Student Athlete of the Week Emmy Hostelley

After losing several of last year's standouts to graduation, the Niwot High School girls swim team is leaning on a new, younger core early this season.

At the heart of Niwot's youth movement is Emmy Hostelley, a sophomore who quickly caught the attention of head coach Ella Thramann last winter. Thramann shared that the versatile Hostelley swims year-round and continues to make strides.

"She definitely came back this season and has impressed me the most so far," Niwot's second-year head coach said.

For Hostelley, she's found success by investing in herself and her teammates.

"This year, I chose to focus on myself, be self-determined, be there for my team and have a balance with homework and swimming," Hostelley said. "Swimming is my stress relief and my joy."

In Niwot's second meet of the season on Saturday, Dec. 2, Hostelley competed in all five events (50-yard butterfly, 50 backstroke, 50 breaststroke, 50 freestyle and 100 individual medley), helping the Cougars to a 114-30 team win over Skyline High School.

Hostelley finished third in the butterfly, freestyle and medley races, fourth in backstroke, and ninth in the breaststroke. Although exhausted, she was pleased with how her day went at the St. Vrain Aquatic Center in Longmont, which is part of Silver Creek High School.

"I'm super proud of myself," Hostelley said. "I've been super sick for a week and have not been feeling well, but swimming has really helped me throughout the week. It's been super stressful because we have finals, and I think this has helped me."

Hostelley is currently navigating her first school year as an NHS student after transferring from Alexander Dawson School. Fortunately for her, the transition has been made easier with the help of her swim teammates.

"In this community, I'm super comfortable with all the girls and I love to be a leader," Hostelley said. "We have nothing bad to say about each other. We're all like, 'You did super well. We're super proud of you no matter what.' I like to be a leader and inclusive because some people are not seen, and I like to see the people that are not seen."

While she'd like to qualify for the state championships in at least one event, Hostelley's ultimate focus this season remains on giving swimming everything she has.

"I just want to be proud of myself and know that in the end, I tried my best no matter what," she said.