(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

DENVER — There will be three new sanctioned sports in Colorado.

Unified bowling, girls wrestling and boys volleyball were all approved in a vote by the Legislative Council during its annual meeting on Wednesday. It means each sport will begin sanctioned play during the 2020-21 season, including the first official championships.

“What an exciting chance for our Association to provide participation opportunities that speak to inclusion and our mission,” said CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green. “We are looking forward to the first official seasons for these three sports in two years.”

Unified bowling will take place in a season that straddles the fall and winter seasons. Girls wrestling will be in the winter. Boys volleyball will be in the spring.

Each sport will need to form committees, and begin the process of creating its postseason structure. It is likely that girls wrestling and boys volleyball will look similar to their gender counterparts which are already sanctioned.

Each sport went through a rigorous process which required an establishment of a pilot season. In boys volleyball’s case, they have had multiple pilot seasons.

During that piloting process, each sport had to gain approval from the Classification, League Organization and Appeals Committee, the Equity Committee, the Sports Medicine Committee, and the Board of Directors. When the Board gave its support on Tuesday, that meant the sports could finally head to a vote of the membership.

The three sports will become CHSAA’s first new sports since three were added in the late 1990s.

Field hockey was approved in 1996, and played its first season in 1997. Girls lacrosse was approved in 1997, and played its first season in 1998. Boys lacrosse was approved in 1998, and had its first season in 1999.

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

DENVER — CHSAA’s Board of Directors on Tuesday gave their support for the three sports currently in the pilot process, meaning all three now head for a final vote by the Association’s Legislative Council on Wednesday.

In a unanimous vote, the Board supported presentations from boys volleyball, unified bowling and girls wrestling. All three have been in a pilot status for at least one year.

This was the second-to-last step for the sports, which are seeking to become officially sanctioned by CHSAA. Already, they have gained support from the Classification, League Organization and Appeals Committee, the Equity Committee, and the Sports Medicine Committee.

CHSAA has not added a new sport since field hockey, girls lacrosse and boys lacrosse were added in 1997, 1998 and 1999.

Each sport now heads for an individual vote of the Legislative Council on Wednesday, and will require a majority for approval. If approved, all three sports would begin play in 2020-21.

The boys volleyball proposal is sponsored by the Centennial and Denver Prep leagues; unified bowling is sponsored by the Denver Prep League; and girls wrestling is sponsored by the Centennial and Continental leagues.

CHSAANow will have complete coverage of the Legislative Council meeting on Wednesday. Here’s a preview of that meeting, including a wide range of agenda items.

Currently, there is one other pilot activity: esports was approved to begin its pilot season this fall.

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

CHSAA’s Legislative Council will vote next month on a jam-packed agenda, one that includes the potential sanctioning of three new sports.

The Council, which will meet on April 24 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center, is set to vote upon more than 60 bylaw proposals or committee reports.

The meeting will cover a wide variety of topics, touching on every sport and activity CHSAA sanctions, and hear proposals ranging from the transfer rule to the age rule.

Find the entire agenda, and all proposals, on this page.

Perhaps the most notable proposals are three separate votes on whether or not to sanction boys volleyball, unified bowling and girls wrestling. All three sports are currently in their pilot stages, and have cleared a number of stages with approval from various committees along the way.

Each sport has one major step remaining prior to the vote in April, however, and that is a vote by CHSAA’s Board of Directors next month. If approved there, they will officially be up for a sanctioning vote by the membership at the Legislative Council. Should the Board vote down any of the pilot sports, they would not be forwarded to the Legislative Council for a vote.

CHSAA has not added a new sport since field hockey, boys lacrosse and girls lacrosse were sanctioned in 1998-99.

If sanctioned, unified bowling would take place in the fall, girls wrestling would be a winter sport, and boys volleyball would be in the spring.

[divider]

6A football proposal

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

The Continental League is forwarding a proposal to create an eighth class of football — Class 6A — something that is similar to an idea that discussed among large-school representatives in December.

This proposal would take the top eight teams in 5A according to the final RPI standings of the regular season, and place them in a 6A playoff bracket. Teams ranked Nos. 9-24 in the final RPI would create the 5A playoff bracket.

