Meghan Gordon, set to begin her sophomore year at Mountain Vista, committed to the U.S. Naval Academy to play lacrosse on Monday, according to her mom, Susannah.
Gordon, a midfielder, had 20 goals and seven assists as a freshman last season for the co-op team at ThunderRidge, which advanced to the quarterfinals in the spring. She’s also a member of the co-op field hockey team at Mountain Vista.
After her freshman season, Gordon part of the West Team at the Under Armour Underclass Lacrosse Tournament in June, and also played on Team Colorado at this summer’s Brine National Lacrosse Classic.
Gordon plays club lacrosse for Team 180.
Navy women’s lacrosse finished 15-5 last season, including 6-2 in the Patriot League.
Gordon is the first known local girls lacrosse player from the Class of 2018 to make a college commitment.
DENVER — Shift Why, a national initiative which seeks to change sports culture, held a seminar for Team Colorado on Tuesday at Sports Authority Field at Mile High.
Last fall, as a sophomore, Erin Gillcrist helped Lakewood volleyball reach the Class 5A regional round. Now, just before her junior season begins, Gillcrist has already made collegiate plans.
On Monday, Gillcrist announced her commitment to San Diego State over Twitter:
Gillcrist, an opposite and outside hitter, had 155 kills (2.3 per set) and 72 total digs last season. She was also on the Tigers’ varsity team as a freshman, recording 36 kills.
Lakewood was 13-12 last season. Two years ago, the Tigers went 17-8.
San Diego State, a member of the Mountain West Conference, went 14-15 last season. The Aztecs have Overland graduate Ciara Brown on the roster this season as a senior.
Gillcrist is the sixth known volleyball player from the 2017 class to make her college choice.
Joe Ehrmann addresses a group of state leaders at Mile High on Tuesday. More photos. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
DENVER — The Colorado High School Activities Association and the Denver Broncos are helping to pilot an initiative during the 2015-16 season which seeks transform the culture of sports.
The initiative, Shift Why, is a national initiative backed by the NFL — in Colorado, the Broncos — which will debut this year in Colorado, Minnesota and Texas.
Shift Why seeks to:
Transform the current ‘win-at-all-costs’ sports culture, where the value is only defined by the outcome on the scoreboard and the win-loss record, to a culture that defines and promotes sports as a human growth experience that focuses on the intentional development of the educational, social, and emotional well-being of each student-athlete.
On Tuesday, a group of roughly 40 leaders from around the state — athletic directors, district athletic directors, school board members, and leaders from many other organizations — gathered for a four-hour seminar at Sports Authority Field at Mile High from Joe Ehrmann and Jody Redman, who have teamed up to create Shift Why.
Jody Redman. More photos. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
Ehrmann is a nationally-respected author and motivational speaker who played in the NFL for 10 seasons. He has devoted much of his life to off-the-field service and initiatives such as Shift Why.
Redman, the associate director of the Minnesota State High School League, has a long history of involvement with programs like this. She developed the curriculum for the nationally-successful Why We Play, as well as the emerging Anyone Can Save a Life.
“We’re here to help your mission of what you’re already doing,” Ehrmann told the group. “I think sports has an incredible role to play in helping America.”
“We talked about being a blueprint for systemic change,” Redman said. “The first step to that change is awareness. We have to be aware of why we do this, educational-based athletics.”
Team Colorado, as the leaders of the initiative in this state will be known, will be responsible for many facets of Shift Why. It takes a three-step approach:
Awareness: Identifying the current problem with youth sports — a culture “focused on win-loss records, scholarships and awards” — and then defining the purpose of education-based athletics, which the initiative says can “provide students with growth that will sustain them well beyond physical skill development and the knowledge of a game.”
Alignment: Instilling a common language, ensuring that “school leaders and communities … have an in-depth understanding of the purpose of education-based programs.” And establishing clear expectations and policies that “define a new standard of expectation.”
Action: Providing education to faculty, administrators and others to help coaches “in redefining and re-framing the social responsibility of sports.” And establishing accountability with those coaches and athletic administrators.
While the goal of the initiative is to move sports away from the “win-at-all-costs” mentality, Redman said, “This isn’t about giving up the goal to win. Goals are important.”
“But it’s about empathy and changing the world for good,” she added. “That’s what education-based athletics are about.”
Said Ehrmann: “I think a great myth is that sports build character. Sports does not build character in a ‘win-at-all-costs’ mentality.”
The seminar attendees will now take what they learned on Tuesday and spread it to their communities, and around the state, in order to help change the culture of youth sports in Colorado.
Shift Why will hold a statewide seminar on Oct. 8-9 at Mile High. The CHSAA office will disseminate further information on that session in the near future.
