Teams turn focus to winter sports
With football, soccer and other fall sports fading from the spotlight, Lakewood’s athletic teams begin to focus to winter sports. Practice for boys and girls basketball, ice hockey, girls swimming and wrestling officially begins November 12.
“There are few, if any, days like the first day of practice in the life of a young person. November 12 marks the 88th time students around the state have gathered to prepare for the winter sports season. It is a time of excitement and anticipation for the players, coaches and fans,” Colorado High School Activities Association Commissioner Bill Reader said.
The date for first scrimmages has been set for Nov. 18 and first games can be scheduled as early as Dec. 1.
The Colorado High School Activities Association or CHSAA, date to May, 1921 when 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 Greeley in basketball, Colorado Springs in football 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 and Bill Reader the organization’s seventh commissioner in July 2002.
The CHSAA has had 57 presidents dating back to 1921. Its current president, Widefield High School athletic director Shelli Miles is completing the first year of a two-year term this school year. The Association enters the season with a seasoned collection veteran administrator. Bethany Schott and Harry Waterman enter their second year with CHSAA, while Rhonda Blanford-Green is entering her 14th year as an Assistant Commissioner with the Association. Commissioner Bill Reader is in his 22nd year with the CHSAA, while Associate Commissioner Paul Angelico is entering his 20th year and Assistant Commissioners Bert Borgmann and Tom Robinson are in their 22nd and 15th years, respectively, on the administrative staff.
With football, soccer and other fall sports fading from the spotlight, Lakewood’s athletic teams begin to focus to winter sports. Practice for boys and girls basketball, ice hockey, girls swimming and wrestling officially begins November 12.
“There are few, if any, days like the first day of practice in the life of a young person. November 12 marks the 88th time students around the state have gathered to prepare for the winter sports season. It is a time of excitement and anticipation for the players, coaches and fans,” Colorado High School Activities Association Commissioner Bill Reader said.
The date for first scrimmages has been set for Nov. 18 and first games can be scheduled as early as Dec. 1.
The Colorado High School Activities Association or CHSAA, traces its roots to May, 1921 when 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 Greeley in basketball, Colorado Springs in football 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 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 and Bill Reader the organization’s seventh commissioner in July 2002.
The CHSAA has had 57 presidents dating to 1921. Its current president, Widefield High School athletic director Shelli Miles is completing the first year of a two-year term this school year. The Association enters the season with a seasoned collection veteran administrator.
Bethany Schott and Harry Waterman enter their second year with CHSAA, while Rhonda Blanford-Green is entering her 14th year as an Assistant Commissioner with the Association. Commissioner Bill Reader is in his 22nd year with the CHSAA, while Associate Commissioner Paul Angelico is entering his 20th year and Assistant Commissioners Bert Borgmann and Tom Robinson are in their 22nd and 15th years, respectively, on the administrative staff.
