New York High School Winter Sport Championships Canceled

If New York's high school sports teams compete this winter, it won't be for a state title.

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association announced on Friday it is canceling championship for all winter sports. Also, sports classified as "high-risk" are postponed until further notice. These include basketball, wrestling, boys lacrosse, competitive cheerleading, football, ice hockey, and volleyball. Some of those sports had been previously moved from fall to winter.

“When examining the feasibility of Winter State Championships, it became apparent that travel and overnight accommodations would create a unique challenge for our member schools,” said Dr. Robert Zayas, NYSPHSAA Executive Director, in a press release. “At this time, we must prioritize maximizing student participation without a focus on championship events.”

Along with travel and overnight concerns, the press release also listed questions surrounding whether venue capacity limits could accommodate a safe environment for players, coaches, and the community.

Low and moderate-risk sports as well as the 2021 spring sports championships are currently still on as scheduled.