All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Sorted by date Results 301 - 350 of 350
Holy Family's 43-point first-quarter left little hope for the Niwot Cougars in Friday's football season opener. Niwot would fall to the Tigers, 50-14, under the lights at Mike G. Gabriel Stadium in Broomfield. Prior to the game, Niwot and Holy Family honored their senior classes in front of about 175 fans (mostly parents and a slew of students) per team. Head coach Nik Blume coached his first game at Niwot with over half of his roster consisting of freshmen. He said that his freshmen's need to...
Niwot football’s unusually long offseason finally has an end in sight for first-year head coach Nik Blume. Thirty-nine Cougars, including 16 freshmen, will kick things off Friday evening at Holy Family High School. Niwot’s season opener was supposed to be a home game but Blume opted to play in Broomfield to allow for more fans. SVVSD and BVSD officials announced a 175-person limit will be enforced at games. The opener will also be an early co-senior night between the schools and will honor the eight Niwot seniors. Blume said that Niwot was ini...
A promising first-five innings turned sour in the sixth for Niwot softball against Frederick on Thursday, Oct. 1. Niwot dropped its final game of the season at home, 16-4. The Cougars would finish 2020 with a 4-4 record in the Longs Peak Conference but fell short of Head coach Bobby Matthews' goal of a .500 overall record at 7-9. Although 16 was the winning number in Niwot's Sept. 24 victory over Frederick, Thursday's rematch didn't yield the same offensive output for Matthews' Cougars. Niwot...
In an eight-inning thriller east of I-25, Niwot softball upset the top-10 ranked Frederick Warriors 16-14 on its home turf on Thursday, Sept. 24. The Cougars moved to 6-8 on the season with two games remaining. Niwot played in its ninth game decided by two runs or less, but it was anything but close early on. Behind a two-run home run, Frederick scored three runs in the first inning off freshman pitcher Anne Booth before Niwot erupted for nine runs in the second. The Cougars were...
A lot of things had to go right for Niwot football to have a fall season, and somehow, they did. In early August, The Colorado High School Athletics Association (CHSAA) postponed football's fall season until the spring, but on Sept. 16, in conjunction with Gov. Jared Polis, CHSAA allowed football and cheer and dance to opt for a fall season. SVVSD athletic director Chase McBride then had to wait for local health officials to give permission, which they did on Sept. 17, and SVVSD jumped on the...
Back in mid-August, Niwot softball opened its season against Berthoud. It was not a competitive affair and the Cougars lost 15-0 in three innings. On Friday, Sept. 18, the two teams reconvened, this time in Niwot. Although Niwot lost again, 9-7, the team was hardly recognizable from a month ago. Niwot was without its freshman pitcher Anne Booth and junior shortstop Ayva McComas for the first meeting and their presence proved large in the rematch. Booth has been a workhorse all year for Niwot,...
In a time of great uncertainty, the recent interactions between the Colorado High School Athletics Association (CHSAA) and Gov. Jared Polis have not yielded much clarity. The rollercoaster of events began in early August when CHSAA restructured its fall sports slate; golf, softball, cross country and boys tennis were permitted while football, volleyball and boys soccer were pushed to 2021. Hope for a change in heart was minimal until Sept. 7 when it was reported that CHSAA Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green would be meeting with Gov. Polis and...
It took just three innings for Niwot softball to roll past Thompson Valley, 17-0, on Thursday, Sept. 3. The Cougars cranked out 14 hits and freshman Anne Booth left the Eagles hitless at Centennial Park in Loveland. Niwot, which improved to 3-4, has won three of its last four games after starting the season 0-3 and being outscored 39-5. Head coach Bobby Matthews applauded his team for applying the fundamentals learned in practice to the big stage. "It's especially nice when they do the things...
Local collegiate and high school football seasons may be on hold, but for Niwot Youth Sports flag football, it's nearly business as usual. Players ranging from kindergarten through fifth grade will grace the gridiron this fall at the Biff Warren Sports Complex on Nimbus Road. The league will consist of three age divisions (kindergarten/first grade, second/third grade and fourth/fifth grade) with four teams per division. Practice started on Aug. 31, and games will be played on Sundays beginning...