CHSAA’s Board of Directors met on Friday and Saturday of last week. Included was the adoption of a new policy mandating the use of an RPI formula to determine postseason qualifiers for team sports. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)
AURORA — All of CHSAA’s team sports will follow a similar postseason qualification format — namely, the use of an RPI system — beginning with the 2016-17 season.
The change, which marks a major shift in philosophy for the Association, comes after CHSAA’s Board of Directors adopted a new policy on Saturday mandating consistency across postseason qualification for all team sports. The crux of that consistency is the use of an RPI (Rating Percentage Index) formula to set postseason fields.
“We think it’s fair, we think it’s going to fit in all sports,” said Eddie Hartnett, the president of CHSAA’s Board of Directors, “and we do think, as a Board, that other states will look at us as ground-breaking. It’s transparent and consistent.”
For a long time, schools have asked CHSAA for more consistency when it comes to postseason qualification.
According to the new policy, signed by Hartnett, “All ‘team’ sports committees will use the RPI formula as the determining factor for postseason qualifiers.” A letter — seen below — containing full details of the policy will be passed out to each member of a team sports committee ahead of their meeting.
An RPI takes into account a team’s winning percentage (WP), the winning percentage of their opponents (OWP), and the winning percentage of their opponents’ opponents (OOWP). The specific formula to be used will be:
RPI = (¼ × WP) + (½ × OWP) + (¼ × OOWP)
The simplicity of the formula, and the ability to understand and explain it, was key for the Board.
“The thing that I believe is truly the best thing about the RPI system is its transparency,” Hartnett said. “There’s no mysterious algorithm. There’s no point differential that comes into play. Point differential is absolutely against what we stand for in high school sports in Colorado.”
Individual sports committees will still have wiggle room under the new policy. For example, they can choose to protect league champions, or add other factors in — such as a CHSAANow.com coaches poll, or a “weighting system based upon home, away and neutral sites.”
The Board met for roughly five hours on Saturday, and a big portion of that was devoted to discussion of the RPI. The group heard input from the CHSAA staff in that process.
“When we looked at the different methods we have utilized in the past, and while in the past they were very appropriate, and the best in what we had at the time, we feel that RPI will be more fair and more consistent and more transparent than any other form of qualification that we have used before,” Hartnett said.
“We were able to evaluate the different systems that were in place with CHSAA, and nationally, and we took the time to evaluate what works with other states and other associations, including the NCAA and NAIA, and we were able to look at what would fit best in Colorado,” he added. “We strongly feel as a Board that the RPI system is the way to go.”
Already, football has adopted the use of an RPI formula to determine postseason qualifiers for each of its seven classifications. That committee has selected to protect league champions.
Some details still need to be worked out with the RPI formula, including a classification modifier, and if there is to be one.
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New playoff qualification policy from Board of Directors
INDIANAPOLIS – Beginning with the 2016 high school boys lacrosse season, officials and players will adhere to a new, more clearly defined faceoff procedure.
The revision to Rule 4-3-3 was one of four major changes recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee at its July 13-15 meeting in Indianapolis. The committee’s recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Articles 3 through 6 of Rule 4-3 were condensed into a new Article 3, which clarifies the faceoff procedures and roles for officials and players. When directed, players will go to the faceoff position with their crosses properly placed. If the official is satisfied with the position, then the ball will be placed between the crosses for the faceoff. Previously, the ball was placed on the ground first. Players are still required to remain motionless in the correct position after the official says “set” and until the whistle is blown.
Rules 1-6-1 and 1-8 were also revised to address issues with the ball becoming stuck in the crosse, including the back of the crosse after a faceoff. The change to Rule 1-6-1 alters the dimensions of the crosse and will take effect beginning in 2018 to allow for phased implementation.
Another change (Rule 4-14-3) defines a new “over and back” rule, which states that the offensive team may not carry, pass or propel the ball into its defensive half of the field once it has been advanced into the goal area. An infraction will result in a turnover or play-on.
“We believe lacrosse is moving in the right direction to continue to minimize the risk to our student-athletes and improve the game experience,” said Susie Knoblauch, NFHS director of performing arts and sports and liaison to the Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee. “Our rules changes support that trend and also create more consistent and fair play for everyone.”
In addition to the four major changes, the Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee approved five Points of Emphasis for the 2016 season. Points of Emphasis are developed by NFHS rules committees and should receive special focus and attention by officials, coaches, players, fans and other leaders within the high school setting.
Points of Emphasis developed by the Boys Lacrosse Rules Committee for the 2016 season are as follows:
Contact – Penalties for excessive hits to the head and neck, as well as penalties for hits to defenseless players and blindside hits.
Helmet Fitting– Helmets shall meet current NOCSAE standards and be properly fitted for each player.
Halftime Warm-up – It is recommended that the final three minutes of intermission be used as a team warm-up period.
