How Pausing Sports Has Impacted LMHS Community
The impact of the Coronavirus has once again negatively impacted the 20-21 school year. This time, the virus has suspended sports for many JCPS student athletes. On October 23, Dr. Marty Pollio announced that JCPS high school sports were paused because of the rise in COVID-19 cases in Jefferson County. Since this announcement, sports continue to be on pause as our county remains in the “red” zone, meaning there are at least 25 cases per 100,000 people. With this decision, sports teams can continue to practice. However, no games or game-like simulations can take place unless a team is already in postseason play. While safety of our athletes is important, this decision has caused much disappointment and heartbreak!
Football is one sport most impacted by this decision. With the football season already having a delayed start, the regular season schedule has been cut short. According to WDRB, Male head football coach, Chris Wolfe said, “There is motivation in sports. There is comradery in sports. All of these things are positive things for kids. And when you take them away, it may be more detrimental than the actual virus itself.” Male’s football team has followed all of the CDC guidelines to ensure a safe season. However, this doesn’t seem to be factored into the JCPS decision. Nic Schutte, the quarterback on the Male football team says, “We’ve done everything they asked, and more, but they still take away sports… I don’t like the decision made by JCPS.”
Besides football, other sports teams have been affected. The LMHS dance team was unable to perform during the last home football game. This was a big disappointment especially for Seniors, such as Paige McDonald, since this was their last football game performance. McDonald said, “I’m definitely upset because it cancelled our last Male Manual football game.” Cross Country had just ended their regular season and were entering postseason meets when this decision was announced. Cross Country Senior Cooper Chandler said, “We were still positive after this announcement since they allowed postseason play to continue as planned… However, I don’t see the reason why cancelling sports was gonna help or hurt the number of COVID cases in Jefferson County or Kentucky when all other schools will continue playing.”
One of the biggest disappointments for the LMHS community was the cancellation of the Male Bulldog versus DuPont Manual Crimson football game, which was scheduled for October 30. This rivalry game has been played for the past 126 years with Male having won 87 of those games. According to the Courier Journal, Athletic Director John Kelsey said, “We would have done everything we could to play the game. The kids want it; everybody wants it. It’s disappointing.”
JCPS continues to review the COVID-19 data every Thursday to re-evaluate the decision on sports. What does this mean for LMHS athletes and coaches? When asked this question to Kelsey he said, “Stay positive, stay focused, stay in shape. Continue to focus on NTI and doing what the coaches are telling them. Stay team and school oriented. We will return to play!!”