A relentless Roosevelt RoughRiders offense spoiled Niwot softball's home opener by a score of 18-0 on Saturday, Aug. 22. The Cougars dropped to 0-3 on the young season and are still looking to hit their stride in all facets of the game. Head Coach Bobby Matthews is tasked with developing a young Niwot team that includes five freshmen and just one senior. While you can't control every outcome in softball, Matthews targeted defensive communication and energy as two areas Niwot can improve upon...
Niwot softball's inexperience proved detrimental at Berthoud High School on Saturday, Aug. 15, as the Cougars dropped their season opener against the Spartans, 15-0. With four out of the nine starting Cougars fresh to the varsity level, Assistant Coach Jason Johnson said he told the girls after the game, "This won't define us." The unfamiliar stage of varsity competition is now a little more palatable for Niwot. "You could see a lot of nerves and first game jitters," Johnson said. "There's a...
Niwot High School head football coach Nikolas Blume had a gut feeling his inaugural season at Niwot would be delayed. Even so, the news was still a punch in the gut. "To be honest, I was pretty disappointed," Blume said. "My whole staff is pretty disappointed. There was a lot of time that had gone by and you could kind of see what else was happening around us. If that decision ultimately was going to be made, it could have been made a lot sooner." Blume's discontent stems from the hours of pract...
Direct impacts of COVID-19 have officially reached the fall with the Colorado High School Athletics Association (CHSAA) announcing its rearranged 2020-21 athletics and activities calendar. Instead of traditional fall, winter and spring sports seasons, CHSAA will now hold A, B, C and D seasons that will extend through June. Most notably, football, volleyball and boys soccer will move their usual fall slate to the early-March Season C. Boys tennis, golf, softball and cross country are continuing...
A shortened 16-game season and limited varsity roster will only heighten the excitement for Niwot High School softball this fall. Coming off a 12-14 season, Coach Bobby Matthews leads a young roster into what will be, one way or another, a historic 2020 season. Per the Colorado High School Athletic Association's (CHSAA) COVID-19 regulations, there will be no non-conference matchups and only 16 guaranteed games opposed to the usual 23 games. That means Niwot will only be facing teams from the...
On July 29, the Colorado High School Athletics Association (CHSAA) announced that boys tennis and softball would join boys golf for the fall 2020 sports season. As of Aug. 2, other fall sports including football and volleyball are still awaiting a verdict. Softball and boys tennis are permitted to begin official practices on Aug. 10 with competition starting as soon as Aug. 13. Health and safety is a top priority and CHSAA has made significant modifications to each sport’s season. Per CHSAA, the softball season will be shortened from 23 to 1...
In last week's edition of the Left Hand Valley Courier, we covered the story behind Niwot's Ritz Field, named after Colorado Rockies pitcher Kevin Ritz. We now turn our attention towards its neighbor, Hagen Field, named after the late Greg Hagen. Hagen was a parent volunteer for Niwot Youth Sports. When NYS lost the use of borrowed fields in Niwot at 83rd and Neva Road, Hagen helped erect the backstops at three new fields on Left Hand Water District property off Nimbus Road. When Hagen died...
Niwot High School girls swim coach Sarah Stamp has run out of superlatives for her top swimmer, Mary Codevilla, who appears on the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association 2019-2020 All-American list for the second straight year. "I would say undoubtedly, probably the most well-rounded, top swimmer that (has) come through Niwot, hands down," Stamp said in describing the outstanding swimmer. Codevilla's talent is recognized past Niwot with her name splashed throughout the NISCA...
Niwot Youth Sports baseball was thriving in the 1990s and was in desperate need of additional fields for its over 500 ballplayers. NYS was limited to local school fields and borrowed land for much of its then 20-year history. The situation was not ideal for a growing program. Former NYS Softball director Jim Martinsen reached out to the Left hand Water District in hopes of securing land for future ballfields and his wish was granted. NYS quickly constructed three makeshift fields adjacent to...
Eleven years and a slew of accomplishments later, Niwot girls swimming head coach Sarah Stamp is calling it quits. "It was just time to step away and focus on my full time job and my family," she said. "I have a little one, so time's a precious thing... (it's) time to let someone else come in and take over." During her tenure as a coach at Niwot, Stamp won back-to-back Northern Conference crowns and led the Cougars to a 4A state runner-up spot in 2019. She was also the statewide 4A Coach of the...
