Spring sports fate "up in the air" this year

With schools shut down due to the coronavirus epidemic, the spring sports season is in serious question, but a month of play is possible.

Spring sports include: baseball, softball, golf, tennis, and track and field.

The topic of athletics was briefly discussed during a March 23 Grand Coulee Dam School District board meeting held remotely via the Zoom telecommunication application.

Board members, the superintendent, and more used the app to conduct the meeting from separate locations due to the social distancing instructions put in place to help thwart the spread of coronavirus.

Asked by Board Director Rich Black if coaches for the spring sports season would still get paid, Superintendent Paul Turner answered that they would.

“One of the things the state really pushed is to keep everyone whole and to do that with coaches, as well,” Turner said. “It wasn’t something they did that caused [coronavirus]. Hopefully we’ll come back on board shortly, but I wouldn’t put any money in that bank that we’re going to be back to school.”

Athletic Director Tim Rasmussen, in an email to The Star, said that “it really is up in the air right now,” concerning the spring sports season. “We will see what happens.”

With schools currently scheduled to reopen after April 24, roughly a month of spring sports could still take place, including playoffs.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, in a March 17 statement, said that “the WIAA will hold State Championship events as scheduled. Any further delays could put State Championships in jeopardy as no championships will be held after May 30 to avoid conflicts with graduation.”

Turner said they may have the coaches participate in coaching clinics to fill up the time they are being paid for.