Prep Report
By Scott Stocker and Gerry Valerio, Rocky Mountain News
April 28, 2005
Florida and Texas lawmakers are considering legislation this year that would require random steroid testing among their high school athletes.
Could Colorado be far behind? And is it necessary at this time?
Bill Reader, commissioner of the Colorado High School Activities Association, recently attended a meeting at the National Federation of High Schools in Indianapolis, where the subject of steroids was discussed.
There are concerns about how widespread the problem is at the professional level, a facet brought out by the congressional hearings with top executives and players from Major League Baseball and the NFL.
"You know that there has to be a trickle-down effect, when it comes to the colleges and high schools," John Stewart, commissioner of the Florida High School Athletic Association, said in an Associated Press report.
Rep. Phil King, of Weatherford, Texas, told The Dallas Morning News that all the evidence suggests steroid use is widespread in the state's public high schools.
A Texas A&M University survey two years ago found that nearly 42,000 Texas students in grades seven through 12 had taken steroids.
Under the Texas bill, a student-athlete who tests positive would be required to take counseling with his or her parents. A second positive test would make the student-athlete ineligible for competition.
Reader said he does not believe there is a movement afoot in Colorado to test the state's athletes for steroids. He is in agreement with Stewart, though, about a trickle-down effect and believes the CHSAA has to proceed carefully.
"When you consider the privacy issue of students, the cost, $150 per student, and what has happened with steroid use by high school athletes, we believe the most effective way to combat the problem would be through an education program with students, coaches and parents," Reader said. "We believe we can be most effective in that regard.
"We have to be careful not to overreact," Reader said. "I think we need to keep our focus on things that are happening now and not invest our resources in steroids. It is a problem, but I don't want to over estimate the problem. I think our coaches can have a good sense as to who is or who is not using steroids at their schools."
Greg Critchett, the head football coach at Cherry Creek the past two seasons after coaching college football at New Mexico Highlands for 10 years, is not opposed to testing high school athletes.
Critchett realizes, however, it could lead to other issues, such as how schools handle other students, not only the athletes, and do schools test for other drugs.
"I think the overall benefits outweigh the negatives," Critchett said. "I would be for testing, as we are trying to protect the kids.
"I thought (testing in college) was a step in the right direction at the time, a step to take care of it," Critchett said. "Testing in college can be during the regular season and after. I didn't have much exposure to kids on steroids, but we had two who were suspended due to steroids."
"Random testing shows you are serious, and that's a plus," Critchett said.
Critchett would like to have experts address his players and parents about steroids, as well as legal supplements. He wants his student-athletes to be aware of what they are putting into their bodies.
Football coaches Andy Lowry of Columbine, Tom McCartney of Fairview and wrestling coach Tim Ottmann of Ponderosa also favor testing for steroids but also would like to see testing for all illegal substances, as well.
They all are concerned with the cost of testing, noting that it could take away from other school programs.
"We don't have the ability or the funding to test for steroids, pot or whatever type of drugs," Lowry said. "Alcohol is just as big a problem and certainly more accessible to the kids, and they are not new issues.
"Legislators can look good talking about it," Lowry said. "But they haven't come up with ways to fund them. To have the ability to test and the (privacy) rights to do it would be a step in the right direction."
Said McCartney: "Testing (for steroids) would be a phenomenal idea and we would love to know the entire state would be playing on a clean, level field."
Ottmann, also the athletic director at Ponderosa, does not think Colorado has as large a problem with steroids as other states do.
"We have other concerns that far outweigh steroids," Ottmann said. "I have heard the stories from other states, and with our wrestling program, we travel outside the state. Alcohol and drugs are something we could hit harder here, though.
"I agree with (Reader)," Ottmann said. "I don't think Colorado has a big steroid problem, and I hope we don't get one. If there would be a steroid problem in wrestling, it would come from the kids doing them in the summer."
Absent a widespread problem, we agree there is no reason to begin testing for steroids in Colorado at this time. We also have concerns about privacy issues and the cost of implementing testing programs.
As the state population continues to grow, though, and the pressure for athletes to perform intensifies, it certainly is an issue we would recommend revisiting in the future.
MCKIERNAN'S LAST SHOT: Dan McKiernan, an icon in Colorado high school basketball, has resigned his position at Rampart to take the head-coaching job at Doherty.
Coincidentally, the 500th career victory for McKiernan came against Doherty, the largest high school in Colorado Springs, in the final game of this past season. He is one of only seven state coaches to have 500 wins.
McKiernan, who coached at Palmer for more than 30 years and won two state titles with the Terrors, left coaching briefly for personal reasons. He returned when the Rampart position opened two years ago.
"Rampart is a great school and it was where I needed to be to heal," said Mc-Kiernan, 64. "I found I needed to be with the kids again. I would like to coach for 10 more years, if possible, and Doherty will be my last shot.
"It is hard to leave Rampart, as I was treated very well there by the kids, parents and administration, and I can't praise them enough," said McKiernan, who began his head-coaching career in Liberal, Kan., in 1964. "The program is in good shape, and whoever comes in now will be entering in a very good situation."
McKiernan will teach two classes at Doherty. He is semiretired from teaching, and under his district plan, can teach only 110 days a year. His coaching duties count toward those days.
"I realized I was refreshed after knowing the new pope is beginning his tenure at 78," McKiernan said. "I'll be 74 if I can do my 10 more years. I said to myself, 'If he can start at 78, I can certainly keep going at 64.' And, in the end, Doherty is the only place I would want to go."
RECORD-BREAKER: Chealsea Taylor of Montbello jumped into the record books Saturday at the Denver Prep League Invitational at All City Stadium.
Taylor, a senior, jumped 20 feet, 5 1/2 inches to erase Colorado's All-Classification mark of 19-111/2. The previous record was set by Ayesha Shabazz of George Washington, who accomplished the feat in 1995.
It was a grand day for Taylor all around, as she also won the 100 meters with a time of 11.59 seconds, and the high jump with a leap of 5-8.
Taylor, who won the state high jump championship as a freshman and sophomore but finished second last season, already has cleared 5-11 in the high jump this season. She is seeking to become only the third girl in state history to clear 6-0. Taylor also will set her sights on the state meet long jump record of 19-6.
Maddie McKeever of Heritage also turned in a stellar effort at the DPL meet. The senior ran the 1,600 meters in 4 minutes, 56.02 seconds. The All-Classification record is held by Boulder's Melody Fairchild (4:49.86 in 1991).
ETC.: Regis is sponsoring a basketball coaches clinic May 6-7. Head women's basketball coaches from Nevada-Las Vegas, Kansas, Kansas State, Syracuse, Wyoming, New Mexico, Denver and Iowa State will be among the featured speakers. Cost is $125. Information: John Kos- losky, 303-269-8130 . . . Megann Alberts of Colorado Springs Christian and Cristen Wall of Faith Christian have been selected as finalists for the National Christian School Athletic Association Girls All-America Basketball team. The NCSAA lists 26 finalists, of which 10 players will be selected. The team will be announced in May . . . Fort Morgan has hired Jeff Hamilton as its new head football coach. Hamilton moves over from La Junta to replace the retiring Rick Kahl . . . Mountain Vista has hired Brian Lamb as its head girls basketball coach . . . A final reminder, nominations for the Fred Steinmark High School Student/Athlete of the Year Award are due at the News by Monday. Information: Scott Stocker 303-892-5275, or stockers@RockyMountainNews.com