COVID outbreaks forcing high schools to juggle athletic schedules

Athletic contests across the state are being postponed or canceled as COVID-19 outbreaks continue to send students out of schools and home for remote learning.

A COVID-19 case closed Darien on Thursday and canceled all athletics for at least one day.

Darien’s girls soccer and girls volleyball games scheduled against Stamford were postponed.

Superintendent Alan Addley said it will be determined later Thursday whether Darien will remain closed Friday.

Darien has four contests scheduled for Friday: 7-on-7 football against Greenwich, swimming and diving against Westhill/Stamford and field hockey against Stamford.

Darien’s boys soccer game against Westhill was previously canceled after a COVID-19 case forced the Vikings boys soccer team to halt activities for two weeks.

Darien and Westhill are among other athletic programs postponing or canceling games as schools move to distance learning after outbreaks.

Darien and Westhill are both playing in the FCIAC West Region this fall. If Darien has to postpone or cancel any more games it would further disrupt the schedules of New Canaan,

Stamford, Greenwich and Wright Tech, which also play in the West.

This week, McMahon went to full remote learning, canceling every sporting event until Nov. 2.

According to McMahon athletic director John Cross, the teams hope to return on Nov. 2 and get in a few practices before the start of the FCIAC regional postseason.

The CIAC postseason, which will take place within the regions, is scheduled to take place Nov. 7-20.

Brookfield is in the same boat with no athletic contests until Nov. 2 as the school has gone to full remote learning after an outbreak, according to

athletic director Stephen Baldwin.

Notre Dame-Fairfield has postponed boys soccer games on Oct. 22, 27 and 29, and did not play girls soccer Oct. 22 against Kolbe Cathedral or girls volleyball Oct. 21 against Kolbe Cathedral.

In the eastern part of the state, the ECC has seen widespread cancellations and postponements with outbreaks at different schools.

The Day of New London reported that the towns of East Lyme, Montville, Norwich and New London are under “red alert.”

New London closed this week with all athletic contests through the begin

ning of next week postponed.

Norwich Free Academy has canceled all sporting events through Oct. 31 and Norwich Tech has not played anything since Oct. 5 with everything through the end of the month canceled.

East Lyme is scheduled to return to play Friday bringing an end to its postponements, which began

Oct. 5. The school was scheduled to return students to in-person classes Thursday.

Montville went to full remote learning Oct. 19 and has canceled athletic contests up to Oct. 31.