All Local, All The Time
All Local, All The Time
Sorted by date Results 1 - 50 of 1620
On Wednesday, Nov. 13, Niwot High School honored nine standout athletes during its Fall Signing Day ceremony. Held in the Commons during lunch, the event celebrated those Cougars committing to continue their athletic and academic careers at the collegiate level. Surrounded by teammates, coaches, family, and friends, the athletes celebrated their accomplishments and looked ahead to the exciting next chapter of their lives. Kianna Butler signed with Metropolitan State University of Denver to play...
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,"...
By winning the Granite Peaks Conference title with a 12-1 league record, the Niwot Cougars were poised to dominate post-season volleyball All-Conference awards. Anne Haley, Jade West, Elise Arends, and Bella Berger achieved first-team All-Conference selections, marking their contribution to the team's success. Jiselle Sales and Brooke Caquelin were also honored with All-Conference honorable mentions. Two Cougars received Granite Peaks Conference special recognition. Arends was named "Libero of...
The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) has announced its 2024 All-State Softball Teams, recognizing the state's top performers across all classifications. Among the standouts, Niwot High School's senior pitcher Kianna Butler earned First Team All-State honors in Class 4A, cementing her legacy as one of the program's most accomplished players. Butler, who led the Cougars' pitching staff throughout the season, was one of seven seniors selected to the Class 4A First Team, which...
In a nail-biting playoff battle on a frigid Wednesday night, No. 5 Silver Creek High School ended No. 12 Niwot High School's boys soccer season with a 1-0 overtime victory in the Class 4A state tournament. The Raptors' Parker Brown netted the game-winning goal in extra time, securing Silver Creek's second-ever quarterfinal appearance. The closely contested match, played on Silver Creek's home turf, remained scoreless through regulation time as both teams engaged in a defensive showcase. The...
The Niwot High School girls volleyball team battled at the Class 5A regionals last Sunday, Nov. 10, in Pueblo and faced a bittersweet ending to their season. The Cougars started off the day against Legacy High School and won with a strong 3-0 victory demonstrating the teamwork and skills they had built throughout the season. The Cougars then went against Pueblo West High School and gave it their all. After a tough fight, Niwot ended with a 3-0 loss. Despite the result on the court, the season’s end left the team, coaches and supporters f...
The Niwot Cougars concluded their season winless, ending with an 0-9 record after their final game against the Mead High School Mavericks was canceled by the St. Vrain Valley School District due to weather....
Cougar gymnasts have rounded out an impressive season with the team's first state championship in six years. The Niwot team won regionals, then capped off the season by winning state, both by considerable margins. Athletes named winning a state title as one of their greatest ambitions at the beginning of the season, and they were ecstatic as they claimed the Class 4A title on Nov. 9. On Nov. 1, the Cougars challenged four other teams at the Mountain Range Regional Meet, walking away with a...
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...
In a landmark season for Niwot High School's cross country program, the Cougars made an unforgettable debut at the Class 5A state level, securing a state title for the boys team and delivering impressive individual performances on the girls team. The championship race took place at the Norris Penrose Event Center in Colorado Springs, where Niwot's runners faced fierce competition and challenging terrain. For the second consecutive year, Niwot's boys claimed a state cross country title, marking...
In a commanding performance that showcased both offensive firepower and defensive prowess, the Niwot High School boys soccer team secured their spot in the second round of the Class 4A Boys Soccer State Tournament with a 2-0 victory over Wheat Ridge High School. The Cougars wasted no time establishing their dominance, striking early in the game when midfielder Leo Broteland won a crucial tackle in the middle of the field. With precise vision, Broteland threaded a pass through the Wheat Ridge...
Entering last weekend, the Niwot High School girls volleyball team had a 16-3 record, and was cruising through the Granite Peaks 5A/4A League in first place, with a record of 12-1. As is the custom for Coach Tony Engel, the Cougars participated in the Cheyenne Mountain Tournament, held at the Broadmoor World Arena in Colorado Springs. The event is annually the top tournament in the state, held just before playoffs begin, and the Cougars won at least one match in every set, but came away with...
