McQuaid, Other Local High Schools to Delay Fall Sports Season
Head football coach Robert Bates pictured addressing his team at practice. The McQuaid Knights, a two seed, will face Aquinas, a one seed,in the sectional finals on November 3rd at SUNY-Brockport.(Photo: Tim Smith/@timsmith8/Staff Photographer)
Hundreds of New York state athletic directors voted via Zoom to postpone high-risk fall sports to the Spring of 2020 due to the risk of COVID-19, on Wednesday, Sept. 7, 2020.
When the announcement came later in the week, athletes all across the state were hit with a wave of shock and disappointment. Among the many questions circulating on social media and at school, one question seems more important than the rest: will athletes be able to play both their delayed fall sport, as well as their regular spring sport?
“We have always had a huge commitment to the three sport athlete,” said McQuaid Jesuit’s athletic director Matt Thomas, ‘96.
Thomas reassured athletes that everything will work out, noting that schedules will not be front-loaded in an effort to minimize the games that these athletes may miss.
Following historic seasons in 2019, the McQuaid Jesuit football and volleyball teams will not let this delay deter them. Both squads are working hard during this extended offseason to make sure they are prepared for the season while maintaining safety protocols.
Coaches have worked hard to get their players practicing together.
“I think they’re doing the best job they can right now. There’s a lot of limitations on them, so they’re kind of put in a tough spot,” said junior football player Andrew Shanahan, ‘22.
McQuaid football workouts ran from late September up until the last few weeks of October, however workouts were put on hold due to an increasing fear of the COVID-19 virus.
Covid is becoming a huge problem once again, with about 227 new cases per day in Monroe County, according to RochesterFirst’s coronavirus report.
These growing concerns over an increase in coronavirus cases has brought up fears that we may see further sport delays and cancellations.
“The safety and health of all of our student athletes, and their families is our number one concern,” said Thomas, ‘96.
McQuaid Jesuit’s athletic department is going to make sure that their athletes are kept safe.
With the safety of players possibly at risk, and high expectations for these two programs, this Spring-Fall season is shaping up to be one to remember.