In a not-so-normal summer, a scrappy Boulder Collegians squad is making wins the norm. Led by first-year Collegians' manager Mark Goodman, Boulder boasts a 14-10 record through July 4 and looks to make a run at the Rocky Mountain Baseball League crown. Nine of Boulder's 14 victories have come by three runs or less and whether you chalk it up to luck or not, the Collegians are getting the job done. General Manager Matt Jensen believes the Collegians' unique capacity to win close games could be...
Equipped with a five-phase plan of return, , SVFC club soccer is returning to the pitch. SVFC is currently in phase three of its plan and expects to move forward as state and local regulations surrounding coronavirus loosen. According to St. Vrain FC (SVFC) executive director Daniel Jones, it's been a long time coming for players to finally see some action. Since the pandemic's arrival and up until early June, SVFC was stuck in phase one, which included team technical, development, tactical and...
Airlines have been hit hard during the coronavirus pandemic and Frontier Airlines President and CEO Barry Biffle is leading the charge with precautions as travel slowly increases. "It's been pretty tough on the industry overall," said Biffle, a Niwot resident. He remains hopeful that Frontier will emerge strong and continue to serve Colorado and beyond. Despite rigorous precautions, the airline industry has struggled with stay at home orders enveloping the country. Fortunately for Frontier,...
Creativity flows through 10-year-old Edsel whether he's drawing comics or working on his local newspaper, the Neighborhood Awesomeness. Edsel has noticed there are "many awesome things happening in the neighborhood," and he wanted to display that during the stressful times of a pandemic. His mother, Catherine, has helped Edsel print over 25 copies of the Awesomeness and distribute it throughout their central Niwot neighborhood, rain or shine. The now bi-weekly paper began when Colorado went...
SVVSD athletics took another step towards normalcy on Monday with its teams getting the green light to begin practices. When Boulder County and state coronavirus regulations began to loosen, District Athletic Director Chase McBride jumped at the chance to bring sports back. “We had intended to start at the beginning of June, but the health guidelines that we had to adhere to at that point didn't offer us the opportunity to gather and to participate in athletics and activities,” McBride said. “We just continued to monitor guidelines as they...
After months of waiting, Niwot will get another glimpse of normality with Niwot Youth Sports (NYS) participants returning to action. This summer will feature a resumption of the spring baseball and softball seasons, but not without an abundance of caution. Competitive baseball practices are underway and recreational baseball teams will start practicing on June 15. A renewal of the spring soccer season was also in discussion according to NYS Executive Director Patrick Longseth, but ultimately can...
Baseball is in full swing once again and the Boulder Collegians wrapped up their first week of play against the Gameday Saints. Boulder has had limited practice time due to coronavirus restrictions and Collegians' first-year manager and last season's pitching coach Mark Goodman was excited to finally hit the diamond. "I'm just happy that we have baseball we're able to play," Goodman said. "It's too early to figure out what's going on with who, but just being in the dugout with the boys is...
Niwot High School girl's basketball head coach Terri Ward has quite the connection in the world of women's athletics. Ward, who is also a graduate of Niwot High, was the Director of Basketball Operations at the University of Colorado in the mid-1980s under legendary University of Colorado women's basketball coach, Ceal Barry. The two have continued to be close friends after Ward's path took her to Niwot over 30 years ago. Barry ended her coaching career in 2005 and in May, Barry announced her pl...
Despite the Colorado High School Athletic Association’s move to allow school districts to make their own decision regarding extracurriculars as of June 1, the St. Vrain Valley School District will hold off until July to comply with Boulder County health guidelines. SVVSD director of athletics Chase McBride will still remain flexible considering the volatility of the situation. “Things change every day and it’s almost impossible to make a plan because as soon as we start working on it, the very...
Staying occupied has been a challenge for many during quarantine, but not for 11-year-old Simon in Gunbarrel. Simon has remained productive by writing and distributing a newsletter for his neighborhood. Over 300 copies of the inaugural Gunbarrel Herald hit the streets on April 24. With now two issues under his belt, Simon has touched on a variety of subjects including neighborhood businesses, reading and outdoor recommendations and local birds. His intentions were to simply shine a little...
