The Colorado High School Activities Association is currently accepting applicants to fill its Finance Director position. The application deadline is Aug. 6.

Please send a cover letter with preferred salary range, resume, and three references with mobile phone numbers (no letters). Send these application materials to svernonbrunner@chsaa.org and clenz@chsaa.org with the job title in the subject line.

Here is a link to the job descriptions and details.

[pdf-embedder url=”https://old.chsaanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/CHSAA-Job-Description-Finance-Director.pdf”]

(Rashaan Davis/CHSAANow.com)

Over the past few weeks, marching bands from across the state have returned. Whether they are on the football field or in the school parking lot, bands are back.

Today, I had the opportunity to spend some time with the band at Mountain Vista High School in Highlands Ranch. The band is directed by Mr. Dan Delaup, an energetic director who is excited to get back to work. Today is the final day of their two-week camp and Dan was kind enough to talk with me as the band was warming up.

Dan and I talked about the good and the bad of the pandemic. He said that his band is down about 20 students and that he can see where it might take a few years for his program to recover. He pointed out that this is not an isolated issue, as he knows that his feeder middle school, Mountain Ridge, will also be down. This is a problem that many directors will face, with the expected turnaround to take a couple of years. I laughed, however, as Dan talked about the only complaints he’s been hearing from the kids have been about the heat.

As we steered the conversation away from some of the negative aspects of the pandemic, Dan talked about how excited the kids are to be back together and that being together over the past couple of weeks has almost made the kids forget what it felt like to be away from each other.

I was excited to spend some time talking with MVHS senior and snare drummer, Ryan Day. This young leader represents the very best of Mountain Vista High School. He shared with me how awesome it feels to be back and that performing in front of his peers with as a member of the band was a big part of his first two years at Mountain Vista. I asked Ryan to share words of encouragement for incoming band members.

“Stick with it,” he said. “It’s hard, especially during camp. It’s all worth it, especially when you get to the performances. There is nothing like performing for people.”

Well said.

The band will end their camp today with a celebration at Main Event Entertainment, a chance for the kids to play games and continue connecting outside of the rigors of camp.

Mountain Vista will be joining other programs for their first competition on Sept. 25 at the Friendship Cup hosted by Fountain-Fort Carson.

If you would like for CHSAA to share the story of your activities program, send me an email (rdavis@chsaa.org) or call the CHSAA office.

Periodically, The NFHS Voice will be presented in the form of video. As the new school begins, NFHS Executive Director Karissa Niehoff looks forward to everyone being back together, while encouraging schools to take precautions against heat and COVID-19, which would include the opportunity for students to be vaccinated.

CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green sits down with former assistant commissioner Sharon Wilch to chat about the anniversary of Title IX and the impact it has had on their lives.

The Season D all-state boys volleyball team is presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

This team was created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues and then a vote of coaches.

[divider]

(Paul DiSalvo/PaulDiSalvoPhotography.com)

Player of the year: Jayden Pascua, Douglas County

Coach of the year: Jason Fitzgerald, Douglas County

Honorable mention:

• Elijah Armstrong, RS/S/MB, Mountain View, Junior
• Christian Banuelos, DSST: College View,
• Keenan Daly, OPP/OH, Coronado, Senior
• Kade Ericson, L, Rock Canyon, Sophomore
• Christopher Furst, Faith Christian, Junior
• Arneet Garcha, OH/L, Stargate School, Senior
• Edmund Gonzalez, DSST: College View
• Javier Gonzalez, OH/DS, Regis Groff, Senior
• Hector Guerrero, S/RS/OH, Westminster, Sophomore
• Aidan Hartman, MB/RS, Stargate School, Junior
• Gionny Her, OH, Westminster, Junior
• Jake Johnson, Fort Lupton, Senior
• Carson Kneisl, OH, Bear Creek, Sophomore
• Gunnar Kukkonen, MB/OH, Stargate School, Senior
• Caleb McIrvin, OH, Colorado Springs Christian, Senior
• Josh Miller, S, Bear Creek, Senior
• Jacob Mullane, L/DS, Bear Creek, Junior
• CJ Mullens, L, Douglas County, Junior
• Patrick Nettles, MH, Cheyenne Mountain, Junior
• Kalen Nilsen, S, Cheyenne Mountain, Sophomore
• Gabriel Ocasio, S, Stargate School, Junior
• Christopher Perez, OH/DS/S, Regis Groff, Senior
• Jayse Shaw, S/OH, Addenbrooke Classical Academy, Junior
• Tucker Shearn, Valor Christian, Sophomore
• Cade Shivley, DSST: Byers, Sophomore
• Jayden Stack, Fort Lupton, Senior
• Ben Steiner, MB, Colorado Springs Christian, Senior
• Ryan Taylor, L/OH/OPP, Grandview, Senior
• Paxton Wright, OH, Legend, Freshman

