Marquette sacks football, soccer seasons
If you're looking for a prep football game this fall, you might have to find a school outside city limits to cheer for.
Marquette became the latest Milwaukee school to move its season to the spring. The school also announced Tuesday that its boys soccer team, which is perennially ranked nationally, will also play in the spring.
In a letter to its Marquette community, the school said the decision was due to the coronavirus pandemic and well as to “to ensure compliance with the health and safety regulations set forth by the Milwaukee Health Department.
Marquette's other fall sports, cross country and volleyball, will be played this fall.
The school's letter said in part: “We understand that this change for football and soccer will be met with disappointment by many members of our community. School spirit is always enhanced through the excitement of fall athletics, and we would have preferred to compete in the season for which the fall athletes have prepared. Marquette High spent considerable time fully exploring that option with local health officials.
“However, it is essential that we take all steps necessary to ensure that our school remains compliant with local regulations. Our primary concerns are the health and safety of our community, and our foremost priority is taking every precaution so that our hybrid face-toface instruction can continue.”
The decision comes six days before the start of football and soccer practice and one week after Milwaukee Public Schools suspended the start of fall sports indefinitely.
Here are the other schools inside city limits that have decided to not play football this fall: Pius XI, HOPE Christian, Shorewood/Messmer, Wisconsin Lutheran. Two other schools, Milwaukee Lutheran and Wisconsin Lutheran, decided Wednesday they would go to a spring season.
St. Thomas More, which partially located in St. Francis, and University of School of Milwaukee, which has a Milwaukee address but is also located in River Hills, fall under the jurisdiction of the South Milwaukee and North Shore health departments, respectively. Both have been cleared to start the season.
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association made special allowances this school year to help schools manage their athletic programs during the pandemic. The biggest was an adjusting to the athletic calendar to accommodate an alternate fall season that will take place in the spring. Practice for the alternate football season starts March 8.