We’ve updated and reworked the football record book, including 130 new individual entires, 84 team entries, and updates to 24 coaching records.
Month: April 2020
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Q&A: The COVID-19 pandemic from a student leadership perspective
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com) Shannel Swiader, a senior at Highlands Ranch High School, is the president of CHSAA’s student leadership state representatives. We caught up with her this week to get her thoughts on the COVID-19 pandemic from a student leadership perspective.
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Question: We hope you are staying safe during this public health emergency. How are you doing?
Shannel Swiader: I’m doing well. I am missing school and interacting with my peers, but enjoying this time with my family and my pets, especially before heading off to college.
Q: What do you miss the most about the “normal” day-to-day of the school week?
Swiader: I miss seeing all of my fellow Falcons. Connecting with people, whether that’s peers, teachers, or administration, on a day-to-day basis was always really fulfilling. I’m glad we live in an age where technology allows us some connection, but it’s just not the same.
Q: How are you staying connected to your school community?
Swiader: My student council and I have been doing weekly Zoom calls and been talking a lot over our group message on GroupMe. We are planning a virtual spirit week to unite our student body and give somewhat a feeling of normalcy.
Social media has been an awesome tool when it came to communicating out information about free meals for those needing them, and technology distributions at the beginning of online learning. Using things like Snapchat, Instagram, and Twitter has been efficient.
Q: What are you seeing from schools and students across the state to help their communities?
Swiader: I’ve seen a lot of virtual spirit weeks. These include days like “Bring Your Pet to School” or “Fancy Day.” Typically student councils have had their students take pictures of themselves dressed up, and then repost their pictures.
Douglas County High School awarded free food delivery for the student with the best picture or outfit each day.
Rangeview High School did a mental health week. They encouraged students to take care of themselves by participating in activities like painting, cooking something they’ve never made, or enjoying the outdoors (safely, of course).
Mountain Vista High School ordered signs for all of their seniors with the hashtag #we’reallinthistogether for them to post in their yard. They also ordered a bunch of yard signs for students of all grades to grab to help unite their community.
Many schools are making sure their student body is staying connected and doing okay in their own ways.
Q: If you could share one message with your fellow seniors, what would it be?
Swiader: I would tell the other seniors that this situation isn’t all bad. Many of us are going off to college, starting a full-time job, or going into the armed forces in a few months. We have been given some extra time to slow down our crazy lives and spend time with our families and pets before we have to leave.
Also, this online learning format is very similar to what many of us will experience in college. We will have this kind of independence, and this experience lets us establish that work ethic early so we are ready to go in the fall.
I’ve been applying for tons of last-minute scholarships with my extra time as well and I’d encourage others to do the same. Get as much as you can so you won’t have to pay it off later!
Don’t get me wrong, it stinks we don’t get our senior proms and our graduations will look a little different, but high school isn’t all about the last quarter.
I encourage them to reflect on their last four years, take time to thank those who have helped them get to where they are, and stay grateful for the amazing times we did get to have.
Q: If you could share a message with other student leaders, what would it be?
Swiader: I would tell other student leaders to bear down right now. This is a weird time, but it’s a time to thrive. Your communities need you right now more than ever. It is important to stay connected, be creative, and check on your classmates and teachers.
It’s easy to be a leader when everything is laid out for you, but you can shine when times are uncertain. Take advantage of this opportunity.
Q: What are you looking forward to doing most when we start to get back to some level of normalcy?
Swiader: I can’t wait to connect with my friends. I’ve been doing a lot of Zoom calls and Netflix parties, but it’s just not the same as in-person contact. I’m glad I do get to see their faces, though, even if it’s just through a screen.
Q: What have you learned most about leadership in the last couple of months?
Swiader: I’ve learned it’s really important to stay positive in difficult situations. When you have a good attitude, people around you and people you talk to are more likely to shift their perspective on things. A positive attitude helps in every situation. It’s also a lot easier to get things done when you and those you’re working with have good attitudes. No matter what is happening, there is always something to be positive about.
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NFHS, music publishers pave the way for students to use copyrighted material to complete the year
(CHSAANow.com) Not unlike the process for relaxing the stay-at-home orders and re-opening the economy at the national level, the timing of the return of high school sports and activities may differ from state to state.
Currently, 21 NFHS member state associations have cancelled all spring sports events, while the other 30 remain in a “suspended/postponed” category. In most cases, these differences rest with whether schools have been closed for the semester or remain hopeful of re-opening in the coming weeks.