The current 5A conference alignment would remain the same, as the 6A classification would not be created until the postseason. The setup of the regular season would not change.

It is worth noting, however, that the football committee discussed this proposal and decided to not support it.

Because this proposal would amend the Classification and League Organizing Appeals Committee (CLOC) report, it will require a two-thirds majority to pass.

[divider]

Game day for spirit?

(Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)

Spirit may be getting a new discipline, should a proposal to add Game Day be approved.

The proposal, which comes from the Board of Directors, would add Game Day under the spirit umbrella. Already, spirit has Cheer, Co-ed Cheer, Pom Pon, Jazz and Hip-Hop.

This discipline is more accessible to a wide range of schools, as it is a competition surrounding a spirit program’s primary role, which is to support their school’s athletic teams. Teams are judged based upon their ability to lead cheers, use skills to rally a crowd, communicate to fans, and support the athletes on the fields.

No choreographer or payment for music would be needed to compete in this division.

[divider]

Two classes of girls lacrosse?

(Matt Daniels/MattDanPhoto.com)

With girls lacrosse continuing to grow — there are 58 teams this spring — the Western Slope and Pikes Peak leagues are proposal a second classification for the sport.

The proposal reasons that boys lacrosse added a second classification when it approached 70 teams, that it would help competitive equity, and continue to encourage new programs.

The lacrosse committee does not support the proposal, and raised questions about how it would be split. For example, four-time defending champion Colorado Academy would technically be able to play in the 4A classification due to its small enrollment.

Like the football proposal, this also amends the CLOC report, and will require a two-thirds vote.

[divider]

Other proposals

(Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com)

• The first administrative proposal, from the Board of Directors, would add a school’s “prior year out-of-building student percentage on rosters” to the factors used for placing teams into classifications.
• Another proposal from the Board would require co-op programs to compete together for an entire two-year competitive cycle. Currently, co-ops can change year-to-year, which creates scheduling and alignment problems.
• A transfer-rule proposal would make it so students who have transferred previously cannot practice with their new school, get cut, transfer to their original school, and maintain eligibility.
• One proposal, also from the Board, asks that the The Amateur Status be simplified and rewritten to read: “An essential condition of CHSAA eligibility is that a student-athlete be an amateur. He or she may not compete for or accept cash for playing some part or all aspects of a sport. An amateur may not sign a professional contract or play with/against professionals.” This proposal also amends a Q&A to allow booster clubs to purchase state championship rings, and adds an exception that student-athletes may fundraise for personal items that exceed $100.
• A proposal surrounding national competition aligns with the direction the NFHS is heading with wanting to create national championships, as it allows competition on Sundays for these specific events. This proposal also slightly opens up the language that allows individuals or teams to participate — if it is “sponsored by the NFHS or approved by the CHSAA office” and they have permission from their school.
• The Tri-Valley League is proposing a simplification to the way the maximum number of matches are tallied in wrestling, changing it from a points system to a 10 meet/dual meet maximum, along with no more than 10 days of tournaments (including dual meet tournaments).

[divider]

Committee Reports

(Lance Wendt/LanceWendt.com)

