DeWine: Winter ‘so far’ will proceed

Gov. Mike DeWine provided some good news for winter high school sports participants Nov. 17, stating no action is being taken “so far” to postpone winter sports.

“We’ll see,” DeWine said. “So far, winter sports will proceed with a limit on the number of spectators.”

Girls basketball is set to tip off Nov. 20, boys basketball will get underway Nov. 25 and wrestling and other winter sports will get underway in December.

ThisWeek News in Columbus reported last week the Ohio High School Athletic Association sent out a survey to athletic directors across Ohio seeking opinions on how to proceed with the winter sports season. The OHSAA asked them if they think the season should begin as scheduled, start in January with a condensed season or postpone the seasons until they

can be played without interruption. The deadline for the survey to be completed is Nov. 17.

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said he planned to speak with the OHSAA on Nov. 17 to discuss the survey.

No schools in Lorain County have announced a pause in winter sports thus far. In the neighboring counties of Cuyahoga and Medina, Cleveland.com reported Medina, Lutheran East, Mayfield, and Villa Angela-St. Joseph have had stoppages with winter sports. While Beachwood

and Shaker Heights have been practicing, but are not allowing most winter sports teams to scrimmage other schools. Exceptions are being made for some non-contact sports, such as swimming and diving.

In Lake County, winter sports at Mentor are on hold until at least Nov. 22.

Nov. 16, Ohio surpassed 300,000 COVID-19 cases.

During their Nov. 17 briefing, DeWine and Husted added attendance numbers at winter sports will be lowered due to the sports taking place indoors. In August

— for indoor sporting events such as volleyball — the OHSAA and the state of Ohio set a capacity limit at 300 people or 15% seating capacity, whichever came first.

“There will be significantly less in attendance because we’re going to be inside vs. what it would have been outside with a football game, but there will be fewer participants,” Husted said. “With a football team, where you might have 50 to 60 players, with some of the basketball teams and others you might have 12 to 15 players total.”