DJDS Student Faces CHSAA Transfer Rules After Cross Country Switch

Hannah Goldberg-Butler, a sophomore at Denver Jewish Day School, is feeling the impact of transferring from Denver Academy amid questions of high school athletic recruiting. Her situation raises a broader issue: Is it ethical for high schools to recruit athletes? 

The Colorado High School Activities Association has strict rules to discourage transfers motivated by sports. Public schools must ensure a student has a “valid” reason to switch schools, while private schools can offer scholarships and accommodate transfers for academic or religious reasons. 

According to CHSAA bylaws, “A student who establishes eligibility at a member school and subsequently transfers will be ineligible for varsity [but eligible for JV] competition for 365 days from the date of their transfer.” 

Goldberg-Butler ran for the Denver Academy varsity cross country team last fall. After transferring to DJDS, she joined Cherry Creek High School’s team but was barred from varsity competition. CHSAA and Cherry Creek’s athletic director concluded her transfer was athletically motivated rather than educational, leaving her to run on the JV team rather than the varsity team. 

“Public school recruiting would create a vacuum, and there would be fewer schools to choose from. Private schools should be able to recruit freely,” said DJDS Athletic Director Josh Lake. 

Lake said many smaller programs would collapse if athletes could freely transfer, creating a cycle that favors larger, better-funded schools. 

“CHSAA serves the larger schools, who they get more funding from, creating rules that disadvantage smaller schools,” he said. 

This perspective resonates with students at DJDS. Solly Bielsky, a senior and guard on the varsity boys basketball team, said the school deserves the opportunity to compete on a level playing field. “I don’t see why we can’t do it if all the other schools do it,” he said.

Opinions remain divided over the ethics of recruiting. While CHSAA aims to prevent athletic-motivated transfers, the rules benefit some schools and restrict opportunities for others. The debate highlights the tension between fairness, opportunity, and the drive to build competitive high school sports programs.