• The CLOC report would make official the membership of Addenbrooke Classical Academy (Lakewood), Banning Lewis Preparatory Academy (Colorado Springs), and DSST: Conservatory Green (Denver). Additionally, if approved, the classifications for 2020-22 would be approved.
• Officials fees would be set to $60 per official in basketball; and $59 for a center ref and $54.50 for assistant refs in soccer.
• Speech wants to add a one-year pilot to offer Congressional Debate at the 2019-20 state tournament and state festival.
• No major changes in baseball, basketball, golf, gymnastics, ice hockey, girls lacrosse, tennis, track and field, or wrestling.
• The 2019 state cross country championship has been moved to Oct. 26.
• Field hockey is creating a mercy rule for regular season play: A five-goal differential would create a running clock; a six-goal differential causes the winning team to remove a player; a seven-goal differential caused the same team to remove a second play; an eight-goal differential causes the removal of a third player. If the losing team cuts into the margin after a player has been removed, a team may substitute a player back in. Additionally, field hockey slightly altered its seeding procedure for the state tournament, guaranteeing the conference champion the No. 1 seed.
• The football committee is recommending a new seeding committee and criteria for playoffs. Additionally, the league alignment for the 2020 and 2021 season would be approved by the Board of Directors this June.
• Boys lacrosse wants to move the 4A semifinal games to a neutral venue. This would be effective for the current 2019 season.
• Skiing is creating a Championship Committee — comprised of the nordic and alpine race directors, the host school’s athletic director, and the CHSAA representative — who will make the decisions on any scheduling and venue changes, should they be needed.
• Soccer is recommending game minimums in 2A, and changes to its officiating system.
• Softball is recommending a new mercy rule, and a double bag at first base.
• In spirit, schools will only be able to be represented once at the state competition in the overarching cheer and dance disciplines.
• In swimming and diving, all athletes will be required to compete in a minimum of six high school meets to qualify for the state competition. All multi-team meets count as one meet toward the minimum.
• Volleyball changed the color of the official ball that will be used during the postseason.

[divider]

Board of Directors

• Troy Baker has been elected as the next president of CHSAA’s Board of Directors. He will be formally introduced to the Legislative Council.
• The following members of the Board are concluding their terms, and their replacements will be nominated at the meeting: Rick Macias, Rick Mondt, and Angie Sanders.

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

AURORA — The three pilot sports were each given a positive review by the CLOC committee, checking off another step as they seek official CHSAA sanctioning.

Unified bowling, girls wrestling and boys volleyball each presented to the Classification and League Organizing and Appeals Committee on Tuesday, and each were given a thumbs up to continue their quest for sanctioning.

Per CHSAA bylaws, pilot sports must be approved by various committees along the road to sanctioning. Already, the three pilot sports have received positive reviews from the Equity Committee and the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee.

The next steps are approval by the CHSAA Board of Directors, and, if approved there, a vote by the member schools at the Legislative Council. Both of those meetings are in April.

In order to be voted on by the Legislative Council, a league must sponsor a bylaw proposal — something that is expected to happen for all three sports.

If any (or all) of the sports are sanctioned, the first official season would be in the 2020-21 school year.

[divider]

New schools approved for membership

The committee approve three schools for new membership into CHSAA:

• Addenbrooke Classical Academy in Lakewood
• Banning Lewis Prep Academy in Colorado Springs
• Denver School of Science & Technology: Conservatory Green in Denver

All three schools would participate at the 2A or 3A level.

If approved by the Legislative Council in April, this would bring CHSAA’s membership to 362 schools.

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

The three sports currently in pilot seasons each got a thumbs up from the Equity Committee on Thursday, meaning their quest for sanctioning will continue.

Unified bowling, girls wrestling and boys volleyball each presented to the committee, and were approved by the committee following a review of each sport thus far in their pilot seasons.

The Equity Committee was tasked with reviewing a formal survey of schools about each sport, with a specific eye on the number of schools currently offering a program, the availability of facilities, the availability of officials and coaches, and student participation numbers. In addition, they reviewed the positive and/or negative impact to proportionality and Title IX considerations for the member schools, and for the Association.

After hearing the presentations, the Equity Committee voted to move each sport’s sanctioning request to the next step.

“The Equity Committee is really excited about the potential of the three pilot programs,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Bethany Brookens, the staff liaison to the committee. “We were impressed with how each group identified equity and proportionality concerns, and look forward to the increased opportunities that these pilot programs will give our student participants.”

