Sources close to Air Academy football cite Lutheran racism allegations as reason for homecoming forfeit
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) -- Air Academy High School says it is forfeiting its Homecoming football game against Lutheran High School on Friday. The forfeit comes amid ongoing allegations of racist remarks involving the Lutheran football program.
Air Academy announced Wednesday that it does not have enough coaches to "safely field a varsity football contest," leading the school to forfeit Friday night's game.
However, several people directly connected to the Air Academy football team told KRDO13, on the condition of anonymity, that coaches decided Monday not to participate in the game because of concerns about the alleged racism incidents involving Lutheran.
On Thursday, players at Air Academy expressed support for the decision not to play. They spoke to Air Academy News, the on-campus journalists for the high school.
"It was sad to hear that I won't be playing in my homecoming game, but I'm proud that we're doing the right thing," senior Eli Malnar told Air Academy News. "I'd rather go out and do the right thing than get another win or loss. This is bigger than football."
Senior Silas Felps echoed that position.
"If it wasn't a coaching decision, and if it was up to us and the players, I don't think we would have played," Felps told Air Academy News." I wouldn't have played."
The allegations come from previous football games involving Lutheran and both Sand Creek High School and Rampart High School.
KRDO13 has confirmed that CHSAA, the governing body for Colorado high school sports, is set to meet with officials from Lutheran High School this afternoon.
RELATED COVERAGE: Sand Creek High School students allege racism from Lutheran High School students
Academy School District 20 said it has been working with Lutheran and Air Academy throughout the week following concerns raised by Rampart administrators and athletic staff about incidents involving racial remarks directed at students and supporters.
"Academy District 20 believes racism in any form should never be tolerated. Any credible concerns of racist remarks should be taken seriously and fully investigated," the district said.
The district confirmed KRDO13's previous reporting that ASD20 met with Lutheran representatives and the Air Academy coaching staff to discuss the allegations. Sources said the team ultimately chose not to play against Lutheran, leading the district to accept the forfeiture.
RELATED COVERAGE: Second school in Colorado Springs alleges racism by members of Lutheran High School community
The district did not directly address whether the coaching staff refused to participate because of the allegations.
The district says that "individual decisions affected the level of coaching participation available" and that Air Academy was therefore "not in a position to safely field and support a varsity football contest."
The district said additional measures had been put in place in an effort to hold Friday's game, including limiting visiting fans to family members of Lutheran football players and increasing safety and security measures.
Despite the football game being canceled, Air Academy said its other Homecoming events will continue as planned, including a flyover, a parachute arrival onto the field and a presentation from the Air Academy Class of 1976.
The school will also hold a flag football game against The Classical Academy at 7 p.m. Friday.
Lutheran is scheduled to play Coronado High School, in Colorado Springs, on October 15. The school is also scheduled to play Palmer Ridge High School in Monument on October 30.
CHSAA investigation
The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) confirmed that it is continuing to investigate the allegations involving Lutheran.
"These reports are serious, and our review of them is ongoing," CHSAA said. "As part of that process, our office is gathering information from multiple member schools, including their administrators."
CHSAA said its office plans to meet with Lutheran officials Thursday, Sept. 8.
The organization said it does not discuss who it speaks with or the specific material it reviews during an ongoing investigation.
"Getting this right means having the full picture before reaching any conclusions," CHSAA said.
CHSAA also clarified that decisions about whether to compete in a contest are left to individual member schools.
Under CHSAA bylaws, a forfeited game is recorded as a loss for the school that does not play and a win for its opponent.
If CHSAA determines that its bylaws were violated as part of its investigation into the allegations involving Lutheran, any penalties would be determined under those bylaws.
CHSAA released a statement following their meeting with Lutheran officials on Thursday night:
"This week, members of the CHSAA office had in-depth conversations with administrators from Lutheran High School, Sand Creek High School and other member schools regarding reported incidents of racism.
These conversations were about more than any single incident. CHSAA is committed to an environment free from racism and discrimination, and that requires more than responding to individual reports. It means working with our member schools to build communities where every participant is treated with dignity and respect.
Our member schools are conducting their own investigations, and CHSAA will review their findings before making any decisions. We understand the desire for immediate action. But decisions of this weight must be based on complete information, and acting before we have it would not serve student participants or our member schools. If CHSAA bylaws are determined to have been violated, consequences will be determined according to those bylaws.
At the same time, the work ahead does not depend on any single finding. Our goal is lasting, positive change for every student who competes in Colorado."
What happens next
Air Academy is scheduled to play Rampart on Oct. 16.
KRDO13 asked Academy District 20 what the current status of the Air Academy coaching staff is, when the coaching shortage began and whether the shortage could result in additional forfeitures. The district had not responded as of Wednesday night.
KRDO13 also asked Lutheran what reason the school was given for Friday's game's cancellation. Lutheran had not responded as of Wednesday night.
Air Academy's full statement is below:
"Dear Air Academy High School Community,
We are writing to share an important change to Friday night’s Homecoming events.
Air Academy High School does not have a full coaching staff that would allow us to safely field a varsity football contest. As a result, Air Academy will forfeit the game scheduled for Friday, Oct. 9.
We recognize the significance of a Homecoming football game and know this is an important event for our student-athletes, students, families and community. Our top priority is always providing a safe, supportive and strong environment for our students and community.
Thankfully, Homecoming is about much more than one game, and we remain committed to giving our students and community an opportunity to come together Friday night and celebrate Air Academy. Our planned Homecoming festivities will continue, including a special flyover and parachute arrival onto the field, as well as a presentation from the Air Academy Class of 1976.
To support these activities, we are moving the Air Academy versus TCA flag football game to Friday evening, with kickoff at 7 p.m. This is the newest CHSAA-sanctioned sport, and we look forward to shining the spotlight on these student athletes. We are confident that Friday night will remain an energized celebration of Air Academy where our students can celebrate our school, its traditions and one another.
Thank you for your understanding and your support of Air Academy High School.
Kali Maxwell
Assistant Principal / Athletic Director, Air Academy High SchoolDr. Amy Ripperger
Principal, Air Academy High School"
Academy District 20's full statement:
"To provide additional depth and clarity, recently, Rampart High School administrators and athletic staff reviewed two concerns resulting from football contests involving Lutheran High School. These incidents were reported as racial remarks directed at Rampart students and supporters, and information was provided to Lutheran High School and the Colorado High School Athletics Association (CHSAA). We are cooperating with CHSAA as it gathers information and moves through its established investigation process. We await their investigation findings and next steps.
Academy District 20 believes racism in any form should never be tolerated. Any credible concerns of racist remarks should be taken seriously and fully investigated.
The District engaged in collaboration and partnership with Lutheran High School and Air Academy High School throughout the week, beginning on Monday, Oct. 5. Our ASD20 team also worked closely with Lutheran High School and Air Academy High School leading up to, and with the intent of holding, Friday's football game. Measures of support, including limited visiting fan attendance to family members of Lutheran football players, safety and security enhancements, and more were put in place with Lutheran and Air Academy administrators. These measures were put in place to support a safe and positive football game for all involved.
Ultimately, individual decisions affected the level of coaching participation available. Given those circumstances, Air Academy was not in a position to safely field and support a varsity football contest.
Our focus is on supporting our students and staff and providing a positive Homecoming experience for the Air Academy community. We look forward to Friday’s planned activities and an opportunity for students, families, staff and alumni to come together and celebrate their school."
CHSAA's full statement:
"Academy District 20 has informed the CHSAA office that Air Academy High School will not play its scheduled football game against Lutheran High School on Friday. Decisions about whether to compete in a contest rest with our member schools, and questions about the reasons for this decision are best directed to Air Academy and Academy District 20.
Under CHSAA bylaws, a forfeit is recorded as a loss for the school that does not play and a win for its opponent.
Separately, our office continues to gather information regarding the reports involving Lutheran High School. That process is ongoing. If it determines that CHSAA bylaws were violated, any penalties will be determined under those bylaws.
We understand the public interest in this, and we want to be as clear as we can about how our process works, even where we can't discuss the specifics of an ongoing review.
These reports are serious, and our review of them is ongoing. As part of that process, our office is gathering information from multiple member schools, including their administrators. We don't discuss who we speak with or the specific material we review in matters like this. Getting this right means having the full picture before reaching any conclusions."
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