Out in Leftfield

TRACK

Erika Timbang (Niwot), a junior at UCCS, ran the 800M at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships April 28-30. Timbang placed 19th overall, with a time of 2:23.18. Her best time in the event, 2:20.86, came at the Kit Mayer Classic April 7-8, where she finished eighth. She also ran the 400M earlier in the season.

Kathryn Carroll (Niwot), a freshman at UCCS, was second team all Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in the triple jump this spring. Carroll finished sixth in the event with a jump of 36'11" on April 28-30, her best jump of the season. She posted a season-best mark in the long jump of 17'1.5" at the Jo Meaker Classic & Multi on April 6-8, good for 16th place.

Kelia Portis (Niwot) earned Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference All-Academic Team honors at Western Colorado. Portis, a junior, runs hurdles and sprints for Western, and posted a 3.49 GPA. She is majoring in Art and Business. Portis finished second in the 400M Hurdles (1:01.72) and 11th in the 100M Hurdles at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championships April 30.

Erin Carroll (Niwot) finished eighth in the pole vault for Western Colorado at the Maverick Invite April 16. Carroll, a junior, cleared 10'1.25" in the event.

Taylor James (Niwot) competes in multiple events for the Stanford Cardinal, but advanced to the NCAA National Championships in the 800M this spring. James, a sophomore, was the 2020 Gatorade Colorado Track & Field Girls Athlete of the Year, winning seven state titles in track during her high school career. At the NCAA West prelims, she posted a personal best time of 2:04.90 in the 800M, good for 10th place overall. James also anchored Stanford's winning 4X400 relay team at the Big Meet. Her other events include the 200M, 400M and the high jump.

Joelle McDonald (Niwot) runs the 5000M for the University of Colorado. She posted her best college time in the event, 17:33.64, at the Bryan Clay Invitational April 15, finishing 28th overall. McDonald, a sophomore majoring in Economics, was one of 55 CU athletes to be named to the fall 2022 Pac 12 Academic Honor Roll.

Sierra Parks (Niwot) posted her best time (10:32.16) in the 3000M (indoors) on Jan. 14 at the Potts Invitational. Parks is a freshman at the University of Colorado.

Grady Rauba (Niwot) posted his best time in the 1500M for the University of Colorado at the Desert Heat Classic April 29, finishing fifth with a time of 3:45.46. Rauba also placed 17th in the event at the Pac 12 Championships May 14. He took 10th in the 5000M at the Pac 12 Championships, but his best time in the event came at the Bryan Clay Invitational, when he finished second with a time of 14:04.46.

Samree Dishon (Niwot) finished third for New Mexico in both the 3000M (9:20.55) and 5000M (16:10.75) events at the Mountain West Indoor Track & Field Championships Feb. 25. Dishon's best time in the 3000M came at the Husky Classic Feb. 11 when she ran a 9:04.21. In the Outdoor Track season, the junior finished 14th in the 10,000M with a time of 34:00.56 at the Bryan Clay Invitational April 15.

Curtis Volf (Niwot) competed in three meets this spring for the St. Mary's Gaels, and set a best time in the indoor mile at the UW Preview with a time of 4:20.33. As a sophomore, he finished eighth in the mile at the Portland Indoor 1 with a time of 4:20.66, and finished eighth at the Portland Indoor 2 in the 3000M with a time of 8:49.33.

Zane Bergen (Niwot) finished in a tie for first place with his Stanford University teammate in the Steeplechase at the Big Meet dual against Cal April 29. Bergen, a freshman, posted a time of 9:36.46 in the event. He also ran a season best 1:50.27 in the 800M at the same event. During the Indoor Track season, Bergen ran a 4.01.67 Mile at the Ken Shannon Invite, which placed him fifth in the event, and second in Stanford's All-Time List for best times in the Mile for a freshman.

Joaquin Herrera (Niwot) ran a personal best in the 1500M for Adams State at the CSU Open April 1, finishing 19th overall with a time of 3:59.94. Herrera, a freshman, also had a personal best in the 5000M at the CSU Pueblo Early Bird Invitational, with a sixth-place time of 15:44.28.

BASKETBALL

Cooper Sheldon (Niwot) started every game except one for Doane University last season. Sheldon, a 6'6" forward, averaged 7.1 points per game, third-highest on the team, and 6.1 rebounds per game, the second-most on the team. He shot 44.2% from the field. One of his best performances came in a 70-69 win over Midland Jan. 28, when he scored 11 points. He followed with nine points in an 80-70 win over Hastings College Feb. 1.

REINING

Amber Nusser (Niwot), a member of the University of California, Davis Equestrian team, received Most Outstanding Player honors for UC Davis on Oct. 29, 2022 against UGA, scoring 72. Nusser's best score came March 3, 2023, against Oklahoma State with a 72.2. She is a junior majoring in Psychology. In the sport of reining, 70 is the starting score, and riders lose or gain points as they perform a set pattern they learn minutes before they go into the arena. Riders get plus or minus up to 1-1/2 points per maneuver with approximately eight maneuvers in the performance.

BASEBALL

Skyler Messinger (Niwot) crushed a two-run walkoff home run on Father's Day for the Fresno Grizzlies in a 9-8, 11-inning win over Inland Empire. Messinger, who has played first base in addition to his primary position at third base, is hitting .272 with five home runs and 33 RBIs as of June 21 for the Class A affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. His batting average and RBIs are both second on the team, and he is tied for third in home runs. The California League is notorious for being a pitcher's league. Messinger, who usually bats cleanup, has an OPS (On Base Percentage plus Slugging Percentage) of .808, which is also second on the team. He drove in two runs with a triple and scored twice in a 9-2 win over Modesto June 21.

David Bote (Niwot), who grew up playing Niwot Youth Sports baseball, is playing for the Iowa Cubs this season. Bote, who is on a major league contract with the Chicago Cubs, has seen action all over the infield this season, including at shortstop and first base in addition to his customary positions at second base and third base. Bote started slowly at Iowa, but has raised his batting average to .273 as of June 25, with an OPS of .828. He has seven home runs on the season, with 41 RBIs, the third best on the team. His 17 doubles are second-most on the squad.

Jack Brooker (Niwot) has committed to play baseball at Queens University of Charlotte next fall. Brooker, a pitcher-outfielder, graduated from Niwot in 2022, then spent this year playing at a baseball academy honing his craft.

SWIMMING

Mary Codevilla (Niwot) had a busy spring, swimming the breaststroke, freestyle and Individual Medley for Notre Dame. Codevilla was named to the All- Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Team. The freshman also helped the Notre Dame 800M Relay Team finish tenth at the ACC Championships Feb. 18.

GOLF

Kelsey Webster (Fairview) of Gunbarrel wrapped up her collegiate golfing career at Oregon State, where she finished her super senior year with a 76.68 average in 19 rounds. Webster transferred to Oregon State from the University of Colorado after her junior season. Her 2-year scoring average at Oregon State of 75.20 is eighth-best all time for the Beavers. Her best finish was a tie for 17th place at the USF Intercollegiate, where she shot a 4-under 217. She played at the final round of the NCAA Nationals and shot a 5-over 77. Webster graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology and will begin work for the PGA in Arizona.