The Michigan High School Athletic Association is officially calling the rest of the year.
The MHSAA has canceled the remainder of its winter and spring sports seasons, according to the association this afternoon.
The move keeps the MHSAA "in compliance" with the executive order yesterday by Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to close all K-12 school buildings and move education online amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The association said the 2019-2020 school will be the first one without MHSAA finals for multiple sports since 1942-43 — when World War II "led to the elimination of finals in most sports."
On March 12, the MHSAA suspended its girls and boys basketball, girls gymnastics, boys ice hockey and boys swimming and diving tournaments.
No champions will be awarded in those sports for 2019-20.
On March 13, all sports were halted. Spring sports had "begun practice but not competition."
“We are heartbroken to not be able to provide these opportunities for Michigan’s student-athletes and especially seniors," MHSAA Executive Director Mark Uyl said. "We continue to hear from dozens asking us to hold out hope. But safety always must come first, and Governor Whitmer is making courageous decisions to safeguard the people of our state.
“We understand as much as anyone how much school sports mean to athletes and their communities. We had ideas and hopes for finishing winter and spring and helping bring some sort of normalcy after this long break. But this is the correct decision, and we will play our part in bringing schools and communities together again when the time is right.
“For now, we cannot state strongly enough that all students, staffs and others follow the guidelines established to slow the spread of this virus – we all must do our part.”
The MHSAA said it will provide guidelines in the coming weeks about "this unusual offseason" as student-athletes prepare for the fall season.
