Faith first

Religious beliefs may end teams' seasons

John C. Ensslin

Published February 27, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.

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Photo by Chris Schneider / The Rocky

Sam Litvak, left, celebrates with Desi Rotenberg, top, and Andy Friednash on Tuesday after Herzl/RMHA defeated Belleview Christian School, 68-39, at the Denver Campus for Jewish Education.

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The tall, lanky kids on the Herzl/Rocky Mountain Hebrew Academy basketball team have a lot of faith in one another and in their ability to play.

That much was evident Tuesday night as the Tigers rolled over Belleview Christian School, 68-39, notching their 12th win of the season against two defeats.

Yet with every point they pumped in, the Tigers came a bit closer to a premature end to their memorable season because of their faith.

Their religious beliefs compel them not to play on the Jewish Sabbath between sundown Friday and sundown Saturday.

If the Tigers win again in a semifinal game Thursday, they will play for their district championship Saturday night.

But they will not be able to advance to the CHSAA regional finals because those games are played during the day on Saturday, March 8.

The team learned earlier this month that its request for a schedule accommodation had been turned down by the board of the Colorado High School Activities Association.

The Herzl/RMHA girls basketball team also is facing the same predicament. The team won its quarterfinal game this week and is two wins away from the district championship and the end of its season.

"It's very frustrating," Brandon Zinn, a 17-year-old junior, said Tuesday as the boys team practiced before the game. "It's frustrating to see us work so hard and in the end not see any product.

"It's frustrating because you have no control over it and you didn't do anything wrong except keep your religious faith," he added.

Faith was evident during Tuesday night's game. American and Israeli flags hung side by side in the gymnasium. A sign on the door advised people not to bring any nonkosher food into the gym.

In one corner, a rabbi helped work the snack table, serving hot dogs and hamantashen pastries.

Just before the game, the team huddled together and shouted "Mishpacha!" - the Hebrew word for "family."

Herzl/RMHA was founded seven years ago with the merger of two schools. In 2002, the school joined the activities association.

The boys basketball team has made two prior trips to the district playoffs but lost both times.

This year, however, parents and school officials sensed this season might be special. So in November, they wrote to the CHSAA and asked for some scheduling flexibility.

Two weeks ago the association denied the request.

Once competition reaches the regional level, games have to be scheduled well in advance, said CHSAA Commissioner Bill Reader. Teams have to travel farther and the association has to rent facilities.

The regional tournament for the district that includes Herzl/RMHA is held at Northeastern Community College in Sterling.

"So it gets more and more difficult to accommodate their schedule," Reader said.

Reader said school officials knew this when they joined the association five years ago.

"They should have told the parents that, and the parents should have known that going in," he said.

School officials declined comment on the situation. But several parents at Tuesday night's game said they were upset at the prospect of their kids' team being shut out of the tournament.

"I feel bad for my son," said Debra Friednash, who said her son, Andrew, a 17-year-old senior, has played basketball since he was 8 years old.

"It's just really sad that they won't be able to play."

ensslinj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5291

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Comments

February 27, 2008

7:02 a.m.

Suggest removal

Classof80 writes:

Once again CHSAA shows its ass and denies the kids an opportunity to continue on. CHSAA has always been about its self not what works for the kids. Why if you can get both schools to agree on a Sunday date let them play the game???
February 27, 2008

8:50 a.m.

Suggest removal

Patriot writes:

Yea I am sure God will strike them down if they play a "Game" on Saturday. What a crock!
February 27, 2008

9:32 a.m.

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I_Slay_The_Dragon writes:

EVERYONE, please, give these great kids a break and show
them some support. Hard-working AND high standards?
On second thought, give 'em a hug AND a scholarship.
February 27, 2008

9:37 a.m.

Suggest removal

ParkHillPosse writes:

Patriot: You seem fairly simple-minded. The decision not to play on the Sabbath has nothing to do with worrying whether God is vengeful or not, but everything to do with making a personal decision to be faithful to one's religious precepts through the demonstration of respect and humility before God. These kids have the discipline and skill to be good b-ball athletes, and still compete successfully when they know they won't be given the chance to participate in the tournament. I'd say they deserve your respect, not your disdain.
February 27, 2008

9:48 a.m.

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Scott writes:

Patriot,

You are a jerk! Moving the playoff day from Saturday to another day is no big deal. It's called respecting another person's views. If I want respect for my views, I need to respect others views.

CHSSA is a bunch of @$$holes. Remember about ten years ago when they employed pedophiles to inspect girl athlete's bras?

Scott
February 27, 2008

12:38 p.m.

Suggest removal

BIBWYO writes:

Wonderful, teach our children respect for others and their beliefs. Perhaps we should schedule events on Christmas. NOT.
Why was there such a delay in responding to the possible schedule change? How about changing the games to Saturday night? DUH!!
If the Herzl/RMHA teams do advance to the finals, which I hope they do, and cannot play because of their religious beliefs, there will always be a doubt as to who the REAL state CHAMPS are. I seem to recall something in the US Constitution regarding freedom of religion.
I whole heartedly agree with the team, in their decision. MAZAL TOV
February 28, 2008

12:35 a.m.

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joe008 writes:

What CHSAA is doing to these boys is absolutely ridiculous. These boys have worked extremely hard to reach the playoffs and now they are being told that there dreams of make the finals must end pre-maturely simply because of their religion. It comes off as blatant discrimination and makes me sick that these poors kids have to give up their dreams because the league is so unwilling to make a small accomodation of moving the game to a friday afternoon or to saturday night. Unbelievable.
February 28, 2008

10:58 a.m.

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3rdGenerationNative writes:

Park Hill & PjPilutzer:

hear, hear!!
February 28, 2008

11:03 a.m.

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3rdGenerationNative writes:

Remember, if you can, over 40 years ago CHSAA prohibeted competition with private parochial schools, even friendly scrimmages. Did any of Colorado's recent world class gymnasts, soccer players, and skaters participate under CHSAA's nanny system? No, they made their names as private club members.
February 28, 2008

11:07 a.m.

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3rdGenerationNative writes:

My apology to Daniel Graham of the Broncos, former TJ standout. CHSAA holds a monopoly on HS football teams. Go Spartans, Go Broncos (even when they play on Sunday).
February 28, 2008

11:56 p.m.

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rockysneus writes:

Interesting how bigots show their colors when they're anonymous. It's illegal for the RMHA team to be excluded from the finals (if earn that privlege)for honoring the Sabbath in the way that their religion requires.

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