CHSAANow

Month: September 2020

  • From the desk of Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green

    CHSAA seal plaque
    (CHSAANow.com)

    Much has occurred this week that has put CHSAA, as well as myself, front and center. Parties have questioned our credibility, integrity, and honesty, even our commitment to the students of Colorado and those we serve yet they are doing so without all the facts before them.

    Until today, I have not felt the need to defend myself or our team because I know the vast amount of work and communications that have occurred behind the scenes since June in collaboration with the Governor’s staff to resume all sports in their traditional seasons with the modifications and variances needed to get that done. I have included one of the many communications, in order to stop the noise and finger pointing so that the Commissioner, the CHSAA staff, the CHSAA Board of Directors and the Governor’s team can move forward and focus on what matters right now – the safe resumption of sports in these uncertain times.

    All parties are working diligently together towards a resolution.

    First the approval of safety plans and variances must be secured from the Governor. Then, with the additional voices of CHSAA member administrators, decisions will be made by the CHSAA Board based on new information that was not available this past Tuesday.

    I will take this moment to thank the Board of Directors for their commitment and dedication to education-based athletics and activities, as they have handled this past week with professionalism and grace which wasn’t extended to them.

    This morning, modified safety implementation plans and variance requests with additions were resubmitted to the Governor’s team for their approval.

    We are in a pandemic and the safety of the eco-system of sports means that the approval of resumption plans by our state and health officials must be scrutinized much different than your weekend youth and recreation sports. We are an extension of 363 member schools. Our implementation cannot undermine the primary purpose for interscholastic (not club, recreation) participation which is Education First!

    We will continue to be the gate keepers even in the face of public outcry and singular sport focus to advocate vehemently for 180,000 student-participants, our member schools (public/charter and private) to resume all 29 athletics and activities for the State of Colorado.

    Sincerely,

    Rhonda Blanford-Green
    Commissioner-CHSAA

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  • Custer County cross country’s Micah Zeller finds motivation to never stop running

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

    COLORADO SPRINGS — When Custer County’s Micah Zeller crossed the finish line at the Norris Penrose Event Center, he looked like one of the healthiest runners in the entire Class 2A boys cross country field.

    He’s come a long way.

    Born in Ethiopia, it’s a wonder he survived his journey to the United States let alone became one of the top runners in the entire state of Colorado.

    “I was very unhealthy when I was young,” Zeller said. “I think my parents said when I was two years old I weighed around 14 pounds. I was not in great condition when I came over.”

    Once he got to the states, he said was lucky to have a family that fed him and loved him. And eventually encouraged him to run toward his dreams.

    As Zeller began his athletic career as a kid, he felt his running abilities were more suited from sprinting, not necessarily for distance. That all changed he was talked into joining a cross country team.

    “I was in eighth grade,” he said. “I was thinking I was more of a sprinter but one of my really good friends at that time said he was going to coach cross country and he wanted me on the team.”

    Now he’s in his senior season and has two main goals that he’s still running toward. He wants to keep improving so that he can win a state title and he wants to carry that momentum into a chance to run at the collegiate level.

    “I expect to climb and succeed,” he said. “This is my last high school season and I’m hoping to win this year. That would mean a lot to me. I’ve been running on this course for four years and I think ending my high school career with a W would be awesome.”

    He hasn’t made up his mind on a college yet, but he’s had conversations with West Texas A&M and other schools in the Lone Star State.

    He still has hope that he can make his way to his dream school, even if he knows it’s a tall task.

    “This would be way out of the blue,” he said. “I’m hoping I could run for the University of Oregon.”

    Surviving a trip across an ocean and a malnourished childhood just goes to show that he shouldn’t count Oregon out. His times this year indicate that he’s more than able to compete at the next level.

    And judging from the way he’s grown into a standout athlete, it’s obvious that he’s capable of whatever he wants to do.

    (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

  • Evergreen softball topples Green Mountain in 4A Jeffco opener

    LAKEWOOD — Only thing Evergreen sophomore Dillyn Collins might want to work on is her slide into home plate.

    “We don’t talk about that,” Collins said laughing about her awkward knee first slide to score during the Cougars’ 3-run third inning late Thursday afternoon at Green Mountain High School.