The Season D all-state baseball teams honor the best players in the sport as judged by the leagues and coaches. They are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

These teams were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues, and then a vote of head coaches.

Player and coach of the year was also selected by a vote of the coaches.

[divider]

Class 5A

(Paul Shepardson)

Player of the year: Radek Birkholz, Valor Christian

Coach of the year: Ron Quintana, Mountain Vista

Honorable mention:

• Tucker Buniger, UTIL, Fruita Monument, Senior
• Gerardo Caldera, C/P, Adams City, Senior
• Caleb Cancino, C, Castle View, Junior
• Benji Carrington, Rampart, Junior
• Reese Chapman, OF/RHP, Grandview, Junior
• Ty Chapman, SS, Grandview, Senior
• Cade Collins, 2B/SS, Dakota Ridge, Freshman
• Cory Cooper, Denver South, Sophomore
• Carter Dorighi, INF, Cherry Creek, Senior
• Braden Doumer, C/OF/1B, Legend, Junior
• Garrett Dykstra, LHP/1B, Arapahoe, Senior
• Jacob Frazzini, P/1B, Cherokee Trail, Senior
• Matt Glover, Denver South, Senior
• Nathan Gutierrez, LHP/OF, Douglas County, Senior
• Jacob Hill, P/2B, Ralston Valley, Senior
• Liam Hohenstein, OF/RHP, Rock Canyon, Junior
• Chase Jaworsky, SS/2B, Rock Canyon, Sophomore
• Brant Kragel, 1B/P, Valor Christian, Junior
• Cale Lansville, RHP/1B, ThunderRidge, Senior
• Dallas Macias, Regis Jesuit, Junior
• Cort McDaniel, C, Fruita Monument, Senior
• Miguel Medina, CF/P/SS, Hinkley, Senior
• Adam Moser, Fairview, Senior
• Matthew Oberlander, OF/P, Fort Collins, Senior
• Brooks Rodarte, Castle View, Sophomore
• Camden Ross, Broomfield, Junior
• Jeremiah Sanchez, OF/LHP, Pueblo West, Junior
• Jace Schlegel, LHP/1B/OF, Pueblo West, Senior
• Landen Sehr, Legacy, Junior
• Luke Silverman, Fairview, Senior
• Danny Spence, INF/RHP, Pueblo West, Junior
• Tyler Stonebraker, OF/UTIL, Douglas County, Junior
• Tommy Valdez, Broomfield, Senior
• Will Vasseur, INF/RHP, Rocky Mountain, Junior
• Isaac Wachsmann, Regis Jesuit, Junior
• Chris Wallace, Poudre, Senior
• Jacob Weaver, P/SS, Fruita Monument, Senior
• Kody Woods, P/C/3B, Palmer, Senior

[divider]

Class 4A

(Paul Shepardson)

Player of the year: Dom Lopez, Ponderosa

Coach of the year: Bob Maloney, Ponderosa

Honorable mention:

• Tony Benko, D’Evelyn, Junior
• Bradley Blakemore, CF/LF/RHP, D’Evelyn, Junior
• Nate Bollinger, 3B, Palisade, Senior
• Nolan Boone, INF/P, Montrose, Senior
• Sammy Cabral, Thornton, Senior
• Jimmy Chastain, 1B, Windsor, Senior
• Connor Cooney, CF, Holy Family, Senior
• Derrick Domenico, 3B/SS, Pueblo County, Junior
• Nick Espinola, INF/RHP/OF, Thomas Jefferson, Senior
• Sage Ferguson, P/INF, Elizabeth, Senior
• Connor Frickey, 1B/RHP, Cheyenne Mountain, Junior
• Logan Gross, P/3B/SS, Rifle, Freshman
• Mason Hamlin, 2B/SS, Falcon, Junior
• Nolan Hertzke, RHP/3B, Severance, Sophomore
• George Hogan, SS/P, Evergreen, Senior
• Nolan Hydock, 1B/RHP, Greeley West, Senior
• Carson King, INF/P, Evergreen, Junior
• Cael Langford, Fort Morgan, Senior
• Derek Lukes, C/P/1B, Ponderosa, Junior
• Gage Mestas, Durango, Senior
• Westin Miller, SS, Wheat Ridge, Senior
• Nate Moorehead, INF/P/OF, Falcon, Senior
• Elijah Morales, OF/IF/P, Battle Mountain, Junior
• Isaiah Padilla, INF/P, Denver North, Sophomore
• Anders Page-Roth, SS, Golden, Sophomore
• Holden Pantier, SS/3B, Erie, Sophomore
• Melesio Perez, INF, Palisade, Junior
• Chase Prestwich, Frederick, Senior
• Dakota Pruitt, SS/P, Riverdale Ridge, Senior
• Caleb Ralph, RHP/INF, Lewis-Palmer, Senior
• Coletin Renn, INF/P, Canon City, Junior
• Rocco Salvatore, 1B, Roosevelt, Senior
• Clayton Sanger, 1B/LHP, Falcon, Senior
• Brock Saya, SS/RHP, Roosevelt, Junior
• Dylan Sayler, LF/SS/CF, Mesa Ridge, Senior
• Gavin Shary, INF/OF, Denver North, Junior
• Cole Simms, C/P, Canon City, Senior
• Nick Spidel, P/OF, Elizabeth, Senior
• Andrew Syverson, C/2B, Holy Family, Junior
• Nick Vilims, P/OF, Evergreen, Senior
• Cal Walsh, Durango, Senior
• Nick Weiderholt, OF/1B/LHP, George Washington, Junior
• Briggs Wheatley, Fort Morgan, Junior
• Noah Wicks, C/RHP, Golden, Sophomore
• Cruz Zamudio, C, Frederick, Sophomore

[divider]

Class 3A

(Nick Jurney)

Player of the year: Ryan Ure, Eaton

Coach of the year: Todd Hernandez, Eaton

Honorable mention:

• Daniel Alvarado, 1B/P, Strasburg, Senior
• Ty Blackmer, 2B/SS/RHP, Montezuma-Cortez, Senior
• Tyler Bowdridge, CF/RHP, Pagosa Springs, Senior
• Elliot Bowen, RHP/C/CF, DSST: Montview, Junior
• Blake Buxton, OF/DH, Lamar, Senior
• Cade Carlson, 2B/INF, Bayfield, Senior
• Dylan Diorio, Sterling, Junior
• Jonah Ellis, Salida, Senior
• Carter Evans, Resurrection Christian, Sophomore
• Davis Evans, C/SS/P, Kent Denver, Senior
• Garrett Everitt, 1B/RHP, Faith Christian, Senior
• Greg Garza, INF, University, Junior
• Ben Greenberg, Colorado Academy, Junior
• Josh Greiving, Lutheran, Senior
• Ty Griffith, Brush, Sophomore
• Isaiah Elliot, CF/INF/RHP, The Academy, Sophomore
• Braden Hallman, C/DH/3B, Montezuma-Cortez, Sophomore
• Bryson Knapp, Resurrection Christian, Senior
• Alex Martinez, C, University, Senior
• Gabi Marmolejo, OF/P, Gunnison, Senior
• Alex Martinez, C, University, Senior
• Andrew Meick, Sterling, Junior
• Jonathan Monroe, LHP/OF/1B, The Academy, Junior
• Wish Moore, Basalt, Junior
• Aaron Morgan, Lutheran, Senior
• Ty Myers, 1B/P, University, Senior
• Ernie Padilla, CF/RHP/UTIL, Montezuma-Cortez, Senior
• Zaymien Peteque, INF/P, La Junta, Senior
• Aaron Rice, Colorado Academy, Senior
• Luke Ruby, Junior, Resurrection Christian
• Cole Schumacher, Eaton, Senior
• Sam Sherry, Basalt, Junior
• Hunter Smilanich, Moffat County, Senior
• Evan Sowards, OF/P, Alamosa, Junior
• Coy Spitz, INF/P/C, Lamar, Junior
• Ryder True, Eaton, Sophomore
• Skylor Wild, Gunnison, Junior

[divider]

Class 2A

(Paul Shepardson)

Player of the year: Kory Tacha, Limon

Coach of the year: Rocky Rockwell, Limon

Honorable mention:

• Anthony Aldretti, P/OF/C, John Mall, Senior
• Brenton Battista, OF/P/INF, Peyton, Senior
• Haden Camp, INF/P, Buena Vista, Sophomore
• JP Clune, C/RHP, St. Mary’s, Junior
• David Clutter, C/OF, Monte Vista, Junior
• Ben Compton, 1B/3B/RHP, Rye, Senior
• Liam Deming, Meeker, Junior
• Braydon Garcia, Meeker, Senior
• Michael Garza, CF/P, Dolores Huerta Prep, Senior
• Logan Glaser, 2B/3B, Calhan, Senior
• Matthew Gutierrez, Burlington, Sophomore
• Tyler Higgins, Limon, Senior
• Sam Hnizdil, INF/P, Highland, Junior
• Trevin Holland, INF/P, Swink, Junior
• Evan Larrick, County Line [Wiley/McClave], Freshman
• Val Leone, INF/P, Fowler, Senior
• Junior Lopez, 2B/INF, Monte Vista, Senior
• Garrett Oloman, SS/P, Custer County, Sophomore
• TJ Ortiz, 3B/P, Las Animas, Freshman
• Matt Pachl, INF/P, North Fork, Junior
• Nathan Paolucci, INF/P, Swink, Senior
• Dimitri Prisbrey, OF/P, Olathe, Senior
• Cole Reavis, OF, Buena Vista, Junior
• Rafael Ruiz Jr., SS/RHP, Lyons, Senior
• Colby Rupp, 1B/OF, Cedaredge, Senior
• Seattle Schuessler, CF/SS/P, Clear Creek, Senior
• Byron Shawcroft, P/SS, Centauri, Junior
• Cameron Stringfellow, SS/P/OF, Dolores Huerta, Freshman
• Yahir Trejo, SS/2B, Yuma, Junior
• Sam Uyemura, SS/P, Wray, Senior
• Michael Valdez, LF/3B/RHP, Rye, Senior
• Henry VanDenBerg, 1B/P, Denver Christian, Senior
• Bobby Wallace, INF/P/C, South Park, Senior
• Michael Wishowski, P/OF/1B, South Park, Senior

[divider]

Class 1A

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

Player of the year: Jose Magallanes, Holly

Coach of the year: Dayne Eaton, Holly

Honorable mention:

• Pavel Bernlohr, Evangelical Christian, Senior
• Jaxon Borchardt, Rocky Mountain Lutheran, Senior
• Noah Coddington, Evangelical Christian, Junior
• Dominic Coleman, P/SS, Granada, Junior
• Micah Dannelly, UTIL/RHP, Flatirons Academy, Sophomore
• Brayden Glover, Simla, Sophomore
• Bobby Larsen, Rocky Mountain Lutheran, Senior
• Maguire Lind, Pikes Peak Christian, Junior
• Hatch Nelson, Eads, Senior
• Kevin Purkat, SS/RHP, Dove Creek, Senior
• Tyler Reynolds, P/SS, Otis, Senior
• Gavin Rose, C, Elbert, Junior
• Colton Rowan, INF/RHP, Flatirons Academy, Freshman
• Logan Weimer, Nucla, Senior

LINCOLN, Neb. – This summer, two Colorado high school coaching legends will see their names etched in eternity.

