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A Colorado high school is facing potential suspension of its membership from the Colorado High School Activities Association amid allegations of racism at recent football games, which have led to two schools pulling out of playing against it this season.
Lutheran High School in Parker has been making headlines after students and parents from Sand Creek and Rampart High Schools alleged racial abuse last month when their football teams played at the school.
On Thursday, the CHSAA gave the school a formal notice that it has placed its athletic department on probation for at least 12 months, effective immediately, and Lutheran faces suspension of its membership.
The state’s governing body of high school athletics said that it had determined that “racist and discriminatory language and unacceptable behavior occurred at Lutheran athletic events.”
“Racism and discrimination have no place in our schools or at our events,” it said in a statement. “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 alleged racial incidents involved schools in the Colorado Springs area.
Lutheran High School condemned racism while expressing disappointment that the CHSAA made its decision before the school had time to complete its investigation into the allegations.
“Lutheran High School condemns racism in any form, and we will complete every requirement CHSAA has set. We are disappointed that CHSAA reached its determination before our own review is complete and before it could consider our findings,” Lutheran Executive Director Dan Gehrke wrote in a letter to parents. “We are finalizing a fuller response and our next steps for you and the public. In the meantime, I humbly ask that you keep our students, families, coaches and staff in your prayers, along with everyone affected.”
In the wake of the allegations, two schools — Air Academy and Coronado High School — have opted to forfeit their games against Lutheran High School.