Thursday’s presentations to the Equity Committee were the first step in a series of reviews which must be successful in order for the pilot sports to be sanctioned. The next steps include reviews by:

• The Sports Medicine Committee on Feb. 20. This committee will be considering the sports for any safety, liability or health concerns.
• The Classification, Appeals and League Organizing Committee (CLOC) on Feb. 26-27. This committee will consider the impact of adding new sports with regard to classifications and leagues. They will also review the survey of schools, examining if there is an adequate number of schools in a geographic area to complete a regular season and postseason schedule.
• The CHSAA Board of Directors in April. The group will review at the results of the school survey, with an eye on the number of schools currently offering the program, student participation numbers, and the potential for growth. They will also consider the cost of adding the new sport(s), and maintaining them; any safety and liability concerns; the availability of officials; and any additional information regarding the impact of the sport(s) on the membership as a whole.
• From there, a league must agree to sponsor the sport, and submit a proposal for sanctioning at the Legislative Council. Each sport currently has a sponsor.
• The final step is a vote by the Legislative Council — CHSAA’s governing body comprised of representatives from leagues and associations — in April.

The pilot sports must be approved at each step in order to gain sanctioning. If any of the steps along the review process don’t approve, that sport’s quest for sanctioning ends there.

Here’s a closer look at each sport’s presentation on Thursday:

Unified Bowling

Full presentation

• Teams are composed of five players (three competing, and two substitutes). The three competing athletes will be two students with a disability, and one student without.
• 32 offered teams schools in 2018. They anticipate 50 in 2019.
• There were 350 participants in 2018. They anticipate 500 in 2019.
• Bowling is the most popular sport within Special Olympics nationwide.
• It takes place in the fall season.
• 76 percent of the schools who responded to a survey were in favor of sanctioning.
• 11 states sanction Unified bowling.
• The state competition was held Nov. 8 at AMF Monaco Lanes in Denver.
• Because the sport is co-ed, Title IX would not be impacted.

Girls Wrestling

Full presentation

• They use the same rulebook as the boys, but the weight classes are different.
• There are 114 schools who have girls participating.
• More than 300 girls are participating this season.
• It takes place in the winter season, concurrent with the boys.
• 80 percent of the schools who responded to a survey were in favor of sanctioning.
• The state tournament will be held Feb. 9 at Thornton HS. There will be two regionals this season, one northern and one southern.
• If sanctioned, girls must wrestle with their school team if they offer one. If their school doesn’t offer a girls program, female athletes would have a choice of wrestling with their school’s boys team, or joining another girls program within the same district they attend, or reside in.
• Adding a girls sport would have a positive impact in terms of Title IX proportionality.

Boys Volleyball

Full presentation

• The rules are the same as the girls game, but the net is raised.
• In 2018, there were 60 teams. They anticipate 75 in 2019.
• In 2018, there were 750 players. They anticipate 1,000 in 2019.
• It takes place in the spring season.
• 71 percent of the schools who responded to a survey were in favor of sanctioning.
• The state tournament was held at Grandview High School last season.
• Their analysis of Title IX implications and proportionality showed that 54 percent of schools would likely be able to add a boys volleyball program and maintain compliance without counting spirit as a sport. If a school counts spirit as a sport, 74 percent of schools can add a team, according to the group’s analysis. (Note: These figures only account for adding a boys volleyball program by itself; it doesn’t account for a scenario where girls wrestling were added at the same time, which would only help.)

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

DENVER — Boys volleyball, girls wrestling and unified bowling were all approved to begin pilot seasons by the Board of Directors on Wednesday.

It means each have taken an initial step towards official sanctioning by CHSAA.

“We’re really excited about the possibility of these sports offering new opportunities for students across the state,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Bethany Brookens, who oversees the equity committee and the sanctioning of new sports. “We are really trying to reach new populations of students who aren’t already participating, with a focus on inclusion.”

The three sports were the first to present pilot programs for consideration under a new bylaw which was passed in January. It is the first big hurdle for any new sports or activities to clear along the way to sanctioning. The Classification and League Organizing Committee, the Sports Medicine Committee, the Equity Committee, and the Legislative Council must also support a new sport or activity.

The first boys volleyball pilot season will be this upcoming spring. Girls wrestling will begin its pilot in the winter season of 2018-19. Unified bowling, which will be co-ed, will present its timeline at the April meeting of the Board of Directors.

Though that bylaw only requires one pilot season, both boys volleyball and girls wrestling would have two pilot seasons. If the Legislative Council approves the sports in 2019, boys volleyball would begin play in spring 2020, and girls wrestling would begin in winter 2020-21.