Duane Lewis (Alamosa/Alameda) and John Hancock (Mullen) will be inducted into the National High School Athletic Coaches Association (NHSACA) Hall of Fame, July 28, in Lincoln, Neb.

“I never had a clue something like that would ever happen, so it’s pretty cool,” Lewis said. “It’s like a dream come true. I never really considered it and I’ve just been rolling right along. But it’s a real honor and a real great group to be a part of.”

“I’m very proud to be included,” Hancock stated. “It reflects not only on Mullen, but also the type of athletes and coaches I had the pleasure of working with. If I’m being honored, then they are being honored too.”

Lewis began his coaching career at Alamosa in 1967, and proceeded to coach there for nine seasons, racking up a career record of 121-63 competing at 3A (the highest classification at the time). Part of that run included four league titles, three state tournament appearances, as well as him being named the league coach of the year four times.

He then matriculated to Alameda from 1977-1991, where his teams went 207-114. He won three league championships and finished second four times in a 12-team league, the largest at the time in the state. Four times he was named coach of the year.

In all, he compiled a career record of 328-177 for a winning percentage of .650 in 24 seasons. He was an eight-time coach of the year, eight-time league champion, 11-time district finalist and qualified for 10 state tournaments.

In addition, he coached boys golf, winning two league championships and being named coach of the year in 1974 at Alamosa. At Alameda he coached boys and girls in golf, the boys for 18 years and the girls 10. His boys teams won two league championships.

Hancock was the head boys and girls track and field coach for 33 years at Mullen. He led the boys team to 11 state titles, and the women to one. He also helped the Mustangs to 20 regional championships and seven Centennial League conference titles.

This won’t be Hancock’s first national recognition, as he was named the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) track coach of the year in 2013. He was also one of the finalists for the NHSACA track coach of the year awards in 2002 and 2008.

In total, Hancock coached at the prep ranks for 38 years, which included 31 years as an assistant coach for football at Bear Creak, Arvada West, Lakewood, Evergreen, and Mullen. He helped Lakewood to a state runner-up finish in 1979, and Mullen to a state championship in 1998.

The Season D all-state girls soccer teams honor the best players in the sport as judged by the leagues and coaches. They are presented by CHSAANow.com, ColoradoPreps.com and MaxPreps.

These teams were created following a lengthy process which included nominations from leagues, and then a vote of head coaches.

Player and coach of the year was also selected by a vote of the coaches.

[divider]

Class 5A

(David Johnson/davidjohnsonphotoprahpy.com)

Player of the year: Maddie Brady, Broomfield

Coach of the year: Jim Davidson, Broomfield

Honorable mention:

• Shayla Addington, D, Chaparral, Junior
• Madison Allshouse, D, Legacy, Junior
• Eve Bleam, MF, Boulder, Junior
• Reagan Bridges, D, Arapahoe, Senior
• Taylor Brook, Rocky Mountain, Senior
• Sydney Ciechanowicz, MF, Denver East, Senior
• Brae Cole, MF, Monarch, Senior
• Ashlyn Craig, D, Arvada West, Junior
• Sabrina DeHart, D/MF, Rampart, Freshman
• Cyanne Doyle, STRK, ThunderRidge, Senior
• Sarah Dunn, Rampart, Sophomore
• Kate Dunne, D, Regis Jesuit, Junior
• Kaelin Enga, MF, Liberty, Senior
• Taylor Evans, Mountain Vista, Junior
• Makenna Flinn, FORW, Fruita Monument, Senior
• Addie Follett, FORW, Cherry Creek, Senior
• Lucy Hart, D/FORW, Pine Creek, Senior
• Kylie Hoffman, MF, Legacy, Sophomore
• Jace Holmes, MF, ThunderRidge, Senior
• Emily Hoy, MF, Northglenn, Senior
• Annika Kassenbrock, STRK/D, Silver Creek, Senior
• Cadence Kline, D/MF, Columbine, Junior
• Lolo Lacy, GK, Pine Creek, Senior
• Karly Lambert, , Brighton, Sophomore
• Anna Lantz, FORW, Regis Jesuit, Junior
• Cecelia Marlowe, D, Castle View, Junior
• Jenna McCormick, MF, ThunderRidge, Senior
• Delaney McGowan, Cherokee Trail, Senior
• Brooklyn McKinney, FORW, Prairie View, Senior
• Hannah Murphy, MF, Lakewood, Sophomore
• Kara Nelson, GK, Silver Creek, Junior
• Jordan Nytes, GK, Grandview, Junior
• Jordan Okada, D, Fairview, Senior
• Avery Ott, MF, Arapahoe, Junior
• Kaitlyn Pagel, , Cherokee Trail, Senior
• Hannah Peterson, D, Chatfield, Senior
• Jo Sees, Valor Christian, Sophomore

[divider]

Class 4A

(Kevin Keyser/keyserimages.com)

Player of the year: Olivia Dietrich, Holy Family

Coach of the year: Michelle Griego, Holy Family

Honorable mention:

• Kylie Bach, Riverdale Ridge, Senior
• Avery Bergschneider, D/FB/MF, Littleton, Senior
• Morgan Berry, MF/FORW, Woodland Park, Junior
• Brooke Bonner, Green Mountain, Senior
• Callie Borg, MF, Battle Mountain, Senior
• Madeline Borncamp, Niwot, Senior
• Taylor Bottoms, Thompson Valley, Junior
• Abby Bush, MF, Windsor, Junior
• Katy Clapp, MF, Summit, Sophomore
• Tatum Coe, Eagle Valley, Junior
• Josie Coulter, Montrose, Junior
• Michayla Dirito-Goff, STRK/MF, Pueblo South, Senior
• Maya Elias, FORW/MF/D, Glenwood Springs, Senior
• Kiera Flannagan, Niwot, Senior
• Lanie Freeland, STRK/GK, Greeley Central, Senior
• Grace Gardner, MF, Golden, Senior
• Ally Henrikson, Pueblo County, Senior
• Paige Hill, D/MF, Northridge, Sophomore
• Sammi Holt, MF, Canon City, Senior
• Gwyneth Jamison, Steamboat Springs, Freshman
• Allie Jones, MF, Pueblo Centennial, Senior
• Riley Jones, Palmer Ridge, Senior
• Marit Klagge, Thompson Valley, Junior
• Sarah Langley, STRK/MF/D, Coronado, Freshman
• Sydney Lasater, MF, Sand Creek, Senior
• Shaela Leahy, The Classical Academy, Senior
• Darby Martinez, Steamboat Springs, Junior
• Justice McKee, Palisade, Senior
• Kennedy Montoya, Northfield, Junior
• Sophia Nickel, FORW, Golden, Freshman
• Peyton Oleson, MF, Mountain View, Senior
• Lauren Petersen, Bear Creek, Senior
• Breanne Raley, FORW, Cheyenne Mountain, Senior
• Kylea Roitsch, The Classical Academy, Senior
• Kyle Rowland, Durango, Senior
• Mary Sanchez, FORW/MF/GK, Pueblo Central, Senior

[divider]

Class 3A

(Jack Carlough)

Player of the year: Izzy Newton, Kent Denver

Coach of the year: Lucas Richardson, Kent Denver

Honorable mention:

