AISA cancels spring sports

Published 8:01 am Tuesday, May 5, 2020

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On April 28, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced the safer at home order, which allowed for a partial reopening of the state. However, the reopening still did not allow for gatherings of more than 10 people.

Since this limit was still in effect, Alabama Independent School Association Executive Director Michael McLendon announced on Facebook that the rest of the 2020 spring season was canceled.

“Based on Governor Kay Ivey’s recent Order of Public Health and guidance from health professionals, we do not see a path to resume athletics for the spring sports season. Therefore, it is with great sadness that I officially announce that AISA spring sports will not resume competition,” the Facebook post read.

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The AISA suspended all athletic competitions that were going to be later than March 15 but did not cancel the seasons. Instead, it delayed competition to April 6, which was once again delayed until April 20.

“Just over six weeks ago on March 13, 2020, we made the difficult decision to suspend athletic competitions due to the Covid-19 pandemic that we saw beginning to take a hold on our state,” McLendon wrote in the Facebook post. “It was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make in my 20 years as an educator, but it was also one that I knew was unavoidable and in the best interest of our greater community. Our primary concern always has and always will be the health and safety of those we serve and it is our obligation to also consider the health and safety of the greater community.”

The cancellation cuts several promising seasons short.

The Springwood boys’ soccer team was dominating its 2020 season to the stoppage. The Wildcats were undefeated and led the state in points scored. The Chambers Academy softball team was 7-3 and had won three of its seven games by more than 10 runs.

The Chambers baseball and Springwood softball and baseball teams started slow but were beginning to hit their strides after missing most of the opening weeks because of rain.

The Springwood girls’ soccer team was in its inaugural season and was looking to pick up the program’s first win.