All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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After a disappointing 0-2 start to its season, the Niwot girls basketball team took a step in the right direction, but fell to the Longmont Trojans on Feb. 3, 45-33. Head coach Terri Ward blamed a poor first quarter in which the Cougars were outscored 14-1 for Niwot's eventual demise. "You can't score one point (in a quarter) in a varsity game and expect to win," Ward said. "It's not going to do it." Fortunately for Niwot, they settled in during the second quarter to claw back into the game....
With just one week to prepare, Niwot girls basketball opened its season on the wrong side of the scoreboard against Roosevelt on Jan. 26 and Riverdale Ridge on Jan. 30. Head coach Terri Ward dubbed Roosevelt a top-10 4A team and the Roughriders left Niwot's home court with a 79-19 win. Senior Grace Wardle led the Cougars in scoring with six points on a pair of three-pointers. Another senior, MacKenzie Demmel, who took last season off to play volleyball, used her hops to snag nine rebounds....
In April 2020, the St. Vrain Valley School Board authorized an architect design contract for an eight-lane swimming pool to be added onto Silver Creek High School. Nearly a year later, construction is set to begin in February and is expected to be completed in the fall. "People are excited about it," said Silver Creek Athletic Director Patrick DeCamillis. "I think it's a win for the community for sure, not just Silver Creek, but the St. Vrain community and Longmont in general." Up next on the ag...
Before the pandemic wreaked havoc on the Niwot sports calendar last spring, the most unprecedented thing about 2020 was the abysmal 2-21 record of the girls basketball team, the worst of longtime coach Terri Ward's career. But in 2021, the Cougars are returning several key players with experience, and Ward is looking for a return to normalcy-at least on the court. "The good piece is we don't have like only one returning starter or one returning player and (normally) we would have nine to 10...
This is the final entry in a three-part series on how the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on high school athletics have impacted college recruiting for the Class of 2021. Read part one here and part two here. One of the best ways for high school athletes to market themselves, particularly in baseball, is to attend showcase events. College coaches can watch potential recruits in action and assess the player competing against elite athletes, more than just through a highlight video. But with COVID, these events have suffered greatly. “(With) t...
First-year Niwot girls swim head coach Kyle Bachrodt will have limited time to learn his new team members. Although their final schedule hasn't been decided, meets are permitted to begin as soon as Jan. 25, just one week after the start of practice. Luckily for Bachrodt, he leads a Niwot team that is well-versed in success. The Cougars are coming off back-to-back Northern Conference championships and the expectations remain high in 2021. Former head coach Sarah Stamp stepped down following last...
After competing as a club team the past few seasons, the Niwot boys volleyball team will have to wait a little longer for the elusive official high school varsity designation. Budget cuts related to COVID-19 made the addition of a sport unfeasible in the St. Vrain Valley School District according to Niwot athletic director Joe Brown. In April 2019, the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) had approved boys volleyball to become a CHSAA sanctioned sport for the 2020-21 season, but...
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, mental health has become a strong area of concern in high school athletics. Last week, the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) hosted three webinars, "Taking Care of You, when Your World has been Turned Upside Down." The webinar featured JC Pohl, a licensed therapist, author and advocate for improving school culture, and Caleb Campbell, a former NFL player and mental health speaker. Student-athletes were given self-care strategies and advice on...
This is part two of a three-part series on how the COVID-19 pandemic and restrictions on high school athletics have impacted college recruiting for the Class of 2021. Read part one here. The effects of COVID-19 have hit the University of Colorado football program and head coach Karl Dorrell. The Buffs' 2020 season was pushed back two months and they will miss out on significant ticket revenue with Boulder County health regulations limiting fan attendance. "We have a really good recruiting class...
Luke Werner dedicated himself to the game of football at a young age. From hitting the field early in the wet, morning dew, and practicing after school until it was so dark he couldn't see the ball, it is safe to say that for this Boulder High School senior, life revolves around football. After playing 9 games total his sophomore and junior year, MaxPreps credited Wernerwith nearly 200 all-purpose yards at wide receiver. Although he specializes in being an impact player on offense, Werner is...
