All fall sports now in full swing of practice
AURORA — Fall practice is now in full swing with the other 10 sports joining boys golf in preparing for the 2015 season.
Starting practice on Monday are boys and girls cross country, field hockey, football, gymnastics, boys soccer, spirit, softball, boys tennis and volleyball.
“It’s the start of another year, and it’s the time that always brings with it hope and promise,” said Paul Angelico, who is now in his sixth year as commissioner of CHSAA.
Boys golf began practice exactly a week ago, and contests on Aug. 13. Boys tennis is next with with scrimmages and matches allowed on Aug. 20, while softball scrimmages can begin Monday, and games on Aug. 21.
Each of the other fall sports, save for football, can scrimmage on Aug. 22, and their first contest is Aug. 27.
Football, meanwhile, begins its annual Zero Week on Aug. 27, a Thursday. Typically, that week was used mostly for scrimmages and light in actual games, but recently more and more teams have been playing games that week in order to gain a later bye. This season, there are 42 games scheduled for Zero Week. Still, Week 1 for the football season is officially Sept. 3.
Preseason rankings for team sports are due out on Monday.
Fall sports’ championship season begins on Oct. 5-6 with boys golf. From there, boys tennis (Oct. 15-17) is next, and then softball (Oct. 23-24) follows.
After that, the state meets for boys and girls cross country are on Oct. 31, and field hockey’s title game is the same day. It’s gymnastics turn on Nov. 6-7, and then volleyball is the following week (Nov. 13-14). Boys soccer also has its title games on Nov. 14.
Football’s championships are varied. The 6-man game is Nov. 21; 8-man, 1A and 2A are Nov. 28; and the 3A, 4A and 5A games are Dec. 5. All but 4A and 5A — which are held at Sports Authority Field at Mile High — will be played at home sites.
Spirit’s championship will be held Dec. 11-12.
