Pine Creek High School’s football and wrestling programs — two of the more successful programs from the Pikes Peak region — have been sanctioned by the Colorado High School Activities Association with regards to recruiting violations.

The school recently received a letter from the state high school governing body that wrestling, which over the weekend won the Colorado Springs Metro Wrestling Championships, has been placed on probation. The school was notified that the football program — back-to-back Class 4A state champions in 2013 and 2014 and semifinalists in 2015 — has been put on restriction, District 20 public information officer Nanette Anderson confirmed Monday.

Wrestling coach Billy Gabel was forced to serve a one-match suspension, which he did Thursday when the Eagles defeated league-rival and fellow Class 5A powerhouse Coronado (the day before Metros).

Football coach Todd Miller has not been disciplined with a suspension as of yet, Anderson said. However, the team faces the possibility of missing playoffs in the 2016 season should it fail to comply with the association’s recommendations.

“There’s a pretty short plan how to move off those directions and Pine Creek is, of course, complying with that plan,” Anderson said.

The distinction between probation and restriction is significant, CHSAA assistant commissioner Bert Borgmann said. To see one school get slapped with multiple sanctions at the same time is a rarity, Borgmann said.

“It has happened in the history of the association, but it is not a normal occurrence,” he said.

Probation is the lesser of the two sanctions, putting the program on notice for one year. If the program complies with the association’s direction, it will be removed from that status.

Restriction can be much harsher, possibly resulting in the prevention of a playoff appearance.

According to Anderson, neither team was told it would miss the next postseason — for wrestling, the state tournament is next month.

The football team has been one of the most successful Class 4A (5A schools are the largest) programs over the past several seasons. In addition to its consecutive titles, the top-seeded Eagles rolled to a 37-game winning streak before being upset by No. 13 Loveland in the 4A semifinals Nov. 28. The Eagles also reached the 2011 state final, but were beaten by Valor Christian. Between 2011 and 2015 the Eagles posted a record of 55-10.

Miller has been in charge throughout that time.

In the hopes of not penalizing student-athletes for decisions of coaches, Borgmann said the association refrains from keeping kids out of the postseason whenever it can.

“The history of this association has never kept kids out of the playoffs if they earned a spot to it, if we can help it,” Borgmann said.

The wrestling program has been a powerhouse for a number of seasons, though its lone state title came in 2012. Gabel was at the helm that season.

Gabel refused comment, directing The Gazette to Pine Creek principal Kolette Back. Back also declined comment, telling The Gazette to contact Anderson.

Neither Miller nor Pine Creek athletic director Matt Mahan returned messages left on their respective voicemails.

Pine Creek High School’s football and wrestling programs — two of the more successful programs from the Pikes Peak region — have been sanctioned by the Colorado High School Activities Association with regards to recruiting violations.

The school recently received a letter from the state high school governing body that wrestling, which over the weekend won the Colorado Springs Metro Wrestling Championships, has been placed on probation. The school was notified that the football program — back-to-back Class 4A state champions in 2013 and 2014 and semifinalists in 2015 — has been put on restriction, District 20 public information officer Nanette Anderson confirmed Monday.

Wrestling coach Billy Gabel was forced to serve a one-match suspension, which he did Thursday when the Eagles defeated league-rival and fellow Class 5A powerhouse Coronado (the day before Metros).

Football coach Todd Miller has not been disciplined with a suspension as of yet, Anderson said. However, the team faces the possibility of missing playoffs in the 2016 season should it fail to comply with the association’s recommendations.

“There’s a pretty short plan how to move off those directions and Pine Creek is, of course, complying with that plan,” Anderson said.

The distinction between probation and restriction is significant, CHSAA assistant commissioner Bert Borgmann said. To see one school get slapped with multiple sanctions at the same time is a rarity, Borgmann said.

“It has happened in the history of the association, but it is not a normal occurrence,” he said.

Probation is the lesser of the two sanctions, putting the program on notice for one year. If the program complies with the association’s direction, it will be removed from that status.

Restriction can be much harsher, possibly resulting in the prevention of a playoff appearance.

According to Anderson, neither team was told it would miss the next postseason — for wrestling, the state tournament is next month.

The football team has been one of the most successful Class 4A (5A schools are the largest) programs over the past several seasons. In addition to its consecutive titles, the top-seeded Eagles rolled to a 37-game winning streak before being upset by No. 13 Loveland in the 4A semifinals Nov. 28. The Eagles also reached the 2011 state final, but were beaten by Valor Christian. Between 2011 and 2015 the Eagles posted a record of 55-10.

Miller has been in charge throughout that time.

In the hopes of not penalizing student-athletes for decisions of coaches, Borgmann said the association refrains from keeping kids out of the postseason whenever it can.

“The history of this association has never kept kids out of the playoffs if they earned a spot to it, if we can help it,” Borgmann said.

The wrestling program has been a powerhouse for a number of seasons, though its lone state title came in 2012. Gabel was at the helm that season.

Gabel refused comment, directing The Gazette to Pine Creek principal Kolette Back. Back also declined comment, telling The Gazette to contact Anderson.

Neither Miller nor Pine Creek athletic director Matt Mahan returned messages left on their respective voicemails.