LOURDES CANCELS WINTER SPORTS – Hudson Valley Sports Report
Low- And Moderate-Risk Teams Will Not Play
By Rich Thomaselli
HVSR Staff
Our Lady of Lourdes High School has decided to cancel its low- and moderate-risk winter sports, school athletic director Bill Kyle told parents and students in an email seen by Hudson Valley Sports Report.
The Town of Poughkeepsie school said it was canceling winter track, boys swimming and fencing “out of an abundance of caution” as COVID-19 numbers continue to rise in the Hudson Valley and across New York State.
Kyle did not return a phone call Saturday night seeking comment but, presumably, if the school is canceling its low- and moderate-risk sports for the winter, it likely means that high-risk sports like boys and girls basketball will also be canceled by OLL officials.
“Due to the recent surge in the COVID virus and the necessity to act with an abundance of caution for the safety of our student-athletes, Our Lady of Lourdes High School has made a decision to not participate in low- and moderate-risk winter sports this Winter season,” Kyle wrote. “At this time there is no definitive timeline for authorization of high risk sports to resume competition. Until authorization is granted by state officials, NYSPHSAA member schools are not permitted to participate in sports determined to be high risk by the New York State Department of Health.”
OLL also said it will postpone any offseason conditions programs, such as open gym for basketball, until further notice.
Low- and moderate-risk winter sports such as track, swimming and fencing – and sports that Lourdes does not participate in, including gymnastics, bowling and skiing – were approved by New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office to begin practice on Jan. 4
But high-risk winter sports boys and girls basketball, wrestling, ice hockey and competitive cheerleading have yet to get the thumb’s up from the state, nor have fall sports that are scheduled to begin March 1 as part of a new ‘Fall 2 Season,’ including football, volleyball and cheerleading.
