East Webster postpones workouts due to COVID-19 scare

East Webster’s football team plans to postpone practices next week due to a possible positive novel coronavirus (COVID-19) test within the football program.

Athletic Director Doug Wilson told the Starkville Daily News that the Wolverines

will indeed take the week off as a precaution, but that they didn’t suspect that there were any widespread issues or that it would linger. East Webster has been practicing for a month to this point without any positive tests or suspected positives.

The Wolverines aren’t the first program to suspend workouts after players or coaches were suspected to have the virus. Several schools around the state have made similar decisions and have taken a step back in their return to football in the fall.

The Mississippi High School Activities Association hasn’t made a decision on football’s fate next month. The teams are nearly a month away from the scheduled start to the season and met last week to discuss contingency plans with no action taken.

On Monday, the MHSAA Executive Committee is set to meet again with a hopeful final resolution. Wilson doesn’t know what to think about the potential verdict, but he’s been thankful for the leadership of both his administration and the MHSAA.

“One week everything seems like it’s going to get back to normal and the next week it gets worse,” Wilson said. “All of the responsibility falls on the leadership and it’s tough to be a leader right now. Our superintendent and principals are doing a great job and the MHSAA is doing a great job. It’s getting interesting and the closer we get to August, time is running out on a decision.”