School placed ninth at the Class 4A Girls Swimming and Diving State Championships. Fay, a senior, closed her storied high school career by earning her second straight diving state title. Competing at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in Thornton, she racked up an impressive final score of 529.50 on Saturday, Feb. 8. "Izzy getting first at state is always great," said Niwot Head Coach Ella Thramann. "I know that was a pretty close one with the Windsor...
Swimmer Devi Burnett emerged from her lane and anxiously looked toward the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center scoreboard, searching for a result she had long strived for. After falling short the evening prior, the Niwot High School senior had just used her final opportunity to qualify for state in the 100-yard freestyle. She had given it her all but still needed to see something below 53.20 seconds to secure her first-ever individual state qualification. The look on Burnett's face said it all....
The Niwot High School girls swimming and diving team added some depth to its state squad during the Granite Peaks League championships. In what was Niwot's final meet before the state championships, two Cougars achieved Class 4A state-qualifying times at the Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center in Thornton, according to head coach Ella Thramann. Junior Thalia Milam did so first in the 50-yard freestyle preliminaries on Friday, Jan. 31. Needing to swim under 26.50 seconds, she broke through with a...
After years of racing motocross on a competitive level across the country, Maddox Brown landed at Niwot High School this past fall looking to experience a more normal senior year. Brown had spent most of his first three high school years living in a camper with his mother in Texas, dedicating his time to motocross training while taking care of his academics online. However, injuries and a dwindling passion for the sport led Brown to re-route last winter. "The chances of going pro in that sport...
From rising freshmen stars to senior leaders, the Niwot High School girls swim and dive team saw strong performances from all four grade levels at the Boulder County Invite on Saturday, Jan. 25. Niwot freshmen who stepped up in key events included Kyla Cohen, Avery Wood, and Noemi Grooms. Cohen took 17th in the 50-yard butterfly and 23rd in the 100 Individual Medley, while Wood and Grooms had 27th-place finishes in the 50 butterfly and 100 backstroke, respectively. "They came in and they worked...
Shefali Joshi is peaking at the right time as she enters the final stretch of her Niwot High School girls swimming career. Following her four events at the St. Vrain Valley district meet on Jan. 18, the senior shared that it was the best she felt all season. Joshi dropped times in her individual races while helping the Cougars finish second behind Silver Creek High School in the team standings. "I think this is probably the best meet I've had this season, but I could probably do a little...
Although the final result didn't go the Cougars' way, Head Coach Todd Trobaugh was proud of how his Niwot High School girls basketball team competed in a difficult road game on Jan 18. A couple of factors were working against the Cougars when they traveled to Cheyenne Mountain High School, located in west Colorado Springs. First, Niwot was playing on short rest after defeating Skyline High School the night prior, 57-27. Second, poor weather conditions made an already lengthy trip even more...
Madison Ackerman is the type of player head coach Todd Trobaugh wants in his Niwot High School girls basketball program. While the senior only averages about two points per game, she plays energetic defense, lifts her teammates, and is coachable. Those three attributes and others have made Ackerman a valuable member of the Cougar team. "She's not going to go out and be a great shooter, not going to be a great ball-handler, but she goes out and does the things you ask her to do on the court,"...
After winning seven of its first eight nonconference games to begin the season, the Niwot High School girls basketball team was greeted by stiffer competition when the Cougars opened their Granite Peaks League slate on Jan. 7. Niwot hosted Horizon High School and struggled on both ends of the court early, falling behind in the first quarter 25-3. The Cougars outscored the Hawks in the second half, 26-20, but ultimately dropped their league opener, 56-34. Freshman Alaina Loomis led the Cougars...
From his work inside the classroom to both of his demanding extracurriculars, few high school students are as well-rounded as Lucas Menza. A junior at Twin Peaks Classical Academy in Longmont, Menza wrestles for Niwot High School and plays violin in the Longmont Youth Symphony. The multi-talented Menza values his two after-school passions highly, but wrestling earned his undivided attention on Saturday, Jan. 4, at the Niwot Invitational. Menza wrestled in the 175-pound division and won his...
