All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
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If Niwot wrestling's performance at the 2022 Class 4A Region 3 championships had a title, it would be "A Series of Unfortunate Events." It all started with an injury to a top wrestler in the days before the regional, and ended with a stunning reversal in the third period of a wrestleback match. Like the fictionalized series of the same name, there were plenty of plot twists along the way, but unlike the books, this tale did not have an ambiguous conclusion. For the second straight year, no...
The popular weekly concert series Rock & Rails is returning to Niwot's Whistle Stop Park for 13 shows in 2022, and organizers are gearing up for another great summer of live music and family fun on Thursday nights. "We're looking forward to another successful season," co-manager Bruce Warren of the Niwot Cultural Arts Association said. "We're adding some new local talent for opening acts along with the return of popular favorites." Along with Warren, Dan Hawk of Edward Jones and Vicki Maurer of...
In his nearly two decades coaching high school track and field - the past 11 of which having come at Niwot - Maurice Henriques, or as he's affectionately known as Coach Mo, has accrued a good deal of wisdom. Some of that insight, and perhaps more importantly to Henriques, life insight, will now be shared with the world as he was featured in a recently published book, "30 Days with America's High School Coaches." Author Martin A. Davis Jr. interviewed many of the country's top high school...
As both a featured performer and student dance director for Niwot High's upcoming production of "Mamma Mia", senior Aliyah Backus doesn't have a lot of leisure time these days. But the talented dancer is gaining a new appreciation for her craft, and picking up valuable skills along the way. "I'm learning more and more with every single rehearsal that we have," Backus said of her new role on the stage. "It's difficult, especially with the fact that I'm in a lot of the numbers that I'm teaching...
When Ashlee Wood heard about the new unified basketball team coming to Niwot High, she was excited about the chance to test her burgeoning skills on the court. "My brothers actually started playing basketball, and then after a little bit I started wanting to try too," the sophomore said. "I've played for fun with my brothers, but I've never really played before on a team." The sophomore finally got her chance last month when the Cougars' unified team made its debut, featuring eight athletes...
Outside of the Cougar cheer squad, you probably won't find a student with more unabashed school spirit than Niwot junior Ryan Gray. Whether it's cheering on the home team at a state tournament, or spearheading a student council fundraiser, if it helps the NHS community, it's likely that Gray is involved. But his Niwot spirit doesn't stay on the campus grounds. As student council vice-president, he is working to forge a stronger relationship between the school and the town's organizations, with...
Growing up in Skåne, Sweden, Martin Marks and his brother, Mike, loved music. "It can be life-changing or just something that brightens your day but without it, our lives are certainly empty," said Marks. Together, they started a band and began traveling the world, performing in Stockholm, Los Angeles, Boulder and more. Their music even extended to iconic venues like The Troubadour and reached as high as #2 on the MTV Nordic Top Five. Eventually, Marks settled in California and ran a music...
A slow start kept the Niwot boys fighting to close the gap against a strong Thompson Valley team Jan. 28 in a game the Cougars eventually lost 74-52. The final score was not indicative of how close the game was for three-plus quarters as the now 2-11 Cougars battled a TV team that came into the game with a 9-6 record. Earlier in the week Niwot suffered an embarrassing 81-29 loss to Frederick High School, and the young Cougar squad looked like it was in for more of the same for half of the first...
Halftime of the Niwot-Thompson Valley boys basketball game provided an opportunity for Niwot athletic director Joe Brown to recognize the Niwot High School girls cross-country team and Coach Kelly Christensen for their outstanding season, which included not only a state Class 4A state title, but also a national cross-country championship. After the state high school championship, the squad traveled to Huntsville, Ala. for the national cross-country championship, and came back with a victory....
Although much of the publicity has died down in the month since the Marshall Fires, Niwot community members are continuing to rally to help victims of the tragedy. Stepping up now is as important as it was before. It may be more important. "The needs of the victims are a lot clearer," said Deborah Reed Fowler of DRF Real Estate whose office has been collecting donations for victims. "We've been talking with Boulder Community Foundation, Boulder County and with victims directly or with friends...
Sofiya Ivanova has always been creative, dabbling in creative writing and songwriting, but poetry is what really captures her interest. "It feels holy," she said, almost wistfully, describing the writing process as something akin to flying, or an out of body experience. "Art," and poetry specifically, she said, "Is the way positive energy can be channeled." For Ivanova, poetry has been present throughout her life–whether she was trying to make sense of a Lyme Disease diagnosis or make sense o...
It has been three long seasons since the Niwot girls swim team has had a home pool, but with the opening of the Aquatic Center of St. Vrain Valley earlier this month, its wandering days are over. On Jan. 21, the Cougars tested the new waters against league rival Roosevelt, and, for head coach Kyle Bachrodt, having a place that the team can officially call its own is nothing short of "amazing." "To be 15 minutes from school is so convenient for us," he said of the new facility, located next to...
With five individual state championships and a Class 4A record to her name, there isn't much territory left for standout Mary Codevilla to conquer in high school swimming. But she still has lofty goals for her senior season, and not just in the pool. "Since I've already committed this year, it's just about fun," the fourth-year varsity and Notre Dame-bound swimmer said between events at a recent meet. "It's about being a good leader to the team, and passing down the knowledge that I've gained...
Jenna Kate Olschlager Williams (37) passed away peacefully with family by her side on December 11, 2021, in Aurora, CO, from complications of multiple autoimmune diseases. Jenna was born on March 7, 1984, in Harvey, ND, to Terry and Sandra (Wittenberg) Olschlager. She grew up on a farm near Fessenden, ND, and graduated from Fessenden-Bowdon High School in 2002. She earned a degree in Music Education from North Dakota State University and a Master of Music Education degree from Colorado State...
It’s two weeks into the New Year and everyone knows what that means–New Year’s Resolution time. Many Americans will make some sort of decision related to health and wellness, especially with the ever-present COVID pandemic wreaking havoc in our lives. “New year, new me,” as the saying goes. But in speaking with Scott Meier of Haystack Muay Thai and Maurice Henriques of REAL Training, “new me” seems like it’s extending beyond one’s physique. “Sometimes people get caught up in all the results,” said Henriques, a former CU athlete who is also t...
On Jan. 29, from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. the Niwot Business Association is hosting the second annual Après-Ski Pop-Up Celebration. Come to Downtown Niwot with your family and friends to enjoy all the frigid festivities, such as hot meals, horse-drawn carriage rides and live music performances. Restaurants and businesses will be serving special meals and selling merchandise for the occasion: Niwot Tavern will be serving chili; there will be a mulled wine tasting at Inkberry Books; other vendors will...
After a truncated 2021 high school season, full-scale wrestling tournaments are back in 2022, and, locally, that means a packed house at Niwot High for the ninth annual Gary Daum Classic, held Jan. 8. More than two hundred wrestlers plus their fans and coaches turned out for the all-day event, named for legendary Cougar wrestling coach Gary Daum (1977-2005), who passed away in 2013 after an illness. On the mat, Cougar wrestlers delivered mixed results, landing Niwot in the bottom quarter of the...
The 2022 edition of the Gary Daum Classic at Niwot High School began with the traditional welcome by NHS Wrestling Coach Bobby Matthews, who introduced Garin Daum, son of the late long-time Niwot wrestling coach for whom the wrestling tournament is named. Matthews gave a history of Coach Daum's teaching and coaching career, noting that in addition to serving as Niwot High wrestling coach, he also coached softball and football while teaching special education students at Niwot. Matthews first...
When a call for help goes out in Niwot, it seems as though Gil Pomeroy's hand shoots up faster than anyone else's. Oktoberfest, Rock & Rails, Niwot Jazz Festival, you name it, he's there. Pomeroy may be new-ish to town, but he quickly started giving his time and energy to make Niwot a better place. He's made loads of new friends and admirers along the way. That's why a long-time Niwot resident suggested we feature Pomeroy in our Familiar Face column and learn about his life. Left Hand Valley...
On Dec. 17, the Niwot Rotary Club celebrated 13 years of service, both in the local community and across international borders. As part of the Rotary tradition, a new president's name is added to their podium and all past presidents reunite in celebration. Sadly, the founding president, Eli Buzas, passed away from COVID-19 in January 2021. Current president Karrin Reichen said Buzas was a wonderful friend who inspired her to join the Rotary Club. Reichen is proud to be leading her club since...
