There was yet another snow storm late in the day March 1, although much lighter than previous ones in February, but it was enough to cover the fields and playing surfaces as the 2020 spring sports season for nine sports started practices on March 2.

Snow and moisture in Colorado can be expected to interrupt schedules for spring sports teams.

Boys swimmers don't have to worry about the snow and some sports can clear the snow off venues easier, but baseball coaches spend as much time working to dry off diamonds as they do throwing batting practice.

Girls golf and tennis could scrimmage and begin competitons on March 5. Baseball, boys and girls lacrosse, girls soccer, boys swimming and boys and girls track teams could schedule games and meets on March 12.

That is, of course, weather permitting.

One person who welcomes snow is 12-year-old Ranch View Middle School seventh-grader Sophia Gardner.

She is a skier and a member of the Loveland Ski Club. She recently qualified in the U14 division for the Rocky Central Junior Championships at Steamboat Springs Ski Resort between March 9-14.

Gardner has been skiing since she was 5 years old and trains Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at Loveland Ski Area.

”It's pretty involved,” said Sophia's father, Bill Gardner, who laughed when asked how many miles he has put on the car transporting his daughter to training and meets.

”Gosh, several thousand miles,” he said.

Basketball championships a go

CHSAA commissioner Rhonda Blanford-Green has been in contact with multiple state and local agencies concerning the coronavirus, and right now the CHSAA plans to hold the remaining state high school basketball championships.

She send out a statement to schools last week.

“Our plan is to conduct the championship events unless directed by state agencies and/or facility administration of cancellations,” Blandford-Green stated.

Grassroots winner

Mitch Savage, golf course superintendent at Englewood's Broken Tee Golf Club, has been named a Grassroots Ambassador Leadership Award winner.

The Golf Course Superintendents Association of America honors individuals with the Leadership Award quarterly to recognize individuals who have demonstrated growth in advocacy and advancement of the GCSAA priority issues through congressional outreach and relationship development with a member of Congress.

Silver medalists

Four sabre fencers from the Fencing Academy of Denver brought back a silver medal in the Men's Junior Sabre event at the National Junior Olympic tournament on Feb. 17 in Columbus, Ohio.

The boys were Anthony Rabinkov of Centennial, David Smith of Castle Rock, Carson Singer of Longmont and Joseph D'Orazio of Lakewood.

Jim Benton is a sports writer for Colorado Community Media. He has been covering sports in the Denver area since 1968. He can be reached at jbenton@coloradocommunitymedia.com or at 303-566-4083.