Norfolk and Suffolk cancel winter sports
Only Bay Rivers and Beach Districts still plan to play
The dominoes have fallen for winter sports in Hampton Roads.
During a week filled with decisions on winter sports, Norfolk and Suffolk public schools capped the week by deciding Thursday morning to cancel their winter seasons amid rising COVID19 metrics.
“After careful review of current health conditions and metrics within Norfolk and our region, the administration has made the difficult decision to cancel winter sports for the 2020-2021 season,” the Norfolk division said in a press release. “The Scholastic Bowl, in which students are competing virtually, will continue. As always, the health and safety of our students and staff continue to be our top priority.”
The two divisions are following a trend that started earlier this week. Portsmouth Public Schools, Chesapeake Public Schools, Hampton City Schools and Newport News Public Schools all canceled winter sports. Williamsburg-James City County canceled winter sports in November.
At this point, only the Bay Rivers District — without Williamsburg-James City County — and Beach District are playing Virginia High School League winter sports seasons in Hampton Roads. Gloucester, which is part of the Peninsula District with Hampton and Newport News, is seeking opponents for a winter sports schedule.
Suffolk superintendent John Gordon said the region’s metrics spiking into the high-risk category led to the cancellation.
“For the last four weeks, we have reviewed health metrics weekly with the hope of continuing our winter sports and activities so that our students can participate in the sports and activities they love,” Gordon said in a release. “However, the health and safety of our students and
staff is the greatest priority. Several school divisions in our region have recently canceled their winter sports seasons as their health metrics also have spiked into the ‘red’ or very high-risk category. Based on this information, Suffolk Public Schools will cancel the winter sports season for the 2020-2021 school year.”
The decision wasn’t easy.
“It is with a heavy heart that this decision has to be made, but it is the right thing to do for our students’ and staff ’s health and safety,” Gordon said.