AURORA — The Colorado High School Activities Association and its 346 member schools open the 94th school year with Boys’ Golf official practice on August 4.
All other sports start officially on August 11. Student athletes in Cross Country, Field Hockey, Boys’ Golf, Football, Girls’ Gymnastics, Boys’ Soccer, Softball, Boys’ Tennis, Volleyball and Spirit anxiously await that starting date.
“The start of the new school year, which includes the beginning of the fall sports season, is one of the most exciting times in a student’s life. Certainly the start of fall practice is a bit more special because it starts the entire school year. The community-based feeling that high school sports bring to high schools remind each of us of our own roots. Schools have always been the hub of activities for neighborhoods and communities and that status remains unchallenged year in and year out,” CHSAA Commissioner Paul Angelico said.
Teams may start scrimmages on August 7 for Boys’ Golf, August 11 for Softball and August 16 for all other sports, except football which starts scrimmage August 21. August 21 also marks the first day of competition for all fall sports except Boys’ Golf (August 7), Boys’ Tennis (August 14) and Girls’ Softball (August 15).
A major change in CHSAA bylaws allows for football (and all sports) to utilize what has commonly been known as “Zero Week” as a regular competition week. This allows for more flexibility in scheduling, especially in football.
In May, 1921, a group of superintendents and principals met in Boulder and organized the Colorado High School Athletic Conference. The purpose of this organization was to better regulate and develop the interscholastic school athletic program.
There were nine leagues by the time the first constitution was published, including the Northern, North Central, Western Slope, Suburban, Southeastern, Arkansas Valley, South Central and San Juan Basin leagues.
The first champions crowned that school year were Colorado Springs in football, Greeley in basketball, and Fort Collins in track and field.
In 1924, the Colorado High School Athletic Conference joined the National Federation of State High School Associations and has remained an active member of that organization ever since.
Loveland’s R.W. Truscott was the Association’s first president and Eaton’s J.C. Casey its first secretary (commissioner). Truscott replaced Casey as secretary in December, 1926 and held that post until July, 1948 when Glenn T. Wilson became commissioner. Ray C. Ball took over the commissioner’s post in 1966 and remained in the office until August, 1986 when Ray Plutko assumed the duties. Bob Ottewill became the Association’s sixth commissioner in July, 1990, followed by Bill Reader who served as Commissioner from 2002 until 2010. Angelico assumed the position on July 1, 2010
The CHSAA has had 58 presidents dating back to 1921. Its current president, Centauri Schools Superintendent Curt Wilson, is in the first year of a two-year term as president.
The Association enters the year with few changes on staff. Paul Angelico, in his 25th year at CHSAA, is Commissioner. Assistant Commissioners Bert Borgmann and Tom Robinson are in their 27th and 14th years on the staff, respectively. Meanwhile, Bethany Brookens and Harry Waterman are in their seventh years with the Association. Bud Ozzello enters is in his fifth year on the staff, while Jenn Roberts-Uhlig is in her third year, and Ryan Casey is in his second year with CHSAA as Director of Digital Media.
Donna Coonts serves as administrative assistant to Commissioner Angelico, while Whitney Webermeier (Borgmann), Rocky Railey (Brookens), Theresa Muniz (Waterman), Audra Cathy (Ozzello), Jane Boudreau (Roberts-Uhlig) and Monica Tillman (Robinson) assist the other administrators. Bookkeeper Kenzie Hewson and mail room coordinator Sharon Garcia round out the Association staff.
CHSAA Administrative Staff and Major Assignments
Paul Angelico, Commissioner (Classification and League Organization Committee, Board of Directors, Legislative Council, Budget, Hardship Waivers, Handbook, Personnel)
Bert Borgmann, Assistant Commissioner (Baseball, Basketball, Gymnastics, Hall of Fame, Media Relations, Cooperative Programs, Legislative Relations, Programs, State Records/Championship Results, Trophies & Awards, Foreign Waivers)
Tom Robinson, Assistant Commissioner (Golf, Officials, Officials’ Fees Committee, Sportsmanship, Sportsmanship Seminars, Officials’ Organizations)
Bethany Brookens, Assistant Commissioner (Field Hockey, Tennis, Music, Skiing, Swimming, Volleyball, Title IX, Equity, New Schools, Participation Survey)
Harry Waterman, Assistant Commissioner (Football, Wrestling, Lacrosse, Student Council, NFHS Section 6, Coaching Registration, Playoff Sites, Tournament Playoff & Finance, CADA Liaison)
Bud Ozzello, Assistant Commissioner (Softball, Soccer, Speech, Ice Hockey, Sanctioned Events, Office Manager)
Jenn Roberts-Uhlig, Assistant Commissioner (Cross Country, Spirit, Track & Field, Corporate Relations, Recognition Programs, Academic Team/All-State, Sports Medicine, Junior High/Middle Schools, New Athletic Directors Meeting, T-Shirts/Merchandise)
Ryan Casey, Director of Digital Media (CHSAANow.com; Technology Advancement, CHSAA.org)
CHSAA Board of Directors (Leagues Represented) [term expires]:
CHSAA President (Serving second of two-year term): Curt Wilson, Superintendent (Centauri Schools( [2015]
District 1 (San Juan Basin, Western Slope, Southwestern): Paul Cain, District Athletic Director (Grand Junction Schools) [2018]
District 2 (Centennial, Northern, Frontier, Tri-Valley): Mike Schmidt, Principal (Platte Canyon School District) [2016]
District 3 (High Plains, Lower Platte, Mile High, North Central, Patriot, Union Pacific, YWKC): Kathleen Leiding, Athletic Director (Lyons High School) [2015]
District 4 (Jefferson County, East Metro, Colorado 7): Jim Thyfault, District Athletic Director (Jefferson County Schools) [2017]
District 5 (Denver, Metropolitan, Confluence): Loren Larrabee, Athletic Director (Lutheran High School) [2018]
District 6 (Continental, Front Range, 5280): Ed Hartnett, Director of District Activities/Athletics (Adams Five Star School District) [2016]
District 7 (CS Metro 4A, CS Metro 5A, Pikes Peak, Tri-Peaks, West Central): Sandi Weece, Athletic Director (South Park High School) [2015]
District 8 (Black Forest, Fisher’s Peak, Intermountain, Southern Peaks): Joe Garcia, Athletic Director (Antonito High School) [2018]
District 9 (Arkansas Valley, Santa Fe, South Central, Southeastern): Richard Macias, District Athletic Director (Pueblo City Schools 60) [2017]
Colorado Association of School Boards: Jim Engelker (Platte Valley Re-3) [2016]
Colorado Association of School Executives: Jim Lucas, Assistant Principal (Pine Creek High School) [2015]
Colorado Association of School Executives: Rick Mondt, Superintendent (Briggsdale Schools) [2017]
Colorado Department of Education: Wendy Dunaway, Colorado Department of Education [2015]
Colorado State Assembly: Jim Wilson, Salida (State Representative, Salida) [2017]