A trio of Niwot girls volleyball players and one boys soccer star received CHSAA All-State honors following the conclusion of the fall 2021 season. On the soccer pitch, Niwot senior attacker Azael Marrufo was by far the Cougars' most frequent scorer in 2021. A first team All-State selection, Marrufo scored 18 goals and eight assists in the Cougars' 17 games. Head Coach Stephen Dimit said Marrufo's season was particularly impressive due to his knack for scoring in big situations. Marrufo netted a...
Like it or not, 2022 is just around the corner, and if your plans for the new year involve bettering the world, there's no better place to start than your own community. The Left Hand Valley is home to dozens of non-profit organizations that are making a difference, and they need engaged volunteers to help them do it. No experience is necessary; there's a position for you. By volunteering, not only are you helping your community, you'll also reap the benefits from connecting with others, learnin...
After pausing mid-season due to the pandemic, the Centennial State Ballet (CSB) was elated to return to Niwot High School to perform The Nutcracker this year. The 2021 production marks the company's tenth anniversary season and has moved from a completely online model to a hybrid one, offering in person performances in addition to the live-streamed option. "Last season, we filmed our performances at locations around Longmont, partnering with local businesses and organizations to bring the story...
Not much went right for the Niwot girls basketball team in the Trojan Classic Invitational, hosted by Longmont High from Dec. 16-18. The Cougars' scorching start to the season was simmered with losses to Thomas Jefferson, Evergreen and Longmont. In the span of about 48 hours, Niwot watched its 4-1 record slip to 4-4. Up first in the tournament for Niwot was Thomas Jefferson on Dec. 18. Niwot trailed by just three points following the first quarter but progressively watched the deficit increase...
Senior swimmer Mary Codevilla’s Niwot legacy grew a little larger following a pair of historic races at the REX Coaches Invite on Dec. 18. Codevilla, a Notre Dame commit, has been swimming for the USA National Junior Team and the REX Invite was her first meet of the season with Niwot. Her senior debut was a good one as she broke a pair of school records at the Veterans Memorial Aquatics Center in Thornton. Her time of 2:02.56 in the 200 IM and 50.71 in the 100 freestyle were both Niwot bests. Unsurprisingly, both of Codevilla’s record times had...
Behind any community event in Niwot, there is an unsung army of volunteers, handling details and logistics that most attendees overlook. Among them is the Niwot road crew, a group that has been dedicated to keeping the town's parades and festivals pedestrian-friendly since 2014. "We started with seven, and it blossomed from there," Dick Piland said of the group he founded as Niwot Community Association president nearly a decade ago. "It was amazing. We had people calling up insisting they get...
On Tuesday, Dec. 7, Niwot resident Steve Herring found three bobcats lounging on Paiute Avenue. He was walking his dogs at 9 a.m. when he saw the felines, two lying together on a neighbor's front lawn, while the other sat by the shoe of a gutter. Herring watched them in awe for about five minutes, and none of the bobcats minded him or his dogs. Herring said he has heard other rumors of a bobcat appearing in the same backyard and another one walking behind Niwot High School. As of now, these...
Thomas Cross "Tom" Theobald was born December 18, 1942, in Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Austin "Tex" Theobald and Betty Cross Theobald. Tom's early years were divided between living at a lake in southern Wisconsin with his mother, and in Colorado with his father. These early years fostered an appreciation of nature and the outdoors that stayed with him his whole life. Tom graduated from high school in Wisconsin and went on to earn a degree from the University of Wisconsin – Madison, putting himself t...
We are proud to introduce The Green and Black, Niwot High School's own student produced newspaper. This newspaper began as an IB CAS project in 2020, and has grown into so much more. Now with over 50 student staff members, The Green and Black is a reflection of what students at Niwot are passionate about - our voices reflect our ideas about our school, our communities, and the world that we live in. You can view all of our content, including full monthly issues, on our website thegreenandblack.c...
Evelyn Mason is a naturally gifted musician who has been playing piano and violin since a very young age. Now a junior at Niwot High, she is the longtime concertmaster for the school’s symphony orchestra, and is a “good role model for her peers”, according to director Keynes Chen. “She has consistently performed at an exemplary level,” he wrote in an email. “Her leadership contribution to our orchestra program is well noted by everyone, and she has earned the respect and love from her peers through her passion, high spirit, friendlines...