On Dec. 7, the Colorado High School Athletics Association announced that Season B, originally slated to begin in early January, will now be pushed to at least February. At Niwot High School, boys and girls basketball, girls swim and dive and wrestling are the sports impacted. CHSAA's verdict came after the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment expressed concern with statewide COVID-19 cases on the rise. CDPHE Executive Director Jill Hunsaker Rye prioritized getting students back...
Since the COVID-19 pandemic escalated in March, it has been a rollercoaster year for Niwot's Boy Scout Troop 161. Despite the challenges associated with running a troop during a pandemic, Head Scout Master Bill Dickens' group has adapted with ease. After halting operations for over a month in the spring, Troop 161 shifted to remote mode with virtual meetings. Dickens said the troop was mostly quiet over the summer and missed its planned trip to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. When Boulder...
Although this year's U.S. Arabian & Half-Arabian National Championship Youth Judging Contest was held virtually, it was the same story for the Colorado Arabian Horse Club's Region VIII team. Led by fifth-year coaches Kendra McConnell and Rachel LeClere, the club has won 19 of the last 20 national championships and did so again this November. In her first year competing at nationals, Niwot High School junior Lily Thomas earned the Reserve High Individual Overall. McConnell said that Thomas's...
Emotions were running high at Erie's Tiger Stadium on Friday, Nov. 20. In a season finale battle of winless teams, Niwot senior quarterback Ayden Bartko led a game-winning fourth-quarter drive to defeat the Thornton Trojans, 26-20. Head coach Nik Blume came away with his first win leading the green and white. He credited his resilient senior class for sticking together despite a challenging season. "I couldn't be more proud," Blume said. "Our seniors carried us tonight. (Wide...
Much to my surprise, I tested positive for COVID-19 in October. We all know of the highly contagious nature of the virus and unfortunately, I must have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. Yes, I am a 20-year-old college student attending CU Boulder, but I live with my parents in Longmont and limited myself to a small group of friends. Colorado’s cases are skyrocketing and unless you build a hut in Antarctica, odds are you’ll be exposed eventually. Despite this belief, it was still a shock when my turn came. Sometimes life doesn’t go your...
A late fourth quarter score silenced Niwot football's comeback effort against the Cheyenne Mountain Indians Friday night at Erie High School. Despite missing several key players to injuries, Niwot lost to Cheyenne Mountain by just one score, 27-20. Head Coach Nik Blume's squad is still in search of its first win through six games. Just days before the game, Niwot's originally scheduled opponent, the Mitchell Marauders, were forced to quarantine under COVID-19 safety protocols. Instead of facing...
After spending two years as head coach of Niwot’s junior varsity baseball team and two years as NHS varsity pitching coach, Colin York’s Niwot reign came to a close in October as he accepted the head baseball coaching position at Frederick High School. “I am incredibly excited for him,” said Niwot head coach Adam Strah. “I think he's going to do a great job. I think he's ready.” York’s ability to be a rock for Niwot was one of his best attributes according to Strah. A constant and calm presence isn’t a bad trait to have in this chaotic year. ...
For anybody who has followed Niwot football over the past few years, the name Ayden Bartko should ring a bell. Niwot's senior quarterback has just three games remaining in his high school career and his departure will leave a gaping hole for the Cougars. Between the lines, Bartko has racked up 2,865 passing yards in 32 career games dating back to his 2017 freshman year. At 6-foot-5 and 205 lbs, Bartko towers over his teammates and uses his height to comfortably read the field. Although it...
It will take at least another week for the Niwot Cougars (0-4) to secure their first win of the season after falling to the Lewis-Palmer Rangers, 44-16 Thursday night at host Erie High School. Navigating a "thin" roster, first-year Head coach Nik Blume was impressed with how his players continued to compete. Over half of Niwot's roster is composed of freshmen who have been tasked with learning on the run. "We knew it was a project coming in and you're seeing that for us right now every night...
Niwot High School athletic director Joe Brown has found his man in Kyle Bachrodt to take the reins for the Niwot swim team. “I really couldn't be more excited,” Bachrodt said. “Niwot is a very well-known program in all of their athletics (and) all of their academics. I've had a few meetings with the other head coaches in all of the sports and with our AD, and I couldn't be more proud to be working alongside with all of those folks.” Bachrodt, who grew up in Evergreen, attended the University of Colorado Boulder and helped win a national champio...
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...
