Whittier Regional Vocational Technical High School is delaying such sports as football, soccer, cross country, volleyball and golf until a new “floating” season late February.
As WHAV reported last month, schools are following COVID-19 guidance issued by Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Whittier Tech Athletic Director Kevin Bradley said the school chose to hold the season until February.
“After significant consideration and a careful weighing of our options, we felt postponing the season would be the best decision for our student athletes, coaches and the broader Whittier Tech community,” Bradley said. “We know this will deeply disappoint many of our student athletes, and we are right there with them. We miss sports games and practices, teammates, training and the entire sports experience, but we look forward to seeing everyone a little later this year.”
Superintendent Maureen Lynch called the decision “difficult,” and thanked students, families, coaches, faculty and staff for remaining patient.
“We will continue to provide updates on sports as soon as we have more information to give, but we are committed to the health and wellbeing of all students, staff and members of the Whittier Tech community first and foremost. That will continue to be our main priority,” Lynch said.
The Commonwealth Athletic Conference Athletic Directors are working together to develop a comprehensive plan for the transition from the fall sports season to the floating season, with a focus on creating consistency within the league and among other schools in the state.
Whittier Tech has tentative plans to begin the winter sports season, which includes basketball, wrestling and ice hockey, in late November and running through late February. The new fall or “floating” season begins in late February and runs through early May, while the spring season, which includes baseball, softball, track and field and lacrosse, begins in early May and runs through mid-July.