Tom Dodge
BATON ROUGE – The door has officially closed on Louisiana high school athletes participating in sports for the rest of the school year.
The Louisiana High School Athletic Association announced the cancellation of its remaining championship events and its spring sports seasons because of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
The LHSAA executive committee met on Wednesday and member schools were informed of the committee’s decision Thursday morning.
In the memo, LHSAA executive director Eddie Bonine references schools remaining closed until at least April 30 and the move to remote learning for many students.
Bonine also states, “Since that announcement (distance learning, closure until April 30), and due to the severity of the virus and its spread, the continued uncertainty of circumstances surrounding our membership, their facilities, coupled with the importance of protecting the health and safety of our athletes, their families, potential spectators, coaches and game officials, the LHSAA’s executive committee, on recommendations from this office and staff, approved the cancellation of all remaining 2019-20 winter and spring sports championships, as well as all sports regular seasons ...”
The cancellations also coincides with Wednesday’s request from the Louisiana Association of State Superintendents to the governor to keep school facilities closed for the remainder of the school year.
In the memo, Bonine said that a discussion was held about senior athletes affected by the cancellations.
“This decision was not in haste and was discussed with tremendous concern for those senior athletes being affected,” Bonine said in a press release.
“We realize and concur with the argument about returning to normalcy and allowing seniors to have their moment, just like we did for boys’ basketball championships, unfortunately, circumstances today are tremendously different than circumstances were that week in March.”
Bonine says the focus now for the committee is continuing to follow any and all mitigation measures set forth by Gov. John Bel Edwards.
The committee plans to discuss potential permissive summer activities and make proactive plans should the virus affect the opening of schools and the beginning of the LHSAA 2020-2021 fall sports seasons.
The LHSAA suspended its spring seasons on March 13 to coincide with school closures shelter-at-home directives from the governor.
St. Edmund athletic director James Shiver said he understood the LHSAA’s decision, but he is disappointed that athletics was forced to an abrupt halt.
“This is all uncharted territory,” he said. “I didn’t think they would cancel spring sports – I thought they would be able to find a way to end it.”
But the virus forced the LHSAA’s Bonine and the executive committee to make the tough decision.
“Since we were forced to stop sports on April 13, I sent out two workout plans to the football players – one like we would do in weight room and one for those who don’t have weights.
“We stay in contact via texts and group chats,” the coach said. “I want to them stay positive through this time.”
Winter sports state championships for powerlifting, bowling and bass fishing were affected along with the remainder of the softball, baseball and track seasons.
Shiver said it is disappointing for the seniors as they won’t be able to participate in their final prom and graduation.
“We want to have the sports award ceremony,” Shiver said. “But I’m not sure how that can be done with the social distancing mandate.”
Paul Trosclair, Eunice High School athletic director, said he is disappointed for his athletes as the spring had begun well for Bobcat athletics.
“I feel pretty bad for them,” Trosclair said. “It’s sad they can’t finish their seasons.
“I am hoping that by June or July maybe or at least August things will improve enough that the football players get to work out again.”
Trosclair said he has encouraged his guys to stay in shape by running, sit-ups and push-ups.
“They need self discipline to do something on their own since we can’t be together,” he said.
The Bobcat coach said he is confident the LHSAA will make the right decision about when to begin fall practices.
“My biggest concern is if we have a resurgence of the virus when people start getting together again in big groups.”
Eunice High Principal Mitch Fontenot said he understand the frustration his student athletes are feeling with the season stoppage.
“I can’t imagine not being able to play baseball my senior year,” he said. “I would have been devastated.
“This has to be tough for the seniors.”
Fontenot said each sport will probably honor their athletes some time in the summer.
“I’m sure they all want to get back together as a tem one more time and celebrate each other once they are allowed to meet again.”
Fontenot said any graduation ceremony is a decision that will be made at the parish school board level but it could be a virtual event.
“My heart goes out to the seniors as this is unprecedented times,” Fontenot said. “But this can prepare you for the future because life throws you all kinds of different things – you never know what is going to happen.”