Coach Cites Racial Abuse Risk to Cancel Homecoming Game
Internal emails reveal Air Academy football staff wanted to avoid a matchup they feared would expose their players to discrimination, while district leaders preferred a quiet response.
By Amy Swan ·
More than $53,000 has been raised in just a few days by a parent coalition seeking funds for security and legal action, a figure that underscores the intensity of the dispute now surrounding Lutheran High School in Parker. The money is part of a broader conflict that has shaken Colorado Springs public schools, where internal emails obtained through the Colorado Open Records Act reveal a sharp divide over how to handle allegations of racial misconduct during recent sporting events.
The controversy centers on Air Academy High School’s decision to forfeit its homecoming football game on Oct. 9. While the school publicly stated the cancellation was due to a shortage of coaches, the newly released correspondence shows a different motivation. Head football coach Waymond Jackson told district leaders he refused to risk exposing his players to possible racial abuse. He argued that the team should not play unless the allegations against Lutheran were fully investigated with real accountability and concrete steps to prevent a repeat.
The incidents that triggered the dispute began with a Sept. 24 game between Lutheran and Sand Creek High School. Several Sand Creek cheerleaders and their coach reported that Lutheran students and community members made racist remarks and gestures. These actions included calling Black cheerleaders Harriet Tubman, using slurs, and whipping belts toward them. Jackson also cited claims from Rampart High School staff, who said Lutheran attendees directed slurs at their families during other games, describing the behavior as disgusting and foul.
Jackson emphasized that the issue was not about the sport itself but about safety. In an email dated Oct. 5, he wrote that as a Black man responsible for young people, he would not knowingly send students into a setting where they might face racial abuse. The emails highlight a split within Academy District 20, with Jackson taking a firm stand while administrators appeared to want the matter kept quiet. Jackson criticized the district for not formally backing the school’s decision not to play, calling the lack of support a slap in the face.
District officials seemed to downplay the internal friction. Assistant Superintendent Becky Harris directed Principal Amy Ripperger to respect Jackson’s decision but told him not to inform his staff or students. Two days later, Ripperger wrote that no coaches were willing to coach on Friday night. District communications chief Mark Belcher noted that individual staff emails do not always reflect official positions and may lack context. The district’s public statement on Oct. 8 claimed it had worked with both schools to hold the game, limiting visiting fans and adding security, but acknowledged that individual decisions affected coaching participation.
The Colorado High School Activities Association has found that Lutheran spectators and participants used discriminatory language and behaviors across multiple football and basketball events. The state body has threatened to suspend the school unless it completes a corrective action plan. Lutheran executive director Dan Gehrke stated that the school condemns racism and will meet every requirement. He noted that the school had offered a spectator plan and a meeting with head coaches, expressing regret that students lost the chance to compete.
The fallout has expanded beyond one game. Coronado High School also forfeited its matchup against Lutheran. Jackson, who is not allowed to speak with the media, said the reports of misconduct came from two schools across three games and two levels of play. The district’s response has drawn attention to how working families and students navigate school sports when safety concerns arise, particularly in communities with diverse populations.
Lutheran will play Montrose on Friday, marking its first game since the controversy emerged. The outcome of that matchup, along with the progress of the corrective action plan, will be closely watched by district officials and parents. The parent coalition continues to raise funds, aiming for a $500,000 goal to support security measures and potential legal action involving the state athletic body, media outlets, and individuals who accused the school community of racism.
Source: The Denver Post
