The IHSAA announced the cancellation of the 2020 spring sports season on Thursday.
The announcement came shortly after Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced that all K-12 schools in the state would remain closed for the school year, instead using remote learning. The announcement came around 2:30 p.m., and the IHSAA released the following statement just before 4 p.m.
“The Indiana High School Athletic Association staunchly supports our Governor, our State Commissioner of Health and our State Superintendent of Public Instruction in their herculean efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are extremely fortunate in Indiana to have these exemplary leaders providing guidance and care to all Hoosiers.
“With the announcement today of the closure of K-12 schools throughout Indiana for the remainder of the school year, the IHSAA announces the cancellation of all spring sports tournament series events for the 2019- 20 school year.
“It is imperative that our students, coaches, officials, administrators and parents be encouraged in every manner to adhere to the guidance provided by our leadership. The Association understands the extreme seriousness of this pandemic and joins in support of current measures being implemented as well as future considerations. In unwavering support yet with extreme sadness, we must cancel our spring sports programming. We join all Hoosiers in anticipation of a triumphant homecoming back to our schools in the fall of 2020 complete with a full complement of IHSAA sports.
“The Association continues to remind its member schools and the general public to follow the guidance of the governor and the Indiana State Department of Health via IN.gov/coronavirus.”
Schools were originally set to open up on May 4, and there was hope that an abbreviated spring sports season could still take place. The IHSAA’s announcement left student-athletes, coaches and administrators across the state sad and disappointed that no one, especially the seniors, would be able to play for their schools.
Westfield athletic director Andy Tebbe posted a message on the school’s athletic website expressing his thoughts about the cancellation and empathizing with those who are being affected “physically and emotionally” by the COVID-19 pandemic and the toll it is taking.
“Our spring sport student-athletes and coaches find themselves living in an empty promise,” said Tebbe. “The promise of competing for championships, the promise of showcasing their improved skills and abilities that were developed over the past year, and the promise of playing a sport they have loved their entire lives. I wish I had answers or the right words to help you navigate through this experience. And for our senior student-athletes, this broken promise is tenfold.”
The full statement can be read here.
The Noblesville softball Twitter account (@MillerSoftball) posted a tweet that celebrated the team’s two seniors, Chloe Tragesser and Rylie Moore. “Thank you for everything you have given to the program. The foundation you helped establish will be seen in many player’s future,” it said.
The Hamilton Southeastern baseball team was to enter the season as defending Class 4A state champions. A tweet from the team’s Twitter account (@HSERoyalsBase) thanked the senior players and their families, saying they have “left an incredible mark on our program and we thank you for it.”
High school sports, like most sports across the country, have been at a standstill since mid-March. The cascade began after an NBA player tested positive for COVID-19, setting off the wave of postponements and cancellations across professional, college and high school sports.
The IHSAA was in the middle of the boys basketball tournament at the time, but it was suspended just before the March 14 regionals. After that, several schools closed and switched to remote learning, prompting the cancellation of the tournament. The last high school sporting event of the year, therefore, was the gymnastics state finals, which was conducted March 14 in an empty Worthen Arena at Ball State University.
On Tuesday, Indiana University announced it had canceled all on-campus events through July 31. That included the IHSAA state track and field and state Unified track championships, which have been taking place at IU since 2004.
LACROSSE SEASON CANCELED
Also on Thursday, the Indiana High School Lacrosse Association and the Indiana Girls Lacrosse Association announced that seasons in the sport of lacrosse were also canceled. Lacrosse operates separately from the IHSAA.
The two organizations issued a joint statement (available here) that was posted on Twitter Thursday afternoon. “We hoped this day would never come, but like so many other professional and collegiate sports, we must do what is in the best interest of our players, coaches, and fans’ safety during this unprecedented pandemic,” the statement said.
Noblesville’s Chloe Tragesser (left) is one of two Millers softball players that were supposed to play in their senior seasons this year. The IHSAA canceled the spring sports season on Thursday after Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced that all schools in the state would be closed for the remainder of the academic year. Also pictured is Fishers’ Courtney James, who was to play her senior season for the Tigers. (Kent Graham/File photo)