Basketball, cheer and esports can practice on Monday, December 14 with questions still on bowling and archery. Sharp basketball starts Monday practicing, too.
With the 12-5 vote of the KHSAA Board of Control, most winter sport athletes can start back practicing on Monday, December 14 with the first games scheduled as early as January 4, 2021.
"Pendleton County Schools has a plan in accordance with KHSAA Winter Sports guidance that we'll use for practice and competition and adjust as needed," said Pendleton County Athletic Director Jordan Woodruff. "Our players, coaches, families, and staff have worked diligently to prioritize health and safety throughout the fall and winter season, and will continue to do so during the restart of winter activities."
Basketball's restart has been the focus of most of the attention throughout the state and both Pendleton County coaches are cautiously excited to be back with their teams.
"We need to be smart, considerate of others and the situation. But I’d be lying if I said the boys weren’t excited. And honestly, so am I. I’m looking forward to Monday," said Wildcat Basketball Coach Sam Elsbernd. His team is scheduled to tip off their season on Tuesday, January 5 at Bellevue. Their first home game will be Friday, January 8 against Dayton.
The Ladycats start their season on the road with games on Tuesday, January 5 at Augusta and Wednesday, January 6 at Boone County. Their first home game is a Saturday matinee against Covington Latin at 1 p.m.
"I’m shocked, but so excited to get back in the gym with the girls! It’s been over 40 days since our last practice. These will be a very important two weeks to get back in shape and prepare for our season opener on Jan. 5th at Augusta," said Head Coach Jenna O'Hara.
The status of bowling is still up in the air as practices and matches are held in bowling alleys that are affected by Governor Andy Beshear's executive order on restaurants and bars. He indicated on Thursday, December 10 that restaurants and bars will be allowed to reopen on Monday, December 14 at 50 percent capacity. That is expected to allow bowling alleys to allow practices and matches to be held. There is expected restrictions on number of fans allowed into bowling alleys to view as well as lane assignments for players competing in matches.
KHSAA staff indicated at the board of control meeting that further information will be coming on the restart of bowling as they get information on what restrictions bowling alleys will have.
Pendleton practices and plays their home matches at Larue Bowling Lanes.
"We were already practicing before the shut down. I’m not sure that it will start back until after the new year," said Coach Aaron Biddle who led his team to their first state tournament appearance in 2019-20 and returned most of that team.
KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett was adamant about shutting down any rumors of no cheer and dance competition. "We will have a cheer and dance competition this year. Period."
It was a welcome statement from CheerCat Head Coach Abbi Belcher. "We are thankful that KHSAA is still trying their very best to provide us an opportunity to compete no matter what date that will be this season. Our team is anxiously awaiting the day we get to take the mat to perform!"
Esports is considered a winter sport even though they have a championship both in the winter and spring. They will be allowed to start back as basketball is.
While they play most of their season in the winter, archery is considered a spring sport because their KHSAA championship is held in April.
General Counsel to KHSAA Chad Collins who oversees archery told Falmouth Outlook, "As Archery is a Spring Sport, today focused on Winter. More to come on Spring soon."
Coach David Myers who has seen tremendous success as head coach is ready to start back.
"I am still wanting to get started when we can. At this point I am directing my attention to the first week in January because even if we could start next week that’s really only a week before the Christmas break. Even if we only do a short season getting back to their sport will help the archers as we move into whatever this next phase of the pandemic brings," he told Falmouth Outlook.
Woodruff said, "Sharp Middle School will start practicing on Monday and games start mid-January."
It is expected from the discussion during the Board of Control meeting that while athletes will be on the court playing and a limited number of family watching from the stands, the community may be asked to cheer from afar, not in the gymnasium, for the first part of the season.
Tackett had indicated they have divided the fall season up into quarters and make decisions based on quarters.
There was much discussion among board members to limit attendance in at least the first quarter of the basketball season.
While the format and dates of the Sweet 16 are yet to be finalized, the board of control did set March 29 through April 8 as the time period for both the girls and boys Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena. That is over a single weekend. Winter Jam is presently scheduled for March 27 and 28 making it unavailable for basketball. If that is canceled as it was in the spring of 2020, then the venue could become available on those dates, too and a second weekend.