Representatives for Montrose High School and CHSAA on Monday offered comments regarding slurs and a swastika found in the visitor’s locker room Saturday prior to Mesa Ridge’s road playoff football game.

Upon arrival for their quarterfinal in Montrose, Grizzlies players and coaches discovered a swastika and multiple racial and homophobic markings written in the dust in their lockers at the Red Hawks’ facility.

Racial, homophobic slurs found in Montrose lockers prior to Mesa Ridge’s road playoff football game

Matt Jenkins, Montrose County Schools public information officer, said the school has reviewed the incident from Saturday and said:

Montrose County School District (MCSD) has conducted a thorough investigation into the incident involving racist and homophobic language written in the dust on lockers in the room used by the visiting Mesa Ridge football team during last weekend’s playoff game.

As part of this investigation, we reviewed surveillance footage from the 24 hours prior to the football game. The footage confirmed that no Montrose High School football players entered the locker room in question.

While our investigation confirms there was no targeted action against Mesa Ridge football players or their team, hate speech has no place in our schools or our community, regardless of who was responsible for the words.

The situation in Montrose on Saturday was not the first such incident in the county.

Andrew Kiser of Western Slope Now reported that during a Fourth of July parade, LGBTQ+ members “experienced slurs, hate speech and other attacks before and during the festivities.”

In February 2022, Colorado Politics Michael Karlik reported on an ex-sheriff’s deputy in Montrose County, Brad Lamb, who believed he was fired after, “he allegedly observed a culture of racism” at the Montrose County Sheriff’s Department.

Carrie Stephenson, MCSD superintendent, on Tuesday reiterated Montrose’s commitment to maintaining safe areas and respectful environments for its opponents.

In the statement, Stephenson also said: 

In response to these allegations, MCSD conducted a comprehensive investigation, including a review of 24 hours of surveillance footage covering the entrances to the locker room in question. The footage confirms that the only individuals who entered or exited the locker room during that time were Mesa Ridge players and staff and the Montrose High School Athletic Director. No Montrose High School football players were in the area.

Despite the seriousness of these claims, we find the timing and handling of the matter concerning. Mesa Ridge had multiple opportunities to report this issue to Montrose staff, coaches, or the athletic director before, during, and directly after the game. However, no such report was made. Mesa Ridge notified Montrose High School staff of the discovery of the pictures hours after they had left Montrose; Colorado Springs reporters then inquired about the issue later that evening. This approach raises questions about the intent and motivations behind the allegations.

The Montrose High School football team has consistently exemplified integrity, respect, and sportsmanship. Beyond their success on the field, these young men are active contributors to the Montrose community, volunteering their time and demonstrating the values we uphold as a district. We are incredibly proud of their accomplishments this season and the way they represent our school and town.

We are also disappointed that unrelated and misleading references to past events in our community were included in media coverage of this incident. These references are entirely disconnected from our students, staff, and school culture and unfairly tarnish the reputation of Montrose High School and our community.

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Following its comment Sunday regarding the slurs and swastika at Montrose, Colorado High School Activities Association also released a statement Monday to address the matter:

Over the weekend, the CHSAA office was made aware of a hateful display of racism and homophobia associated with a postseason event. The Colorado High School Activities Association strongly condemns racism, discrimination and hate in any and all forms.

We understand that part of our responsibility as adult caretakers to a younger generation is to provide modeling and education where it is needed most. We are deeply committed to supporting our schools as they work through unacceptable displays such as this.

We must continue to work to build stronger communities through an inclusive and equitable environment where every student, coach and community member feels valued and respected.

The two teams have history from earlier this season as the pair had a skirmish following their Oct. 18 meeting at C.A. Foster Stadium in Fountain.

After the October contest, a Mesa Ridge parent tackled a Montrose coach as players shook hands.

“I actually grabbed (the parent) and escorted him off the field,” Mesa Ridge football coach Jerimi Calip said. “The entire story was the (Montrose) coach was speaking disrespectfully to our parents from the press box.”

When asked if the markings found in the visitor’s locker room at Montrose had any correlation to the incident after the teams’ meeting earlier this season, Calip said, “I think that’s certainly a possibility.”

Calip said Mesa Ridge athletic director Mike Felice filed a police report in Montrose, and Calip added that he plans to reach out to the NAACP regarding the incident.

This story has been updated with a quote from Carrie Stephenson.

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