Luke Demmel may not always produce the flashiest offensive numbers, but his willingness to play defense and rebound has the Niwot High School varsity boys basketball team trending upward with conference play on deck. Through Niwot's first eight games, the senior Demmel led the Cougars in blocks (five) and ranked second in total rebounds (41). Those efforts haven't gone unnoticed by Head Coach Walker Bounds. "He comes in with his size, and his shot-blocking ability can help us alter shots around...
Looking to maximize one of his players' untapped potential, Niwot High School girls basketball head coach Todd Trobaugh has been pushing Hadie Adams to become a more willing shooter. The senior possesses the ability to thrive in the paint, and the Cougars need more offensive weapons. "We want her to score, we want her to shoot," Trobaugh said. "When she gets the ball in the paint, we want her taking it up. She has tremendous skills. She can be a double-digit scorer. When we get into the meat of...
The Niwot High School varsity boys basketball team closed its pre-holiday break schedule with a commanding win at Greeley West High School on Dec. 20. Senior guards Rohit Das and Archer Buckbee shined in the Friday evening affair, combining for 30 points in the Cougars' 58-48 victory. Das scored a team-high 18 points while Buckbee buried three 3-pointers. "Rohit's a very, very talented player," said Niwot Head Coach Walker Bounds. "He stepped up big for us today. He had some great takes at the...
Being a strong leader means more to Taylor Rodanski than to--- most other seniors. In truth, Rodanski made leadership one of his top priorities before his final season with the Niwot High School boys basketball team began earlier this month. He was inspired by last year's seniors and wanted to pass their wisdom down to his younger teammates. "In my junior year, we had two seniors (Jackson Carano and Brighton Langenegger) who were really big leaders on the court," Rodanski said. "They inspired...
Up 54-51 with only seconds remaining in regulation, the Niwot High School varsity girls basketball team could have folded when Mountain Range High School's Delilah Lucero hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from well beyond the arc to force overtime. Instead, second-year head coach Todd Trobaugh gathered his Cougars and urged them to move past the deflating end to the fourth quarter. Niwot embraced the message and rallied to a 66-59 win. "I sat them down and said, 'Hey, you knew it was gonna happen,...
Speedy point guard Thalia Almaraz is a large reason why the Niwot High School girls basketball team stands 2-0 on the young season. While those around her tired, Almaraz only grew stronger when Niwot and Mountain Range High School entered overtime on Friday, Dec. 6. The fourth-year varsity player embraced the extra minutes and scored five points in Niwot's 66-59 victory. "What kept me going was my mindset and just believing in myself," Almaraz said of her heroic overtime effort. Almaraz...
Playing alongside No. 4 doubles partner Tyler Chivukula, Oliver "Ollie" Jones enjoyed an impressive final season on the Niwot High School varsity boys tennis team. The two seniors rolled through the regular season, defeating duos from Monarch, Broomfield, Boulder, and Cheyenne Mountain high schools, among others. They then qualified for the Class 4A state individual tournament and nearly advanced to the No. 4 doubles championship match. "We lost in the semis, which was unfortunate, but we...
After moving from Texas to Colorado last year, then-junior Jiselle Sales was tasked with proving herself when she joined the Niwot High School varsity girls volleyball team. The Cougars already boasted a veteran top group and ample opportunities weren't guaranteed, leaving Sales without much playing time. Concurrently, she was faced with learning a new school and new people. "I was going to a whole new environment, and I had no idea who anyone was," Sales said. "I didn't know how to get around...
Reaching the state playoffs was an important goal for Niwot High School boys soccer senior Santiago Nahas as it was for his teammates. Nahas cracked Niwot's varsity roster for the first time this fall and was determined to capitalize on his lone season playing at the top. Unfortunately for Nahas and the Cougars, they hit a rough patch midway through the season, dropping three games in two weeks. "During that time, we were even contemplating if we were going to make it to the playoffs or not,"...
Evelyn Majka chose quite the time to deliver the first home run of her life. Playing in her final Niwot High School softball home game and navigating the emotions that come with it, Majka belted a Senior Day homer on Oct. 3. The first baseman entered the game against Silver Creek High School with only one extra-base hit on the season, making her blast particularly special. "It was really shocking," Majka said of her home run. "I did not expect it at all, and it was shocking to everybody else....
