Athletic directors, coaches are happy to get started
Hamburg athletic director Aaron Menapace exuded confidence prior to Friday’s vote of the PIAA Board of Directors to decide if fall sports would move forward.
He sent out his school’s updated fall sports schedules to the media Friday morning, nearly seven hours before the highly anticipated vote.
Still, he was excited when the 25-5 vote came down in the afternoon to let high school and junior high student-athletes go forward with their seasons, which begin with high school golf, girls tennis and boys and girls cross country practices on Monday.
“I’m pleased we have a chance to begin,” Menapace said.
The PIAA boys and girls basketball tournaments and Class 2A swimming championships were canceled before their conclusions in March because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The PIAA spring sports season also was canceled and Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf recommended earlier this month that all youth and high school sports be put on hold until Jan. 1.
School’s and coaches’ social media sites lit up around the county after word came out that the PIAA had voted to move forward with the fall seasons.
The BCIAA and the Hamburg School Board previously had approved the beginning of the fall sports season with noncontact sports practices beginning Monday, followed by football heat acclimatization on Aug. 31 and boys and girls soccer, field hockey, girls volleyball and boys and girls water polo on Sept. 4.
Reading High is the only Berks school so far that has decided not to participate in fall sports.
Junior high school practices will start on Sept. 8 as voted by the BCIAA at its meeting on Aug. 11.
Schuylkill Valley athletic director Stephanie Deibler was quick to share the news with the school’s student-athletes via the school district’s athletic department Twitter account (@ SVAthletics), along with a reminder of responsibility.
“Student-Athletes: We have been given the green light to start the season. But to ensure we can have a full season, we need your help! Please follow CDC mask guidelines and practice social distancing at all times. You are a huge part of containing the virus and having a season.”
Oley Valley athletic director Tim Rhoads sent a similar message to the district’s studentathletes on the school’s athletics Twitter account (@OVLynx).
“While the announcement from PIAA is encouraging to our Fall student-athletes, please remember that it is the responsibility of all of us to do all that we can to stop the spread of COVID and be able to hold and continue with Fall sports as safely as possible. LYNX STRONG!
Other schools, such as Conrad Weiser, Exeter, Tulpehocken and Twin Valley were more subtle and just sent out their practice schedules for next week and reminders for student-athletes to hand in their physical forms before beginning practice.
But Wilson field hockey coach Kim Underwood, whose team is in a rebuilding mode after winning last year’s PIAA Class 3A championship, couldn’t hide her enthusiasm. She sent out an exclamationpoint filled message on Twitter to inform her players the season is on.
“You get to play !!!! So excited for these amazing young women!! Very thankful the PIAA understands the emotional need of these athletes! Forever grateful!!!”