Page 9 - Mid Valley Times 7-23-20 E-edition

MVT File Photo
In 2019, both the Immanuel High and Reedley High football teams made it to the play- offs, something that hadn't been done in many years. But a CIF decision on July 20 will keep both teams off the gridiron until January of 2021.
MVT File Photo
The Sanger Apaches and Dinuba Emperors represent two of the top football programs in the region and met in the Central Section's Division 2 playoffs in 2019. If the two teams meet again in the playoffs next season, it may not be until March or April of 2021.
CIF delays high school fall sports season
By Jon Earnest
Mid Valley Times
The California Interscholastic Federa- tion made it official on July 20 that there will be no fall sports season in 2020 be- cause of the ongoing COVID-19 situation.
Instead, prep football along with boys and girls volleyball, water polo and cross country will compete in a fall season that begins practice sessions on Monday, Dec. 14. Football will play up to a 10-game regular season beginning Thursday, Jan. 7, with final league games scheduled for Friday, March 19. Three rounds of sec- tion playoffs run through Friday, April 9, with a regional/state playoff set for Fri- day, April 16. Meanwhile, volleyball, water polo and cross country will begin competi- tion on Monday, Dec. 28. Regular league seasons run through Thursday, March 11, for cross country and Thursday, Feb. 25, for volleyball and water polo. Section play- offs will be completed by mid-March with regional tournaments finished by March 20. Cross country will conclude with the annual CIF State Meet at Woodward Park in Fresno on Saturday, March 27.
The 12 remaining CIF sports covering the winter and spring season will compete in a combined spring season beginning in March. League play for basketball and baseball-softball run through May 27 and June 3, respectively. State competition in basketball concludes on June 19, while section play in baseball and softball con- cludes June 19 while regional play runs through June 26.
Prep wrestling’s state tournament re- mains in Bakersfield and runs from June 10-12, while state swimming and diving will compete June 4-5 at Clovis West High School. The state track and field meet will close out the 2020-21 CIF athletics season on June 25-26 at Buchanan High School in Clovis.
Regional schools had been taking early steps to begin conditioning and practice for a possible regularly-scheduled fall sports season, but those practices have ceased with the Central Section and state now on a “summer” schedule through the fall. Reedley High School had been con- ducting twice-weekly football conditioning and light workouts while practicing social
distancing, but stopped this week after the announcement.
The challenge for athletic directors will be to adjust the fall sports schedules into new dates from December through March while the same time restructur- ing winter sports schedules into a spring season. Josh Franco, Immanuel High’s AD and varsity baseball coach, anticipates it taking about a month to get all schedules completely revised.
Franco met with school coaches on Ju- ly 21 for discussion and input. One of his biggest chores will be revamping the foot- ball schedule, as the Eagles participate as an independent. They will compete in the Central Sequoia League in all other sports.
“It’s going to be challenging, but I am confident we will pull it off,” he said.
Tony Gates, Reedley High football coach, expressed his support for the CIF fall reschedule plan.
“I’m super excited we get a chance to play a 10-game season including playoffs.” he said. Gates added that the Pirates were able to get in eight conditioning practices, four of which included quarterback-re- ceiver pass drills. He said football were wiped and disinfected after each pass.
At Sanger High, head football coach Jorge Pena said the task of scheduling fall sports this school year will be a tall order.
“This year’s sports calendar is going to be a challenge for everyone for sure,” ex- pressed Pena. “I hope we can all work to- gether and make a few sacrifices to make it all work out. This is really going to test our collective ability to think out of the box and be creative in terms of schedul- ing, preparation, and sharing of athletes.”
The Apaches coach said, though there remain many unknowns between now and December or January, he is thankful that the CIF has done their best to provide an opportunity to compete.
As for Sanger football, he said staff will work to reconfigure the calendar and prepare for a full season of football. Said Pena, “It’ll be full steam ahead while following any and all safety and health guidelines that are in place.”
Orosi High Athletic Director, Ken Sawatzky, said Monday’s CIF ruling to push back fall sports to spring is what he expected.
“I’m encouraged we have something in place,” he said. “I know it’s a ways away but now you got something to look for- ward to.”
Although, Sawatzky does have a con- cern when it comes to filling lower level teams.
“With so many sports in the Spring, I’m a little concerned we may not have enough athletes for lower level teams,” he said. “I’m not worried about varsity teams.”
Sawatzky went on to wonder, with all the sports beginning in January, if there will be enough officials available.
“There are some challenges and we could be looking at having games Monday through Saturday,” he said. “Athletes will now have to make the decision to play one or maybe two sports. We have some who play football, basketball and baseball. Now you have to choose.”
Sawatzky went on to say, “If there is really good communication with everyone [administrators, coaches and officials], it’s doable.”
Times editors Rick Curiel and George M. Villagrana contributed to this story.
Thursday, July 23, 2020
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