Middletown suspends Fall sports season

Middletown High School has suspended all athletics due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Middletown City School District is scheduled to make an official statement at 9 a.m.

Thursday.

MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL ISSUSPENDING ALL SPORTS DUE TOCOVID-19.THIS DECISION COMESAFTER A BIG ATHLETICORGANIZATION IN OHIO SAID ITFAVORED STARTING ALL ATHLETICSIN THEFALL.WCPO 9 NEWS REPORTERPAOLA SURO IS LIVE TO BREAKDOWN THIS DECISION...THE OHIO HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETICASSOCIATION OFFICIAL FALLSPORTS PRACTICE BEGINS THISSATURDAY -BUT THAT WON'T BETHE CASE IN MIDDLETOWN HIGHSCHOOL-AS IT HAS SUSPENDED ALL OF ITSATHLETICS DUE TO THE PANDEMIC..THAT'S ACCORDING TO ANONYMOUSSOURCES.WCPO NINE NEWS DOESN'TNORMALLY USE ANONYMOUS SOURCES-BUT WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO VETTHE SOURCE IN THIS CASE ASRELIABLE.JUST LAST WEEK THEMIDDLETOWN CITY SCHOOLDISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATIONVOTED THAT SCHOOLS WILL STARTTHE YEAR REMOTELY UNTILFURTHER NOTICE -BACK THEN -THE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR SAIDTHEY WERE GOING TO WAIT UNTILHEARING FROM THE OHIO HIGHSCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATIONBEFORE MAKING A DECISION.WELLNOW WE HAVE - OHSAA RELEASED ASURVEY WEDNESDAY SAYINGSUPERINTENDENTS - PRINCIPALSAND ATHLETIC ADMINISTRATORSFAVOR STARTING ALL HIGH SCHOOLSPORTS PROGRAMS IN THE FALL.THAT SURVEY CAME A DAY AFTERTHE ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCEDCONTACT SPORTS SCRIMMAGES HAVEBEEN SUSPENDED.GOVERNOR MIKEDEWINE'S OFFICE HAS DECLAREDTHREE OF OHSAA'S FALL SPORTSTO BE LOW CONTACT - INCLUDINGGOLF TENNIS AND VOLLEYBALL.OTHER SPORTS INCLUDING FIELDHOCKEY - SOCCER AND FOOTBALLHAVE NOT YET BEEN APPROVED BYTHE GOVERNOR TO HAVECOMPETITIONS BETWEEN SCHOOLSWITHOUT COVID-19 TESTING -BUT HE'S EXPECTED TO HAVE ANEWS CONFERENCE TODAY.MIDDLETOWN HIGH SCHOOL ISEXPECTED TO RELEASE MOREINFORMATION ON THEIR DECISIONAT 9 AM..REPORTING LIVE INMIDDLETOWN- PAOLA SUROWCPO 9 NEW- PAOLA SURO