Athletic practices resume at Shelby
Daily Globe Sports Editor
For the second straight week Richland County remained in ‘purple’ status on the state’s COVID-19 chart.
Last week the ‘purple’ designation saw the Shelby Health Department make the determination that all athletic activities, both in-season and out-ofseason, in the Shelby School District must be halted.
According to Shelby High School athletic director Pat Lewis, the pause in activities would continue until further notice when local health authorities determined activities could resume.
Despite the bad news about the ‘purple’ status Thursday, Shelby school officials feared athletics would be iced for a second week, though high school principal John Gies was optimistic in a text that said administrators were “working on being able to at least start practicing.”
Approximately 90 minutes later Gies sent a text that said the Shelby Health Department gave the okay to start practicing again.
“We have to keep smaller groups and have not been cleared for games yet,” noted Gies.
Similar to early summer when athletics were permitted to resume, athletic activities will be limited to groups of 10.
“Each sport is going to look different as they have to keep to 10 per pod,” said Gies. “We have to follow all guidelines, including wearing a mask and staying apart in order to have a season.”
Lewis sent out a text alert at 6:15 p.m. and indicated practices would resume Friday and that coaches will share specifics of upcoming practice dates, times and locations with players and their families.
Shelby varsity boys basketball coach Nathon Loney said in a text alert to players that practices would start at 5 p.m. today with the varsity in the main gym and the junior varsity in the auxiliary gym. Freshmen would practice in the main gym starting at 6:30 p.m.
Troy Chipka, swim coach for the Whippets, indicated practices for his team would resume Monday and noted there were many details to work out in order to resume practicing in a safe way.
Others schools in the county fall under the guidance of the Richland County Health Department and a number of them suspended their athletic activities late last week.
For some, the approach was different.
Plymouth continued to practice and play basketball games in the last week.
Ontario also continued practices and contests, but no fans are permitted at any of their home athletic competitions.
Lucas announced Wednesday they would go forward with scheduled
goes up for a shot in the season opener back on Nov. 27 at Mansfield Madison. Since a week ago Thursday, athletics at Shelby have been on hold dur to the pandemic. The Shelby Health Department gave the school district the okay to resume practices, but is still not permitting games to be played.
home events, but there would be no spectators until the county was out of the ‘purple’
status.
“It’s not ideal, but the kids get to play,” said the tweet sent out
by the Lucas athletic department.
Clear Fork announced they would return to
competition, provided opponents will play when the county is in ‘purple.’