Athletes Continue to Roll with the Punches

On December 7, Governor Gretchen Whitmer extended Michigan’s partial shutdown until December 20. Not only were high school fall sports affected, but also winter sports. Winter sports were to start the week of the Governor’s initial December shutdown order, so the start was postponed until December 13. Due to the new order, the wait is still on though. The MHSAA will meet in the near future to discuss further plans for high school athletics, according to Jared Pucell at MLive. 

A couple major questions the MHSAA are trying to get answers to, according to Pucell,  are whether fall sports will resume and when the winter sports’ seasons would start. At St. Joseph High School, girls basketball was the only sport that has had a start to its season. They were able to have three days of tryouts before the shut down, but all other sports haven’t even begun their season. 

Grant Hardy 11, goes up for a shot against his Lakeshore opponents, in last year’s winter sports season. photo by Jordan Robinson

“I believe the MHSAA is working as hard as they can to ensure that sports are offered to all of our high school athletes that want to participate this year,” said coach Jeff Wallace, the girls varsity basketball coach, when asked whether he thinks there will be a season. 

All sports have many questions regarding the subject:  will it be moved back, what are the masks rules, and more. But many believe having a season is better than not having one at all. 

Coach Wallace has kept his players engaged during this time. “We are scheduling virtual practices three times a week where we spend time working on program culture, mental aspects of athletics, motivation, fun, and some Xs and Os along the way.” 

Even though we don’t know the exact plan for winter sports, as of right now they are able to get back at it on December 20, as long as the governor does not change the shutdown length. 

Check back to this article for more information on winter sports and updates from the MHSAA.