CHSAA Places Lutheran High School on Probation
The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) announced on Thursday that Lutheran High School has been placed on athletic probation and could face suspension due to incidents of racist and discriminatory language during its sporting events.
According to a statement from the association, this formal notice includes a potential membership suspension and probation for the school’s athletic department for at least a year, effective immediately.
CHSAA emphasized that each member school is accountable for the behavior of its spectators. The association stated, “Racism and discrimination have no place in our schools or at our events. CHSAA takes sportsmanship, crowd control, and the treatment of every participant at our events seriously, and every member school is responsible for the conduct of its coaches, players, and spectators.”
The decision was based on a review of documentation, official game reports, and firsthand accounts gathered from students and community members. Lutheran High School is now required to implement a Corrective Action Plan focused on game management, spectator behavior, staff training, and fostering a positive school culture. Additionally, its leadership must present to the CHSAA Board of Directors. If Lutheran does not meet the required standards, CHSAA indicated it would recommend suspension of the school’s membership.
The issue came to light following a game on September 24, where a parent from Sand Creek High School reported racist behavior during the game, asserting that no response was made by Lutheran representatives after she alerted them. A cheerleader at the game expressed feelings of unsafety in the opposing student section. Similarly, Rampart High School raised concerns after a game on October 2.
Dan Gehrke, the Executive Director, condemned racism but noted that the CHSAA took action before Lutheran could complete its investigation.
Lutheran High School expressed its commitment to addressing racism in any form and stated it will comply with all of CHSAA’s requirements. Gehrke mentioned that he was disappointed that the CHSAA made its decision prior to completing their own review and considering Lutheran’s findings.
Moreover, Gehrke has contested some details regarding the allegations, stating that the students mentioned in the Rampart incident weren’t actually enrolled at Lutheran.
In the wake of these events, two teams, Air Academy and Coronado, forfeited their games against Lutheran. However, Palmer Ridge, which is ranked sixth in Colorado with a 7-0 record, confirmed that it will still play its scheduled game at Lutheran on October 30.
This probation comes after weeks of pressure from local advocacy groups and the mayor of Parker, who expressed significant concern over the incidents reported.
State athletic associations have faced scrutiny in the past for actions against faith-based schools, such as the case involving Vermont’s Mid Vermont Christian School, which had its membership reinstated by a federal appeals court in 2025 after being expelled from state sports.
The penalties imposed on Lutheran High School have sparked debate online, with some users on social media questioning the validity of the allegations and CHSAA’s credibility in this situation.
