BY WENDI REARDON PRICE
Clarkston News Sports Writer
The music was louder as athletes and coaches were celebrating the latest news last Thursday at Clarkston High School – winter contact sports could begin full activity on Monday, Feb. 8.
“We are really excited,” said John Weyer, head coach for Clarkston Girls Varsity Basketball. “I was screaming when I came in. The music was going and the girls were dancing. It’s a celebration day. The news was phenomenal. I think the worst thing was the false hope. The girls were told so many times ‘we’re starting. No, we’re not. We’re starting. No, we’re not.’ These girls have learned to be so psychological flexible over the past year to adapt so quickly.”
“It’s definitely good news for the players, parents and the community,” added, Tim Wasilk, head coach for Clarkston Boys Varsity Basketball. “Just the kids getting out there, being able to play and compete. It’s been since March since our kids played. It’s been a long time coming.”
The announcement came Thursday afternoon from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services – Michigan High School Athletic Association member schools could begin full practice activities on Monday in girls and boys basketball, competitive cheer, ice hockey and wrestling.
The sports could also begin competiting – with basketball and hockey able to play Feb. 8. Cheer and wrestling are allowed to start competing on Friday, Feb. 12.
“I am very happy for the kids,” said Clarkston Athletic Director Jeff Kosin. “This is something that has been a tough go for everybody – our players, our coaches, our community.”
He added it is a a positive for everybody.
“The one thing I want to stress – this is definitely a privilege for everybody,” Kosin said. “We have to do the right thing and make sure our kids are wearing masks and definitely take advantage of the situation that was provided for us.”
MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl spoke to media on a Zoom call following the announcement.
“We are incredibly pleased and grateful with the new order that goes into effect on Monday so all of our winter kids can move forward,” Uyl said, adding the MHSAA wanted to recognize the work and support from Governor Gretchen Whitmer and her staff as well as MDHHS Director Elizabeth Hartel and her staff. “We are greatly appreciative of them taking the information, receiving the data we have communicated over the last week to ten days.”
Girls basketball opened their season against Troy on Tuesday and boys basketball opens on Thursday at Farmington and will be home against Waterford Mott on Friday.
“The thought being schedules will pick up right where we left off,” Kosin said. “If there is room at the end of the season we can put those games we missed in there.”
He added due to COVID restrictions, each athlete is limited to two spectators.
“We are ready,” said Weyer. “We are super excited. Now to stay COVID free, that’s our first goal of the season. I got the girls together to develop team goals and that is the first was stay COVID free as well as we can.”
“I know we are going to have bumps along the way this year and issues,” said Wasilk. “As long as we can still continue to practice and be as safe as we can and go through the protocols, wear masks and be smart.”
Winter sports went on pause in mid-November due to COVID concerns and restrictions. Bowling, boys swim and dive, ski and girls gymnastics were allowed to begin their seasons with practices and competitions in January.
The four winter contact sports have been able to practice since Jan. 16, but only with non-contact activities. Whitmer and MDHHS announced on Jan. 22 those sports would remain non-contact through Sunday, Feb. 21.
“The kids in those four contact sports have really been in limbo for the last two and a half months,” said Uyl. “We said consistently when we are ready to play we would play. We are excited about those sports starting.”
All four contact sports also must participate with some level of masking and/or rapid testing. Basketball and hockey must wear face coverings at all times including all practices, non-game activities and during games.
A testing requirement may allow participants to remove masks while in active participation on the floor if they test negative that game day.
For competitive cheer, the teams may compete without testing or face covering. They must wear masks at all times outside of active competition or stunting/tumbling practice.
Wrestling will not be required to wear face coverings but testing is required. Teams may compete two days a week with no more than four teams at a site. Individual competing is up to three matches per day.
The competition limits for basketball and hockey are up to three games per week. Hockey may play two games on one non-school day twice. During those two weeks, hockey teams are allowed up to four games.
Tournament dates for all four sports previously were rescheduled into late March and early April to accommodate a later start to the regular season.

  winter sports