Winter sports face tumultuous season

Winter sports in Milton High School have had to change and adapt to COVID-19. 

 On Dec. 11, Pa. Governor Tom Wolf released a new mandate that temporarily bans school sports until Jan. 4. 

As of December all winter sports, which includes basketball, wrestling, swim and bowling, were scheduled to play this season, but with many changes. The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) sets the rules for high school sports and has had adjust to the growing pandemic. 

For example, players will have to wear masks at all times while on the sideline and when in play. Mask wearing while playing is “not enjoyable, but we do what we have to do if we want to play,” said Milton Athletic Director Rod Harris. According to Mr. Harris, there are slightly fewer winter sports players than previous years.  

Another change involves fans, according to Mr. Harris. “Each player will be given three tickets that they can give out to family and friends for watching games,” he said. 

According to Swim Team Captain Senior Haylee Carl, they will not have any fans watching the meets and parents will be the timers to reduce the risk of Covid-19 spreading at swim meets. 

“As far as extra precautions go, we are checking temps daily, using defense soap wipes and, of course, normally practiced hygiene,” said Milton Wrestling Coach Joshua Anspach, who was interviewed before the mandate. 

“So far, it has been so good with the mask wearing. The student-athletes realize we must obey all school and state requirements, if we want to continue to wrestle,” added Coach Anspach. 

He said that regardless of any outside circumstances, wrestlers will adapt and overcome any adversity.