Athens, Alexander pause summer workouts

[Trevorstephens22]

https://www.athensmessenger.com/sports/ ... 0d098.html


Athens and Alexander High Schools are pausing athletic workouts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Athens High School Supt. Thomas Gibbs sent an email to athletic staff on Sunday stating that all athletic and extracurricular activities are closed for the next two weeks, effective immediately.

"The rapid increases in cases in Athens County makes our community one of the fastest growing areas for COVID infection per capita in the country," Gibbs wrote. "While we are not aware of additional cases directly related to our athletic programs at this time, I feel it is in the best interest of our community to put in place greater restrictions for the time being until we have a better understanding of the degree of community spread."

Athens' practices and workouts will be closed until at least Monday, July 27.

Athens High School athletic director Rick Guimond also tweeted on Sunday night about the two-week closure, saying that it was 'due to the rapid increase of Athens County COVID cases.'

Guimond continued, "Please know that our goal is the safety of our students and a return to play. Let's encourage each other to invest in our fall season."

The Athens softball team started a summer schedule last week, playing doubleheaders on Monday and Tuesday. Head softball coach Roger Bissell also confirmed on twitter that the team won't play for the next two weeks, and hoped to return to the field in August.

The Athens Attack baseball team was able to play 18 games this summer, starting on June 9. The team shut down its season last Wednesday, canceling its final five games. The season was scheduled to conclude last weekend.

Alexander is halting its workouts for just one week. Head football coach Earich Dean posted on his Facebook page that 'All sport practices and facilities at Alexander will be closed for one week. This is a precautionary closing only."

The Athens City-County Health Department reported 28 new cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases in the county to 167. There are 130 active cases in the county.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association has allowed schools to resume workouts in phases over the summer, in accordance with Gov. Mike DeWine. The OHSAA sent out a memo to schools on Tuesday, July 7, stating that the organization anticipates fall sports practices to begin on Aug. 1, but that those plans can be modified or canceled depending on the pandemic.

[teach1coach2]

Tri-Valley has shut down a couple weeks due to a player testing positive for covid19. Rumor is the player got it from a family member and the player is asymptomatic and not ill at all.

I just get the feeling the fall sports are going to get shut down and possibly swapped with spring sports. Baseball occurring in the area with no reported cases thus far.

[Trevorstephens22]

Also Shut Down...
Fed Hocking
Eastern
Trimble

[4thgoal]

I heard that Green has done the same. Not sure if Portsmouth and Notre Dame have restarted or not?