Philomath High School’s winter sports teams can return to practice Thursday, Athletic Director Tony Matta said this morning. Boys and girls basketball, wrestling and swimming started workouts back on Nov. 9 but then had to take a few weeks off after a handful of practices with more stringent COVID-19-related restrictions enacted by the governor’s office.
The dance team and cheer squad coaches and students have also been working out throughout all three sessions of the “Season 1” schedule.
Matta said the same restrictions that had previously been implemented will continue without any extra precautions required.
Session 3 practices are scheduled to run until Dec. 18. Students will then go on winter break.
Matta, coaches, parents and students will be keeping an eye on what comes out of an Oregon School Activities Association executive board meeting on Monday. The board is expected to announce a decision on how to approach competition in the coming months. Currently, the winter teams are scheduled to begin practices Dec. 28 and competition Jan. 11, but that plans appears to be unrealistic based on recent virus infection rates.
“I think they’re going to change stuff, have to push stuff back,” Matta said. “Maybe you go outside on this date and the indoor is still prohibited — we’ll just have to wait and see.”
Another factor that relates to inter-school competition involves when students can return to classrooms.
PHS sports teams can return to practice
