LAKEWOOD — Freshman Davis Provost led the way with three goals as Class 5A No. 2 Valor Christian boys lacrosse beat Bear Creek 18-0 on Wednesday.
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Month: April 2019
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High school sports and activities play a profound role in developing young men and women
(Lisa Hayes/StillOfTheMomentPhotography.com) We communicate on smart phones, drive smart cars, make purchases using smart cards and even drink smart water. But, really, how smart are we?
Between college admission and internet privacy scandals, sexual misconduct investigations, stolen trade secrets and the growing concern about how we communicate and connect with each other, technology seems to be outpacing our capacity to understand the most responsible way to use it.
In other words, how are tomorrow’s leaders being groomed to make decisions that provide the perspective, balance and strength of character that today’s advanced world needs?
The answer is by participating in high school sports like the ones offered by the high schools in Colorado.
Most researchers agree that leaders are made, not born, through relationships with others. Human interaction and life experiences enable young men and women to develop leadership characteristics such as trust, mutual respect, integrity and accountability. These are the same values that are learned as a result of playing on a high school sports team.
And while club sports often have only a singular focus (the participant’s athletic abilities), research documents that high school sports programs have an unparalleled positive effect on the physical, academic and emotional growth of teens, including a more mature level of character development.
In other words, high school sports have a more profound role to play in society today than you may realize.
The high school sports and activity programs in Colorado — including music, speech, theatre and debate — typically account for only about one to three percent of a school’s overall budget, making them one of the wisest investments your community makes. You can help by attending as many games and events as possible, donating to the booster club and volunteering to work in the concession stand.
Most of all, encourage your children to participate in as many sports and activities as they can. Because when they do, they will be joining a new generation of leaders who are both technologically smart and ethically responsible.
And that’s exactly the kind of leadership our hyper-intelligent world needs.
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Cherokee Trail boys swimming riding a big wave to “uncharted territory”
Waves create good momentum in the water and the Cherokee Trail boys swim team is riding a big on so far this season.
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Unified bowling, girls wrestling and boys volleyball become sanctioned sports
(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.
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Spirit will add a new game day cheer division
(Marlee Smith/CHSAANow.com) DENVER — A new division is coming to spirit — and it will be included during this fall’s state championships.
When CHSAA’s Legislative Council voted to approve the spirit report on Wednesday, that included the addition of a game day division at the state event.
Game day 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.
“This will be very exciting for other spirit programs to have the opportunity to participate utilizing their everyday game day skills,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Jenn Roberts-Uhlig, who oversees spirit. “It is more accessible to a wide range of schools, as it is a non-tumbling division.
“We’re hoping to pull in some schools who may not access to gyms, tumbling or choreography,” she added. “This will bring another fun experience to our championships.”
This discipline joins cheer, co-ed cheer, pom pon, Jazz and hip-hop as divisions at the state championships.
Spirit programs will only be allowed to participate in either game day or co-ed/cheer at the state championships.
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Basketball and soccer officials will get a bump in their fee structure
(Kevin Keyser/KeyserImages.com) DENVER — Varsity basketball and soccer officials will get a bump in their fee structure following a vote of CHSAA’s Legislative Council on Wednesday.
Basketball officials working a three-person crew at varsity games will earn $60 per game on a three-man crew starting with the 2019-20 season, a bump from $53.
Varsity soccer officials on three-person crews will earn $59 for a center referee, and $54.50 for assistant referees.
“The schools understand the issues around funding averages for officials across the nation and that Colorado is in the lower tier,” said CHSAA associate commissioner Tom Robinson, who oversees officials. “However, our schools are trying to do the best the can with the budgets they have to make those increases meaningful in a timely manner.”
Additionally, the officials fees report which was approved calls for a $6 travel stipend to be paid by Denver and Colorado Springs metro area schools to officials registered in those areas for the 2020-22 cycle, and a $10 stipend for the 2022-24 cycle.
This stipend will be paid once per assignment at a site per day. Previously, the stipend was $2.
Football officials were already scheduled to increase to $61 per game for the 2020-22 two-year cycle, per a previously approved fee structure.
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CHSAA inducts six members and the 1999 Columbine football team as its 30th Hall of Fame class
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com) DENVER — The members of the 2018 CHSAA Hall of Fame were inducted during a ceremony on Wednesday night at the Denver Marriott Tech Center.
The inductees: Scott Elarton (Lamar), Jack Klapper (Denver East), Bart Stevens (Flagler), Patty Childress (Otis, Palisade, Grandview), Morton Dickson (Woodland Park), Terri Ward (Niwot), and the 1999 Columbine football team.
They are the 30th class in the history of the Hall of Fame, which began in 1989.
Columbine football coach Andy Lowry spoke on behalf of the class, saying, “We all appreciate CHSAA and this evening, and the humbling award we received this night. What a great honor this is.”
Biographies of each of the new members are included below. With their inclusion, CHSAA’s Hall of Fame now has 204 members.