Helmets and Equipment During Pre-Game and Practice Time – Coaches should educate players on the need to be properly equipped at all times.
Defending the Crease – It is recommended that coaches not teach nor encourage field players to block the goal when the goalkeeper has vacated the goal crease area.
AURORA — Monday marks the official start of the 2015-16 season with the beginning of boys golf practice around the state. This will be CHSAA’s 95th season of activities.
Boys golf teams from Class 3A, 4A and 5A — there are 181 in all — are set to begin their respective seasons. The first contest is permitted on Aug. 13.
The sport’s regionals will be completed by Sept. 25, with all state championship tournaments on Oct. 5-6.
The 5A tournament is set for Fort Collins Country Club, 4A is at Fox Hill Country Club in Longmont, and 3A’s will be held at Eagle Ranch Golf Course in Eagle.
Valor Christian has hired George Gwozdecky as its next hockey coach. (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)
Valor Christian made a big splash in the hockey world on Friday morning, hiring former University of Denver and NHL assistant coach George Gwozdecky to head the school’s hockey program.
Eagles athletic director Jamie Heiner confirmed the hire to CHSAANow on Thursday, and also sent a press release with more details. Mike Chambers of The Denver Post first reported the news.
Gwozdecky, who spent the last two seasons as an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning, told Heiner that he wanted to get into coaching at the high school level so that he could return to mentoring kids.
“He said, ‘As an NHL coach, I don’t mentor those guys. … All I do is coach. I don’t know their lives outside of hockey at all,’” Heiner said. “That’s what he missed.”
“We’re very excited about having him here at Valor, it’s a huge deal for Colorado, and it’s just a blessing that he wants to be here,” Heiner added later. “He lives just a few minutes for Valor — he’s lived here for 20 something years — so he’s watched it rise up out of the ground and have success.
“He compared it to some of the things he did at DU and how quickly he turned that program around. I don’t know if he just saw some similarities, and wanted to leave a mark and a legacy.”
In a statement, Gwozdecky said he was “sold” on Valor’s vision.
“My story of coming to Valor is truly amazing,” Gwozdecky said. “I was serving as a reference to a friend and an associate on a coaching position at Valor and the more I learned of the school, the more intrigued I became personally. That friend took a different role so I called Jamie to learn more.
“After speaking with the administration and learning more about the vision of the school and the desire they have to pour into the lives of young people for their greater good in life beyond the sport, I was sold.
“I am truly excited to apply what I have learned in this great sport, and the lessons of a lifetime of coaching to the Valor student athletes I will have the privilege of working with. I’m anxious to get started.”
Heiner had been on vacation recently, and had a voicemail upon returning: It was George Gwozdecky.
“He was like, ‘Hey, I’m interested to hear about your hockey program. I’m just intrigued, I want to know more,’” Heiner said.
Gwozdecky came to Valor the next week, and the two talked for more than two hours.
“It was funny,” Heiner said. “He kind of interviewed me. He asked, ‘Why are you here, Jamie? What brings you here? What’s up with Valor?’ … He just kind of asked what our heart was, what are we trying to do, what’s the goal of just Valor, not hockey or anything.”
Gwozdecky asked to come back the next day, and he and Heiner met again. “He just wanted to know more,” Heiner said.
Then, this week, Heiner said, “He called and said, ‘Hey I want to lead the program. This is my next career step. I want to invest in these young men.’”
Gwozdecky has an incredibly impressive resume, and is a well-known figure around the sport. He was DU’s coach from the 1994-95 season through 2012-13, and lead the Pioneers to national championships in 2004 and 2005. At DU, his team’s were 443-267-64.
He also won an NCAA title as a player at Wisconsin (1977), and an assistant coach at Michigan State (1986).
“George’s tenure in hockey and his accomplishments as a player, coach and program builder, are so significant; but what has impressed us most is the care and concern he has for young people to nurture and help them grow into competent, caring leaders,” Heiner said in a statement. “He is truly about something bigger than the sport and we are absolutely thrilled to have him join our team.”
Gwozdecky also was the head coach at Miami of Ohio from 1989-90 through 1993-94, as well as at Wisconsin–River Falls (1981-82 through 1983-84), where his team won an NAIA title in 1982-83. His overall record as a head coach in college was 592-390-85, and Gwozdecky was twice named national coach of the year (1993 and 2005).
For the past two seasons, he was an assistant for the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning. The Lightning made the Stanley Cup Finals this past spring.
Valor Christian was 3-15-0 last season. The Eagles were 2-16-0 in 2013-14, but went 14-4-0 the year before that. That season, 2012-13, was the last time Valor has made the playoffs — a loss in the first round.
The program started play in 2008-09.
Gwozdecky, who takes over for Sam Shooster, will meet his new team on Aug. 17.