After months of uncertainty, the haze is finally clearing for the Boulder Collegians and general manager Matt Jensen. The Collegians' 2020 season will undoubtedly look different, but the baseball will look all the same. Due to Boulder County and Boulder City health and safety precautions surrounding the coronavirus, baseball simply isn't feasible for the Collegians at Scott Carpenter Park in Boulder. Instead, Jensen has found a new home for his team in Kersey, Colo., about 10 miles southeast of...
Carson Simon has experienced an event that not many high schoolers can relate to. In January 2018, Simon and his father were in a single engine airplane accident due to an engine failure at Longmont's Vance Brand Airport. Simon suffered multiple injuries, including a concussion and a hairline fracture in his back, but he made it out alive. The Niwot High School student was swimming for Silver Creek High School's combined boys squad four months later. Simon is one of the more remarkable...
When Niwot High School track coach Maurice Henriques discovered he had contracted the coronavirus, he was neither surprised nor intimidated. Henriques's wife Christina works as a nurse and with her increased exposure, they were both prepared for a COVID-19 diagnosis. Fortunately for Henriques, he believes his week-plus stretch of mild symptoms is improving and his wife's symptoms have subsided after just a few days. His wife has even been cleared to return to work as soon as next week. "She's a...
First-year Niwot girls soccer Head Coach Jenna Machado will have to wait a little longer for her inaugural season in green and white. But for her 11 seniors, it’s no longer a matter of patience when their season was officially cancelled on April 21. Niwot had gotten just two scrimmages in before the season was put on hold in early March. “It’s definitely not what I expected,” Machado said. “I really feel the most for the players and the seniors especially. What they’re going through is really a difficult thing. I couldn’t imagine having my sen...
At the University of Colorado Boulder, campus has been a little quieter this spring with the March 11 announcement that in-person classes would be moved online. Five days later, CU recommended all students living in dormitories move back home. But for some, that wasn't an option. Senior David Broughton is a resident advisor (R.A.) at Hallett Hall and one of the few still living on campus. Broughton said there are approximately four students and six R.A.'s remaining at Hallett Hall. Hallet's population of about 10 students is the lowest in the...
Playing collegiately is a goal for many high school athletes across the country. It takes talent, hours of work, and equally important, the ability to get recognized and connected with a college coach. Niwot High School counselor and Head Track and Field Coach Kelly Christensen has not let the coronavirus prevent him from helping student athletes connect with colleges. "We're doing more than we normally would as far as really reaching out to coaches of these programs that kids want to go to and...
If you haven't noticed by now, this spring has been a little different. The birds are still chirping and the flowers are still blooming, but the absence of baseball is apparent. As of April 12, CHSAA has put a halt to all spring sports until at least April 30. Local high school baseball programs are feeling the ramifications. With the state-wide stay at home order extending through April 26, there seems to be little realistic hope baseball will be played in the near future. "I would be more surp...
A world put on pause can be a difficult time for some, but for Niwot High School head boys soccer coach Stephen Dimit, the absence of spring sports only means new possibilities. His new podcast, “Make Your Mindset,” aims to mentor high school athletes during their time off the field. His first episode dropped March 31 and featured Oregon State University men’s soccer player Joel Walker. Dimit plans on releasing weekly episodes with guests ranging from college athletes to coaches and local sports-minded friends. “A lot of the people that we...
Former Niwot High School baseball player Caleb Martinez was shocked when he learned his sophomore season at Northwest Nazarene University in Idaho would be canceled due to the coronavirus. "It was just unreal," he said. Martinez pitched for Niwot High from 2017-18 and pitched for the Boulder Collegians this past summer, and he was looking to make an impression after redshirting his freshman season. The coronavirus caught him and his teammates off guard. "On Monday, we were getting ready for the...
In what has been a difficult time for baseball fans, the Boulder Collegians are hoping their 2020 season won't contribute to the list of disappointments. Owner and General Manager Matt Jensen, a former assistant coach at Niwot High School and head coach at Monarch High, is hopeful but prepared for the worst as their summer season nears. Fortunately for the Collegians, they have the luxury of time compared to the not-so-fortunate spring programs across the country. High school teams in Colorado w...