The Niwot girls swim team has faced its share of challenges over the past few seasons, from lack of a home facility, to a coaching turnover, and, of course, the myriad complications due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But with a new St. Vrain Valley district pool set to open next month, plus a more conventional schedule in 2021-22, senior Rowan Osgood is excited for her best swim season yet. "I absolutely think there's more stability this year," the third-year veteran said of her Niwot swimming...
Her winning word may have been 'mystified', but fifth grader Sylvia Madry was anything but as she outlasted 11 other contestants to take first place in the 13th annual Niwot Elementary spelling bee, held Dec. 1. The repeat champion correctly spelled a total of 14 words, including 'technique', 'drudgery', and 'permanence', but it was the first round word she found most memorable afterwards. "My favorite word was 'mink', because the definition was hilarious," she said. For the win, Madry received...
Families in search of a live Christmas tree have their pick of options, but each December many find themselves at Creekside Nursery's Christmas Tree lot at 95th Street and Niwot Road. "We draw new people every year, but we've also had a lot of repeat customers, some even from out of state." said co-owner and Niwot High graduate Shannon Von Eschen, who spoke between helping shoppers at the end of a busy weekend day. The lot provides a range of both Colorado native varieties as well as those from...
The 2021-22 season of Niwot boys basketball debuted on Dec. 2 to mostly positive reviews from third-year coach Clayton Wittrock, after the Cougars posted a 42-32 win over Denver West in the first of three back-to-back-to-back games at home. Behind notable performances from senior Rowan Granat and newcomer Jack Jarvis, Niwot showed signs of improvement on both sides of the court, giving Wittrock a reason to believe that the woes of the past might be receding. "Going into the half, we were just...
The 2021-22 Niwot girls basketball team is on the path to redemption after posting just two wins during the prior two seasons. Helping lead them there is senior captain Madison Tajchman, a second-year varsity guard and natural leader, according to Cougars' new head coach Jon Hill. "Maddi represents our program and Niwot as a whole in a positive light, and is probably our biggest voice, along with Carly [Toothaker]," Hill said after a recent win. "She's an amazing student, on and off the floor....
In 2020, charitable giving rose to an all-time high in the U.S., even as many Americans struggled with uncertainty and disruptions. While that is good news for the nation's non-profit organizations, the unfortunate reality is that much of the bounty went to high profile causes and groups, leaving small and locally-focused charities scrambling to make up for lost fundraising opportunities. As 2021 comes to a close, many of those groups could still use some help to balance the scales. "There are a...
One day in 2012, a group of moms got together for lunch. All of them had gone to college, and all were part of PEO International, which seeks to help women with their higher education goals. With children of their own, many of whom would soon graduate high school, these mothers wondered how they would best be able to help them. Inspired, they began an annual Q&A event that included counselors, parents of students who had graduated, students who were now in college, and there was one aim–how d...
Turkey Trots seem to be the ubiquitous activity of choice for many on Thanksgiving morning. These fun races vary in distance from 5k to 10k (sometimes longer, sometimes shorter) and usually feature more than a few people festively sporting a turkey outfit. This year, in lieu of trotting, some Niwot runners opted to take their Turkey Trot to the track - for a speedy mile run at the Turkey Mile 4 REAL. The event, which was put on by REAL Training, featured seven one-mile races hosted at the Niwot...
The importance of small community papers I recently viewed an excellent PBS documentary about the Storm Lake Times in Storm Lake, Iowa. One in four local newspapers have been shuttered in this country, many bought up by big national corporations. I love that Niwot has a local newspaper that keeps the community current on local news and events, including our talented high school athletes and all the amazing folks who volunteer to help make Niwot the friendly community we all enjoy. I love supporting LHVC and reading the paper digitally so I can...
CROSS COUNTRY Taylor James (Niwot) is on the Cross Country roster for Stanford University this fall, but has not officially competed for the Cardinal yet. James, a freshman, will have an opportunity to run her trademark events (200M, 400M, 800M, Mile) during the indoor and outdoor track seasons. Her Stanford biography notes that her grandmother, Jana Veverkova (200M, 4x100M), and grandfather, Zdenek Veverka (triple jump), are both Czech Republic track and field national record-holders. Eva...
