News that has long been feared but anticipated, moved toward becoming a reality on Tuesday.
Gov. Charlie Baker announced at his noon press conference that schools in the Commonwealth will stay closed through the end of the school year. While the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) did not release an official statement on the status of its high school spring season, all signs pointed toward the organization canceling due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As the father of three grown children it stings for me, too, because I remember how precious this time is,” Baker said. “To all the seniors, I would say, you should keep your heads up. I know that we all miss sports, gatherings, meetings, friends, all the stuff that has always been a presumed part of our daily lives. But we all need to remember why we’re doing all of this. Let’s all just keep up the fight against the virus.”
The MIAA has been holding out hope for a spring season in some capacity. The organization has held several meetings in recent weeks, formulating contingency plans for a shortened version of a season.
The MIAA said all along that a season would only happen if schools were to open by the most recent May 4 date put forth by the governor’s office. When that plan changed on Tuesday, spring sports’ status was put in further peril.
“Difficult news received from Governor Baker today,” the MIAA said in a statement on Twitter. “A formal (MIAA Board of Directors) statement regarding the status of 2020 spring sports will be provided by weeks end.”
Massachusetts would become the third state in New England to cancel its spring sports season, joining Maine and New Hampshire.