PREP SPORTS: WIAA pushes back prep seasons

By Michael Carman • November 25, 2020 1:30 am
Sequim’s Isaiah Moore, center, puts up a shot over the Port Angeles defense in the Wolves’ 57-32 loss in February. State sport officials said the return of high school sports will be delayed by at least another month and all three prep seasons have been reduced by a week. Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell
Sequim’s Isaiah Moore, center, puts up a shot over the Port Angeles defense in the Wolves’ 57-32 loss in February. State sport officials said the return of high school sports will be delayed by at least another month and all three prep seasons have been reduced by a week. Sequim Gazette file photo by Michael Dashiell

The return of high school sports will be delayed by at least another month and all three prep seasons have been reduced by a week, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association announced last week.

Due to rising cases statewide of COVID-19, the WIAA Executive Board voted Nov. 17 to delay the beginning of high school sports to Feb. 1 and condense each WIAA season to seven weeks.

The decision was made after Gov. Jay Inslee implemented new statewide COVID-19 restrictions on Nov. 15 that will remain in place for at least a month.

Under a revised 2020-21 calendar released by the WIAA last summer, Season 2 featuring traditional indoor winter sports such as basketball, wrestling and gymnastics was scheduled to start practices on Dec. 28 with an eight-week season running in January and February.

Now with a Nov.17 decision, Season 2 practices are now scheduled to begin Jan. 25 for gymnastics and Feb. 1 for basketball, wrestling, bowling and boys swim and dive with competition beginning Feb. 8 and a culminating regional event on March 20.

The WIAA updated its process for schools and regions to proceed with prep sports later this year.

The WIAA updated its process for schools and regions to proceed with prep sports later this year.

Season 3, comprised of traditional fall sports such as cross country, girls soccer, volleyball will begin practices on March 15, with competition running from March 22 through a culminating event on May 1.

Football also is planned for Season 3, with practices beginning March 8 and games beginning March 19.

Season 4, the traditional spring sports of baseball, softball, track and field, golf, tennis and boys soccer will begin practices on April 26 with competition running from May 3 through a culminating event on June 12.

“The Olympic League athletic directors will start reworking schedules to fit into these timelines right away with the understanding that we may not be able to squeeze in a full league schedule as you are accustomed to,” Sequim athletic director Dave Ditlefsen said.

Besides altering the 2020-21 season schedule, the Executive Board also approved an extension of the WIAA Open Coaching Window to Jan. 23.

This allows coaches to work with athletes in a similar fashion to the summer coaching window.

Earlier this month the board announced the creation of regional events in place of to state tournaments during the 2020-21 school year. North Olympic Peninsula schools in WIAA District 3 were matched with Southwest Washington District 4.

The board also announced that if fewer than 50 percent of schools in a particular region and classification are unable to compete in a sport, in accordance to state health guidelines, the WIAA will make an adjustments to the schedule season in order to allow the chance for greater participation.

“It is worth noting that by the time Feb. 1 rolls around we will likely still be battling Covid numbers, but the WIAA is allowing flexibility for local leagues to have the option to offer seasons that may be cancelled in other areas of the state,” Ditlefsen said.

“If other areas are still high in Covid numbers and need to re-schedule winter sports once again, it is possible that our area may be cleared to resume play amongst our local schools with the understanding that there will be no big playoff event to look forward to at the end.”