The spring sports season may be in jeopardy for South Carolina public and private schools.
The South Carolina Independent Schools Association announced an upcoming suspension of play on Thursday, while the South Carolina High School League is in a holding pattern as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
SCISA athletic director Mike Fanning stated in an e-mail that all interscholastic athletics are suspended from Sunday, March 15 until April 3, 2020. The e-mail went on to say that the league is "working with SC Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to actively monitor the novel coronavirus outbreak and the potential impact to our state."
In addition, the SCHSL released a statement saying that a decision to continue or suspend play will not be made until a superintendent's conference call is held on Monday, March 16. The Executive Committee will have a call after the superintendent's.
"South Carolina High School League staff is staying abreast of all information pertaining to the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) as it pertains to South Carolina middle and high school athletics," the release said. "Today, the SCHSL Executive Committee met via teleconference to discuss the virus and state of SC member school athletic programs. After a lengthy discussion, the committee decided to postpone any decision until a Superintendent's conference call scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2020."
The statements are coming on the heels of the NCAA's decision to suspend all men's and women's conference and national basketball tournaments, as well as spring sports. The National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, Major League Soccer and National Hockey League also announced regular-season suspensions. NASCAR stated its next two races will go on as scheduled but without spectators, while the PGA will also hold the Player's Championship without spectators.
On Wednesday, the National Scholastic Athletic Foundation decided to cancel the New Balance Nationals that was scheduled for this weekend in New York. The most recent number of confirmed coronavirus cases by DHEC inside South Carolina stands at 12.
Spartanburg Christian Academy athletic director Sean Rogers said that SCISA's decision to suspend the season is understandable but tough at the same time.
"It gives them a buffer to make a more informed decision," he said. "We'll lose some non-region contests and will have to prioritize our region schedule, but you hate it the most for the kids. You especially hate it for that senior that is playing her last season of softball."
Spring Valley boys track and field coach Matt Oberly is on the SCTCCCA board of directors, as well as director for the Bojangles Track Classic scheduled in April. Bojangles Track stated in a meet update on Twitter on Thursday that "We will continue to monitor the Coronavirus Pandemic and make a final decision of our meet in the upcoming weeks. We will follow all State guidelines and RS2 policies."
Tough decisions
Oberly said that the future of his team's season is unsure but he's doing his best to keep it confident.
"We had the conversation today at practice," he said. "We've had two meets. One was last weekend, and we got some enthusiasm from the kids for what we can do and what the season can be. There are a lot of unknowns, and the days and weeks will determine what will happen, but we have practice tomorrow morning at 9 a.m., and I told them I expect to see them at 9 unless they tell us we're not practicing or going to school. If we do get suspended, I told them that they know how to prepare and continue on, especially as seniors. We'll just have to see what the days bring."
Former Eastside coach Ed Boehmke is optimistic that this weekend's meets will remain on schedule although anticipating a future suspension of the season. Greenville County schools announced cancellations of out-of-state scheduled field trips on Thursday.
"I'm hoping the district will wait until Monday to decide anything and we can run our track meet (Chick-fil-A Games) Saturday," he said. "After that I don't know how exactly long they'd keep us down. We just need to monitor what the Governor (Henry McMaster), school district or someone higher up than me says about a decision."
The SCHSL Executive Committee will meet via conference call to determine any changes to the spring sports season, according the release.
"The committee is weighing all aspects of the virus as well as school operations and extra-curricular activities to include athletics," Commissioner Jerome Singleton said in the release.
The league also stated that it is in regular contact with SCDHEC and SCHSL Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, which is comprised of health and medical professionals across the state.
"You can't prepare for something like this. You realize everyone is in the same boat. You've got to go with safety first and prepare with what you've got if and when you get to come back," said SCTCCCA president Chris White. "I would be surprised if there wasn't (a suspension) because that's the way it's been for everybody. The optimist in me hopes they won't for a while and see what happens. But you want the safety of our kids first."
Fanning said that SCISA will continue to make decisions in the best interest of its schools.
"The South Carolina Independent School Association places the health and safety of our student-athletes, coaches, parents, supports and officials first and foremost," he said.
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