Cougars return to mat

Thanks to an extra week in this year’s competition schedule, Bobby Matthews and the Niwot wrestling team enjoyed a rare mid-season break, but were back in action with a triangular league meet against Silver Creek and Thompson Valley on Jan. 24, followed by the Diny Pickert Invitational at Berthoud HS on Jan. 26.

At the tri, Niwot wrestlers Keith Hemmenway (160), Long Pham (182), Andrew Campos (195), Max Pecherzewski (126), and Matt Bitterman (132) won their contested matches against the Raptors and the Cougars went on to a 54-18 win. However, Niwot was blanked 70-0 by the Eagles, who are ranked ninth overall in Class 4A.

In Berthoud, Pechersewski (120), Hemmenway (152), sophomore Cooper Ackerman (138), and junior Daniel Torres (285) picked up match wins, but Niwot scored just 20.0 team points on the day and finished 18th in the 19-team field.