Published September 23, 2020
By DAN TOMASELLO
LYNNFIELD — School officials are hoping to have clarity about Lynnfield High School’s fall sports season either this later this week or early next week.
Superintendent Kristen Vogel was forced to put the fall sports season on hold earlier this month after the Massachusetts COVID-19 Command Center designated the town as a “red” community due to the increased spread of the novel coronavirus in town. Lynnfield was previously classified as a “yellow” community after previously alternating between “gray” and “green.”
School Committee Chairman Jamie Hayman said during a Sept. 15 meeting that the MIAA recently announced, “If districts start remote because they are a red district, all sports must stopped.”
“We have hope we will come out red,” said Hayman. “I think we are in position that if we are out of red by the end of this month, we will start up sports as soon as possible.”
Vogel agreed.
“I spoke with Athletic Director Mike Bierwirth and confirmed that the Cape Ann League is moving forward with fall sports,” said Vogel. “They are more than welcoming to our community and any community that starts remote. Once we are able to start sports when it is safe to do so, our student-athletes will be able to start playing. The Cape Ann League will make accommodations for that to happen.”
Hayman noted that districts that are gray, green or yellow and have chosen to start remotely are still able to play sports.
“In those cases, a school committee can vote to allow sports,” said Hayman. “If we are red, we don’t have the power to override that decision.”
Hayman urged residents to continue wearing face masks, practice social distancing and wash their hands frequently so that students can get back in the classroom and on the field.
“Driving the numbers down is what is going to get sports back,” said Hayman. “We also want to get the kids back into the buildings as soon as possible.”
School Committee Vice Chairman Rich Sjoberg agreed.
“I would like to make sure we extend out our decision as far as possible so that we can give these kids a chance to play if we can,” said Sjoberg. “Hopefully we can get some positive news so the kids get to play this fall.”
School Committee member Phil McQueen asked if captain’s practices are still taking place.
Vogel said no.
Hayman noted the school board has scheduled meetings on Thursday, Sept. 24 and Tuesday, Sept. 29. He said the Sept. 24 meeting will take place on Thursday morning.
“We scheduled a morning meeting because the updated color-code map comes out Wednesday night,” said Hayman.
If Lynnfield is still red by Wednesday, Sept. 30, Hayman said Lynnfield High’s fall season will be delayed until the fall 2 season. The floating season will take place from Feb. 22 to April 25.
The Cape Ann League’s administrators recently voted to move football, cheerleading and volleyball to the floating season. The CAL also approved new rules mirroring the MIAA’s guidelines and sports-specific guidelines.
The league will not be allowing fans of any kind, including parents, for the beginning of the fall season. They are working on a potential streaming option so that parents can watch games online.
There will be no MIAA tournaments this fall.