    Evergreen sophomore Dillyn Collins was dominating with 15 strikeouts during the Cougars’ 8-2 victory Thursday over Green Mountain. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Collins was elegant with her pitching during a dominating 8-2 road victory for the Cougars. Collins racked up 15 strikeouts during her complete-game win on the hill for Evergreen in the Class 4A Jeffco League opener.

    “She (Collins) is really starting to command the circle out there,” Evergreen coach Heather Dose said. “She is really starting to trust her defense too, which is huge. She is letting them work which is very helpful.”

    Collins struck out the side three times and ended the game with her 15th and final strikeout. The sophomore was able to keep the Rams off-balance for most of the game and used her curveball effectively.

    It was just the second win of the season for the Cougars (2-7 record, 1-0 in league) after a 0-6 start that featured facing several strong 5A Jeffco League programs — Arvada West, Chatfield, Pomona and Ralston Valley.

    “We are a young team and we played some tough teams,” Collins said of the Cougars that doesn’t have a single senior on the squad this year. “We have been working really hard for the last month and I think it is really going to pay off.”

    While Collins was sharp limiting Green Mountain (4-3, 0-1) from getting much going offensively, the Cougars had just four hits themselves but took advantage of five walks and four Ram errors.

    “We’ve been struggling at the plate a little bit,” Dose admitted. “We need to find other ways to get runners around. The girls have that mentality to do whatever to help my team.”

    Evergreen junior Jackie Donoho watches the ball after ripping a shot just foul during the Cougars’ league opener Thursday. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

    Evergreen plated three runs in both the third and fourth innings on just three hits to take a commanding 7-1 lead. Collins, sophomore Sidney Phillips and junior Jackie Donoho managed the hits during the two-inning stretch.

    “It was a good way to start the conference,” Dose said. “The girls have been working all season long for this. We opened up playing some really good 5A teams. They get a little upset with our record, but they work past that, keep working and keep building.”

    Evergreen returns to the field Monday as it travels to face rival Conifer. The Lobos are on a 3-game winning streak that includes wins over 5A Jeffco’s Arvada West and Pomona.

    The 4A Jeffco League schedule wraps up the final week of September. With no regional tournaments this season due to the COVID pandemic only the conference champion in each 4A league get an automatic bid. The remainder of the 16-team state field for the state tournament scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 10, at Aurora Sports Park will be determined by RPI.

    “It’s game-by-game, inning-by-inning,” Dose said of league play. “That has the focus we’ve had since we got through preseason (non-league) schedule. Now we are ready.”

    The conference road does get any easier for the Rams. Green Mountain has road games at No. 2 Wheat Ridge (Saturday) and D’Evelyn (Monday) over the next four days.

    Junior Marley Behm led the Rams offensively against Evergreen. Behm went 2-for-3 from the plate that included a triple in the sixth inning. Junior Morgan Falconer also had two hits for Green Mountain in the loss that ended a 2-game winning streak for the Rams.

    Green Mountain junior Marley Behm, left, slides into third base for a triple during the Rams’ 8-2 loss to Evergreen on Thursday afternoon. (Dennis Pleuss/Jeffco Athletics)

  • Photos: Fairview wins Front Range League boys tennis tournament

    In its hunt for a Class 5A state title, Fairview boys tennis won the Front Range League tournament on Thursday.

  • Boys tennis regional schedule for 5A and 4A in 2020

    Boys tennis 5A state generic
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    Below is a list of boys tennis’ regional schedules for the 2020 season.

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    Class 5A

    Regionals are set by a pre-determined waterfall. Final league standings are determined by the league and league tie-breaking policies.

    Region 1

    • Date: 9/16-17
    • Site: Fairview HS
    • Site contact: Fairview
    • Schools: Fairview, Rangeview, Doherty, Monarch, Overland, Rock Canyon

    Region 2

    • Date: 9/16-17
    • Site: Cherry Creek HS
    • Site contact: Cherry Creek
    • Schools: Cherry Creek, Castle View, Lakewood, Northglenn, Legacy, Poudre

    Region 3

    • Date: 9/16-17
    • Site: CAC Monaco
    • Site contact: Regis Jesuit
    • Schools: Regis Jesuit, Rocky Mountain, Rampart, Douglas County, Fountain-Fort Carson

    Region 4

    • Date: 9/17
    • Site: Loveland and Fossil Ridge HS
    • Site contact: Fossil Ridge
    • Schools: Fossil Ridge, Arapahoe, Highlands Ranch, Columbine, Legend, Mountain Range

