By Ryan Sparks

The Daily World

I’ve got a number for you Twin Harbors sports fans and it’s one that may irk you a bit: 31.

That is the number of states that are playing high school sports, most notably football, at some point this fall.

You read that correctly.

Over 60 percent of the United States will be or already have started playing high school football this fall, including states with some of the highest COVID-19 case counts and death rates in the nation.

The state of Utah started it off when they played the first high school football games during the pandemic when its season kicked-off on Aug. 13.

Many states have delayed the start of the season by a few weeks to even an early October start, but they are playing this fall nonetheless.

Regardless of when they start playing, the fact is that they are playing while prep sports athletes, family, coaches and fans here in Washington have to wait until 2021 for the first prep sports event of the school year. And that is for a state that has handled coronavirus infection and morbidity rates well compared to many other states that are playing high school sports.

While the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association quickly announced this summer that it would delay traditional fall sports such as football and volleyball to the spring, then later moving all fall sports to after the first of the year, other states are currently embroiled in controversy over playing fall sports.

After backtracking on public statements supporting playing prep football in the fall, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, who has come under fire from critics for what they feel are draconian executive measures during the pandemic, made the decision to move football from the fall to the spring. The Michigan High School Athletic Association announced the move as late as Aug. 17, a mere 10 days before the state’s first prep games.

Whitmer and the MHSAA received a letter from the Detroit Superintendent of Public Schools, Nikolai Vitti, asking to reinstate the high school football across the state.

“After the surprising reversal to shift the season to the spring, vague reasons were provided, including rising concerns from athletic directors across the state with playing, limited audiences for games and the lack of clear support from the governor and the state health department,” Vitti wrote in his letter to Whitmer. “Factually, nothing changed from a player’s health perspective or risk analysis from strongly stating football would be played to it being postponed.”

While many state governing bodies, such as the WIAA, have followed recommendations passed by their state governors, one state in particular made national news this past week for opposing its governor’s orders.

The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association made waves across the prep sports landscape when it voted 25-5 to permit high school football this fall, going against the wishes of Governor Tom Wolf, who recommended in early August that the state should delay high school sports until 2021.

Seeing other municipalities’ superintendents and athletic governing bodies stick up for prep sports and its student-athletes, coaches and fans while the WIAA has not dared challenge Governor Jay Inslee’s instructions is irritating enough. But the fact that states were shown how to do high school sports safely and correctly during a pandemic earlier this summer only compounds those frustrations.

Back in the first few days of August, Iowa concluded its high school baseball season with a successful, safe and socially-distanced state championship tournament that drew national attention. In the process, the Iowa High School Athletic Association, which is the only state that allows for its baseball and softball seasons to be played in the summer, gave the country the framework for how it can be done.

Iowa concluded a 62-day season that culminated with a nine-day, 28-game state championship tournament that drew nearly 30,000 fans — a state-tournament record — at Des Moines’ Principal Park, home of the Chicago Cubs’ Triple-A affiliate.

Safety measures, such as limiting capacity per game, were in place to keep the teams and those in attendance safe from COVID transmission.

And, nearly a month after the conclusion of the tournament, there have been no reports of the event turning into a “COVID super-spreader.”

“There have not been any reports, that I’ve seen, about COVID being transmitted during tournament games,” said The Des Moines Register reporter Cody Goodwin, who covered the tournament. “I haven’t seen any report about that all (season), actually. This is something the IHSAA has prided itself on, that playing the games hasn’t led to virus transmission.”

So if Iowa can hold a baseball season in the summer, including a full state-tournament, while observing the same standard safety measures and practices that have become the custom across the United States, and without a report of it causing a spread of the coronavirus, then why can’t that be done here in Washington, or anywhere else for that matter?

We reached out to several Twin Harbors athletic directors and received a few responses that help to provide some answers to that question.

“The WIAA and local districts follow the guidelines and data of the state and local health departments, governor, and OSPI. Although it is extremely disappointing fall activities were shifted to the spring, I understand why the WIAA made its decision,” Elma AD Rob Ohashi said. “The safety and well-being of students, staff, officials, and fans are paramount. We will continue to plan and prepare for when we are able to resume activities and do so in a safe and responsible manner.”

“I’m one to follow the directions of leaders, so I fully support the WIAA’s delay with competition until 2021,” said Hoquiam AD Annette Duvall. “It is difficult and heartbreaking as sport is a huge component of the educational experience. However, the health and safety of all people is paramount.”

Raymond AD Mike Tully offered that liability plays a role in the decision-making process.

“Really, what all of this comes down to is risk management,” he said. “Each state association, and ultimately each school district, has to decide if the risks are worth it. In Washington, there are two risk management companies that handle pretty much all the school districts in the state. If a district goes against the advice of their risk manager, they elevate their chance of being sued if something goes wrong.

“I think the WIAA has made the best decision they can in the situation that we are in. Executive Director Mick Hoffman and his staff have a very difficult job right now, but they have done a great job of being open and transparent about their decision-making process. They are getting input from multiple state agencies when making their decisions and much of the information they are getting is changing constantly. The WIAA staff and executive board are really in a no-win situation. No matter what they decide, there is going to be a group of people who aren’t happy. … Ultimately, I just hope that we as a community do our part to reduce the spread of the virus so our kids can get back into school buildings and get back onto our courts and fields. It was gut-wrenching having to tell this past year’s seniors that their careers were over. I hope I don’t have to do that again this year.”

Several off-the-record sources informed us that the WIAA has no choice but to do what the state superintendent’s office and health boards are “recommending.” Some added that they were informed that not following the directives would lead to a loss of insurance by their carriers.

At this point, only time will tell if the WIAA made a wise decision or not to delay high school sports until 2021 or if they will be sitting on the bench until spring while other states will be celebrating successful seasons in the fall.