Winter Sports Postponed Until At Least Jan. 19

Kyle Brennan photo

The Nonnewaug gym may stay dark for much of this winter — all Connecticut high school sports are on hold until at least Jan. 19, 2021, due to the state’s rise in COVID-19 cases.

Annalise Rupe, Sports Editor
November 17, 2020

WOODBURY — It’s been the main question buzzing around recently: Will there be winter sports at Nonnewaug?

There still has not been a definite answer released, but the odds are not in the Chiefs’ favor.

When Region 14 made the decision to go all remote last March, spring sports were canceled because of the CIAC’s guidelines — mostly that the return of sports “has always been contingent on the re-opening of schools for in-person instruction.”

According to Nonnewaug athletic director Declan Curtin, the same thing will happen this time around. If school remains fully remote — like it will be starting Nov. 18 — winter sports cannot begin. Curtin mentioned that if students return to at least the hybrid model in January, that decision can be looked at again.

On Nov. 12, Region 14 superintendent Joseph Olzacki released an email noting that the Board of Education “made the decision to move to remote synchronous learning beginning Friday, November 20th” and that they “plan to return to our current schedule on Tuesday, January 19, 2021.” This means that winter sports couldn’t begin until at least Jan. 19.

The CIAC followed suit Nov. 17 and copied Region 14’s decision into one that affects the entire state.

The CIAC announced that it will “postpone all winter sports to January 19, 2021. The CIAC Board of Control will continue to collaborate with the [Connecticut Department of Public Health], Governor [Ned] Lamont’s office, and the CSMS Sports Medicine Committee in the weeks leading up to the January 19th start of winter practices.”

The winter sports season at Nonnewaug includes boys and girls basketball, boys and girls indoor track, boys and girls swimming, and wrestling. Last year, the boys basketball state tournament was canceled March 10 due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Now, the ball is in the CIAC’s hands. All hope is not destroyed — when Nonnewaug returns on Jan. 19, winter sports may have a shot.