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PATTY CHILDRESS (Otis, Palisade, Grandview) – [Coach/Sponsor]
Longtime volleyball coach who posted a 493-170 career coaching record. Her teams won 5 state titles, finished second five times and had another two final 4 appearances.
She has earned numerous coaching honors from the Colorado High School Coaches Association and the Sportswomen of Colorado.
She was coach of the year 8 times and was the Dave Sanders Award recipient in 2013.
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MORTON DICKSON (Woodland Park) – [Coach/Sponsor]
Morton Dickson was a vocal music teacher for Woodland Park for 34 years, during which time his programs were one of the most active and successful ones in the CHSAA Music Festivals.
Rarely did his programs receive any rating lower than “Superior.” His students regularly earned top spots in the CMEA All-State Choir.
He continues to judge the CHSAA festivals.
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SCOTT ELARTON (Lamar) – [Student Participant]
One of the state’s most dominating prep athletes, Elarton’s baseball team won four consecutive state titles and were runners-up twice in basketball.
He was named Player of the Year six times, four in baseball and twice in basketball.
He earned Prep All-America honors in baseball.
He was a first round selection in the 1994 MLB amateur draft by the Houston Astros, and played professional baseball for 19 years, 10 of those in the major leagues.
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JACK KLAPPER (Denver East) – [Student Participant]
One of the state’s most dominating tennis players, Klapper won three No. 1 singles championship (only 3-year high schools back then) and was just the second player to ever do so.
The other one is in the CHSAA Hall of Fame. He led his team to three straight state team titles under CHSAA Hall of Fame member Bill Weimar.
Following high school, Klapper played tennis and squash at MIT. He has been a neurologist in Denver for the past 50 years.
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BART STEVENS (Flagler) – [Student Participant]
One of the state’s top small school athletes, Stevens led Flagler High School to a 45-5 football record and was named the A8 Player of the Year twice.
He was a four-time all-state selection in football and ran for 1,956 yards, threw for 4,559 yards, scoring 25 times on the ground and had 67 TD passes. He played basketball for two years and medaled at the state tournament twice.
He played collegiately at CSU-Pueblo and then became a teacher, coach and administrator.
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TERRI WARD (CCGS/Niwot) – [Significant Contributor]
Dedicated to girls’ sports, Ward has been the constant driver and facilitator for the Colorado Coaches of Girls Sports.
Her tireless efforts on behalf of young female athletes is unsurpassed in Colorado. A teacher and coach at Niwot, Ward has been at the center of many activities benefiting and enhancing opportunities for the girls’ athletes of state.
She has been a fixture for women’s leadership throughout her career with CCGS, Sportswomen of Colorado, Niwot High School and many volunteer activities at the state and national level.
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COLUMBINE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL 1999 – [Team]
April 20, 2019 is the 20th Anniversary of the Columbine shootings. Its impact on the world, nation, state and community was immense and devastating.
People across the globe followed the Columbine football team, watching the healing process and resiliency of that school and, in particular, its football team. Media scrutiny was overwhelming and the pressure on the team incredible.
The team beat Cherry Creek 21-14, and head coach Andy Lowry was coach of the year and three players made the All-Colorado team that year, more than any other school.
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Wheat Ridge baseball stays undefeated in 4A Jeffco with late rally over Evergreen
WHEAT RIDGE — Wheat Ridge baseball coach Adam Miller would love to have newly named Chuck Griffith Jr. Field be the location for a Class 4A regional tournament May 18.
“We kind of control our own destiny which is where we want to be,” Miller said after the Farmers’ 6-1 victory over Evergreen improved Wheat Ridge to 5-0 in 4A Jeffco League play. “I’ve always said anytime we have one the league championship that usually leads to a state-bound team because you get to host and we’d get to play here. League championship is very important.”
Wheat Ridge sophomore Wes Miller rips a single to start the Farmers’ five-run sixth inning Tuesday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) The most important hit Tuesday was a two-run home run by Wheat Ridge junior Dominic Brock that highlighted a five-run bottom of the sixth inning by the Farmers.
“I ran into it at the right time to help out the team,” Bronk said of his two-run home run. “It was perfect timing and got the mojo going.”
Evergreen senior pitcher Paul Schreffler had given up just one run on three hits coming to the sixth inning. A lead-off single by sophomore Wes Miller, followed by the home run by Bronk, gave the Farmers their first lead of the game.
“We just couldn’t get a big shot,” Coach Miller said of the Farmers scoring just one run through the first five innings. “Wes came through and got on base for us. Dominic is as good as a hitter we’ve had in a long time.”
Evergreen senior Paul Schreffler was solid through five inning before giving up a two-run home to Wheat Ridge junior Dominic Bronk. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) Wheat Ridge tacked on three more runs while sending 11 batters to the plate. After a pair of bunt singles, sophomore Scott Kingman delivered with a two-run single off Evergreen sophomore Nick Villims after Schreffler came out of the game.
