Tentative athletics startup outlined

By Loyal Baker

POMEROY–The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) recently rolled out a tentative sports season calendar, designating three shortened, seven-week seasons between February 1 and June 13.

"Season 1" would begin February 1 for a six-week season plus one week for championships, and would include cross country, football, slow-pitch softball, soccer (girls, 1B/2B boys), swim & dive (girls), and volleyball. Golf and tennis alternate seasons may be offered.

Season 2 is slated to begin March 15 and go six weeks, with a tournament week ending May 2. It may include baseball, fast-pitch softball, golf, soccer (1A-4A boys), tennis, and track and field.

The third season would start with a week of practices beginning April 26, and go through June 6, followed by a week of WIAA championships. Competitive pursuits may include basketball, bowling, cheerleading, dance/drill, gymnastics, swim & dive (boys), and wrestling.

The WIAA news release noted that "Individual schools/leagues/districts/regions have the option to request to move any sport or season as they deem appropriate for their local area. Proposals will be reviewed and approved by the WIAA Executive Director."

Pre-contest practices may begin for the following season during the week that tournaments are being held.

The WIAA attached a risk assessment to each activity, said Athletic Director Toddette McGreevy.

For example, in Season 1, cross country is deemed low risk, volleyball is moderate and football is high risk, McGreevy said. "Each carries its own specific guidelines for practices and contests."

"We are building the cross country schedule next week," she said. "Volleyball has a schedule, and football is working on a schedule in anticipation of our Region moving to Phase 2. Volleyball and Football will need to wait until Phase 2 to have matches and games."

Garfield County is in the East Region with Asotin, Whitman, Adams, Lincoln, Spokane, Ferry, Stevens and Pend Oreille counties.

"Spring sports" of golf and track and field are low risk, McGreevy said, and baseball and softball are moderate. Situating these sports in this place on the calendar was intended to give all sports an opportunity to have a season this year, she said.

"Golf and Track may have competitions without spectators, if we remain in Phase 1," McGreevy said. "When we move to Phase 2, a maximum of 200 persons will be allowed at the outside venues (Golf & Track). Baseball and Softball may begin competitions in Phase 2 with that 200-person maximum in place."

Season 3 includes the high-risk sports of basketball, cheerleading, dance/drill and wrestling, plus moderate risk bowling and gymnastics. Low-risk swim & dive (boys) is in Season 3.

"Winter Sports have been moved to April 26-June 3 (June 3 for us because of Graduation)," McGreevy said. "Again, this change was made because the likelihood of the high-risk sports (basketball and wrestling) being able to be played by March 15 across the State was determined to be unlikely. If we are in Phase 2, high-risk sports may hold regular indoor practices. Competition guidelines for basketball and wrestling have yet to be provided," she said.

McGreevy pointed out that the District 9 meeting of athletic directors will be February 17, a day following the next WIAA Board meeting. "District 9 / SE 1 B League is committed to making sure that Spring Sports have the greatest opportunity to be played, since they were not able to play last spring," she said. "What this will look like moving forward, we simply are not sure."

"Junior High AD Fred Knebel will attend the Junior High athletics meeting soon," she said. "We will update everyone regarding junior high sports as soon as we have information to share."