Board not to make many changes

Board not to make many changes

Jan. 25, 2001

STAFF REPORT

AURORA —There will not be too many major changes in the Colorado High School Activities Association's bylaws for next year.

Although a full agenda greets CHSAA member schools at their annual winter Board of Control meeting this week, there will be no major changes in administrative and sport proposals.

The meeting yesterday at the Holiday Inn Southeast at Interstate-225 and Parker Road in Denver.

One of the biggest changes could come in swimming. The Southwestern League is proposing that the boys swimming and diving season be run concurrently with the girls season. Currently, the girls season begins Dec. 1 and the boys season March 10.

The rationale, according to the SWL, is that the new season would align the state competitive season with those of the majority of states and, it is hoped, increase the number of male participants. However, that proposal has been made many times and has failed because of protests by state powerhouse Cherry Creek and several other schools.

One constitutional proposal calls for each local association with at least 20 member schools to have at least one female and/or minority member as one of its three representatives on the CHSAA Board of Control.

The CHSAA Executive Committee is suggesting a policy vote to "strongly recommend" that no interscholastic contest, practice or camp be conducted on the day prior to or the day of statewide Junior ACT testing, which is April 25.

With new high schools being added to the CHSAA membership each year, and most of those high schools entering in the larger classifications, an administrative proposal concerns adjusting the enrollment ranges for each classification in the 2002-03 school year.

The upper-enrollment level for each classification range would rise by approximately one percent if the Local Association Organization Committee's proposal is approved.

Proposal Amendment 4 would shorten the practice and/or competition time allowed during winter vacation. The current rule does not allow practices, camps, clinics or competition between Dec. 24 and New Year's Day. The proposal, offered by the Executive Committee, would shorten that date to Dec. 27. This proposal widely supported by area coaches in Southwestern Colorado.

Proposal Amendment 6, also offered by the Executive Committee, would allow an athletic group, team or individual to travel only to a contiguous state to compete, thereby forcing schools to consider in-state scheduling instead of traveling to distant states for games or tournaments.

Individual sports proposals include changing the number of baseball games allowed in a season from 16 games and one three-game tournament to a straight 19-game season. A similar proposal is being offered for softball and volleyball, while tennis proposes that its game restrictions be changed from 10 matches and two tournaments (or 11 matches and one tournament) to 12 matches and no tournaments.

The track & field committee is proposing all prequalifiers for the state meet must declare in their events at the regional meet and will be listed in only four events, including relays. This would eliminate a coach's declaration of an athlete's illegal entry into five or more events at the state meet.

One change that could be seen in golf is the allowance of a 36-hole state-qualifying tournament as opposed to an 18-hole qualifier, the rationale being that the better golfers should qualify after a 36-hole tournament. In addition, a one-year pilot program is being proposed in which a school's coach could coach players from green to tee, thereby allowing contact at certain points during the round between the coach and the player. These two proposals are widely supported. Current MCHS head golf coach Mike Allison supports these.

It’s time for teams to make the final push towards trying to make an appearance for CHSAA-sponsored state championships.

For wrestling and girls swimming, it is only a month away. The Class 2-5A Wrestling Championships will be held Feb. 15-17 in the Pepsi Center in Denver. The Class 4A-5A Swimming and Diving Championships will also be held Feb. 15-17 in the Eldora Pool and Ice Center in Fort Collins.

The first session for wrestling will begin at 3 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 15. The tournament features a 10-mat format with two classes wrestling on five mats each day. Class 2A-3A start the action Thursday afternoon, followed by a 7:15 p.m. session for 4A-5A schools. The 10 mats remain on the floor for all but the final session on Saturday evening, Feb. 17.

Tickets are now on sale for both the 2001 Colorado High School State Wrestling Championships. Order forms can be requested by contacting the CHSAA Ticket Office at (303) 340-1818. All ticket orders must be received by Feb. 7.

Tickets may also be purchased starting Feb. 5 by phone through TicketMaster at (303) 830-8497 and they also may be purchased at The Pepsi Center box office.

However, for the first day of the tournament on Feb. 15, only general admission tickets will be sold. Tickets are $8 for adults and $7 for children and seniors. Session 1 (from 3-6:15 p.m.) will be for Class 2A-3A preliminary bouts and Session 2 (7:15-10:45 p.m.) will be 4A-5A prelims.

The championship quarterfinals and first round consolations will get under way at 10 a.m. Feb. 16 for 2A-3A and at 1 p.m. for 4A-5A. Consolation semifinals for 2A-3A and 4A-5A will start at 7 p.m. All seats are reserved.

Consolation (Session 5) for all classes start at 11 a.m. These are also general admission only. Ticket prices are $8 adults and $7 children and seniors. Championship finals begin at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 17. All seats are reserved. Premium seats are $11 and upper level for $9 adults and $7 for children and seniors.

Montezuma-Cortez High School wrestlers compete in 4A while Mancos, Dolores, and Dolores County wrestlers in 2A.

For more information about the wrestling tickets, phone the CHSAA at (303) 340-1818.

For swimming under the three-day format, Class 5A swimming preliminaries will get under way Thursday, Feb. 15. The 4A swimming preliminaries will start at noon Friday and 5A division at noon that same day. The 5A finals are set for 4 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 17. The 4A diving prelims start at noon Friday. The 4A finals will conclude later that day at 5 p.m. Only MCHS, which competes in 4A, participates in swimming around here.

Skiing championships are coming up Feb. 23-24 at Copper Mountain Resort. No area high school teams participates in that sport. Ice Hockey Championships are set Feb. 26 and 28 at the United States Air Force Academy. But again, no area teams participate.

The 2001 State Basketball Tournament is coming up a little bit down the road, March 7-10 in the Pepsi Center for Class 4A-5A.

Tickets are also on sale for the tournament. The tournament is set March 7-10 at The Pepsi Center for Class 4A-5A only.

Order forms can be requested by contacting the CHSAA Tickets Office at 340-1818. All ticket orders must be received by Feb. 21.

Tickets can also be purchased starting Feb. 26 by phone through TicketMaster (930-8497. And tickets may also be purchase starting that day at The Pepsi Center box office. A box office fee of $1.50 will be charged. The Class 4A boys quarterfinals (3:30, 5:10, 6:50 and 8:30 p.m.) will get under way. Reserved tickets only. Adult premium seats are $10 while upper level are $8 children and $7 seniors.

The Class 2A teams, for those fortunate enough to advance that far, will head to the Events Center in Pueblo. Tickets are on a walk-up basis and can be purchased at the box office.