Citing the rising number of coronavirus cases, Williamsburg-James City County Schools on Monday became the first large school district in Hampton Roads to cancel athletics for the 2020-21 winter sports season.
The decision was made after consideration by WJCC Schools Superintendent Olwen E. Herron, in collaboration with high school principals, athletic directors and central office personnel.
“The COVID numbers keep climbing, and we will not place students in a situation where their health and safety are at risk,” Herron said in a statement. “Traveling between localities and schools for games, you amplify potential exposure for students.
“You hope everyone is doing their part to socially distance, wear a mask and make good choices, but there are no guarantees.”
Practices for the winter season — which includes basketball, track and field, wrestling and swimming — were to begin Dec. 7. Opening basketball games were scheduled for Dec. 21.
WJCC high schools Jamestown, Lafayette and Warhill compete in the Bay Rivers District against schools from New Kent County, York County, Poquoson and Isle of Wight County.
Surry County announced its decision to cancel winter sports weeks ago.
Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Virginia Beach, Hampton and Newport News school divisions said in recent weeks they were still planning to play. But WJCC had said the same until Monday.
“We know this is incredibly disappointing for our student-athletes — especially our seniors, and the coaches, families and fans,” Jamestown athletic director Ken Edwards said in the WJCC statement. “But there is much more at stake here than a win, a title or a trophy.”
The cancellation means there will be no winter sports at WJCC’s middle schools. In addition, conditioning for high school fall sports has been suspended until Jan. 11, a week before spring sports season conditioning is scheduled to begin.
“Student-athletes who play spring sports lost their entire season last year,” said Lafayette athletic director Kyle Neve. “Our greatest hope is that conditions improve and they can play ball and run track this spring.”
WJCC Schools will continue to monitor the situation before making a decision on such VHSL activities as debate, forensics, scholastic bowl, and one-act plays. If changes to those activities — or to the fall and spring sports seasons — become necessary, WJCC schools will inform students and families via its rapid notification system.
The affect of the decision on WJCC’s neighbors remains to be seen, but York County gave the green light for athletes to begin conditioning recently with extra safety precautions in place. Basketball players, for instance, possess one ball each per session without passing it to a teammate.
“I think we just have to take it day-by-day with the cases going up,” Grafton athletic director Laura Parker said. “It will be a (York County Schools) division decision, but right now we’ve been given the go-ahead to move forward.”
New Kent athletic director John Spiak said WJCC’s decision does not change his county’s plans to move ahead with a winter season.
“Not at this time,” he said. “We’re still planing on starting (with practices) for basketball and cheer on December 7 and wrestling starts December 14.
“The only thing that’s going to change right now is the schedule, but this thing is fluid. A month from now it might be different.”
Marty O’Brien, 757-247-4963, mjobrien@dailypress.com