    Region 5

    • Date: 9/16-17
    • Site: Redstone Park
    • Site contact: Heritage
    • Schools: Heritage, Chatfield, Boulder, Liberty, Smoky Hill, Horizon

    Region 6

    • Date: 9/17
    • Site: Valor Christian and Highlands Ranch HS
    • Site contact: Valor Christian
    • Schools: Valor Christian, ThunderRidge, Pine Creek, Cherokee Trail, Loveland

    Region 7

    • Date: 9/16-17
    • Site: Apex Tennis Center
    • Site contact: Ralston Valley
    • Schools: Ralston Valley, Fruita Monument, Fort Collins, Arvada West, Chaparral, Eaglecrest

    Region 8

    • Date: 9/17-18
    • Site: Denver City Park
    • Site contact: Denver East
    • Schools: Denver East, Mountain Vista, Grandview, Broomfield, Hinkley

    [divider]

    Class 4A

    Region 1

    • Date: 9/16-17
    • Site: Colorado Academy
    • Site contact: Jon Hill, Colorado Academy
    • Schools: Colorado Academy, Arvada, Bear Creek, Dakota Ridge, Denver South, D’Evelyn, Lewis-Palmer, Golden, Wheat Ridge

    Region 2

    • Date: 9/16-17
    • Site: TBD
    • Site contact: Richard Judd, Kent Denver
    • Schools: Kent Denver, Alameda, Denver North, Green Mountain, Thomas Jefferson, Palmer Ridge, Ponderosa

    Region 3

    • Date: 9/16
    • Site: Mullen/Pinehurst CC
    • Site contact: Hank Hooper, Mullen
    • Schools: Mullen, Conifer, Discovery Canyon, Evergreen, George Washington, Littleton, Northfield

    Region 4

    • Date: 9/17-18
    • Site: Centennial Park
    • Site contact: Sean Scribbick, Greeley Central
    • Schools: Greeley Central, Dawson School, Greeley West, Mountain View, Northridge, Riverdale Ridge, Severance, Thompson Valley, University, Windsor

    Region 5

    • Date: 9/16-17
    • Site: Niwot HS
    • Site contact: Joe Brown, Niwot
    • Schools: Niwot, Centaurus, Erie, Frederick, Longmont, Mead, Peak to Peak, Prospect Ridge, Silver Creek, Skyline, Standley Lake

    Region 6

    • Date: 9/17-18
    • Site: Cheyenne Mountain HS
    • Site contact: Kris Roberts, Cheyenne Mountain
    • Schools: Cheyenne Mountain, Air Academy, Colorado Springs Christian, Colorado Springs School, Coronado, Mitchell, Palmer, Sand Creek, Vanguard, Mitchell

    Region 7

    • Date: 9/17-18
    • Site: Pueblo City Park
    • Site contact: Dennis Downs, Pueblo County
    • Schools: Pueblo County, Canon City, Fountain Valley, Mesa Ridge, Pueblo Centennial, Pueblo Central, Pueblo East, Pueblo South, Pueblo West

    Region 8

    • Date: 9/18
    • Site: Colorado Mesa
    • Site contact: Paul Cain, District 51
    • Schools: Grand Junction, Aspen, Basalt, Durango, Grand Junction Central, Steamboat Springs, Vail Christian

  • Commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green is meeting with the Governor’s office on Friday

    Rhonda Blanford-Green
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green is meeting with the Governor’s office on Friday to gather information about potential variances the state would allow for all sports.

    On Tuesday afternoon, following multiple conversations with the Governor’s office, it was made clear to Blanford-Green that the variances she has sought from the COVID-19 Response Team since June in order to play certain sports would not be given. This information was conveyed to the Board of Directors prior to their meeting, and vote, on Tuesday evening.

    It is apparent that the COVID-19 Response Team has now changed their position. The Governor made a public statement on Thursday, and then gave the Commissioner a verbal reassurance on that same day, that the variances we have been asking for would be expedited.

    Blanford-Green is meeting with the Governor’s office to get details in writing about the variances that his office will allow.

    Additionally, major concerns of the Board of Directors were that many schools are still trying to safely return to in-person learning, and still remain unable to physically access their buildings. Certain districts do not have the financial resources to be able to safely begin fall sports. The Governor’s office has indicated that it may be able to provide resources to schools to help facilitate their activities programs. Blanford-Green is also seeking to further clarify this possibility.