Competing in the state championships was a well-deserved ending to Eleanor Ottem's high school cross country career. After spending last year on junior varsity, the Niwot senior landed a varsity spot this fall and ultimately earned herself a trip to Colorado Springs for the Class 5A state meet on Saturday, Nov. 2. As the only senior on Niwot's girls team, she placed 60th (19 minutes, 37 seconds) at the challenging Norris Penrose Event Center course. Filled with emotion, Ottem expressed her...
Only a junior, Rocco Culpepper already owns one of the more impressive cross country-track and field resumes among prep runners in Colorado. The Niwot High School standout finished third in last year's Class 4A cross country state championships and is now poised to make a run at the 5A title in 2024. At the Region 3 meet on Oct. 24, Culpepper blew through the field on a windy afternoon in Broomfield, taking first at 15 minutes, 50.4 seconds. "The first mile felt pretty steady, it was a big...
Niwot High School sophomore Ero Tenz made history this fall as a defender on the first-ever varsity girls field hockey team in the Boulder Valley School District. Based out of Boulder High School, the BVSD varsity team supports two players from the St. Vrain Valley School District (Tenz and Erie High School junior Sunny Wolver), which doesn't support a girls field hockey program. The BVSD program had competed only at the sub-varsity level for the past two years. As the lone Niwot student on the...
A game-changing presence at the net, Brooke Caquelin is a large reason why the Niwot High School varsity girls volleyball team has cruised through most of its Granite Peaks League schedule. Through Oct. 13, the senior middle blocker owns the third-most kills (75) and the second-most total blocks (26) on a 12-3 Cougars squad that hasn't lost consecutive matches all year. Caquelin, displaying her growth mindset, believes Niwot still hasn't reached its ceiling. "I think we still have a long way to...
Passionate players are often found within the Niwot High School boys soccer program, but Jay Scharfe's dedication might be setting new standards. Described by Head Coach Stephen Dimit as one of the hardest-working players he has ever tutored, Scharfe aims to improve his game each day while helping others follow suit. "Every day at practice, I want to bring a certain level of effort and pride in what I'm doing," said Scharfe, a senior. "The reason we've (Niwot) been so good through so many years...
Playing in his first full season on the varsity squad, Andrew Fong has become a reliable force on Niwot High School boys tennis' No. 2 doubles line. Last year, Fong was a swing player, splitting time between the Cougars' junior varsity and varsity teams. Now, he's racking up victories alongside partner and fellow senior Gabe Bandera. According to MaxPreps, the two have picked up No. 2 doubles wins against duos from Monarch, Broomfield, and Legacy high schools. "I'm getting more consistent," Fong...
From the moment she joined the Niwot High School gymnastics program as a freshman, Head Coach Marisa Purcell knew there was something special about Maeve Flentie. "You'll find there's always that one freshman that kind of comes in," Purcell said. "She (Flentie) came in and just gets stronger and better every year, and she's a multi-sport athlete for her school." Flentie, a senior who attends Erie High School, dives and runs track for the Tigers, but gymnastics has been her primary passion since...
In her three-plus years at Niwot High School, senior Alena Kasanicky has learned that whether she's running or golfing, achieving success in athletics requires both physical and mental strength. While her primary sports don't share much in common from a physical standpoint, the mental side of each is fairly similar. Kasanicky knows that staying composed under pressure typically leads to strong results in golf, track and cross country. "They're definitely really different sports, but golf and run...
In an ultimately difficult second showing for the Niwot High School varsity football team, do-it-all senior Moises Gonzalez Avina represented one of the Cougars' brightest spots on Friday, Sept. 6. Avina played every snap of the game, including special teams, while staying positive throughout Niwot's 49-7 loss to Centaurus High School. His shining moment came on defense when he recorded an interception early in the second quarter. "I was just watching the O-line (offensive line) - we were going...
