CHSAA Begins 92nd Year of Spring Sports

***Press Release***

Official Spring Practice Begins February 25

Aurora, Colo. – In spite of the winter storm the state has just experienced, the Colorado High School Activities Association’s 92^nd year of spring sports begins Monday, February 25, 2013 for baseball, girls’ golf, boys’ and girls’ lacrosse, girls’ soccer, boys’ swimming and boys’ and girls’ track & field.

“The beginning of any new sports season practice remains one of the most exciting days in a student’s life. But even beyond that, that first day of practice offers all of us the opportunity to get back to the community-based roots that high school sports provide. Look around the state and you will see that each school is the hub of the activities in its neighborhood,” CHSAA Commissioner Paul Angelico said.

      Teams may scrimmage on March 2 in baseball, lacrosse, soccer, swimming and track, while golf and tennis can scrimmage starting February 28. The first contest for golf and tennis is February 28, while the other sports will have to wait for their first contest until March 7.

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 reins on July 1, 2010

The CHSAA has had 57 presidents dating back to 1921. Its current president, Cherry Creek Schools Assistant Superintendent Dr. Harry Bull, is in the second year of a two-year term as president.

The Association enters the year with few changes on staff. Paul Angelico, a 24-year member of the staff, is Commissioner. Assistant Commissioners Bert Borgmann and Tom Robinson are in their 25^th and 12^th years on the staff, respectively. Meanwhile, Bethany Brookens and Harry Waterman are in their fifth year with the Association. Bud Ozzello enters is in his third year on the staff. Jenn Roberts-Uhlig joins the administrative team for the first time this year.

Malinda Arensdorf serves as administrative assistant to Waterman, while Kim Rose (Angelico), Lisa Cunningham Austin (Borgmann), Kenzie Hewson (Brookens), Jane Boudreau (Roberts-Uhlig), Audra Cathy (Ozzello) and Monica Tillman (Robinson) work in concert with the other administrators. Bookkeeper Donna Welch and mail room coordinator Sharon Garcia round out the Association staff. (Additional information follows)

Defending Spring State Champions and First State Champions

Sport	1A	2A	3A	4A	5A	First Champ*
Baseball	Stratton	Res. Christian	Eaton	Broomfield	Cherry Creek	P. Central (’51)
G. Golf	XX	XX	XX	Regis Jesuit	Cherry Creek	Cherry Cr. (’90)
B. Lacrosse	XX	XX	XX	XX	Arapahoe	Kent Den. (’99)
G. Lacrosse	XX	XX	XX	XX	Air Academy	Kent Den. (’98)
G. Soccer	XX	XX	Peak to Peak	Air Academy	Cherry Creek	Arapahoe (’78)
B. Swimming	XX	XX	XX	Air Academy	Regis Jesuit	D. So/D. Ea. (’59)
G. Tennis	XX	XX	XX	Chey. Mountain	Cherry Creek	T Jefferson (’75)
B. Track	Walsh	Lyons	Classical Ac.	Longmont	Ft. Collins	Ft. Collins (’22)
G. Track	Merino	Lyons	Classical Ac.	Thompson Vy.	Loveland	F-Ft. Carson (’75)

* = Large school champion listed.

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, State Legislative Relations, New Schools, Programs, State Records, Championship Results, Trophies & Awards)

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, Cooperative Programs, Title IX, Equity)

Harry Waterman, Assistant Commissioner (Football, Wrestling, Lacrosse, Student Council, Foreign Waivers, NFHS Section 6, Playoff Sites, Tournament Playoff & Finance)

Bud Ozzello, Assistant Commissioner (Softball, Soccer, Speech, Ice Hockey, Coaching Registration, Sanctioned Events, Participation Survey, 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)