CHSAA getting new championship trophies

A prototype of CHSAA’s new trophy design. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

AURORA — The trophies awarded by CHSAA at state championship events are changing this fall.

The new, more modern look will officially debut at boy golf’s state meet Sept. 29-30, the first championship event of the 2014-15 school year. But a prototype delivered to the Association’s office on Tuesday (pictured above) was very close to what the final design will look like.

There will be tweaks to the above design, but the figurines featured on trophies of years past are definitely going away.

“It has been very difficult to get the figurines that have been used in the past,” said CHSAA assistant commissioner Bert Borgmann, who is in charge of awards.

A prototype of CHSAA’s new trophy design. (Ryan Casey/CHSAANow.com)

Coupled with that was a want to “improve the service of our trophy vendor,” Borgmann said, so CHSAA has now partnered with Over The Divide Athletics to provide trophies.

Over The Divide Athletics is represented locally by John Green, the former district athletic director at Cherry Creek Schools.

“They are committed to Colorado and to serving Colorado schools,” Borgmann said.

The change in vendor also brought a chance to redesign the trophies. In all, it was a 12-month process.

“We really wanted to modernize them,” said CHSAA commissioner Paul Angelico.

The Association drew inspiration from the NCAA’s trophies, and will move toward plaques with the new design. The wood has been darkened, and CHSAA’s seal is featured prominently in gold atop each trophy.

Each sport will be designated in gold lettering on a black background in the middle, along with an athletic figure etched into glass.

Additionally, there is room for engraving on a gold plate at the base.

The second-place, or runner-up, trophy will have a similar (yet smaller) look of the redesign — only silver will replace gold on the trophy.

Regional final plaques, as well as medals, have also been redesigned.

A final version of all new awards is expected in mid-August.

Here are a few pictures of the new design’s details: