Football committee proposes league changes

A proposal being drafted by the state high school football committee would make some big changes to the current league alignment. The final draft of the proposal was offered during the committee's two-day meeting, which concludes today.

The changes, planned for the 2010-12 seasons include:

-         CHSAA Class 5A would increase from 45 to 52 schools,

-         Class 4A would drop from 47 to 33 schools, and

-         Class 3A would increase from 40 to 51 schools.

 

One of the most striking proposed league realignments involves the abolishment of the current Centennial League. In its place, a new six-team Creek League would be created, consisting of only Cherry Creek School District high schools - Cherry Creek, Cherokee Trail, Eaglecrest, Grandview, Overland and Smoky Hill.

 

That removes Mullen. The current Class 5A champ would be part of a West Metro League, joined by Columbine, Heritage, Chatfield, Bear Creek and Arapahoe.

 

Any recommendation made will need to be ratified in late January.

 

PROPOSED LEAGUE REALIGNMENTS

 

CLASS 5A

Enrollment: 1,641-and-up

Number of schools: 52

 

Big 6: Arvada West, Boulder, Fairview, Legacy, Pomona, Ralston Valley.

 

Colorado Springs Metro: Doherty, Fountain-Fort Carson, Palmer, Rampart.

 

Creek: Cherokee Trail, Cherry Creek, Eaglecrest, Grandview, Overland, Smoky Hill.

 

Denver: Abraham Lincoln, East, George Washington, Lakewood, Montbello, South, Thomas Jefferson.

 

East Metro: Adams City, Aurora Central, Gateway, Hinkley, Northglenn, Rangeview, Thornton, Westminster.

 

Front Range: Fort Collins, Fossil Ridge, Horizon, Mountain Range, Poudre, Rocky Mountain.

 

Southern: Chaparral, Douglas County, Highlands Ranch, Mountain Vista, Regis, ThunderRidge.

 

Southwestern: Central (G.J.), Fruita Monument, Grand Junction.

 

West Metro: Arapahoe, Bear Creek, Chatfield, Columbine, Heritage, Mullen.

 

CLASS 4A

Enrollment: 1,201-1,640

Number of schools: 33

 

Foothills: Air Academy, Falcon, Liberty, Pine Creek, Sand Creek.

 

North Metro: Brighton, Dakota Ridge, Golden, Green Mountain, Monarch, Prairie View, Standley Lake, Wheat Ridge.

 

Northern: Broomfield, Greeley Central, Greeley West, Longmont, Loveland, Niwot, Thompson Valley.

 

Pikes Peak: Cheyenne Mountain, Mesa Ridge, Pueblo South, Pueblo West, Widefield.

 

South Metro: Castle View, Legend, Littleton, Ponderosa, Rock Canyon, Valor Christian.

 

Southwestern: Durango, Montrose.

 

CLASS 3A

Enrollment: 601-1,200

Number of schools: 51

 

Metro North: Alameda, Arvada, Centaurus, D'Evelyn, Holy Family, Jefferson, North, Skyview.

 

Metro South: Conifer, Elizabeth, Englewood, Evergreen, John F. Kennedy, Ridge View Academy, Summit.

 

Northern: Berthoud, Erie, Frederick, Roosevelt, Silver Creek, Skyline.

 

Plains: Fort Lupton, Fort Morgan, Mountain View, Northridge, Sterling, Windsor.

 

South Central: Classical Academy, Discovery Canyon, Lewis-Palmer, Mitchell, Palmer Ridge, Vista Ridge, Wasson, Woodland Park.

 

Southern: Cañon City, Coronado, Harrison, Pueblo Centennial, Pueblo Central, Pueblo County, Pueblo East, Sierra.

 

Western Slope: Battle Mountain, Delta, Eagle Valley, Glenwood Springs, Moffat County, Palisade, Rifle, Steamboat Springs.

 

CLASS 2A

Enrollment: 276-600

Number of schools: 43

 

Colorado: Bennett, Kent Denver, Manual, Platte Canyon, Sheridan, West.

 

Flatirons: Bishop Machebeuf, Faith Christian, Mead, Middle Park, The Academy, The Pinnacle.

 

Mountain: Alamosa, Bayfield, Buena Vista, Centauri, Montezuma-Cortez, Pagosa Springs, Salida.

 

Patriot: Brush, Eaton, Estes Park, Platte Valley, Strasburg, University, Valley, Weld Central.

 

Tri-Peaks: C.S. Christian, Dolores Huerta, Florence, La Junta, Lamar, Manitou Springs, St. Mary's, Trinidad.

 

Western: Aspen, Basalt, Cedaredge, Coal Ridge, Grand Valley, Gunnison, Olathe, Roaring Fork.

 

CLASS 1A

Enrollment: 126-275

Number of schools: 40

 

Metro North: Clear Creek, Cornerstone Christian, Denver Christian, Denver Lutheran, Front Range Christian, Lyons, Nederland, Resurrection Christian.

 

North Central: Akron, Highland, Holyoke, Wiggins, Wray, Yuma.

 

Santa Fe: Crowley County, Custer County, Ellicott, John Mall, Las Animas, Rocky Ford, Rye.

 

South Central: Burlington, Byers, Calhan, Cripple Creek-Victor, Limon, Lutheran (Parker), Peyton.

 

Southern Peaks: Center, Del Norte, Dolores, Ignacio, Monte Vista, Sargent.

 

Western Slope: Hayden, Hotchkiss, Lake County, Meeker, Paonia, Rangely.

 

CLASS A 8-MAN

Enrollment: 76-125

Number of schools: 45

 

East (I-70 Division): Cheyenne Wells, Genoa-Hugo/Karval, Miami-Yoder, Simla, Stratton.

 

East (Black Forest Division): Elbert, Kiowa, Maranatha Christian, R.M. Lutheran, Silver State Christian.

 

North (Plains Division): Caliche, Dayspring Christian, Haxtun, Longmont Christian, Merino, Sedgwick County.

 

North (Central Division): Gilpin County, Justice, North Park, Soroco, Vail Christian, West Grand.

 

South (Arkansas Valley Division): Granada, Holly, McClave, Springfield, Walsh, Wiley.

 

South (Southern Division): Fowler, Hanover, Hoehne, Primero, Manzanola, Swink.

 

West (Mountain Division): Antonito, La Veta, Sanford, Sangre de Cristo, Sierra Grande, South Park.

 

West (Western Division): Dove Creek, Mancos, Norwood, Nucla, Plateau Valley.

 

CLASS A 6-MAN

Enrollment: 1-75

Number of schools: 25

 

Central: Deer Trail, Idalia, Liberty (Joes), Lone Star, Otis, Woodlin.

 

North: Briggsdale, Fleming, Pawnee, Peetz, Prairie, Weldon Valley.

 

South East: Bethune, Cheraw, Eads, Flagler, Hi-Plains, South Baca.

 

South West: Aguilar, Colorado D&B, Cotopaxi, Edison, Hilltop Baptist, Mountain Valley, Pikes Peak Christian.

 

Independent: Arickaree.