23 states already sanction boys volleyball. Another seven, including Colorado, are considering it.

In Colorado, there have typically been between 35-40 teams participating in boys volleyball over the past 20 years. In 2017, there were 50 teams and more than 650 athletes in the Colorado Boys High School Volleyball Association.

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

Participation in girls wrestling has also grown in recent years. In 2016-17, the first-ever girls-only tournament was held, and that continued in 2017-18. Last season, there were 235 female wrestlers who participated with boys, and even more who participated in girls-only tournaments.

Currently, only six states nationwide sanction girls wrestling. In the past month, both Georgia and Oregon indicated their intention to do so, as well.

A roundup of Jeffco prep highlights, interviews and schedules with Dennis Pleuss, Jeffco Public Schools’ Communication Specialist. This month’s edition features action from the Jeffco League cross country championships at Clement Park. Chatfield junior Christian Holmes made history at the Class 5A boys tennis state tournament at Gates Tennis Center in Denver. Arvada West softball swept through the Class 5A Jeffco League this fall and qualified for the 5A state tournament. Ralston Valley football improved it all-time record against rival A-West to 8-0 with a last-second touchdown. Dakota Ridge junior running back Jered Garcia had a monster game in a victory against Golden. Evergreen senior Bridger Tenney placed second in at the 4A boys golf state tournament and the Cougars took second in the team race.

Columbine junior Jacob Gimbel (7) was one of a number of Rebels to volunteered to help run the Jeffco Adapted Athletics Flag Football Day. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

LAKEWOOD — It’s not very often you see a Columbine football player getting a hug from a Chatfield student on the gridiron.

However, that was the case last week when Columbine and Arvada football players volunteered as coaches and referees for the Jeffco Public Schools’ Adapted Athletics Flag Football Day on Oct. 18 at Trailblazer Stadium.

It was the second year Columbine football coach Andy Lowry, who has coached the Rebels to five state titles, had players help run the event.

“It was great,” Lowry said of the Rebels’ first experience last year volunteering at the Adapted Athletic Flag Football Day. “It was one of the better things we’ve done with our kids over the years. It will be nice to make this an annual deal for our kids.”

Adapted Athletics have got Jeffco sports teams involved in its monthly events. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Columbine players acted as offensive and defensive coordinators, along with referees on all five fields at Trailblazer Stadium. Arvada players ran the games played inside Creighton Middle School for non-ambulatory students.

“We want to help give these kids joy and have fun,” Columbine junior Jacob Gimbel said. “We get to have fun on the football field ourselves and we want to be able to give them that feeling too.”

Flag Football Day has quickly turned into one of the more popular Adapted Athletic events. A total of 19 high and middle schools with 25 teams participated in this year’s event.

“It’s such a great day. Bryan (Wickoren) does a tremendous job with all these activities and sports,” Lowry said. “I give so much credit to him for his heart to take on giving these opportunities for kids.”

A total of 19 high and middle schools took part in the Adapted Athletics Flag Football Day on Oct. 18. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

Bryan Wickoren, Adapted Athletic Coordinator, was just named the Society of Health and Physical Educators’ Adapted Physical Education Teacher of the Year. Wickoren said there is benefit from both sides when higher-end athletes comes out to work with student-athletes of higher needs.

“It’s the tipping point when you have schools who want to step up and volunteer,” said Wickoren, who have had several Jeffco sports teams step up to help run the monthly events. “That’s cool when you get to that point where schools hear about what is going on and they want their athletes to be apart of this.”

By the smiles on the faces of coaches, referees and players the success last week at Trailblazer Stadium were on all sides.

“They are just like us,” Columbine starting quarterback Logan DeArment said. “They are having fun. We are having fun. It’s a great day.”

