The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) placed Lutheran High School on athletic probation Thursday and warned that the Parker school could be suspended after finding that racist and discriminatory language had been used at its athletic events.
Under the action announced by the state’s high school sports governing body, Lutheran’s athletic department will remain on probation for at least 12 months, effective immediately. The school also received formal notice that its CHSAA membership could be suspended.
CHSAA said member schools are responsible for the conduct of people in their stands.
“Racism and discrimination have no place in our schools or at our events,” the association said. “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 decision followed CHSAA’s review of documentation, official game reports and firsthand accounts collected by member schools from students and their communities. Lutheran must develop a Corrective Action Plan addressing game management, spectator behavior, employee training and school culture. School leaders must also appear before the CHSAA Board of Directors. If Lutheran fails to meet the requirements, CHSAA said it will recommend suspending the school’s membership.
The allegations began with a Sept. 24 game at Lutheran. Taura Williams, a parent from Sand Creek High School, said she reported the conduct to a Lutheran representative during the game but saw no response. Her daughter, cheerleader Laila Bryant, said she felt unsafe in the opposing student section. Rampart later reported similar concerns following an Oct. 2 game.
Lutheran Executive Director Dan Gehrke denounced racism but said CHSAA acted before the school had completed its own investigation.
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“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,” Gehrke wrote in a letter to parents.
In an earlier message to families, Gehrke challenged portions of the allegations, saying the students questioned about the Rampart incident were not enrolled at Lutheran.
Air Academy and Coronado have forfeited their games against Lutheran. Palmer Ridge, ranked sixth in Colorado with a 7-0 record, said it still plans to play its Oct. 30 finale at Lutheran.
The probation comes after weeks of pressure from the Douglas County and Colorado Springs NAACP branches, as well as Parker Mayor Joshua Rivero, who said he was “deeply troubled” by the reports.
State athletic associations have previously faced scrutiny over sanctions involving faith-based schools. In September 2025, a federal appeals court reinstated Vermont’s Mid Vermont Christian School after the Vermont Principals’ Association expelled it from state sports.
The action against Lutheran also prompted criticism online, with users on X questioning CHSAA’s credibility and the strength of the allegations against the school.