The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced cancellation of spring sports season due to COVID- 19.

Before Gov. Mike DeWine extended distance learning for the remainder of the school year, OHSAA planned on having a condensed sports season if students returned to school during this academic year. 

The number of cases grew exponentially, resulting with school being closed for the rest of the school year. There is currently a shelter-in-place order that expires May 1. Because school is closed for the rest of the school year, and sporting events violate this order, athletics are cancelled.

Without the opportunity to participate in spring sports, senior athletes will not have the opportunity to have a senior season.

“OHSAA has officially canceled the spring sports season. While we understand and support the need to cancel, we grieve with our student-athletes, coaches and family members for the loss of competing this spring,” Dr. Paul Waller, principal, said on Twitter.

On Twitter, the district is honoring senior athletes in a “special salute” video. 

According to the Ohio Department of Health, there are 14,581 confirmed cases in Ohio as of April 25.

“I’m really upset that this season was canceled, it would have been a really important year for getting recruited by college programs,” Billy Boucuvalas (11) said. “However, I can understand the measures that are being taken and I’m alright with sacrificing my season because there are lives at stake with this outbreak. When my soccer season is compared to lives, it’s not really even a question which is more important.”