The Wisconsin Valley Conference announced a delayed start to the fall sports season following a meeting between school superintendents and local public health officials Monday.
The decision pushes practice for "low-risk" sports like cross country to a September 1st start, with competition beginning no earlier than September 17th. The decision also comes shortly after the WIAA voted in favor of an August 17th start for these sports.
Concerns about the WIAA-approved August start date arose when health officials from the four-county conference advised WVC schools to carry out four weeks of in-person classes before allowing competition.
The delay will "allow for monitoring and reacting to COVID-19 transmission rates within the coming weeks," the WVC wrote in a press release. "Gradually introducing athletics and co-curriculars to school programming provides the best chance of successfully reopening."
The WVC includes: D.C. Everest, Marshfield, Merrill, Stevens Point, Wausau East, Wausau West and Wisconsin Rapids.