While some states are optimistic that seniors will be able to squeeze in some final athletic competition, those decisions will all be guided by one overriding factor – the health and safety of the student participants.
Although the timing for the almost eight million high school student-athletes to return to sports competition remains in question, we are excited to announce that at least some high school students involved in other school activities will have a way to continue participation in an online setting.
In addition to its role as the national leader and advocate for high school sports in the United States, the NFHS serves in a like manner for activities such as music, speech, debate, theatre and academic programs. Similar to high school athletes involved in baseball, softball, lacrosse, and track and field, students in high school music programs faced an end to competition with the shutdown of schools.
However, in a landmark decision, several prominent music publishers are allowing temporary use of their copyrighted music for educational purposes. This will allow high school musicians to complete their year-end assessments, as well as classroom instruction while schools are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Students involved in these important activity programs can continue participation online and maintain compliance with copyright laws.
The NFHS appreciates the action on the part of these music publishers – Alfred, Barnhouse, Hal Leonard, Warner-Chappell Music and Warner Entertainment – so that high school music students can remain engaged during these extraordinary times.
The permissions, which expire on June 15, are designed to enable students to complete the remainder of the school year. The five publishers account for about 95 percent of available educational music.
More than four million high school students participate in activities other than sports; and with their year-end events canceled or postponed, the relaxing of copyright restrictions has delivered a ray of sunshine to many music students across the country.
The NFHS has been a national leader in helping schools maintain compliance with copyright standards. In 2017, the free “Understanding Copyright and Compliance” online education course was first offered on the NFHS Learning Center (www.NFHSLearn.com). Last year, two new segments were added to the course, which now includes separate tracks for music teachers, spirit coaches, school administrators, speech and debate directors, and theatre directors.
As we begin to look at resuming high school activity programs down the road, an openness to meeting the needs of high school activity participants in different ways may become the norm. We thank these major music publishers for getting us started down that path.
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Swimming and diving rules changes clarify proper race finish, official timing procedures
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com) INDIANAPOLIS — Providing more clarity on a proper race finish and official timing procedures are among the noteworthy high school swimming and diving rules changes for the 2020-21 school year.
These topics were among those discussed by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Swimming and Diving Rules Committee at its annual meeting March 22-23, where a total of six rules changes were recommended for approval. The rules meeting was held in an online format to comply with current health safety guidelines. All recommendations were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.
Rule 1-1-1 was edited to profile the end wall in more detail. Previously described as “the walls perpendicular to the race course,” the new definition broadens the term to include “the vertical portion of the pool, contiguous surface of the deck and overflow gutter, the front of the starting block or platform, or the touchpad at the end of the course.”
“This additional language provides clarity on what constitutes the end wall,” said Sandy Searcy, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Swimming and Diving Rules Committee. “The 2019-20 rules book changed the definition of the finish of the race by permitting the swimmer to finish at the end wall, not the touchpad. That change necessitated a more concise definition of the end wall.”
The end wall was also referenced in the change to Rule 6-3-2, which specified acceptable methods for measuring “official” times. When a legal touch is made with the end wall to signify a legal finish, buttons and/or stopwatches, which are commonly used for backup timing, are now explicitly listed as alternatives to touchpads.
Clarity to the usage of backup timing devices was also addressed in a change to Rule 6-3-4. Whereas official times could previously only be taken from backup mechanisms in the event of a malfunction to the automatic timing equipment, the rule’s new language was written to incorporate all other instances where an official time is not properly recorded.
“This rule change more accurately describes the protocol for determining an official time when the competitor contacts the end wall and not the touchpad,” Searcy said. “Backup buttons or stopwatches may need to be used in situations where the swimmer does not activate the touchpad or the touchpad malfunctions. This phrase clarifies conditions when the swimmer does not touch the touchpad initially.”
New articles were added to Rules 1-4-5 and 1-4-6 to differentiate the terms diving “round” from diving “session” and bring consistency to those definitions. Used frequently throughout Rule 9 of the rules book, a diving session refers to one of the various levels – preliminary, semifinal and final – within an 11-dive competition, while a diving round is the completion of one dive by each participant. Additionally, divers are now permitted to practice in between diving sessions at the discretion of meet management.
Alterations were made to the uniform code under Rules 3-3-3 and 3-3-4c regarding accepted and prohibited manufacturers’ logos. In addition to the mark signifying approval from the international governing body for aquatic sports, FINA, the USA Swimming checkmark logo is now considered an acceptable suit marking.
