Winter sports in Peninsula District are off

A big domino has fallen as Hampton Roads school divisions decide whether to have winter sports or not.

One day after Chesapeake Public Schools announced they would not have winter sports, the Peninsula District has canceled winter sports.

Hampton City Public Schools and Newport News Public Schools both announced the winter sports season has been canceled in an effort to ensure the safety of students amid the rising number of COVID-19 cases.

“To ensure the health and well-being of student-athletes, Hampton City Schools has canceled the high school winter sports season which includes basketball, indoor track, swimming and cheerleading,” a release from the Hampton school division stated. “The decision to cancel wrestling occurred on Dec. 7, 2020.”

Newport News used the same wording in its press release.

According to a letter to Newport News coaches, Gloucester County Public Schools also canceled winter sports. However, Gloucester athletic director Kristy Hunter said as of mid-afternoon, no decision had been made in the county about winter sports and that the school board would meet early in the

evening to decide.

Woodside girls basketball coach Mike Tallon understood the decision, but wished it would have come earlier.

“I think they made the right decision; I just wish it had been made a lot earlier,” Tallon said. “We’ve had all of these kids working out and their hopes were up for having a season.

“The (COVID-19) numbers were (high) earlier and they’ve only gotten worse. It would be nice if the whole state had banded together and made the same decision so everything would be fair and even.”

Menchville athletic director Greg Henderson also agreed with the decision.

“It’s in the best interest of the kids,” Henderson said. “The numbers are a little too high for us to put the kids out there safely.”

The Peninsula District is the first Hampton Roads district to cancel winter sports. Williamsburg-James City County and Chesapeake school divisions already canceled winter sports. The Bay Rivers District started its winter sports season last week and the Beach District announced last week that it was playing.

With the cancellation, there are 27 school divisions not participating in winter sports and 59 schools not competing, according to the Virginia High School League.