This year’s Wolverine basketball season began on Jan. 11, under a set of guidelines adopted to deal with the continuing COVID pandemic.
Junior high and high school boys and girls teams will follow COVID-19 mitigation protocols, which include masks required at all times, facilities closed to the public, and frequent sanitization of shared equipment.
None of the programs will involve travel.
The junior high programs, which normally take place in the fall, but were cancelled because of COVID concerns, have been rescheduled to start in conjunction with the high school programs.
The junior high boys season will last six weeks, from Jan. 11 through Feb. 25. An event at the end of the six weeks with the teams scrimmaging against each other is planned.
Due to low participant numbers for the junior high and high school girls teams, they will be combined. The season will run from Jan. 11 through April 2. Plans for a season-end event are tentative and might include a 3×3 tournament.
The high school boys season will also run from Jan. 11 through April 2. The team will probably be split into two equal squads to play each other at the end of the season.
Allowing spectators for the season-ending events on April 2 will be determined closer to the date.
Cordova Schools Activity Director Kayti Ammerman explained the protocols.
“Our strong mitigation plans will get the students back into the gym, where they can play the sport they love,” she said. “Our goal is to keep the gym open and practices going as safely as we can for the duration of their seasons.”
“This year is definitely not like a ‘normal; basketball season,” Ammerman said. “It will take more hard work, it will take more dedication, it will take more reliance and drive, and finally it will take more collaboration and consideration for fellow teammate to make this season a success. We are proud of our coaches and beyond proud of our student athletes. They have been continuously challenged this year — and like true wolverines — they have welcomed those challenges with grit, perseverance, and pride.”
Ammerman also named the basketball coaches for this year. Jake Borst will coach both the junior high and varsity boys; Heather Thorne will coach the junior high girls; and Stacie Chappell will coach the high school girls.
