The governing body for high school sports in Wisconsin rejected a proposal to move cross-country and other fall sports to 2021, opting instead for a delayed start to the regularly-scheduled fall season.
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Board of Control met for three hours virtually on Thursday before voting 8-3 in favor of having a fall sports season while being mindful of the health and safety concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cross-country, as well as other sports deemed to be "low risk" - girls golf, tennis, and swimming and diving - can begin practice on August 17. Football, boys soccer and boys and girls volleyball will begin later on Sept. 7.
The WIAA ruling also stated that it would provide schools and conferences that cannot play in the fall potential opportunity to play in the spring. The WIAA said it will work to develop spring options for those schools that cancel fall sports but did not provide any further details.
Earlier this week, the Big Eight Conference, which is comprised of schools in and around Madison, announced the cancelation of all conference competitions for fall sports as many school districts begin the year with virtual learning.
A group of schools in the southwestern part of the state had proposed delaying the start of all fall sports until March of 2021 with winter sports proceeding as scheduled and spring sports extending from May through July. The measure, which would have resulted in fewer meets for cross-country teams, was rejected.
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