CROSS COUNTRY Lucca Fulkerson (Niwot), a freshman at Princeton University, helped her squad to a second-place finish at the Lehigh Invitational Sept. 3, when all five runners crossed the 6K finish line together, good for an eighth-place tie at 22:14.8. She followed with a fourth-place finish at the Harvard-Yale-Princeton meet Sept. 11, with a time of 16:28.3 for the 4800-meter race. At the Princeton Invitational she finished seventh with a time of 21:44.2 for the 6K. At the NCAA Mid-Atlantic...
Isabella Steiner, a senior at Niwot High School, is shown competing with her horse Hazel. Isabella has been named 2021 Grand Champion of the Children's Jumping Division for the Colorado Hunter Jumper Association. She will be competing in Las Vegas later this month for a national title from the United States Hunter Jumper Association....
November is turning out to be eventful for Niwot junior Lucas Haratsaris, a talented saxophonist in the school's advanced jazz band. On Nov. 13, he submitted an audition for the Colorado All-State Jazz Band, which band director Wade Hendricks described as "incredibly challenging to get into." He followed that up on Nov. 15 with a day of rehearsing and performing with the Combined League Honor Jazz Band, a group composed of the upper quadrant of Colorado band students. To top it off, after...
On Nov. 10, Niwot High seniors (from left) Morgan Daugherty (volleyball), Zane Bergen (track and cross country), Zoe Gibbs (volleyball), and Mary Codevilla (swim and dive), signed letters of intent to compete in their sports at the next level. Bergen will be the fourth Niwot runner moving west to Stanford, while Codevilla, defending state champion in two swimming events, is headed east to Notre Dame. Teammates Daugherty and Gibbs are both heading north of Niwot-Gibbs to UNC in Greeley, and...
As part of the effort to update the town's five-year strategic plan, the Niwot Local Improvement District Advisory Committee invited leaders from more than a dozen local community organizations to a round table discussion at the Left Hand Grange on Nov. 2 to discuss how to prioritize tax revenues over the coming years and encourage cooperation among the groups on community projects. Among the groups represented were the Niwot Business Association, Niwot Community Association, the Rotary Club of...
The Class 4A state gymnastics meet on Nov. 5 was full of memorable moments for Marisa Purcell and the Niwot gymnastics team, and there's at least one they'd like to forget. When it was all over at Thornton High, the Cougars came away with their best finish in the team competition since 2018, and an important lesson about sticking the landing. "There isn't anything they could have done differently," Purcell said. "They rocked the beam to end it, and to come out and stick five out of six, I'm...
At 6-foot 3-inches and 225 pounds, Niwot senior guard/tackle Brad Bair is a force to be reckoned with on the football field, as opponents across the scrimmage line from him can no doubt attest. But underneath that intimidating exterior lies a quiet workhorse who leads by example as he consistently does his job well, Niwot head coach Nikolas Blume said. "We actually give him a hard time about how nice he is, because no matter how hard you coach him, he's just so polite all the time. It's almost...
Live theater returned to the Niwot High stage on Nov. 5 with "Peter and the Starcatcher," and at least one of the cast members was thrilled to be back in front of a live audience. Junior Hosannah Adams starred as Black Stache, the play's comedic foil, and hearing crowd reaction in real time again is definitely something she missed. "It was the best, best feeling of my year so far," she said. "I can't compare anything to that feeling.... The whole cast just took a deep breath and was in awe when...
As predicted, the nationally-ranked Niwot girls cross country team ran away with the title after a historically dominating performance at the 2021 Class 4A state championships, held Oct. 30 at the Norris Penrose Events Center in Colorado Springs. All seven of Niwot's competitors finished in the top 16, and five of them finished in the top 10. That added up to just 20 points in the final standings, a record low across all classifications. But almost no one predicted that unheralded Eva Klingbeil...
Niwot's Zane Bergen put an exclamation point on the end of his high school cross country career with another title-winning performance at the Class 4A state championships. All alone when he crossed the finish line at the Norris Penrose Events Center in Colorado Springs, the Stanford-bound Bergen posted a time of 15 minutes, 17.70 seconds, breaking the Class 4A meet record he set in 2020 (15:29). It was the second straight individual cross country championship for Bergen, and extends Niwot's...
