It’s here.
Today marks the first widespread entries into the 85th school year on record at the Colorado High School Activities Association with all nine sanctioned sports permitted to begin practice.
As usual, boys golfers went off early last week. But they will be joined today by thousands of other student-athletes, notably in football, the longtime preferred boys sport that began in 1921, and volleyball, now 31 and firmly in command of in-state female interest. Boys and girls cross country, field hockey, gymnastics, boys soccer, softball and boys tennis complete the fall lineup.
Boys tennis (Thursday) and softball (Friday) players also will get head starts. Generally, they may complete up to three regular-season events before Sept. 1.
Looking ahead, winter play in Colorado will begin in December with the finish in mid- March, when spring sports will take the school year’s projected 100,000-plus participants into late May.
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Fall lineup
Regular seasons begin Sept. 1 unless noted.
Boys golf
Regular season began Aug. 11.
State championship tournaments are Oct. 3-4 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club (Class 5A) and Wellshire Golf Course (4A).
Boys tennis
Regular season begins Thursday.
Regionals are Oct. 12-15.
State tournaments are Oct. 20-22 at the Gates Tennis Center (5A) and Pueblo City Park (4A).
Softball
Regular season begins Friday.
Districts to be completed by Sept. 15 and regionals by Oct. 21.
State championships (Oct. 22) are at the Aurora Sports Complex.
Boys and girls cross country
Regionals to be completed by Oct. 22.
State meets are Oct. 29 at The Vineyard in Colorado Springs.
Field hockey
Quarterfinals (Oct. 22) at home sites; semifinals (Oct. 26) and
championship (Oct. 31) at All-City Stadium.
Gymnastics
State meets (5A and 4A) are Nov. 4-5 at Thornton High School.
Boys soccer
State tournaments are:
Class 5A: first round (Oct. 26); second round (Oct. 28); quarterfinals (Nov. 2); semifinals (Nov. 5 at Five Star Stadium, Thornton); championship (Nov. 9, Five Star Stadium).
Class 4A: first round (Oct. 26); second round (Oct. 29); quarterfinals (Nov. 3); semifinals (Nov. 5, North Area Athletic Complex, Arvada); championship (Nov. 8, NAAC).
Class 3A: regionals (Oct. 22); first round (Oct. 29); quarterfinals (Nov. 1); semifinals (Nov. 5, NAAC); championship (Nov. 8, NAAC).
Volleyball
Districts to be completed by Oct. 29, regionals by Nov. 5.
State tournaments are Nov. 11-12 at the Denver Coliseum.
Football
State tournaments are:
Classes 5A-3A: preliminaries (Nov. 12); quarterfinals (Nov. 19); semifinals (Nov. 26); championships (Dec. 3, 5A-4A at Invesco Field at Mile High, and 3A at home site).
Classes 2A-1A: preliminaries (Nov. 5); quarterfinals (Nov. 12); semifinals (Nov. 19); championships (Nov. 26 at home sites); 8-man, preliminaries (Oct. 29); quarterfinals (Nov. 5); semifinals (Nov. 12); championship
(Nov. 19 at home site); 6-man, quarterfinals (Nov. 5); semifinals
(Nov. 12); championship (Nov. 19 at home site).
