Committed

The Left Hand Valley Courier is featuring each of the nine Niwot High School students who

signed National Letters of Intent on the Nov. 13 fall signing day to continue their academic and

athletic careers at the collegiate level. From soccer to track and field, these athletes represent a

diverse array of sports and dreams fulfilled.

Lucy Connors

From her first lacrosse game as a third-grader to committing to play for Bucknell University, Lucy Connors' journey has been marked by hard work, determination, and an undeniable passion for the sport. As she prepares for her final high school season this spring, Connors reflected on the experiences and people who have shaped her into one of the most successful athletes in the St. Vrain Valley School District.

Connors first discovered lacrosse through her older brother, whose involvement in the sport piqued her interest. Attending summer lacrosse camps at the University of Colorado Boulder further fueled her passion. "Those camps were definitely a highlight for little me," she said.

While she attends Niwot High School, Connors plays for the school district's combined girls lacrosse team based at Mead High School. Although she does not get to wear a Niwot jersey, she values the unique opportunity to connect with players from across Longmont. "I have met lots of new people that will be lifelong friends," she said.

Her on-field performance speaks for itself. Over her sophomore and junior seasons, Connors scored an impressive 106 goals, earning First Team All-State and All-Conference honors. She was also named BoCoPreps.com Female Athlete of the Year. Despite her accolades, Connors remains humble. "I've never stepped on the field with the goal of recognition, but it's always nice to be acknowledged for my hard work," she said. "I was really proud after receiving First Team All-State last season."

A significant factor in Connors' growth has been her time with Denver Pride, her club team from sixth to eleventh grade. Competing against elite teams on the East Coast provided challenges that pushed her to improve. "Since lacrosse isn't super popular in the West, traveling to the East Coast allowed me to play against the best of the best," she explained.

Connors credits much of her success to her club coach, Ali Ward, who she said has been a guiding force both on and off the field. "She would do anything to help me succeed, and having someone like that in your corner makes all the difference," said Connors.

Rather than looking up to professional athletes for inspiration, Connors finds role models closer to home. "I look up to the people around me, like my coaches and older teammates."

Balancing athletics, academics, and other commitments is challenging, but Connors embraced her busy schedule. "I've been doing it for so long that I have just accepted being busy every day," she said. "Working out, missing social life on occasion for practice or games, and squeezing in my homework in between everything is what I expect. I know that's how college is going to be, so I'm grateful to get adjusted to it early."

"My parents have been a huge part of my support system and have made tons of sacrifices so that I could succeed," Connors said. She also credits her friends and coaches for their support.

Looking ahead to her final high school season, Connors is focusing on growth and camaraderie. "Our team dynamic is a little different this year after graduating a lot of seniors," she said. "I really hope we can just enjoy the season and make memories with each other because that's truly what high school sports are all about."

Her decision to play at Bucknell University was shaped by her experiences with Denver Pride and encouragement from teammates and coaches. "I focused on finding a school that had a good lacrosse program, and also high-level academics because unfortunately, I cannot play lacrosse for a living," she said. "Bucknell checked all the boxes."

As she prepares to compete at the collegiate level, Connors is eager to join "a driven community of girls and play against high-level competition." Her advice to younger players is straightforward: "Enjoy it all and focus on the little things as much as possible because they are what separates a good player from a great player."

"The most memorable moment of my lacrosse career was definitely winning a state championship my sophomore year," Connors reflected. "Our team worked so hard to get to that moment and it was amazing to see it all pay off."

In the future, Connors plans to major in biochemistry or cell biology with a minor in computer science, aiming for medical school to become a pediatrician. While her ambitions extend beyond the lacrosse field, the lessons she has learned from the sport will stay with her.

Connors summed up her journey and outlook in just three words: "Trust the process."

Kianna Butler

From the sun-soaked fields of Arizona to the competitive landscapes of Colorado, Kianna Butler's softball journey has been fueled by family, resilience, and an unwavering drive to succeed. Now preparing to play at the collegiate level for the Metropolitan State University of Denver, Butler reflected on the moments and people who have shaped her as both an athlete and an individual.

Butler's love for softball began early, inspired by her older sister's involvement in the sport. "I saw my sister play softball and got tired of just watching her so I decided to play," she recalled. "I played with my softball friends from elementary school to high school. I saw most of them graduate and commit to colleges - they were my siblings."

Initially, Butler was a catcher, but pitching ultimately captured her heart. "My sister started pitching, so I tried catching for her, but I hated it," she admitted. "I also switched to pitching because I thought I'd do a better job than her."

Transitioning to Niwot High School from Flagstaff, Arizona, presented unique challenges for Butler. "Settling into new surroundings and adjusting to a 4A school was tough," she shared. "The biggest difference was playing softball in the fall since Arizona plays in the spring. My junior year was nonstop - spring softball, summer ball, and then high school softball in the fall. But I was lucky to make friends easily."

Butler remembers her first season at Niwot fondly. "Everyone was so nice and welcoming," she said. "We had great players both athletically and academically. That year was a whole bunch of fun."

Playing club softball has also been instrumental in Butler's development as a player. Competing for Triple Crown Gale 18U, she has faced top-tier opponents and adapted to various coaching styles. "Club softball is more competitive because everyone wants to win," she explained. "It taught me to be more consistent with myself and handle different coaching approaches."

Patience is the most valuable lesson Butler has learned throughout her career. "When I first moved to Colorado, I was super uncomfortable," she recalled. "But over time, I settled in." Her coaches and mentors have also played pivotal roles in her journey, particularly her grandfather. "I look up to my grandpa the most. He is very wise. I appreciate the life lessons he talks about."

Butler's support system has been the cornerstone of her success. "My mom has supported me my whole life and always stayed to watch my games," Butler said. "She influenced me to work hard and that hard work pays off."

Balancing the demands of training, school, and personal commitments requires careful prioritization. "I focus on school and practice first," Butler said. "I also try to have my own practice sessions one or two times a week." A typical week is packed with workouts and pitching practice. "I just try to stay busy," she said.

The dream of playing collegiate softball has been a long-standing goal for Butler, inspired by her sister and former teammates who made the leap to college athletics. The recruitment process, however, was not without its challenges. "It was very stressful because I wanted to go to a school I liked," she said. "I went to Metro State's softball camps and met the coach, and I could imagine myself there." After the camp, Butler realized the level of softball she would need to play to make her dream come true, so she started weightlifting and figuring out how to elevate her game.

As she prepares for the next chapter, Butler is eager to embrace the challenges and opportunities that collegiate softball presents. "I'm most excited to see myself improve and compete against other great players," she said.

To younger athletes, Butler says, "Start looking at and talking to schools early in high school. It'll help you worry less later on. Focus on weightlifting and agility training, but most importantly, have fun."

Reflecting on her career so far, Butler's most memorable moment was reconnecting with her former coaches in Arizona after committing to Metro State. "They saw me grow from a little league player to a college athlete," she shared. "They're like family to me, and I hope they're doing well."

At Metro State, Butler plans to major in business agriculture. While her career path remains open, she is considering options in food science.

As a Native American athlete, Butler's journey is deeply rooted in her identity and her home state of Arizona. With her sights set on collegiate success, she is ready to take the field and continue her journey with the same determination that has carried her this far.