Student Athlete of the Week Payton Johnson

Homegrown talent is harder to come by for Niwot High School athletics these days. NHS pulls from over fifty middle schools for its student body and open enrollment at all St. Vrain Valley high schools allows students to choose where they study and compete during their high school years.

But one of the most exciting young athletes at NHS is a Niwot area native, who just completed her sophomore year, and is already a girls lacrosse state champion. Payton Johnson, a rising junior at Niwot High School, is a three-sport varsity athlete in girls softball, basketball, and lacrosse. She also holds a 3.85 GPA and hopes to take her lacrosse talents and compete collegiately, with plans to study environmental science.

Johnson's journey into athletics is also homegrown. Her mother, Gretchen Johnson, was a women's water polo athlete at Penn State University and her father, Randy Johnson, is a retired professional triathlete and motocross racer. She joined Niwot Youth Sports in elementary school where she played softball and basketball, and played youth soccer for St. Vrain Futbol Club and lacrosse for Boulder Valley Girls Lacrosse.

Gretchen coached Payton's softball team for over a decade, and still coaches NYS youth softball today. "My parents are my role models," Payton said. "They are both athletes themselves, and are really positive in their coaching and motivation of me and my siblings. They never pushed me to be active, but always encouraged me to play some sport every season. Their commitment to getting to every practice and watching every game is so encouraging."

Payton has earned five varsity sports letters in her first two years at Niwot. This past fall, the NHS girls 2023 softball season was a huge success. The team made it to the Sweet Sixteen in the state 4A softball tournament and Payton hit her first out-of-the-park home run.

She batted .389 in 14 games and played infield for coach Bobby Matthews. For the Niwot Cougars girls basketball team, Payton plays small forward and averaged 3.6 rebounds per game for the 2023-2024 season.

And in her favorite sport, lacrosse, Payton was a state champion for the SVVSD district 2023 Mead girls lacrosse team as a freshman. Just two weeks ago, in her sophomore season, the 2024 Mead team lost a heartbreaker in the final seconds of the state championship game to rival Evergreen, but ended the season with a 17-2 record and a girls 4A state runner-up trophy to bring home. Payton has continued with club lacrosse, and now spends a good part of her summers traveling around the country competing for Team 91 Colorado 2026 Girls Lacrosse team, coached by Sarah Cooper.

Payton's favorite moments thus far in high school revolve around her teammates and the friendships she has made on and off the field and court. "I love away games, when we get to ride the bus together, play games, and get ready as a team," she said. "I also love how our softball team has a practice and game routine that stays the same all season, and that extends to the support we have for each other in the dugout."

Her love for the Niwot Cougars extends beyond athletics as well. She has enjoyed her smaller classes, such as English, where teachers are able to give individual attention to their students. She also loves the community feel of the school. "It seems like I know almost everyone at Niwot, both teachers and students," she said. This multi-talented student athlete is well on her way to a memorable and impressive high school career.