The first state scheduled to finish its fall high school football championships announced Wednesday those games are canceled. In addition, the Alaska School Activities Association also ended all 2020 fall sports state championship events due to COVID-19.
The sports affected are football, swimming and diving, gymnastics, rifle, and volleyball.
According to a release, the state association's decision was based upon:
• Consultation with the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and the Anchorage Health Department.
• The status of COVID-19 case counts and projections of the case counts increasing in Anchorage and other parts of the state.
• The impact of holiday travel both into and out of Alaska.
Some football brackets had already begun, while others were scheduled to start this week. All were to finish Oct. 30, the first of any of the 35 states playing the sport in the fall. The next states scheduled to complete football championships are North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming, all ending the weekend of Nov. 13-14.
According to the release, regional championships would be allowed to continue, provided they were completed prior to Nov. 22.
Additionally, the state association announced the postponement of all other activities until the adoption of a revised schedule. The board of directors is scheduled to meet Nov. 9.
