Momentum growing for return in Ches-Mont
In the last week, momentum has been building in the Ches-Mont League to end the postponement of the 2020 fall sports season that was initially derailed by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Unionville School Board is expected to green light the move in a vote Monday evening. It would expand the list of schools reportedly preparing to compete in all fall sports to eight, including all three West Chester schools, Downingtown East and West, Avon Grove and Sun Valley.
That means five remain undecided: Coatesville, Kennett, Oxford, Great Valley and Bishop Shanahan. According to head football coach, Matt Ortega, the Coatesville School Board will make an official determination at its meeting on Tuesday at the latest.
“I hope we can get games for the kids,” Ortega said. “That’s always been the hope. That’s why we have been working out since July. Hopefully it becomes a reality.
“We’re waiting until the school board makes the decision.”
Until it happens, the Raiders’ football squad will continue with voluntary workouts.
“I just know that all of the schools of the ChesMont have seen the NFL and (major) college football pull it off and 85 percent of the state of Pennsylvania is playing,” Ortega added.
“But when you are dealing with something that impacts health, I don’t think that will sway our school board. They will do what they feel is best for our school district.”
Over the weekend, Oxford sent out a mass Tweet to notify families that mandatory practices for all fall sports would begin on Monday, which upped the proposed start date by a week. It may be an indication that Oxford is preparing the way for a return to competition, but the school’s athletic director, Mike Price, said the decision will be made during an emergency session of the Oxford School Board on Thursday.
“I can’t speculate one way or the other which way this is going to go,” Price said.
The Unionville School Board initially voted 5-4 to move forward with fall sports on Aug. 3, but about three weeks later the Ches-Mont announced that the season would be postponed. It was a direct response to a Chester County Health Department recommendation that all high school sports should be canceled until at least 2021.
But the landscape changed when the CCHD removed its recommendation in an updated report on Sept. 14.
“That was pivotal for Unionville and many other Ches-Mont schools,” said Unionville Athletic Director Pat Crater.
“The landscape has changed since Aug. 3rd. It’s been a roller coaster ride,” he added. “Now we are at a point where there are (opposing) teams to play against.”