High school activities and athletics for the 2019-20 spring season have been cancelled in the state of Minnesota, according to an announcement from the Minnesota State High School League on Thursday afternoon.
The news was expected following Thursday’s new executive order issued by Governor Tim Walz that closes public schools in the state for the remainder of the 2019-20 academic year due to concerns regarding the coronavirus pandemic.
MSHSL writer John Miller made the official announcement of the cancellation of sports and activities on Twitter:
The Minnesota State High School League, under direction of the League’s Board of Directors, has declared, effective immediately, all activities and athletics that occur during the spring season have been cancelled for the 2019-2020 school year. #mshsl
— John Millea (@MSHSLjohn) April 23, 2020
The state high school league’s official statement followed shortly after on Facebook:
According to the state high school league’s statement, the cancelled sports and activities are Adapted Bowling, Adapted Softball, Badminton, Baseball, Clay Target, Golf, Lacrosse, Music, Robotics, Softball, Speech, Synchronized Swimming, Tennis, Track and Field and Visual Arts. All activities and athletics for the spring had previously been suspended through May 4 in conjunction with the state’s Stay At Home order, with hopes of returning before the end of the school year.
“This difficult decision was one we had hoped we would not need to make,” League Executive Director Erich Martens said in the MSHSL statement. “Our activities and athletics offer so much to so many students and their school communities, and we thank all who work to provide these amazing opportunities for students. We also value the incredible benefits of strong and supportive connections between students and their coaches and advisors, and our hope is that these will continue even during this time when they are not able to participate or meet face to face.”
Suspension of spring activities began on March 15, just days after the cancellation of the state girls and boys basketball championships.
Martens added that the league’s focus will soon turn to preparations for returning to activity participation across the state in the fall.