• Ava Candelaria, DSST: Byers, Senior
• Julia Creech, MF, St. Mary’s, Senior
• Mari Domingos, D, Colorado Springs Christian, Senior
• Arlette Duran, Atlas Preparatory School, Senior
• Jennifer Ellis, MF/FORW, Aspen, Junior
• Makena Feist, FORW/MF, Liberty Common, Sophomore
• Saige Ferguson, Salida, Senior
• Emily Gish, Vail Mountain, Junior
• Kassidy Grey, MF, Colorado Springs Christian, Sophomore
• Nina Haas, Salida, Freshman
• Samantha Johnston, Basalt, Senior
• Maggie Lappe, MF, St. Mary’s, Sophomore
• Toby Lawson, Salida, Junior
• Sarah Levy, STRK, Basalt, Sophomore
• Kipley Lewis, D, Liberty Common, Sophomore
• Katie MacKendrick, FORW, Middle Park, Senior
• Diana Maldonado, GK, DSST: Green Valley Ranch, Junior
• Sophie McKeown, FORW/MF, Manitou Springs, Senior
• Abby Parker, D/MF, Manitou Springs, Junior
• Macey Peery, Roaring Fork, Junior
• Jessica Polkowske, MF, Alamosa, Senior
• Alexis Ramey, Frontier Academy, Senior
• Tania Razo, MF/FORW, DSST: Green Valley Ranch, Junior
• Allie Schumacher, MF/FORW/D, Sterling, Senior
• Erica Sherwin, FORW, Manitou Springs, Sophomore
• Kimberly Sierra, GK, James Irwin, Sophomore
• Amber Smith, MF/D, DSST: Green Valley Ranch, Sophomore
• Keiry Sosa, MF/D, DSST: Green Valley Ranch, Senior
• Stella Stone, Vail Mountain, Sophomore
• McKenzie Stricker, D/FB, The Academy, Senior
• Libby Tharp, Coal Ridge, Senior
• Ashley Tyrell, D/MF, Liberty Common, Senior
• Avery Verheyen, D, Colorado Springs Christian, Freshman
• Ashley Wallau, D, St. Mary’s, Junior

[divider]

(Brent Murphy/BrentMurphyPhoto.com)

Class 2A

Player of the year: Degen Miller, Dawson School

Coach of the year: David Criswell, Dawson School

Honorable mention:

• Charlotte Apodaca, SWEP, Buena Vista, Sophomore
• Annie Brown, STRK, Thomas McLaren, Senior
• Hope Bruhn, Grand Valley, Senior
• Tabitha Call, Grand Valley, Senior
• Tylene Diehl, Grand Valley, Senior
• Kaisa Dohlvik, Colorado Springs School, Freshman
• Maizy Gordon, Ridgway, Sophomore
• Terra Hurt, D, Thomas MacLaren, Senior
• Shively Kierek, Colorado Springs School, Junior
• Mia Lybecker, Colorado Springs School, Freshman
• Ellie O’Neal, Crested Butte, Sophomore
• Robin Pavelich, D, Vail Christian, Junior
• Hope VonLintel, FORW, Twin Peaks Charter, Freshman
• Lindsey Whitton, FORW, Vail Christian, Freshman

The NFHS celebrated its 100^th anniversary two years ago, and among all the events that have occurred since 1920, perhaps nothing had a more positive impact on high school sports than the passage of Title IX of the Educational Amendments in 1972.

Ironically, the landmark legislation signed by President Richard Nixon on June 23, 1972, did not specifically mention high school athletics:

“No person in the United States shall on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

While Title IX may not have been targeted to improving the opportunities for girls to participate in high school sports, the numbers indicate that this historic legislation had everything to do with opening the floodgates. Although sports had been a part of high schools for more than 50 years in 1972, those opportunities overwhelmingly were limited to boys.

