WCAL OK’d to play, but S.F. public schools on hold
With coronavirus cases at 3.5 per 100,000 residents, San Francisco County moved into the red tier Tuesday, cementing the San Francisco Department of Public Health’s promise last week to largely align with the state to allow youth and high school outdoor contact sports.
Per some protocols, football squads at West Catholic Athletic League schools Riordan, St. Ignatius and Sacred Heart Cathedral practiced in gear and are moving full speed ahead toward four to sixgame schedules. Possible scrimmages can start March 13.
Teams need 10 practices to scrimmage and 14 to play a game.
“It’s great to see kids ramp up and line up and just get going,” Riordan coathletic director Bob Greene said. “It was a very good day.”
Said St. Ignatius football coach John Regalia: “A week ago, things were not so aligned, so there’s definitely been some progress and we’re grateful for that. At the same time, there’s more progress to made for all kids in the city.”
Across town at Mission, athletic director and basketball coach Arnold Zelaya said Tuesday wasn’t special in the least. “It feels like we’re just stuck in ‘Groundhog Day.’ ”
Unlike the privateschool WCAL, San Francisco Section’s public Academic Athletic Association continues to be grounded because of SFDPH’s requirement for schools to submit an application for inperson learning.
With the city of San Francisco embroiled in a bitter debate — even suing — its San Francisco Unified School District to open schools during the pandemic, no applications for public high schools have been submitted.
As of Tuesday, the district has submitted only a handful of applications for elementary schools. Next in line are middle schools, then high schools. That has left AAA coaches and players feeling like the final horn has sounded on all athletic seasons.
“I don’t know how we’re going to get it done here,” Zelaya said. “San Francisco Unified School District is making decisions for all of us, and we’re simply running out of time.”
Said Mission senior safety King Taisin Trammel Walker: “It’s weird how other schools are being able to play but not mine. I’ve been playing football all my life and throughout high school. I understand what’s going on with the pandemic, but I feel like maybe the district just doesn’t care . ... Not having a season, it’s just disappointing.”
Walker has been accepted to five colleges, three in state, along with Oregon State and Arizona State. He was hoping to earn scholarship money through sports. “Not playing messed that up for me.”
Beyond scholarships, Lincoln senior running back and safety Andres Montoya was hoping to build off backtoback state championships with his Class of 2021 teammates.
“The burst of happiness I felt helping to win it for our seniors (in 2019) was amazing,” Montoya said. “But I didn’t think that would be my last game. We wanted to carry on that legacy and showcase ourselves. It’s a shame. It’s a bummer.”
Regalia agrees.
“We really need to expand our focus and help decision makers understand what’s at stake for all schoolbased activities for all kids in the city,” he said. “We need to helping with the mental wellbeing of our kids and get them back to the classroom and playing fields and band rooms as soon as possible.”
Montoya said he appreciates that.
“I’m happy that some of the city kids get to play, but for us, it just plain sucks,” he said. “We can’t do anything about it. I know that people are trying to do right by us and protect us, but I think they need to weigh all the pros and cons. We won’t have that senior experience, go to prom or on the field, live out our Cinderella stories.”