The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced Thursday that the winter sports tournaments of wrestling, basketball and ice hockey, which were postponed indefinitely on March 12, are now cancelled due to the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.
It is anticipated that schools will not be able to reopen for many weeks, which prevents interscholastic athletics from taking place.
The start of the OHSAA’s spring sports of softball, lacrosse, baseball, track and field and boys tennis is still postponed, which coincides with schools not being open.
Several Bluffton High School student athletes were named Northwest Conference scholastic athletes this week.
The qualify, the student must be a letter-winner in the sport. A gold level athlete maintains a grade point average of 3.5 to 4.0 during the season. A silver level athlete maintains a grade point average of 3.0 to 3.49 during the season.
Includes boys basketball regional and state tournaments, along with ice hockey, wrestling and girls basketball state tournaments
At 12:45 p.m. Thursday, the Ohio High School Athletic Association announced that all remaining winter tournament contests are immediately postponed due to the growing situation with the coronavirus COVID-19.
The suspended tournaments include the girls state basketball tournament; the state individual wrestling tournament; the state ice hockey tournament, and the boys regional and state basketball tournaments.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Tuesday afternoon that all indoor sporting events in Ohio, including high school, collegiate and professional sports, shall continue without most spectators in attendance as Ohio seeks to contain the spread of the coronavirus COVID-19.
“This will be a very difficult time for our schools and fans, but we cannot ignore the directive of the Governor,” OHSAA Executive Director Jerry Snodgrass said.
By Cort Reynolds
NAPOLEON - Five members of the Bluffton wrestling team competed at the Div. III district meet in Napoleon Friday and Saturday. All five Pirate matmen won at least one match and advanced to the second day of the tournament.
By Cort Reynolds
ELIDA - Lima Central Catholic ran out to a big halftime lead and defeated Bluffton 60-44 in Div. IV boys basketball sectional final action at Elida Friday night.
The Pirates fell behind 15-4 after the first period and never caught up. The fifth-seeded Thunderbirds extended their margin to a commanding 35-16 at halftime with a 20-point second stanza.
Second seed Bluffton inched within 47-36 behind a strong third period as senior Mason Soper scored eight points.
