Fields expanding as state eases indoor restrictions

The District 11 committee announced Tuesday that its field for Saturday and Sunday’s swimming championships at Parkland High School will increase from eight to 16 contestants per event. This includes 16 relay teams per event.

The increase is due to Gov. Tom Wolf ’s increase on indoor capacities to 15%. This raises the indoor total in Parkland’s natatorium from 46 to 69 people. It allows the meet to handle the extra competitors as well as additional needed officials and personnel.

There will be no spectators in attendance.

District 11 Chairman Bob Hartman and the District 11 committee said in a statement they were appreciative of the efforts of Bill Dreisbach, director of athletics at Parkland High School, Mike Seip, Don Harakal and Ray Ramella, District 11 swimming and diving chairman, as well as Parkland superintendent Richard Sniscak in making this event happen in its current and previous format.

Without the governor’s capacity increase on Monday, the district committee was set to have the championships with eight competitors per event meet to stay within all proper guidelines that

were established..

“Thanks to the governor’s changes [Monday] and the support of the Parkland School District, we as a committee were able to provide more championship opportunities to our athletes during very difficult times,” Ramella said. “We are grateful to be able to do that.

“As with many parts of our lives during this pandemic, we have found some ways to better navigate through certain situations. The Swimming and Diving Committee will reconvene after the season to review its systems and processes for the betterment of District XI Swimming and Diving.”

Questions on the swimming and diving championships can be sent to Ramella at rramella@nazarethasd.org.