AURORA — Season No. 2 on the high school circuit will begin today with winter sports’ early drills across Colorado.
The second of the three sports seasons will have the fewest offerings — five — but no less excitement.
“It’s a great part of our jobs. It seems like we start over three times a year,” Colorado High School Activities Association commissioner Bill Reader said. “There’s a new beginning with a new season.”
Led by popular boys and girls basketball, in which there are 300-plus schools that participate, winter’s beginning for the 88th time on state record also includes: growing ice hockey; historically solid girls swimming and diving; boys and girls skiing; and immensely popular wrestling that arguably ends with the most pageantry in a finals night that usual draws 17,000-plus fans to the Pepsi Center.
In a cycle twist, football winds down at the end of the month with championships in the top three classifications on Nov. 29; the first date of play for winter will be Dec. 1, so there will be no overlap among seasons.
“It’s just a whole new attitude with kids and a fresh start,” Reader said.
As well, administrators remain convinced they can offer the public value for their entertainment dollar during current tough economic times.
“It’s one of the great things about high school athletics,” Reader said. “I hope people understand our ticket prices are still acceptable.”
As usual, winter will get going for three weeks, mostly with nonleague competition, then be interrupted for the mandatory break over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Play will resume in January and culminate with championships that will run through the end of February and into early March.
Neil H. Devlin: 303-954-1714 or ndevlin@denverpost.com
Change of season
The winter sports season, second annually during the school year, will begin practice today. The regular season will begin Dec. 1:
Boys and girls basketball: Regular season runs through Feb. 21. Playoffs begin Feb. 24. Championship games: Boys — Classes 5A-1A, March 14; Girls, 5A-4A, March 13; 3A-1A, March 14. Finals sites in Boulder, Fort Collins, Pueblo and Air Force Academy.
Ice hockey: Regular season runs through Feb. 12. Championship: Feb. 28.
Girls swimming: Regular season Feb. 7. Championships: 5A, Feb. 13; 4A, Feb. 14. Finals sites at Edora Pool Ice Center, Fort Collins; and Mountain View High School, Loveland.
Boys and girls skiing: Regular season runs through Feb. 14. Championships: Feb. 19-20 at Ski Cooper in Leadville.
Wrestling: Regular season runs through Feb. 7. Regionals Feb. 13-14 at high school sites. Championships: Feb. 19-21 at the Pepsi Center.
