Warren Central vs. Center Grove football game canceled; WC players, coaches in quarantine
GREENWOOD, Ind. (WISH) — The Aug. 21 home football opener against Warren Central High School at Center Grove High School has been canceled after several Warren Central players and coaches were put into quarantine.
Center Grove Athletic Director Jon Zwitt provided the initial information. He said the team is looking for a possible new opponent for its Aug. 21 game but adds that may be impossible giving the limited time before the date.
Dennis Jarrett, director of media and community relations for Warren Township Schools, said Tuesday afternoon by email that the football team has “decided to forego” its opening football game. A statement from Jarrett also said that, before the start of school, several football team members went into quarantine and they did not have enough time to meet the 10-practice minimum required by the Indiana High School Athletic Association.
Attempts to reach Warren Central Athletic Director Marques Clayton by phone and email were not immediately successful Tuesday afternoon.
A database of Indiana high school football shows 156 games involving Hoosier high schools set for Aug. 21, the first night of play across the state. None of those games were listed as canceled or postponed on Tuesday afternoon.
The Indiana High School Athletic Association has not announced any game cancellations as of Tuesday afternoon. The IHSAA has been working with Gov. Eric Holcomb’s office, the Indiana State Department of Health, and the Indiana Department of Education to provide guidance to its member schools during the COVID-19 pandemic.
For football programs, IHSAA guidelines include:
- Social distancing of 6 feet at all times while in the team box.
- No handshake at coin toss.
- Masks on sidelines.
- Maximum 250 people allowed in stands.
- Masks required for all individuals in the stands.
- No congregation at concessions.
The IHSAA said in guidance issued Aug. 6, “The IHSAA fully supports its member schools in determining what is in the best interests of the health and well-being of their student-athletes and staff. Each IHSAA member school’s athletic department will operate with the approval of its school administration in moving forward throughout the 2020-21 school year. It will be the decision of each local school district to determine if they can safely conduct athletic practices and contests.”