AZ High School Winter Sports Canceled As Coronavirus Surges: AIA

ARIZONA — Arizona high schools will go without sports this winter, the Arizona Interscholastic Association said.

The AIA Executive Board voted Friday in a 5-4 decision to end boys and girls basketball, wrestling and soccer seasons before they were set to begin on Jan. 18. The season had previously been delayed due to a sharp increase in coronavirus cases statewide.

“We do not see the situation improving very quickly. Unfortunately, it does not appear that there will be adequate time before the start of the spring season for a winter season to occur,” AIA Executive Board president Toni Corona said during the special meeting.

Arizona reported 11,658 new cases and 197 additional deaths Friday, with 93 percent of ICU beds full, according to data from the Arizona Department of Health Services. The state currently has the highest infection rate in the world.

In a news release, the AIA board said that hospital capacity left them concerned "that injured students may be unable to receive needed care due to a lack of beds or available medical professionals."

The Arcadia High School girls' basketball team's official Twitter lamented the decision, saying the state had the same concerns when the AIA delayed the season's start in late 2020.

"Kids were flexible, excited to play," the tweet read. "Hard lesson, we all took their word. Will AIA reimburse for money spent relying on their assurance of 1/18?"

Likewise, Valley Christian Athletics said it was "heartbroken" for its students and coaches but that it was working on a solution to play outside of the AIA. The school's statement said more information would be coming next week.

"There are a lot of emotions right now and we are extremely disappointed with the final decision of the executive board," the school said.