Sophomore Rocco Tate pushed the lead to 6-1 with a long fly ball to centerfield scored the Farmers’ fifth run of the frame.
“That is as good of a game we’ve played in league in a while,” Coach Miller said. “That was good. It’s a good win for us.”
Wheat Ridge senior pitcher Aaron Arcilise was masterful again to pick up his sixth victory on the hill. Arcilise threw a complete game while striking out nine and walking just one.
“I just wanted to keep pounding the zone and not walking anybody, get the outs you can get,” Arcilise said. We didn’t want to give them scoring opportunities with free baserunners.”
Wheat Ridge junior Kyle Radi, right, slides safely into third base ahead of the tag by Evergreen senior Chris Guay. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) Arcilise was touched up for three hits in the first inning, but limited the damage to just a single run on an RBI hit by Evergreen senior Bryce Pearson. It was the first loss for Schreffler, who had a 5-1 record last season with a 2.62 ERA for the Cougars during their run to the state tournament.
“He (Schreffler) is a great pitcher. He hits all his locations,” Bronk said. “We saw him enough times where everyone started picking him up and we executed perfectly.”
Evergreen (10-7, 4-3 in 4A Jeffco) will get another shot at conference-leading Wheat Ridge. The Cougars are scheduled to host the Farmers (9-4, 5-0) at 4 p.m. Thursday, April 25.
“It will be a good game,” Arcilise said of facing the Cougars’ on their home field Thursday. “I think we are all excited to play them again.”
Wheat Ridge senior Aaron Arcilise improved his pitching record to 6-0 on the season with his complete-game victory against Evergreen on Tuesday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics) -
Photos: No. 3 Arapahoe boys lacrosse gets a win over Mullen
DENVER — Third-ranked Arapahoe boys lacrosse notched its sixth-straight win by beating Mullen 17-8 on Tuesday.
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Legislative Council notebook: Girls lacrosse adds a second classification
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com) DENVER — Girls lacrosse will add a second classification, following a vote of CHSAA’s Legislative Council on Wednesday.
A proposal, jointly submitted by the Western Slope and Pikes Peak leagues, passed by a majority vote to split the sport’s 58 teams into 5A and 4A classifications.
The move mirrors a split of classes by boys lacrosse ahead of the 2013 season.
Now, the decision on how to split the teams, notably the cut line for enrollment, will need to be decided.
Additionally, the lacrosse committee will need to figure out how to handle its semifinals and championships. Currently, with one class, girls lacrosse holds both rounds at the University of Denver.
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New seeding criteria for football
(Dustin Price/dustinpricephotography.com) The football committee will use a new approach towards seeding the 5A-1A playoffs starting with the 2019 season.
A complete breakdown of how it will work is available here, but here are the basics:
- Four data points (the RPI, MaxPreps rankings, Packard rankings, and the CHSAANow coaches poll) will be equally weighted.
- Teams will be ranked according to that data, and seeded accordingly.
- They may be moved one spot based upon head-to-head, and seeds may also be adjusted (Nos. 9-16 in 4A-1A, and Nos. 17-24 in 5A) for geography and to avoid league matchups.
Additionally, with the approval of the football committee report, the 6-man football title game will be Nov. 23 this year, moving it up one week and returning it to a date it had been.
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Board of Directors
- Troy Baker will be CHSAA’s new president.
- Rick Macias, an at large member, is moving off the board. His replacement has not yet been named.
- Rick Mondt (representing District 3) will be replaced by Steve Longwell, Eaton athletic director.
- Angie Sanders (representing District 4) will be replaced by Nate Smith, Englewood athletic director.
- Jim Lucas (representing CASE) will be replaced by Ryan West, Englewood principal.
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Notables:
- Three schools were officially approved for new membership: Addenbrooke Classical Academy (Lakewood), Banning Lewis Preparatory Academy (Colorado Springs), and DSST: Conservatory Green (Denver).
- A proposal that would have created a 6A classification in football was voted down.
- Soccer will have a game minimum requirement in order to make the 2A playoffs: 12 games, 10 of which must be against NFHS schools.
- Soccer is changing its officiating system to a diagonal system of control (one center ref, and two assistants), which is pretty much standard across the board in the sport at all levels.
- Softball will use a double bag at first base. The sport has also changed its mercy rule, and games will now end if a team is up by: 15 runs after 3 innings, 12 after 4, or 10 after 5.
- Swimmers will now be required to compete in a minimum of six high school meets to qualify for the state competition.
- Volleyball’s default regional day will be a Saturday, if the schools can’t agree. Also, the new tri-color volleyball (red, white and blue) was approved to be used during the postseason.
- A school’s prior year out-of-building student percentage on rosters can be used as part of the criteria to classify schools going forward.
- Co-op sports programs between schools will now be on a two-year basis, changing from the current one-year period.
- Sunday competition, out of season, will be allowed for teams and participants at national events, if sponsored by the NFHS and/or approved by the CHSAA office.
- The 2019 state cross country championship will be Oct. 26.
- Field hockey created 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.