While playing the most physically demanding position on the diamond, senior Saleen Amaya has grown tremendously throughout her four seasons as Niwot High School softball's starting catcher. Amaya would be the first to admit that she struggled with blocking balls in the dirt and framing pitches early in her career. But with hard work and perhaps some patience on behalf of Niwot's coaching staff, her glovework has become a strength. "I feel like I've definitely developed a lot," Amaya said. "I...
Behind the right arm of ace pitcher Kianna Butler, the Niwot High School varsity softball team is off to an encouraging start in the newly formed Granite Peaks League. The Class 4A Cougars kicked off their league slate on Tuesday, Aug. 27, by hosting Erie High School, which reached the Class 5A state championship game last season. Unfazed, Butler struck out 15 Tigers and didn't walk anyone en route to a 1-0 victory. "I was really focused and took my time," Butler said following her complete-game...
Senior Tyler Chivukula doesn't take his new role as a Niwot High School boys tennis team captain lightly. "I take a lot of pride in it," Chivukula said. "Team captains are always someone that's looked up to. In the past, I've always looked up to the team captains. Being the person that's looked up to now is a really big honor." Along with fellow captains Charlie Kirtland and Rex Wallington, Chivukula is looking to improve the Cougars' chemistry throughout the entire program, junior varsity inclu...
With a new-look lineup, the Niwot High School boys tennis team navigated a rather chaotic first week of the season. The Cougars were tested immediately in their opener, going up against two-time defending Class 4A team state title winner Kent Denver School. In a match that began on Monday, Aug. 19, and wrapped up the following day due to rain, junior Oskar Hansen's 6-1, 6-2 performance at No. 3 singles represented Niwot's only winning line. "It was tough starting with Kent because (they're) the...
While baseball remains his ultimate priority, senior Jagger Kilpatrick is currently working toward other important goals with the Niwot High School boys golf team. The two-sport athlete would like to qualify for the state golf tournament later this fall, something he has yet to accomplish in his three-year career. Reaching that goal will require consistent practice and continued improvement on the mental side of golf, he believes. "It definitely would mean a lot because I didn't start playing...
Head coach Bobby Matthews witnessed a mix of good and bad throughout Niwot High School softball’s season-opening loss at Golden High School on Saturday, Aug. 17. Looking at the positives, Niwot’s offense limited the strikeouts and freshman second baseman Payton Stokes shined during her varsity debut. However, the Cougars’ seven defensive errors were too much to overcome in the 12-8 defeat. “It definitely showed our lack of experience together,” Matthews said. “We only really have three girls playing the exact same position as they did the yea...
Ryder Keeton's passion for running goes far deeper than his pursuit of state championships. While he remains focused on bringing big-time hardware back to Niwot High School, the junior cross country standout procures motivation through his love for the sport. Even something as simple as discovering a new running trail can gratify Keeton. "In training, I mostly enjoy exploring the environments where I can run and the trails I can run," Keeton said. "It's a really fun thing for me to explore." Con...
In many respects, this upcoming season will mark a new era for the Niwot High School softball program. Longtime head coach Bobby Matthews is still at the helm, but the Cougars' schedule will look slightly different this fall as Niwot joined the newly-formed Granite Peaks League. Other high schools in the conference include Broomfield, Erie, Fairview, Frederick, Holy Family, Horizon, Legacy, Longmont, Mead, Monarch, Skyline, and Silver Creek. The Cougars had been in the Longs Peak League, which...
Anna Prok won't lack for summer tales to share with her classmates next week when Niwot High School opens its doors for the new academic year. Along with training for her upcoming cross country season, Prok competed at the Nike Outdoors Nationals in June before joining Niwot teammate and close friend Addison Ritzenhein at the 2024 ESPY Awards on July 11. Prok, a rising junior, said it was a special experience to attend the ESPYs with Ritzenhein, who was being honored for winning the 2023-24 Gato...
After transferring out of Boulder High School's softball program following her freshman season, Madison Dodge remains grateful to have found a welcoming home at Niwot High School. Dodge, an outfielder, attends the Dawson School but because the private Lafayette prep institution doesn't have a softball program, she initially opted to play at Boulder. Unfortunately, things didn't work out with the Panthers, so she decided to join Niwot's program ahead of her sophomore year. Looking back, the...
