Participation High In First Week Of Activities

Activities are back at Sullivan High School.

Student-athletes returned to the fields July 6. Parents had to sign a waiver of liability for students to participate, but after a month of informal open fields, organized activities resumed.

SHS Activities Director Cody Davis said the students were excited to be back. There hasn’t been a game played since March 14 when the girls basketball team faced Carl Junction in quarterfinals. Less than a week later, spring sports practices were called off as the COVID-19 pandemic ramped up.

Davis said the student-athletes were anxious to be around their teammates again after a prolonged absence.

Several protocols are in place to try to minimize athletes contracting COVID-19.

“Our primary focus is safety,” said Davis, explaining that as much as everyone wants the situation to go back to normal, it’s not. 

Students are self-reporting if they are exposed to COVID-19 cases. Davis said the district is informed by contact tracers when exposure has occurred. 

Sanitization is mandatory and there are designated entrance and exits for athletes to keep the flow consistent.

Some of the other protocols are coaches keeping detailed daily attendance and closing the locker rooms. Communal water also is not allowable.

Davis said the organized activities are optional for all athletes.

“There are no consequences or incentives to participating,” he said. “Everyone is allowed to do what they are comfortable with. Nothing will be held against a student who doesn’t participate.”

Fall sports practices begin Aug. 10 and Davis pointed July’s activities period will give them some runway into preparing for the upcoming season.

He noted there are “good numbers” across the board in terms of participation and everyone involved is taking the pandemic serious.

“I’m proud of our coaches and players going above and beyond,” Davis said, adding they are mindful of social distancing and sanitizing all equipment.

“Even on things the state has relaxed, coaches and players are still doing more.”