Extension of school closures ends hopes for spring sports

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, April 7, 2020

Any holdout of hope for the possibility of competition for high school athletes this spring is officially over.

Gov. Jay Inslee’s order to extend school closures through June 19 due to the novel coronavirus outbreak includes the cancellation of all in-person extracurricular athletics and activities through the end of the school year, according to a release from the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association on Monday night.

“The WIAA Executive Board and the WIAA Staff feel for those students around the state that have had their seasons or careers cut short,” the organization said in the release. “This terrible disease has not only prevented students from creating lifelong memories through competition, it has limited the valuable lessons gained through participation in education-based athletics and activities.”

The WIAA had previously expressed holding “some sort of culminating event” for spring athletes if school returned after the May 4 date previously set by the governor as a possible return.

Spring sports include: baseball, boys and girls golf, boys and girls track and field, boys soccer, girls tennis and softball.