UIL meet delayed because of coronvirus concerns
By Kathy Thomson
Albany High School students are dealing with numerous schedule changes and cancellations due to the COVIC-19 pandemic including postponement of the District 8-2A academic contest, originally scheduled to take place next Monday, March 23.
“The University Interscholastic League has said we cannot have our district meet until after March 29,” said AHS UIL coordinator Rick Davis. “I have not heard officially when we will have it, but that they were looking at the first week of April.”
In a press release updated on Monday, March 16, UIL representatives informed academic coaches and coordinators that district academic meets, originally scheduled March 23-28, may now be held sometime between March 30 and April 11.
“Please know UIL leadership is working diligently to adjust to this rapidly evolving situation and will share updates as soon as possible,” said UIL executive director Dr. Charles Breithaupt. “To support the health and safety of our students and communities, the UIL is suspending all UIL sanctioned contests, rehearsals, practices, and workouts due to the outbreak of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) in Texas. Effective March 16, all UIL interscholastic activities are suspended through March 29.”
Davis said that he hopes Albany students will take advantage of the delay to better prepare themselves. However, with Albany schools closed through March 31, and all UIL practice suspended for now, the students would need to do any preparation on their own, as would their competitors.
“I hope that things aren’t continually pushed back and finally cancelled for the year,” said Davis. “I know we have seniors who are hoping to have one more successful trip to state!”
The district meet is currently set to take place in Stamford, sometime between Monday, March 30 and Saturday, April 11.
As of press time, the regional and state meet schedules remained as originally scheduled, with the Region 1 meet at Odessa College on April 17-18, and the state meet at the University of Texas Austin campus from April 30 through May 2.
