- Michigan
MHSAA puts postseason on pause due to concerns over COVID-19
We are now on pause.
After putting forth a plan to limit the crowds associated with the prep postseason, due to concerns about the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) on Wednesday, and expanding them slightly Thursday morning, the Michigan High School Athletic Association announced Thursday afternoon that it was putting the postseason on pause.
[For the earlier story, CLICK HERE.]
“Earlier today, the MHSAA has made the very difficult decision to suspend all of our winter tournaments, effective immediately. This is due to the new information we’ve received from the governor’s office, Health and Human Services, as well as being in contact with our superintendents group and principals group, as well as all of the other sports leagues, at various levels,” executive director Mark Uyl said in a video posted on the MHSAA website.
“This is a true and real public health crisis at this time, and we need to do what we can to help slow and mitigate the spread of this virus. More information will be coming in the next few days. Please understand that with our winter events, our athletes, our coaches, and our spectators, that this is a suspension of our winter tournaments. We just don’t have enough information at this time, and the information we do have is rapidly changing. So this suspension should give us time to see how the dust settles in a few days.”
That follows the lead of the Ohio High School Athletic Association doing the same thing earlier in the day, following the lead of most of the professional sporting leagues in the nation.
“Based on the events of the last 48 hours and with things changing by the minute, we believe we have no choice but to suspend our winter tournaments immediately,” Uyl said in a news release. “This is a suspension until we have a better handle on the situation. The health and welfare of everyone involved is our number one priority.”
More information on the possible resumption of the tournaments will be forthcoming over the next few days, according to the MHSAA release, but there is currently no timetable for the possible rescheduling of the tournaments.