    In light of this new information, the Board of Directors and CHSAA staff are working collaboratively to survey administrators from the entire membership to gather their input.

  • Boys golf: Steamboat Springs’ Nolting wins Moffat County Bulldog Invite

    5A State girls golf rain
    (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

    The frosty weather hasn’t presented the ideal conditions for the current fall athletes, but things cleared up just enough for the Moffat County Bulldog Invite boys golf tournament to be played at the Yampa Valley Golf Course.

    Steamboat Springs’ Jeremy Nolting worked his way around the course well enough to take medalist honors by shooting a 7-over-par 79. The Sailors had three players finish in the top eight allowing them to take the team title as well.

    While Nolting didn’t make a birdie through his round, he did a fantastic job keeping himself out of trouble and not letting a hole get out of his grasp. He started the day with a bogey on No. 1 then followed it up with a double-bogey on No. 2.

    Then he calmed down.

    He made four straight pars before making bogey on the par-3 seventh to make the turn at 4-over. He made three bogeys on the back but that was the full extent of the damage. It turned out that managing the back nine was all he needed to do in order to come away with the win.

    Battle Mountain’s Cal Hill, a 2019 Class 4A state tournament qualifier, finished second with an 81. His lone birdie on the day came on the par-3 11th hole. Hill made the turn tied with Nolting at 4-over and briefly held the lead after the birdie on 11.

    He got tripped up with a triple-bogey on 12 and then bogeys on 13 and 14 before playing the rest of the back nine even.

    MOffat County’s Dave Andujo shot 84 to take third. Lance Fullenwider was Coal Ridge’s top finisher with an 87 and Peter Hanks shot 91 for Meeker’s best score.

  • Cross country: Eaton grabs wins at Wolverine Invitational

    The cold weather didn’t slow things down too much as Eaton’s Logan Gullett and Andie Rasmussen set the tone for all cross country runners at Wednesday’s Frontier Academy Wolverine Invite.

    Gullett cleared the finish line in 16 minutes, 55.2 seconds to win the boys race while Rasmussen finished in 20:04.9 to take the girls title.

    Although Eaton got first place finishes in both races, it was unable to grab team win in the event.

    Heritage Christian Academy got a second-place finish from Xander Stanton and teammate Ryan O’Loughlin finished sixth to get the Eagles the overall team win.

    Estes Park’s Nolan Marske took third at 17:18.8 while Northridge had Colton Magnuson and Jaeden Nelson finish fourth and fifth, respectively.

    Northridge had a much better showing in the girls race as Victoria Perales took fourth and Karley Beck took sixth. Overall the Grizzlies had four girls finish in the top 10 which gave them enough points to get a team victory.

    Estes Park lost a close battle for that top team spot but got a solid showing from its top runners. Freshman Heather Russell took fifth at 21:55.2 and Charlotte Raymond’s 22:16.8 was good for eighth.

    Heritage Christian’s Ainsley Stanton finished second overall at 20:45.3 and Severance’s Hannah Schissler finished third at 20:56.7.

  • Lineup balance has Mead softball off to a monumental start to the season

    Mead Elizabeth softball
    (Lisa Hayes/StillOfTheMomentPhotography.com)

    One look through the Mead batting order and it’s tough to figure out who’s the best hitter to have up in a clutch situation.

    In reality, it could be anyone from the leadoff spot to the nine-hole. The Mavericks are as consistent as can be from top to bottom and that’s a big reason that they’re currently ranked No. 1 in the Class 4A softball rankings and also a perceived favorite to make a run at a state championship.

    The season opened with wins over Elizabeth and Windsor, but it wasn’t until a 12-4 win over defending champion Erie that the Mavericks truly felt like they had something special coming together this season.

    “It’s all about a team-first attitude,” coach Amanda Macaluso said. “Our chemistry is amazing this year. I think part of has to do with COVID and the fact that we’re just so grateful to be playing in any way shape or form. They’re all about whatever the team needs.”

    She’s not lying. Although the Mavericks lineup varies in terms of batting order, every other key stat is consistent no matter who is at the plate. No one has more than nine RBIs and six players have at least five. The team has hit eight home runs with three players responsible for two bombs a piece while two others have one to their names.