The Niwot Cougars fell 58-14 to the Northridge High School Grizzlies on Thursday, Oct. 31, in their last home football game of the season, which doubled as Senior Night. Despite a challenging game against Northridge, Niwot fought to put points on the board in the second half. Northridge opened with a touchdown just minutes into the game, taking a 6-0 lead after a failed extra-point attempt. Sophomore quarterback Wyatt Volf aimed to rally the Cougars, but an early interception by the Grizzlies,...
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 gymnasts competed with seven teams at their annual league competition on Oct. 23, and walked away with top-two finishes from both their varsity and JV teams. The event was the JV athletes' final meet of the season, and marked a meaningful milestone for the entire group. A week earlier, the Cougars took part in a triangular home meet against Loveland High School and Mountain Range High School, and secured their highest team score of the season with 181.9 points. The team shined at the Oct....
The Niwot High School cross country team secured top team finishes at the 5A Region 3 Championships in Broomfield on Thursday, Oct. 24. Both the boys and the girls teams demonstrated dominance, sweeping the top places and showcasing their readiness for the upcoming 5A State Championship. Boys Team The boys team claimed the first eight spots and an impressive 15:54 average time, well ahead of their closest competitors. Boulder High School held an average time of 16:22 and Fairview High School ave...
In an intense back-and-forth contest on Friday, Oct. 25, the Niwot Cougars fell to the Greeley Central Wildcats, 34-27. The game marked the closest finish for Niwot this season, as the Cougars took their first lead since the season opener. "We've been working all season to try and get something going, and made a lot of offensive changes and went up-tempo tonight," Head Coach Nik Blume said. "It's taken way too long for us to find an identity, but that definitely was a piece of it tonight." The...
The Niwot High School softball team's impressive postseason journey came to an end Friday at the Aurora Sports Complex, as the Cougars fell to fifth-ranked Holy Family High School, 8-3, in the 4A State Championship Round of 16. The loss marked the conclusion of a successful season for the Cougars, who finished with a strong 16-10 overall record and 7-4 in league play. Fresh off two victories in the Tournament of 32 Teams in Pueblo, Niwot faced a familiar opponent in Holy Family, which had...
The Niwot High School boys soccer team experienced both triumph and disappointment this week, securing a convincing 4-0 victory over Frederick High School before falling to Skyline High School in a surprising 4-3 upset. In Tuesday's away match at Frederick, Niwot showcased its offensive prowess with a balanced scoring attack. Naveen Bopearachchigedon, Colin Mundt, Jay Scharfe, and Mohi Bauer each found the back of the net as the Cougars secured their second consecutive win, improving their...
Flag football will make its Olympic debut in 2028 with both men's and women's divisions competing in Los Angeles for gold. Much closer to home, a local youth co-ed flag football team is excelling by showcasing how popular and exciting this sport has become. The Carolina Panthers are an all 7th grade co-ed team competing in the NoCo 5v5 Flag Football League in the 7th/8th grade division. Games are played all over the northern front range. The majority of teams in the league are male-only, but...
In a day of intense competition at the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) Class 4A boys tennis individual state championships on Oct. 17, Niwot High School's varsity tennis program demonstrated both promise and perseverance across multiple divisions. Senior Sebastian Moy, Niwot's No. 1 singles player, opened strong with a convincing 6-2, 6-3 victory over Lewis-Palmer High School's Thatcher Crisler in the first round. However, Moy's tournament run was cut short in the quarterfina...
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...
The Niwot High School softball varsity team has secured its spot in the state Tournament of 16 after an impressive showing at the Colorado High School Activities Association Class 4A Regionals in Pueblo, Colorado, Oct. 18 and 19. The team demonstrated resilience and skill, finishing with a 2-1 record in the round of 32. In their opening game against the Palisade High School Bulldogs, the Cougars emerged victorious with a tight 2-1 win. Standout pitcher Kianna Butler dominated from the circle,...
