*Gov. Jay Inslee ordered the closure of all public and private schools in the state beginning Tuesday. All athletic and extracurricular events are postponed going forward until at least April 27.
PORT ANGELES — Coronavirus outbreak impacts are beginning to radiate outward and hit home for North Olympic Peninsula high school sports.
While the area’s nine high schools have yet to postpone practices or spring sports contests as of Thursday, conversations in that direction have been held and schedules have been altered by opponents on the Kitsap Peninsula and across Puget Sound.
Postponement notices for area teams began appearing Wednesday afternoon, shortly after the Central Kitsap School District halted all extracurricular activities, including sports, until after spring break ends in the district (April 5).
North Kitsap School District soon followed suit, suspending sports and activities until spring break concludes (April 12).
Bremerton School District made the decision to suspend sports, field trips and the use of school district buildings and facilities by community groups Wednesday evening.
None of these districts have any confirmed COVID-19 cases amongst employees or students, but are making the move to potentially slow the spread of the virus.
“Right now, we are continuing with practices and afterschool activities,” Port Townsend athletic director Lysa Falge said Thursday morning. “Every day we receive a new update from our superintendent [John Polm] at the end of the school day that outlines the most recent advice from the health department.
We’ve been making sure that everyone is following the guidelines, washing hands, staying away from school if sick. We had an [all-school] assembly to discuss these best hygiene practices. It’s been a good learning moment for us.”
There have been widespread disruptions to spring sports schedules thus far, Falge confirmed Thursday.
“Schedules have very much changed as North Kitsap, Central Kitsap and other districts have halted their activities. The majority of our pre-spring break contests have been postponed.”
Port Angeles Parks and Recreation Department employee Eli Hammel waters the baseball diamond at Port Angeles Civic Field in May 2019. Prep sports contests have been postponed by districts in Kitsap County and in the Puget Sound area, but so far practices and contests involving North Olympic Peninsula teams are being held as scheduled. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Falge said she has had discussions with Olympic League athletic directors and with Forks athletic director Kyle Weakley to discuss the moves by these larger school districts.
“It’s a rapidly evolving situation,” Falge said.
Port Angeles athletic director Dwayne Johnson confirmed that Roughrider athletics and activities, including practices and contests, were on normal schedule as of Thursday morning.
“That would only change at the direction of the superintendent and the school board,” Johnson said. “We are erring on the side of caution, of course.”
Johnson and Falge have been attending practices this week, interacting with coaches and athletes about best practices in the face of the outbreak.
Neither said they had heard from parents of athletes concerned about keeping practices going and starting spring athletic contests.
Spring sports practices began March 2 and the first contests were set to begin Thursday.
Now a golf match between Port Angeles and Port Townsend today at Port Townsend Golf Course will be the first sports contest of the spring season.
“I think with the kids there is an underlying anxiety, but we haven’t noticed any decrease in participation with athletics. I was out at baseball practice yesterday and there was a full turnout.
“I do know some of the seniors are sad about this and thinking their last chance at competing in athletics is going to be lost.”
Participation in spring sports is up by 10 students over last spring with a turnout of 219 athletes at Port Angeles High School, according to Johnson.
Johnson said Port Angeles coaches have been committed to keeping the healthy and safety of those 219 athletes as the first priority while also keeping spring sports on schedule.
“That’s one thing I would really like to say, the coaches are staying dedicated to their kids during this time and supporting the kids,” Johnson said.
Johnson also said he has had discussions with North Olympic Healthcare Network CEO Dr. Michael Maxwell and Jefferson Healthcare CEO Mike Glenn.
“They provided me some insights and information on doing what’s right,” Johnson said.
Sequim athletic director and baseball coach Dave Ditlefsen provided a list of Sequim’s Olympic League contests postponed by various school districts.
“North Kitsap, Kingston, Bremerton, Olympic, Klahowya, Central Kitsap, Crosspoint and Bainbridge have been directed to suspend all athletic events and practices until at least after spring break,” Ditlefsen said in an email. “The schools on the peninsula are still running classes and athletics until further notice. Of course there is always the possibility that we will be taking similar actions should the spread of the virus move into our area.”
Ditlefsen pointed out Sequim has no athletic events scheduled during its spring break — March 28 through April 5.
“I will update the schedule beyond April 5 once we have more information,” Ditlefsen said. “We may also work with the schools that are still in session to move some games up into the next two weeks to free up some dates later in the season to make up many of these postponed events. League events will take priority over nonleague games.”
Falge said communication has been the most difficult aspect of dealing with the outbreak.
“The uncertainty of it all and making sure that we are communicating effectively with everyone involved,” Falge said.
Johnson voiced a thought that could be applied to nearly every citizen in the country.
“This is uncharted territory for the athletic directors,” Johnson said.
________
Sports reporter Michael Carman can be contacted at 360-417-3525 or mcarman@peninsuladailynews.com.
