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Buffalo School District cancels all fall sports, practices and workouts

Posted at 12:26 PM, Sep 15, 2020
and last updated 2020-09-15 23:30:42-04

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The COVID-19 crisis is forcing the Buffalo Public School District to make a drastic move. On Tuesday, Superintendent Dr. Kriner Cash announced that all fall sports, including practices and workouts will be canceled.

This is the full statement provided by Dr. Cash.

"The Buffalo Public Schools is committed to the shared responsibility of public health and safety. After a thorough analysis of the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and major associated health data in our community that emerge daily, along with significant operational challenges, the Buffalo Public School District has made the decision to cancel all Fall sports including practices and workouts. At a time when all BPS students are learning remotely, the safety of our students and staff is always our highest priority."

The BPS Director of Athletics told 7 Eyewitness News those challenges include transportation to practices and games, enforcement of the two spectators per player rule, completion of athlete physicals, and students being able to safely use locker rooms and other facilities with buildings being closed to students.

City Honors Girls Varsity Soccer players Mary Glavey and Natalie Milne were looking forward to their senior season. They called Tuesday's news "crushing." The team is coming off a Section VI finals appearance last season. Glavey said they were looking forward to another chance at winning it all.

“It’s been so long leading up to us finally being seniors, the two of us, that it’s a bigger let down than it would be I think for different years,” Glavey said.

In August, Governor Andrew Cuomo announced low-risk sports, including soccer, cross-country and swimming could resume starting September 21.

There's no word yet on whether these fall sports will be postponed to spring, like football is statewide.