    “We just have a really strong one through nine,” junior Emily Sauvageau said. “We don’t have any easy outs in our lineup. You go through the whole thing and it’s really difficult to get anyone out.”

    Erie Mead softball
    (Steve Oathout)

    That especially helps when on the defensive side when the pitching staff is led by a sophomore. Josslynn Veltien has been everything Mead needs her to be to balance out a well-producing lineup. In 46 innings she’s given up just 18 earned runs while striking out 52 hitters.

    Perhaps her biggest test came just last week when the Mavericks needed 11 innings to get a hard-fought win over Silver Creek. Getting through that one and keeping their record unblemished gave the Mavericks that little extra bit of confidence that this could be their year.

    “In that game we didn’t give up,” Veltien said. “We kept pushing. We knew it wasn’t going to be an easy game. In the future we know that if we get into tight games like that, we won’t just freak out and give it up.”

    Add mental toughness to the list of reasons Mead is firing on all cylinders this year. Veronica Elsis’ nine RBIs help. She shares the team lead in hits at 11 with Delaney Wilson and Savanna Griebling. Sauvageau is batting .500 and “seeing watermelons at the plate right now” according to Macaluso.

    Adding in mental toughness can make a team playing so well even more unstoppable.

    “In years past, our biggest struggle is that we couldn’t win those close games,” Macaluso said. “We didn’t have the confidence that if they were wearing an Erie Tigers jersey, we were already defeated. We completely overcome that panic, if you will, and we are really just confident in each and every kid and every at-bat. They trust each other.”

    The Mavericks still have games remaining against Erie and Holy Family, the last two 4A state champions. But with wins against both team already, they’re hoping they can continue to show that anyone looking to claim a state title has to go through them first.

    Rocky Mountain Mead softball
    (David Johnson/davidjohnsonphotography.org)

  • Statement from the Board of Directors about the 2020-21 activities calendar

    At a meeting on Tuesday night, the Board of Directors of the Colorado High School Activities Association, addressed a potential change to the 2020-21 sports and activities calendar. 

    The COVID-19 pandemic has presented many challenges. Specific to CHSAA activities, this has included trying to resume a traditional fall season for moderate- to high-risk contact sports. It has forced inequities when making statewide decisions for the 180,000 student-participants, 363 voluntary members schools, and 178 school districts across the state.

    In a resolution Tuesday, the Board of Directors unanimously voted to not reconsider any adjustment to the 2020-21 sports calendar, which was approved on Aug. 4.

    “We understand that our school communities would like to return to all levels of normalcy,” said Troy Baker, the President of CHSAA’s Board of Directors, and who is the athletic director at Buena Vista High School. “We listened to all parties and the voices of our membership resonated strongly to support the plan as approved in August. The plan aligns with the CHSAA mission. All students have an opportunity to play a season during the 2020-21 school year.”

    Said Richard Hargrove, the superintendent of Springfield Schools, and a member of the Board of Directors: “We are focused on getting school started and running smoothly, as well as handling all the issues of running a school district and trying to have that be as normal as possible. We do not want to travel. The biggest thing for me in the end is that we have continued to move the goalposts, and every time we turned around, we had something else we had to adjust to.

    “The discussion last night amplified that there was another potential goalpost movement,” Hargrove continued. “We have already developed a calendar that addresses the concerns of health officials, and gives all students a season and a chance to participate. We need to move forward with that plan.”

    During the discussion, the Board as a whole noted that:

    • The safety, physical and emotional well-being of Colorado student’s participants must be at the forefront of every decision.
    • Diverse educational return-to-learn models exist throughout the state, and they must not be undermined.
    • Students have already integrated into non-traditional participation opportunities in the rural and metro areas.
    • There are Title IX and gender representation issues around any reconsideration of the approved calendar.

    “Our state has seen new golf, tennis, softball, and cross country teams formed statewide,” said Terita Walker, an assistant principal at Denver East High School, and a member of the Board of Directors. “Once this plan was rolled out, school administrators and families began to reshape their lives around the calendar. We are moving forward knowing all of our students will have the chance to participate in 2021.”

    The Board remains committed to being responsive to our community members and appreciate their feedback, outreach, and input throughout this process. CHSAA will continue to meet regularly with the Governor’s staff, COVID-19 Response Team, and educational and health officials to implement the 2020-21 Activities Calendar.