Jonathan Alder’s Jackson Izzard (center) goes up for a basket during a game from the 2019-20 season. Unless there is a change of heart by the Madison County Health Department, all sports within the county will be put on hold from Nov. 30 until Jan., 1. (Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
JA Pioneers included
Jonathan Alder High School winter athletics have, like many others, been on hold for a number of weeks.
That is due to the surge in the coronavirus pandemic.
Unless a change happens – perhaps by the end of this week – the Pioneers’ hiatus will last much longer.
Superintendents at school districts in Madison County, including JA, met with the county’s health department Tuesday afternoon.
Earlier in the week, the department mandated that sports and all other school-related extra-curricular activities be halted from Nov. 30 until Jan. 1.
Superintendents from within the county met with the health department to see whether that mandate could be eased.
“From my understanding, there was no change after Tuesday’s meeting,” said JA interim athletic director Mark Fenik.
That means that as of presstime, sports in Madison County will be paused from Nov. 30 until Jan. 1.
Gov. Mike DeWine stated on Tuesday the state’s high school winter sports season can go on as scheduled, as of the present time.
School districts have had the option of putting their winter seasons on pause.
Marysville, Fairbanks, North Union and JA have done so.
“We just coming out of quarantine for our boys and girls basketball teams,” said Fenik.
The interim AD did say he hopes Madison County officials will ease off the mandate, based on what DeWine said on Tuesday.
“We are the only county that has mandated shutdowns,” said Fenik. “However, we’re hopeful that by the end of this week, there could be a change of heart.
“We’re hopeful we will be able to play games.”