Another delay for 2020-21 sports

By Neil H. Devlin, Mullen Sports Information Director
CDPHE won't permit a Jan. 4 opening for Season B; latest proposal has three returning seasons moving back and earliest return will be Feb. 1. 
 
AURORA – The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has taken another bite out of Colorado high-school sports.

On Monday, it was announced the start of the new Season B would be delayed until Feb.1 and ensuing Seasons C and D also will be pushed back further into 2021.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment informed the Colorado High School Activities Association the proposed start of winter sports, or Season B, would not be able to open practice on Jan. 4 and no variances will be given to in-state sports.

Despite increased reports of a vaccine, surges in COVID cases, further fueled by the Thanksgiving holiday as well as a further spike expected over Christmas and New Year’s Day, have forced the delay for sports that will be contested indoors.

Accordingly, the CHSAA is proposing a Feb. 1 opening for Season B.

The decision was met with mixed response at Mullen and across the state during a very confusing time.

“We just have to roll with the punches,” Mullen athletic director Damian Brown said. “We will do everything in our power for our kids to have a season. We have to figure out what’s best for our kids.”

Mullen’s Bob Caton, head coach of boys basketball, said “I kind of thought that might be coming and I think it’s a good idea, I really do. Maybe it will be better.”

Frank Cawley, leader of Mustangs girls basketball, doesn’t know “how you get the games in … it was going to be hard enough to get the 14 in that we had.”

Ordinarily, basketball was to have 23 regular-season games, but it was cut to 14 and in Mullen’s case would involve only Centennial League opponents, the other seven of which are in Class 5A (Mullen is in 4A).

Mullen won the 4A title in 2019 and returned to the championship game the past March only to have the title game cancelled. Cawley said he simply wants to have a chance for his group to play for another crown, “but I guess I have more questions than answers.”

The Mustangs head coach of girls swimming and diving, Susan Stone, termed the situation as “crazy,” and “the back and forth of it is exhausting.”

She said her team was in the process of buying suits for the season and since the school doesn’t have a pool, she is battling to get her team time in the water to prepare, although “no one is renting their pools.”

Devon Brady, head coach of Mullen ice hockey, said "I'm OK with it if it means we'll have a season."

However, he added, his team is similar to that of Stone's as "we don't have any control of the rinks (getting ice time), so we don't know how that will be."

As Director of Mullen Sports Medicine, Joey Mahmood pointed out that the school’s basketball coaches were doing a great job in off-season training, “wearing masks and using social-distancing” and firmly believes the student-athletes are not bringing COVID to the school, but “I just hope the kids get a chance to play and have a season. I know how important it is for their well-being ... and I think it will be safe for the kids.”

Here is the letter from Jill Hunsaker Rye, executive director of the CDPHE:

"The COVID-19 pandemic has reached an all-time high in terms of disease transmission both in Colorado and around the nation. The Colorado School of Public Health estimates that 1 in 40 Coloradans are currently infectious. Hospital admissions are steadily increasing, and the past six weeks have produced a significant increase in the number of deaths statewide. With the Thanksgiving holiday just behind us and the impending December holiday festivities, we are very concerned that the rate of transmission will continue to increase.
 
"At this time, we do not have enough information about what disease incidence and hospitalization capacity will look like in January, and therefore are unable to make a determination regarding indoor high-school athletics in Season B. Season B high-school sports would operate based on the restrictions in the level of the Dial in the county in which the school resides. For counties in Level Red, this means no indoor group sports are authorized.

"In addition, our top goal for the new year is to support a return to in-person learning. Season B sports are conducted mainly indoors during the colder months, which reduces the ability to assure social distancing. This in turn may further promote disease transmission at a time when we need to ensure that students and teachers are protected and that in-person learning is the highest priority.

"We welcome an ongoing conversation regarding the indoor requests at a future date as more schools safely open their indoor facilities for students."

Said Mullen Principal Jeff Howard: "These times are so hard to navigate. I really feel for (the) CHSAA as it continues to change plans, but am grateful for them continuing to provide safe and reasonable schedules for our student athletes.

“We will do all we can to be sure our coaches and teams are ready to play when (the) CHSAA is ready to go. I have great faith in our Athletic Department and the hard work they are doing to keep in front of all of this."

Here is a proposed outline for the rest of the 2020-21 sports year:

Season B
  • 7 Weeks 
  • Practice: Jan. 25
  • Competition: Feb. 1-March 20
Sports: Boys and girls basketball, boys and girls skiing, boys and girls wrestling, girls swimming and diving, ice hockey and spirit (championship weekend March 25-27)

Season C
  • 7 Weeks
  • Practice: March 15
  • Competition: March 22-May 8
Sports: Boys soccer, field hockey, girls volleyball, gymnastics, unified bowling.
  • Football: 9 weeks (same as Season A; practice: March 4; competition: March 15-May 15

Season D
  • 7 Weeks
  • Practice: May 3
  • Competition: May 10-June 26
Sports: Baseball, boys and girls lacrosse, boys and girls track and field, boys swimming and diving, boys volleyball, girls soccer.
  • Girls golf: 10 weeks (same as boys golf); practice: April 19; competition: April 19-June 22
  • Girls tennis: 7 weeks (same as Season D sports and boys tennis); practice: April 26; competition: April 26-June 12
 
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