Fort Morgan’s Toby McBride (32) evades a tackler during the 2014. (Photo courtesy of Toby McBride)
It’s been a long time since Fort Morgan High School could brag about a Division I football recruit. But Toby McBride changed all that Tuesday night when he announced his commitment to play Colorado State.
McBride, a 6-foot-3, 235-pound star for the Mustangs, became the first Division I commit out of the school since 2006. That’s not bad for a kid who had a legitimate choice between two sports.
On top of being a beast on the gridiron, McBride is a two-time state wrestling champion. He won the 220-pound division in Class 4A in 2015 and 2014. But when push came to shove, he decided that his sport of choice was football.
And he won’t be playing far from home either.
Less than 24 hours after announcing his commitment, he chatted with us about his choice to head to Fort Collins as well as what being a multi-sport star did for his ability to get recruited.
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McBride with new CSU coach Mike Bobo. (Photo courtesy of Toby McBride)
Q: Let’s start with the obvious one. Why did you choose Colorado State?
Toby McBride: I had been on the campus the most, compared to all the other colleges (that I visited). After camp and being coached by their coaches, I felt that they are what they say they are and that they’re going to stay for a while and be contending for a Mountain West (Conference) championship.
Q: Does your approach change now going into this season in the sense that now you’re officially a Division I player and now you have to live up to that expectation?
McBride: No, I’ve always felt that I’d be a Division I player someday and that it would come with hard work. More pressure has just been taken off of me knowing I don’t have to decide a college instead of trying to prove that I am good enough. I’m more concentrated on having a winning season and going to the playoffs with my team.
Q: Going into your senior year, has your approach been any different now that you can reflect on this being the last high school training camp you’re going into?
McBride: Yeah, it’s my senior year so I know what needs to be done. I’m going to be able to step up more for my teammates and lead them through my last season. Obviously I want it to be my best. I just need to know that this is the last chance to win a state title.
Q: You have a couple of individual state titles under your belt in wrestling, were you ever torn between wrestling and playing football in college?
McBride: Yeah. Being a good wrestler, my coaches told me that I should start looking into wrestling in college and maybe doing both. After I won (NHSCA) nationals, I started getting a lot of calls from big-time wrestling colleges that wanted to start recruiting me. I decided that football is what I enjoy doing more and see the most success in my future with so that’s what I’ve decided to do.
Q: There’s a lot talk these days that kids need to not specialize, that they need to diversify themselves in as many sports as possible. From your standpoint, having to make that choice, how challenging is that to have to choose one of two or three sports that you want to play in college?
McBride: I guess my parents made that choice for me when I was five-years-old. They wanted me to be able to earn a scholarship. With so many family members, it would be hard for them to pay for everyone going to college. One of our family friends told them that college coaches like to recruit players who are wrestlers over basketball players, baseball players, stuff like that. So that’s when they put me in pee wee wrestling and that’s what I’ve done since.
It wasn’t more as a sport that I like doing, but a sport that’s a perk. I tell college coaches I wrestle and I’m successful at it, so I’ll be a better football player and it compliments my game.
Q: How did the coaches react when you were telling them that?
McBride: They liked that I’m a wrestler. From all the college coaches I’ve talked to, they like recruiting wrestlers more than anything else. To hear that I’m a successful wrestler, the other thing I know is leverage and all that other kind of stuff.
Q: What’s been the best moment of your high school athletic career thus far?
McBride: Probably going to the playoffs with my football team last year. The whole playoff experience is the most fun I’ve had in high school sports.
McBride at CSU. (Photo courtesy of Toby McBride)
Q: Rivals said you are the first Division I commit from your school since 2006. What does that tell you about your abilities?
McBride: It’s big for my town. I’ve been doubted a lot by people in my town. It hasn’t happened much in Fort Morgan. It just drives me more to get better. But the people that are closest to me and my coaches, they’ve always believed I’ve been able (to go Division I) and that just helps me perform better.
Q: Do you feel that you have bragging rights now that you’ve proven those doubters wrong?
McBride: I don’t think so. I don’t like to show off too much. I really don’t want to say that I’m better than anyone because of what I’m doing or anything like that.
Grandview’s Nicole Lyubenko handles the ball during the Class 5A state championship game in May. (Tim Visser/TimVisserPhotography.com)
The Crimson Tide recruiting trail has successfully rolled through Colorado. Grandview junior Nicole Lyubenko announced on Twitter that she has decided to continue her soccer career at the University of Alabama.
So incredibly excited to announce that I have committed to play soccer at The University of Alabama! #RollTide ❤️⚽️ pic.twitter.com/vlb07DMU6I
She is just the latest member of the Wolves to declare her college choice. She has teammates both in the 2016 and 2017 recruiting classes that will play for high-profile programs upon the completion of their high school careers.