“This rule is a clarification of what the swimming community may see on suits this fall as a result of a rule change made by USA Swimming,” Searcy said. “A small checkmark will be positioned next to the FINA marking on some suits and is not considered as an additional manufacturer’s logo or advertising.”
Finally, headings were added to Rules 9-3-3 and 9-3-5 to help explain the two-step process for entering divers at championship meets. The process includes entering the divers and swimmers’ first and last names, events and school affiliations onto an official team entry document, and then submitting the document at the time and place specified by the meet manager. Subsequently, divers will submit a scoresheet/dive list to complete the process of their entry into the diving event.
According to the 2018-19 NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, swimming and diving is the 10th-most popular sport for boys with 136,638 participants in 7,704 schools, and the eighth-most popular sport for girls with 173,088 participants in 8,007 schools.
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Music publishers agree to allow educational use of copyrighted music through June 15
INDIANAPOLIS — Several prominent music publishers have temporarily allowed the use of their copyrighted music for educational purposes through an agreement with the NFHS and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). These guidelines are designed to allow high school musicians to complete their year-end assessments and for classroom instruction while schools are closed due to the COVID-19 outbreak. The agreement will expire on June 15.
“The publishers have been gracious with their permissions to allow students the ability to complete their year-end assessments while remaining copyright compliant,” said Dr. James Weaver, director of performing arts and sports. “The NFHS has worked for many years to help schools be copyright compliant. This move by the publishers should be applauded for the assistance they are providing schools in this unprecedented time.”
For music to be distributed for K-12 assessment and adjudication, student recordings must meet the following guidelines:
- Performances can only be shared for educational assessment or state adjudication purposes.
- Performances must be shared in as private of a setting as possible and must be viewable only by an individual link.
- The recorded performance must use legally purchased music.
- Any arrangements made shall have proper permissions secured prior to recording.
- Once the recorded performance has been adjudicated, it must be deleted from the sharing platform.
“These requirements are designed to allow schools and students to still participate in their music education as well as protect the intellectual property of the music publishers,” said Weaver. “The permissions afforded by the publishers are temporary in order to get us through the remainder of the school year.”
The five publishing houses that have agreed to allow their music to be used include:
- Alfred
- Barnhouse
- Hal Leonard
- Warner-Chappell Music
- Warner Entertainment
Collectively, the publishers account for approximately 95 percent of available educational music.
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Frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and the spring season
(Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com) The CHSAA office has found a few frequent topics when answering questions about the COVID-19 pandemic and the spring season.
So, we created a page dedicated to the latest information about the Coronavirus and included a list of Frequently Asked Questions. That page is here, and will be updated with the latest information, should updates be needed.
Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green answered these frequent questions, and we are also publishing them below.
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Why hasn’t the Commissioner made the decision to cancel spring sports?
We understand how extremely tough this is for our activity and athletic participants, especially graduating seniors, coaches and their school communities. We continue to extend dates aligned with restrictions, mandates and recommendations from state and health officials.
There are many factors that would need to be considered after the most recent extension of suspending spring sports to April 30. The primary factor in a decision like that will be a guarantee to our Association that activities can be conducted statewide without jeopardizing the safety of not only our students but our officials, coaches, staffs, volunteers and spectators. We are not confident that an assurance like that will be forthcoming after the 30th.
Our country and our state continue to adjust as they work to find answers and mitigate the spread of the virus. We don’t want to give false hope. Resuming spring activities and athletics statewide due to safety concerns does not appear promising.
May students have contact with coaches during this time?
We strongly encourage virtual contact by coaches and administrators to check on the well-being of their students as well as to upload workouts, but we have not permitted voluntary team workouts, rehearsals, or tryouts due to the direct or indirect implications of a mandatory participation by the students.
We need to be focused on our “Why”, which is ensuring that our students are navigating this disruption without pressure.
Some school districts have closed. How does that affect the spring season?
State, health and educational mandates and recommendations will take precedence in discussions leading to April 30. The cancellation of in-building instruction and athletics, as well as the closure of many HS and collegiate facilities will definitely be considered.
Will the summer be a consideration for the spring season?
If statewide spring activities and athletics are cancelled, we would not conduct a summer season outside of the educational construct. If the spring season is cancelled and once the defined school year ends, no events would be conducted.
This is not about creativity or an unwillingness to think outside the box. Our staff does that very well when inclement weather or facility availability disrupts an event.
