Niwot gymnastics gains camaraderie and confidence

Six weeks into the 2024 competition season, Cougar gymnasts are reflecting on their growth in collaboration and are looking ahead with optimism as they continue to improve. Since the Niwot team's first meet in early September, it has participated in six competitions across the Front Range.

Niwot has secured top-three rankings at every invitational meet it has attended thus far. Competing with thirteen schools on Sept. 21 at Overland High School, varsity took third with 175.125 points total. The team again stood in third place on Oct. 5 at Mountain Range High School, securing 177.225 points overall among eleven teams.

The Cougars then took first place on Oct. 9 in a three-team meet at Thornton, landing above Roosevelt High School and Thornton High School with a 177.05 team score.

Gymnasts widely echo their appreciation for one another, and improvement has occurred in all skill levels on the Niwot team. Recent meets have seen Evie Saunders, Lilly O'Neill, and Kylee Schlepp stand out as examples of both skill and teamwork.

Sophomore Saunders transitioned from club gymnastics to the school environment this year. Commenting on the positive change, she said, "I was not doing the best in club, and now I am really thriving. I just think being here with my team, they are so supportive." The sophomore placed seventh in the varsity all-around on Sept. 21, and fifth on Oct. 5 with 35.825 points. She has excelled most in the balance beam and vault events throughout the season.

O'Neill, a junior, took fifth overall in the all-around on Sept. 21 with 35.575 points. She has earned some of her highest rankings this season in beam and uneven bars, leading Niwot with a first-place score on balance beam at Overland.

Consistently shining on vault, Schlepp has placed well in the event all season. The junior stood in second with an impressive 9.500 score at the end of the Oct. 5 meet, but performed with strength across the board, as suggested by her fourth-place finish in the all-around.

Junior Alexis Walker explained the team's growth, saying, "We have become a lot more confident in our overall team, bonding and team connection between everyone, and being more confident when we step onto the floor to compete."

The team's confidence stems partly from the team's camaraderie. Saunders remarked, "We are learning more about each other, and I think that is very helpful when we compete."

"We come out, and we try to get a win every week, and there are teams out there trying to beat us everywhere we go," said sophomore Kylie Wilson.