Coach Demands Probes After Racial Abuse

Waymond Jackson, the head football coach at Air Academy High School, told district leaders he would not risk his players facing racial abuse by playing Lutheran High School. The decision led to the forfeiture of the Oct. 9 homecoming game. While the school publicly cited a lack of sufficient coaching staff as the reason, internal emails obtained through the Colorado Open Records Act point to a deeper dispute over safety and racial conduct.

The conflict traces back to a Sept. 24 game between Lutheran and Sand Creek. Sand Creek cheerleaders and their coach reported that Lutheran students and community members made racist remarks and gestures. These included calling Black cheerleaders Harriet Tubman, using slurs, and whipping belts toward the visiting team. Jackson also cited reports from Rampart High School staff who claimed Lutheran attendees directed slurs at their families during multiple events.

Jackson argued that the incident was not merely a football matter. In an email sent on Oct. 5, he stated that the decision centered on whether the district's children were safe. He emphasized his role as a Black man responsible for young people and said he would not knowingly send students and families into an environment where they might face racial abuse. He required a full investigation and concrete steps for accountability before Air Academy would play again.

A divide emerged within Academy District 20 regarding how to handle the situation. District assistant superintendent Becky Harris wrote to Principal Amy Ripperger on Oct. 5, noting that Ripperger respected Jackson's decision but directed him to keep it from his staff and students. Flag football coach Barry Clark told a parent that the district would not back the school if it declined to play. On Oct. 7, Ripperger reported that no coaches were willing to coach for the Friday night game.

The district issued a statement on Oct. 8 saying it had worked with both schools to hold the game. It limited visiting fans to families of Lutheran players and added security. The district attributed the forfeit to individual decisions affecting coaching participation. Mark Belcher, the district's communications chief, noted that individual staff emails may lack context and do not always reflect official district positions.

The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) found that Lutheran spectators and participants used discriminatory language across multiple football and basketball events. The organization threatened to suspend the school unless it completes a corrective action plan. Dan Gehrke, Lutheran's executive director, said the school condemns racism and will meet all CHSAA requirements. He noted that Lutheran had offered a spectator plan and a meeting with head coaches.

Coronado High School also forfeited its game against Lutheran. The school now plays Montrose on Friday, marking its first game since the controversy began. A coalition of Lutheran parents launched an online fundraiser on Thursday to cover security costs and legal action against CHSAA, media outlets, and individuals who accused the school community of racism. The campaign has raised more than $53,000 toward a $500,000 goal.