Girls soccer added a fourth classification this season — Class 2A. The addition has been met with enthusiasm for how it levels the playing field, but also for how it encourages growth of the sport in smaller schools. (Kai Casey/CHSAANow.com)
In 1991, after 13 seasons of one classification for girls soccer in this state, a three-division system was introduced to bring more competitive balance to the sport.
The thinking is the same this season. For the first time in the sport’s history, CHSAA has added 2A.
The inclusion of another class has been met with resounding approval by several coaches around the growing state.
“The thing I like about it is that it’s difficult for small schools to ultimately compete at a 3A level when a lot of 2A schools are 100-to-150 kids and 3A goes up to 600,” Denver Christian coach Brad Homan said.
“There gets to be a point where you can’t compete and sometimes it’s even to the point where small schools have to put athletes onto the field that it’s physically a bit dangerous for them to be there.”
Programs like Denver Christian, the current No. 1 team in CHSAANow.com’s 2A poll and a program that has reached the soccer finals eight times and won three titles, No. 3 Front Range Christian, and several others have been solid enough to have an abundance of success at the 3A level.
But their coaches also know the challenges that come with lower numbers both in the school and on their own teams.
Amy Downing, the coach at Cornerstone Christian, led the Bulldogs to the 3A playoffs for the first time in school history in her first season at the helm last year. Downing is ecstatic to continue shaping the building blocks of a strong program at the 2A level.
“It’s nice to be able to be linked together and compete against mostly schools that have a lesser number of high school students,” Downing said. “We only have about 80 students total, so to be able to field a team with full numbers is harder for us than a school in 3A.”
While 2A is expected to bring more balance to the playing field, many hope the inception of another classification also encourages schools that don’t have a girls soccer program to consider introducing one.
“I hope it grows to more teams,” Dawson coach David Martinez said. “At the end of the day, you want to be able to call yourself the state champion beating the best there is at 2A, not just out of a few schools.”
With 26 teams dotted around the state in the smallest division together, 2A has far less girls soccer programs in it than 3A (51), 4A (74), and 5A (61). Homan also believes there’s a window of opportunity for others to join them on the soccer pitch.
Denver Christian is ranked No. 1 in 2A. (Ray Chen/ArrayPhoto.com)
“I hope that there’s going to be more smaller schools around the state adding soccer and hopefully then the competition continues to get a little bit better and more girls get a chance to play and enjoy the game,” the Denver Christian coach said.
Martinez says the only downside to having 2A is that every team has a girl who can compete at a much higher classification and players like that won’t be asked to do as much now. Nonetheless, he’s excited about the prospects of the new classification.
“I think we put a lot of emphasis on 5A and 4A and all that, but we just have to realize that every classification is important,” he said. “We still have the same passion, the players still have the same goals, and state championships are still felt the same way.
“By creating 2A, I hope we aren’t creating a handicap division, but more of a division that is going to be as exciting and productive as the other divisions throughout the years.”
Dawson School is among 26 teams in Class 2A this season. (Courtesy of Shawn Powers)
Cornerstone Christian’s Addison Kanon (3) beats both defense and goalie to score in CCA’s game against Valley. (Courtesy of Amy Downey)