This is a statewide health emergency and a statewide safety situation, and as a result a potential cancellation would end of the season.
Can students and/or coaches have access to school facilities during the moratorium?
No, per the Governor’s executive order all school facilities must remain closed through April 30.
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Be The Light movement grows as more schools shine for their students
Last week, dozens of schools joined and continued the Be The Light, Colorado movement, as they sought to be a beacon of hope for their students during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition to physically lighting stadiums, arenas, pools and theaters, schools and districts are asking that their communities, as one district put it, “be the light to someone every day during these difficult times.”
The following is a video we put together compiling some of the #BeTheLightCO posts from the past week.
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Vanguard boys basketball’s Nique Clifford understands the value of community
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com) It’s easy to pick out Vanguard basketball star Nique Clifford when he’s on the court. He stands taller than most – and his coach, Joe Wetters, thinks he’s still growing – and he carries himself with a smooth confidence when playing the game.
Rightfully so.
He’s highly skilled as evidenced by a scholarship opportunity to play basketball for the University of Colorado as well as his 24.5 points, 13.3 rebounds and six assists per game.
The numbers and highlights earned him Gatorade Player of the Year honors (the first athlete at Vanguard to win the award) as well as a selection as the Class 3A boys basketball Player of the Year.
But Clifford isn’t defined by what he can do on the basketball court. In order to get a true sense of who he is, it’s important to look at what he’s doing when he’s not getting buckets.
“He’s such a community person, a relationship-based person,” Wetters said. “He really extends himself out into the school community. You can see him on any random Saturday morning at a YMCA game for a 7-year-old kid that he knows or at someone else’s football game on a Friday night.”
That attitude comes from his family background. His parents taught him very early that it’s important to respect others and build goodwill in his community no matter if he’s playing basketball or taking part in any other activity.
He took the lesson to heart and tries to live up to that message every opportunity he gets.
“I care about others and I like helping others,” Clifford said. “A lot of people don’t know that I’ve volunteered at the hospital the last three summers. I’ve done other volunteer work at teen court and things like that. I don’t think people expect it. They don’t think a (perceived) dumb jock can do those kinds of things.”
It’s not something he does for show, but it has helped when it comes to pursuing basketball beyond high school.
Clifford received offers from Colorado, Colorado State, Air Force, the University of Denver and Stanford. On top of his play on the court, he was sought after because of his educational desires as well as his reputation as a good kid.
“You have to have guys that aren’t going to cause trouble on the team,” Clifford said. “(Coach Tad Boyle) had to do his research on me like I had to do my research on him. There are a lot of kids out there who are very talented when it comes to basketball but they can cause trouble.”
Clifford doesn’t fit that mold because his upbringing wouldn’t allow it. He wants to leave his community a better place than he found it just like he’ll leave Vanguard a better school and basketball program than when he found it, including helping the Coursers reach the 3A state title game in 2019.
“His parents chose this high academic path for him when he was little,” Wetters said. “His legacy is that hard work and extra discipline can get you through a high-academic school and still excel in athletics if that’s something you want. The chances and the opportunities are still out there.”
Clifford saw that opportunity and grabbed it. And he made sure he could do as much good as possible along the way.
He’s trying to make himself a better person than he is a basketball player. Anyone who has seen him play basketball understands that it’s a task that will be much easier said than done.
(David Harvey/ImageProPhotography.com) -
Julia Mondragon’s maturity was the strength behind Springfield girls basketball
(Courtesy of Springfield HS) When the girls basketball season started for Springfield High School, coach Kevin Stolebarger noticed something different about one of his top players.
Everyone had known that Julia Mondragon was going to be a standout and her skills had developed perhaps even beyond what many expected of her. What caught Stolebarger’s eye is how she was behaving as a leader and friend to her teammates.
It was that quality that he believes powered the Longhorns to the Class 1A state tournament and got Mondragon named as the 1A girls Player of the Year.
“I believe that what separated her from anyone in the state was her positive attitude,” Stolebarger said. “She took on such a leadership role this year and it carried over to the floor. She didn’t get frustrated at herself like she did in the past.”
One of four seniors on the team, Mondragon’s tone both from a leadership style and her play on the court translated to notable success for Springfield. Success that got the school into its first state tournament in 38 years.
Using the leadership example of past seniors in the program Mondragon set out to help her team end that streak. It was a mission and staying focused in that mission played a big role in her mental and emotional development as well as her development as a player.
“Every game we had, I didn’t care of it was a big game or not, I knew we had to go out and give 100 percent,” Mondragon said. “Personally I held myself up to that high standard. I’m telling myself that I need to score 13 points or get more rebounds, steals or blocks. That’s what needed to happen to win.”
Her season ended with respectable numbers having scored 14.9 points per game and hauling in six rebounds to go with them.
This wasn’t something that just clicked on during basketball season. A three-sport athlete, Mondragon showed that same mentality on the volleyball court last fall. Renee Loflin was the head volleyball coach and helps with the girls basketball team. As Stolebarger began to see Mondragon’s maturity take shape, Loflin gave him the affirmation that it wasn’t just a perception but that it was taking hold for real.
“(Loflin) really worked with her a lot,” Stolebarger said. “We try to do a lot of positive stuff and from the first day at practice, Renee and I looked at each other and knew that she was different.”
Mondragon scoffs at the notion that it’s just her as she had three other seniors on the team and it was a group effort that powered the Longhorns. Even though the state tournament was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Mondragon will never forget the feeling of her and her friends competing in a state tournament game.
“We haven’t been to state in 38 years,” Mondragon said. “Even to go up there and play one game was a great opportunity for us and I don’t regret it one bit. We worked hard every single game to get there and that was our No. 1 goal. We wanted to get to state.”
Stolebarger added that it was possible because of an experienced team that took made a heavy investment in leadership and accountability. Although he could see the potential building over Mondragon’s first three years, her approach to her team and her own craft as a basketball player the difference.
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Javonte Johnson’s impact on Cheyenne Mountain boys basketball will be felt for years
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com) Heading into the 2018-19 boys basketball season, Cheyenne Mountain’s Javonte Johnson knew he was physically bigger and stronger than his freshman and sophomore years. He also knew he was a better basketball because his mission was always to get better.
And he could feel it.
But it took a little added comfort for him to feel as though he was evolving into the player he was hoping to become. That evolution would carry through to his senior year where he earned Class 4A Player of the Year honors.
“I’d say it came about midway through my junior year,” Johnson said. “That’s when I got a little bit more attention from colleges and rankers.”
They should have been paying attention from the start. Johnson opened his junior campaign with a 40-point performance against Widefield and refused to slow down through the early stages of the year. Although he got within a basket of reaching 40 points on two more occasions, that game against Widefield held up as a season-high.
And Johnson continued to show Cheyenne Mountain fans and Colorado Springs-area basketball fans why he was one of the top players not just in the 719 area code, but the entire state.
“He was never satisfied (with where he was),” coach Elgin Fitzgerald said. “He was always hungry and he always wanted to get better. He wouldn’t stop until he was the best.”
(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com) His overall best came this last season. Johnson was a human highlight reel as awed fans with thrilling dunks while taking any opportunity to diversify his game. He can play with his back to the basket, he can shoot from beyond the arc and he can jump out of the gym.
His best performance this past year came in a 78-66 win over Discovery Canyon. He dropped 50 points while going 16-for-25 from the floor. That was the kind of game that others expected of him and he had no problem balancing those expectations from others with what he expected from himself.
“Not really,” Johnson said. “I’m just out there playing basketball. For me I just always expect myself to play hard and win.”
After appearing in the 2014 4A boys state championship game, Cheyenne Mountain fell on some hard times. They ended with a losing record for the next four years. As Johnson continued to work, it became apparent that the team was going to thrive both because of his play and his example.
His play doesn’t get to stick around forever but when Fitzgerald looks at what Johnson accomplished and how he accomplished it, he believes that the example will stick around and have a positive impact on his teams for years to come.
“The amount of work he put in, I think some of the younger guys in our juniors, sophomores and freshmen, looked up to him,” FItzgerald said. “They might not quite get to the level he was at, but they’re going to work hard and strive to be the best that they can be.”
Johnson plans to continue his paying career at the University of New Mexico. According to Fitzgerald he plans on making the trip to Albuquerque with every intention of cracking the starting lineup. Mainly because that’s how he operates.
In order to do that, he’ll take the trials and lessons from his time at Cheyenne Mountain and continue to make himself a better basketball player.
“I”ve learned the importance of being a leader on the court and off the court,” Johnson said. “That’s the biggest thing I’ll take with me.”
And all the while, Cheyenne Mountain has a better basketball program both because he played for it and his example will continue trickle down to future teams.
(Arlee Aragon/Fountain-Fort Carson High School)