Niwot High School homecoming lit up the night sky with bright, neon lights

Niwot High School’s annual homecoming festivities began Monday, Sept. 9, with the highly anticipated pep rally. For the first time, the class of 2025 won the iconic Spirit Stick by being the loudest during the high pressure competition between grade levels. It was a close call between the seniors and sophomores this year.

The first day of homecoming events ended with “The Kickoff,” Niwot High School’s Flag Football Tournament, an evening team event attended by students, staff, friends, and family.

This year’s homecoming theme was “Bright Lights, Neon Nights.” Niwot’s student council team, sponsored by counselor Leah Messinger, worked hard throughout the week to ensure that events ran smoothly and students had fun. Whether it was cleaning, setting up, or managing activities, the student council team was there.

Students and staff showed up on Tuesday, Sept. 10, decked out in aprons, leggings, athletic jackets, and khaki shorts for the spirit day theme of “BBQ Dad vs. Soccer Mom.” Senorita Sorenson, a Niwot High School Spanish teacher, was full of school spirit. Not only did her outfit fit the part, she went above and beyond and brought oranges and drinks for her students in true soccer mom fashion.

The exciting theme for Wednesday, Sept. 11, was “Business on Top, Party on the Bottom.” Students showed up in a variety of formal tops such as blouses, button-down shirts, blazers, and ties, but where students really showed school spirit was their colorful tutus, plaid pajama pants, puffy skirts, and unique shoes. Gymnastics and boys soccer competed this same night, followed by a bright drone show above the NHS football field.

On Thursday, Sept. 12, Niwot students and staff walked into the building with their heads high wearing their tackiest t-shirts with no shame. From dad jokes to funny photos, the variety of hilarious designs worn was astounding.

The NHS volleyball team faced Erie High School at 6:30 p.m. with the student section dressed as “Minions,” creatures we all know and love. With their neon yellow color, they fit the homecoming theme of “Bright Lights, Neon Nights” perfectly.

Friday was the long-awaited homecoming football game, but first students had to attend all classes and show their best school spirit while doing so. Given the “Bright Lights, Neon Nights” theme, students were encouraged to show up in blinding neon colors of lime green, orange, and pink. With student council members wearing neon pink construction vests, students wearing vibrant jewelry, and brightly colored fishnets, you could see NHS students coming from a mile away.

Directly after school on Friday at 3:00 p.m., the homecoming parade started and brought a hefty crowd with it. Alongside the sports floats such as football, volleyball, soccer, softball, cheer, and cross country, the Best Buddies Club float joined the parade. The staple of all parades, the marching band, played an array of bright familiar tunes.

Once the parade came to a close, there was a showing of “Trolls Band Together” because of its obvious correlation to the neon theme. Following the movie, the community joined for tailgate from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. before the football game.

The homecoming football game started promptly after the National Anthem was sung by Niwot’s Chamber Singers and Evenstar choirs. Before the game, St. Vrain Valley School District Superintendent Don Haddad announced the new name of Niwot High School’s athletic fields as the “Art Stapp Sports Complex” in honor of Art Stapp, an upstanding Niwot community member and supporter of many school district programs who passed away in 2023.

At 7 p.m. at Niwot High School’s field, the Cougars faced Skyview High School. Although the Cougars came out on the short end of a 14-6 score, the NHS students remained in good spirits throughout the contest.

At halftime, the band performed its “Night at the Movies” field show for the crowd. Then the homecoming royalty was announced, including freshmen Ryan Guidi, Landon Renk, and Charles Jow; sophomores Victor Wang, Meredith Champion, and Mihtotiani Martinez; juniors Fielding Sampson, Sami Daniel, and Bella Berger; and seniors Aditi Patel, Francisco Arozamena Ringuelet, and 3-time Homecoming Royalty-Elect Henry Bonn-Elchoness.

Between the third and fourth quarters of the game, members of the inaugural Niwot High School Hall of Fame class, Paul “Tiny” Koehler, Sue Prahl, Debbi Stapp and her late husband Art Stapp, Terri Ward and Bruce “Biff” Warren were introduced to the crowd.

Saturday, Sept. 14, started with a mid-morning softball game at 10 a.m., with the Cougars hosting The Academy. The Cougars won, 3-0. Student council members worked hard through the morning to prepare the school for the hundreds of students that would show up just eight hours later for the homecoming dance.

The dance turned out to be a wonderful night of dancing, singing, and spending time with friends. Niwot High School’s Class of 2028 had a great first homecoming experience, and the senior class of 2025 had a wonderful night to commemorate their last time experiencing homecoming as a high school student.