The Niwot High School football team faced another challenging matchup on Thursday, Oct. 17, which resulted in a 44-0 loss to the Timnath High School Cubs. This latest defeat keeps the Cougars winless on the season, extending their losing streak to 0-7 as they struggled to find offensive momentum throughout the game. The first quarter was a defensive battle. Niwot's quarterback, sophomore Jaydan Martinez, connected early with sophomore Kaleb Notterman, but the drive ultimately ended in a...
The 2024 baseball season was mostly a lost year for Niwot High School grad Skye Messinger, who underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last December. Messinger, a third baseman in the Colorado Rockies' organization, injured his arm while working out in the offseason. The recovery time for the surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right arm is seven to nine months at a minimum before a return to competition for non-pitchers. As a result, Messinger missed all of spring...
The Niwot High School softball team has been turning heads this season with an impressive performance on and off their home field. With a solid overall record of 14-8 for the 2024 regular season and a commendable 7-4 standing in the competitive 5A/4A/3A Granite Peaks league, the Cougars have proven themselves a force to be reckoned with. The team's performance has been particularly stellar on the home turf, with the Cougars boasting a 6-2 record. Their away game resilience is evident in their 7-...
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...
The Niwot Cougars faced another tough night on Thursday, Oct. 10 with a 56-0 loss to the Windsor High School Wizards. The game, played at Everly-Montgomery Field in Longmont, saw the Cougars fall to 0-6 on the season. The Wizards struck early and often, with their first touchdown coming four minutes into the game. By the end of the first quarter, Windsor had built a commanding 28-0 lead. Niwot struggled to find any offensive rhythm, despite a few bright moments, including a solid run by senior...
On Wednesday, Oct. 9, Niwot varsity boys soccer fell to rival Silver Creek High School, 1-0, in a hard-fought contest. The loss dropped the Cougars to a 0-2-1 league record and a 6-4-1 overall record. After nearly completing a monumental comeback the previous week against Longmont High School, they drew against Centaurus High School on Monday, Oct. 7, in a 2-2 tie, with goals by Sullivan Burns and Colin Mundt. However, they went without a goal in their loss to Silver Creek at home. Winless in the Granite Peaks League so far, Niwot is searching...
Six weeks into the 2024 competition season, Cougar gymnasts are reflecting on their growth in collaboration and are looking ahead with optimism as they continue to improve. Since the Niwot team's first meet in early September, it has participated in six competitions across the Front Range. Niwot has secured top-three rankings at every invitational meet it has attended thus far. Competing with thirteen schools on Sept. 21 at Overland High School, varsity took third with 175.125 points total. The...
Niwot High School's cross country teams dominated the Granite Peaks League Championship on Friday, Oct. 11, with both the boys and girls racing to decisive team titles. The varsity boys swept the top five positions, with junior Rocco Culpepper taking first place in 15:23.65, closely followed by juniors Hunter Robbie (15:26.45) and Ryder Keeton (15:28.92). Senior Keegan Geldean finished fourth in 15:32.09, and senior Cole Mazurana rounded out the top five with a time of 15:34.38. Nine of the...
Niwot seniors Drew Stapp and Jagger Kilpatrick represented the Cougars at the 4A Boys Golf State Tournament on Oct. 7 and 8, held at the Tiara Rado Golf Course in Grand Junction. Competing against some of the best golfers in the state, both players put forth strong efforts in their final tournament. For Stapp, the state tournament marked his third appearance, and carried special significance as he aimed to end his high school career on a high note. He opened the first round with an impressive...
The autumn sun cast long shadows across the tennis courts as the Class 4A Regional Tennis Tournament unfolded at Niwot High School. The air crackled with anticipation as players from various schools gathered, their rackets ready and dreams of state glory in their hearts. Niwot's boys tennis team, a perennial powerhouse, entered the tournament with high hopes. Leading the charge was Sebastian Moy, the school's formidable No. 1 singles player. Moy's journey began with a first-round bye, a...
On Tuesday, Oct. 1 the Cougar boys golf team competed in the 4A Region 2 Regional Tournament at the Foothills Golf Course in Denver. The Cougars walked away with a fifth-place finish and a team score of 244. Highlands Ranch High School took first place with a score of 234, with Dakota Ridge High School following in second with 236, and Pueblo West High School finishing in third with 241. Ponderosa High School edged out Niwot for fourth place, finishing just two strokes ahead of the Cougars....