In an article in High School Today magazine in 2012, Dorothy McIntyre, former assistant executive director of the Minnesota State High School League and one of the leaders of girls athletics at the state level in the early 1970s, summarized the challenges prior to the passage of Title IX:

“That attitude (that girls don’t play sports) germinated in the 1920s and 1930s when a national attitude swept the country that the lives of girls and women would be better – and more healthy – if they played for fun and not with the pressure of winning, intense coaching and excited crowds . . . Girls sat on the sidelines and watched. The Girls Athletic Association and its recreational activities were deemed to be ‘sufficient’ for girls, or perhaps they could be cheerleaders for the boys teams.”

Opportunity was the key word. After the passage of Title IX, the rapid rise in girls participation in education-based athletics was remarkable. In the last year prior to the passage of Title IX, there were fewer than 300,000 girls who participated in high school sports, or about one in every 27 girls who attended school. In two years, that figure jumped to 1,300,169, and by the 1977-78 school year, girls participation exceeded 2 million – a remarkable increase of almost 1.7 million in just six years.

The number of girls involved in high school sports has continued to increase since those historic years, and currently more than 3.4 million girls are taking advantage of the opportunity to participate in these vital, life-changing programs.

Next year, the 50^th anniversary of Title IX occurs on June 23, 2022, and the NFHS has begun a year-long celebration of this historic event. The lives of millions of girls and women have been positively impacted since 1972, and we will be remembering some of those key individuals and events during the next 12 months.

“Title IX at 50 – Celebrating and Growing Opportunities” will highlight the law’s impact by celebrating the inspirational individuals and landmark moments in the history of Title IX, and continuing to grow the educational and competitive opportunities for the future.

The NFHS has created a page on its website (https://www.nfhs.org/resources/title-ix/) to house information throughout the coming year. The page includes a Title IX Timeline, Title IX Milestones, The History and Importance of Title IX, Title IX Fact Sheet, Title IX Frequently Asked Questions and several Title IX videos.

The most recent post highlights two females who have been hired this year to lead NFHS member state associations – Stephanie Hauser of the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association and Colleen Maguire of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.

NFHS member state associations will receive access to a toolkit containing a number of materials to involve their member schools in promoting the upcoming 50^th anniversary of Title IX, including social media graphics, email signatures, website graphics, print ads, fact sheets and videos. Push-to-post social media messaging is planned throughout the year, and the NFHS will highlight Title IX trailblazers each week, along with Moments of Magnitude that have occurred throughout the past 50 years. Articles related to Title IX will appear each month during 2021-22 in High School Todaymagazine.

In addition, a Title IX course has been added to the NFHS Learning Center (www.NFHSLearn.com), and is designed to help interscholastic professionals understand the history and impact of Title IX, as well as the responsibilities held by schools and staff members to maintain an equitable balance between boys and girls programs.

In trying to describe the impact of Title IX as it relates to opportunities for girls to be involved in high school sports, Michele Smith, a three-sport standout at Voorhees High School in Glen Gardner, New Jersey, in the early 1980s, who went on to lead the U.S. Olympic softball team to gold medals in 1996 and 2000 and has been the lead college softball analyst at ESPN for more than 20 years, offered the following thoughts during her recent induction into the NFHS National High School Hall of Fame:

“Title IX was life-changing for many women, especially team sports. When President Nixon signed that bill into law in 1972, it truly impacted the ability, especially in high school sports, for girls to have funding to be able to play team sports. In golf and tennis and other sports that were more individualized, there was always a way for girls to be able to compete, but to be able to bring together a group of girls – a basketball team of 10, a field hockey team of 20, a softball team of 20-25 – and be able to fund it and have those opportunities for girls to play organized team sports, it was a game-changer for everybody.

“That’s one of the reasons why the ’96 Olympics was such a big deal for all the team sports that won gold medals because it’s that generation – my generation – of the youth through the ‘80s and early ‘90s that had the opportunity to play teams sports at the high school level and then go on and be elite athletes. Without Title IX, the world of sports for women looks completely different.”

The yearlong celebration will conclude at the 2022 NFHS Summer Meeting, which will be held June 28-July 2 next year in San Antonio, Texas.