[divider]

Remaining Jeffco Adapted Athletics Schedule

Nov. 17: Bowling Day at various bowling alleys
Dec. 8: Volleyball Day at Gold Crown Field House
Jan. 18: Colorado HS Adapted Basketball Invite at Gold Crown Field House
Jan. 19: Basketball Day at Gold Crown Field House
Feb. 13: Hockey Day (south schools) at Bear Creek HS
Feb. 15: Hockey Day (north schools) at Alameda HS
March 19: Basketball Day 2 (south schools) at Chatfield HS
March 20: Basketball Day 2 (north schools) at Arvada West HS
April 17: Softball Day (middle schools) at Gold Crown Field House
April 18: Softball Day (high schools) at Gold Crown Field House
May 4: Track & Field Day at Jeffco Stadium
May 9: Tournament of Champions (elementary schools) Gold Crown Field House

(Courtesy of DPS)

Kennedy High School is set to be honored this week for its work with Unified Sports.

The school will be recognized at the Special Olympics Colorado Hall of Fame Luncheon this Thursday at the Hyatt Regency in Denver with the Doug Fulton Unified Champion School Kindness Award.

Kennedy recently started its seventh year as a Special Olympics Unified Champion School. The school offers Unified Sports teams for soccer, flag football, bowling and cheerleading.

“The entire school supports a unified model which allows students with and without disabilities to come together and share the importance of inclusion in sport,” according to a release from Denver Public Schools.

The program was started by athletic director Chris Enzminger, Terry Bredehoft, Cami Jensen, Melissa Klomp and Tom Lynch.

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

LONE TREE — Over the course of two days at CHSAA’s annual All-School Summit, the state’s athletic directors hear about the impact high school activities have on student-athletes.

On Tuesday morning, they saw it first-hand.

Poudre senior Ky Ecton addressed the ADs to talk about how important high school activities have been in her life. She participates in tennis, cross country, swimming and unified sports at Poudre after growing up also playing volleyball, basketball, track, and skiing.

“When I play high school sports, I am never on my own,’ she said. “High school sports are about more than a score. It is about the fight and the support of a team.”

Ecton comes from a family of athletes. Her older sisters, Kwynn, Kayl and Koy, all played sports growing up. Her mother and father both played sports in college.

The reigning champion at Class 5A No. 1 singles, Ecton said she is “more than by 5k person record, 50-freestyle pace, and first-serve percentages.”

“I am proud to be a passionate nerd who loves school and values her education,” said Ecton, who is in the IB program at Poudre and carries a 4.14 GPA. She also participates in FBLA and DECA, and volunteers at Poudre Valley Hospital and her school.

“I believe that with all my activities and extracurriculars, high school sports keep me balanced,” Ecton said. “I play a sport each season: cross country in the fall, swimming and unified basketball in the winter, and tennis in the spring.

“Tennis is my main sport but I strongly believe that these other sports do help me from getting burnt out and help keep me mentally tough, as a well-rounded individual,” Ecton continued. “Sports keep me motivated in school because I don’t have the time to go home and watch be a couch potato watching Netflix.”

(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

Ecton said that high school activities have taught her to “never taken anything for granted.”

“I have many opportunities to travel for tournaments, but I have realized that I enjoy high school tennis more than traveling to tournaments,” she said. “I have my smurf crew sporting blue and silver cheering me on, always there for me after I get off the court — win or lose.

“My tennis team is my second family — literally and figuratively,” Ecton continued. “My mother is my head coach and every year I have been on the team, not only has my cousin or sister has played with me, but one of my older sister has been an assistant coach.

“Along with that, I meet new girls every year who may well be my sisters. We care about eachother more than any win-loss record or state title and everyone’s battle on and off the court is experienced by every player. The teamwork is incredible. From rain delays to dance parties, I always know I have my girls with me.”

Ecton said high school activities have allowed her to meet people she never would have otherwise, given her the chance to represent her town and community, and taught her the value of teamwork.

“Most importantly,” she said, “I play to have fun. I love going out there and competing on the court, course, and field, wearing my Poudre Blue and representing the Impalas.”

Ecton concluded by saying that, “High school sports have taught me lessons I never would have learned anywhere else.”

“I have learned to respect all the coaches, parents, athletes, and spectators that make it fun and appealing to play,” Ecton said. “I have learned more from my losses than my wins and experienced how vital teamwork is so nobody gets left behind. Above all sportsmanship is critical, and it’s not worth it if it isn’t fun.

“And that is why I play high school athletics.”