Coming off a Northern Conference championship and a 4A runner-up finish last season, the Niwot girl's swim team looks to continue its success with a fresh lineup of swimmers. Head coach Sarah Stamp leads a young 2019 squad that has already shown promise. "We're in a unique spot because we graduated 16 seniors last year," said Stamp, who is in her eleventh season at the helm. "I think our seniors this year are finding their voice after having such a powerful and present senior class (last year)....
The Niwot Cougars volleyball team is faced with a challenge to start the season. After graduating an elite senior class last year, now is the time to write a new chapter in the program’s history. Fortunately for Niwot, a slew of fresh faces has brought new excitement to the program. Head coach Daisha Agho will lead the Cougars, who are comprised of seven underclassmen and just one senior on the varsity squad. “It’s definitely a huge gap, we got to fill some shoes for sure, but as far as the g...
A strong upper class will help the Niwot Cougars boys soccer team vie for a Northern League championship. Led by head coach Stephen Dimit, the Cougars have the leadership and work ethic to make 2019 exciting. Finding consistency was something the Cougars struggled with last year. A talented, but young team produced a 9-7-1 record, good enough for fourth in the Northern League. Fortunately for the Cougars, they’ll be returning their leading scorer from last year, junior Keegan Stobbe, as well a...
When head coach Jeremy Lanter took over Niwot’s football program, he began a mission to build great young men and to get students involved. Now in year three, he is doing just that. More students are coming out to play football and there is a buzz around the program. In Lanter’s mind, a successful season isn’t necessarily determined by wins and losses. These student-athletes aren’t playing for multi-million dollar contracts and Lanter’s perspective is often forgotten at the high school le...
Reaching the state tournament is a goal for any team, but especially for Niwot softball head coach Bobby Matthews and his Cougars. Coming up just one game short of making state last year will only fuel the fire in 2019. With a solid core of returning starters, their goal could soon become reality. With a small graduating class from last season, the Cougars will return all but two starters. This year’s returners will also have the experience and knowledge of how to compete for a postseason s...
The track and field and cross country scene in Niwot hasn’t been the same since R.E.A.L. Training Colorado opened its doors in 2007. Led by accomplished coaches Maurice Henriques and Kelly Christensen, the facility offers top level instruction for track and field and cross country athletes. Hard work is a top priority at R.E.A.L. and the athletes take this to heart. Bringing on runners that exemplify these traits is a top priority for Henriques. The success that his runners have had is no m...
Trevor Smith is no stranger to climbing mountains, literally. Born without a right hand, Smith has worked his way to become one of the best paraclimbers in the nation and he doesn’t plan on stopping there. At just 17 years old, he has already competed in the International Federation of Sports Climbing World Championships, twice. What’s even more impressive is that he picked up the sport just three years ago. “Last year was definitely a real eye opening experience for me,” said Smith, who pla...
American Legion Baseball has been a staple in Colorado for years. Due to the influx of club baseball teams, the storied organization is struggling to attract local players and schools to participate. Silver Creek High School head baseball coach Bradley Steward encourages his players to choose the legion route during the summer season. “It’s one of the last traditions of the way baseball used to be,” said Steward, who will be entering his second season leading the Raptors. “They’re just fighting the battle of these club teams popping up, and t...
Less than two months ago, the Boulder Collegians’ upcoming season was full of anticipation. Players from all across the country were arriving in Boulder, optimistic for what was ahead. But just like that, it was over. Over 40 games later, the boys of summer are headed home. The Collegians’ 2019 campaign was full of ups and downs, but one thing that remained the same was the loyalty of their fans. General Manager Matt Jensen said the season broke seven-year attendance records. Scott Car...
The future of Niwot baseball is bright with players on a talented 11-year-old squad hitting their stride. Head coach David Gaccetta led the Niwot Youth Sports Cougars to a 27-4 record and an impressive showing in the 12-year-old state tournament. For the past five years, Gaccetta has watched this team develop as ballplayers and as teammates. It all came into fruition this season. “It’s been really neat watching them (go) from learning how to just play catch with each other to some of the ama...
With just one year of high school swimming under her belt, Mary Codevilla has already put her name among the top swimmers in the nation. The Niwot freshman swam her way into the top 100 in the country in the 200-yard individual medley and 500-yard freestyle, becoming a National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association (NISCA) All-American. Codevilla, who won an individual championship at state last year, has undeniably excelled in her young career. Niwot girls swimming coach Sarah Stamp...