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...
When the nights begin to cool and feel like fall, the league kicks off for Niwot boys soccer, and competitive games start in earnest. This year, the Cougars' league includes several nearby rivals, including Skyline High School, Silver Creek High School, and Longmont High School. Longmont was the Cougars' first local opponent of the season last Thursday, Oct. 3. Longmont entered the match undefeated, fielding a cohesive, experienced team. They had scored an impressive 29 goals so far this season...
Niwot had to come from behind multiple times against Legacy High School, but ended up with a 3-0 sweep Oct. 3 on "Neon Night" with the cheerleaders and most of the student section decked out in neon green construction vests. The Cougars started strong, pulling away to a 16-11 lead in the first set before Legacy took a time out. After a spectacular save by junior libero Elise Arends, who was all over the floor for Niwot, an unintentional dink shot that left the Niwot girls smiling gave the...
The first round of the Colorado High School Activities Association Boys Tennis Dual Team State Championships began on Oct. 2, with all 16 teams in both 4A and 5A classifications playing their first-round matches. Winning teams advanced to the quarterfinal round, Oct. 9-12. Of the top 16 teams that advanced to the state tournament, Niwot, the eighth seed, played Vail Christian High School, the ninth seed. Each team had to win four of seven lines to advance to the quarterfinals, with Niwot falling 1-6 in a challenging first round. The team’s p...
The Niwot High School cross country teams put in a strong performance at the Pat Patten Invitational on Saturday, Oct. 5, across both the varsity and open divisions. The varsity boys team claimed fourth overall, scoring 109 points. Boulder High School took home the title with 55 points, followed by Rock Canyon High School (66 points) and Mountain Vista High School (76 points). Senior Christopher Wood led the Cougars, finishing 15th with a time of 16:31.30. Fellow senior Brayan Herrera was close...
Niwot's varsity softball team experienced a rollercoaster of emotions and results last week, demonstrating both the challenges and triumphs that come with the sport. The week began with a difficult matchup against Broomfield High School, resulting in a lopsided 15-0 loss. The loss marks the first game of the season that the Cougars were not able to put a run on the board. The Cougars, who average 7.2 runs per game this season, bounced back with a dominant 10-0 mercy rule victory over Silver...
With a record number of participants this season, the Niwot Youth Sports (NYS) NFL flag football season has reached the halfway mark. In an exciting break from regular season play, NYS flag football teams recently faced off against the Gridiron league in a thrilling mid-season tournament. The event showcased the young athletes' skills and competitive spirit before they return to their regular season play. One of the tournament's most memorable matchups came in the Varsity division (3rd and 4th...
The Niwot High School football team faced a challenging night on Thursday, Oct. 3, as they suffered a 50-0 loss to Evergreen High School. The away game marked Niwot’s worst defeat of the season, bringing their record to 0-5. From the start, Evergreen dominated the field with strong offensive and defensive play. Niwot struggled to gain any traction, facing difficulty on both sides of the ball. Despite their best efforts, the Cougars were unable to score, resulting in a lopsided final score that reflected Evergreen’s control over the game. Thi...
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...
After losing at home in extra innings to Frederick High School, the Niwot varsity softball team headed west to Grand Junction for a four-game, non-league tournament last weekend. In game one on Friday, Sept. 27, the Cougars shut out Grand Junction High School by a score of 5-0, extending their road winning streak to four. Kianna Butler led off with a double to center field, followed by a single from Payton Stokes. An error by the Grand Junction catcher brought in the first run of the game for Ni...
In a thrilling display of teamwork and skill, Niwot High School's No. 4 doubles team, Tyler Chivukula and Ollie Jones, emerged victorious in the Granite Peaks League Tennis Tournament held Sept. 27 at Niwot High School. The pair started strong, defeating Erie High School with a score of 6-1, 6-2. Building on their momentum, the duo faced a tougher challenge against the Monarch High School duo, where they ultimately prevailed 6-4, 7-6, in a closely contested match. In the final showdown, Jones an...
