Cougar athletics take on a new era in leagues and classifications

Niwot High School’s athletic programs are gearing up for significant changes this year as the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) implements its biennial reclassification. With an enrollment of 1,359 students, Niwot’s growth has led to shifts in classification for multiple sports and placed the school in newly formed leagues that aim to better balance competition across the state.

Every two years, CHSAA evaluates school enrollments and reclassifies athletic programs accordingly. This reclassification is crucial in determining what schools compete against one another in various sports, grouping them into divisions for what is known as a cycle– spanning two school years.

“Currently, this classification system is based solely on schools’ enrollment,” explained Niwot’s Athletic Director and Assistant Principal Joe Brown. “Each sport can have different classifications and enrollment ranges based on the total number of participating schools.”

Due to Niwot’s increasing student body, which has grown from 1,177 students last cycle, cross country and girls volleyball will now compete in Class 5A, the state’s largest classification for those sports. Boys and girls basketball now have a Class 6A for schools with enrollments larger than 1,430 students, but all other sports in the state stop at 5A.

For most sports, the Cougars will be competing in the newly formed Granite Peaks League. All sports, except gymnastics and football, will be competing in a league consisting of Mead, Skyline, Silver Creek, Longmont, Erie, Frederick, Centaurus, Broomfield, Monarch, Fairview, Holy Family, Legacy, and Horizon.

For football, Niwot will compete in Class 4A in the North 2 League, which includes Niwot, Windsor, Timnath, Greeley Central, Northridge, and Mead. Gymnastics competes in Class 4A, also in the Granite Peaks League, which will see competition from the Poudre School District, Fort Morgan, Lone Star, Loveland, Roosevelt, Broomfield, Mountain Range, and Thornton.

Niwot’s classifications for the 2024-26 cycle reflect its growing enrollment, with several sports competing in Class 5A, including basketball, cross country, volleyball, and unified bowling. Meanwhile, the majority of sports will remain in 4A, such as baseball, golf, soccer, tennis, track and field, boys wrestling, football, girls swim and dive, gymnastics, softball, spirit cheer, and spirit dance. Additionally, speech and debate will continue to compete at the Class 3A level.

As Niwot athletes and coaches prepare for their upcoming seasons, they are adjusting to both the new level of competition and their new league rivals. While the increased enrollment has pushed them into higher classifications in several sports, the Cougars are ready to take on the challenge.