Barnstable High School Cancels Wrestling Season

BARNSTABLE, MA — Barnstable High School has canceled its spring wrestling season amid a rise in coronavirus cases throughout town.

The decision comes, as school officials grow concerned as coronavirus cases in the Barnstable school community and town spread.

According to state data released last week, Barnstable had the highest average daily rate of cases and the highest positive test rate in the state. In just a week, the town's positive test rate over the last two weeks spiked to 7.49 percent, up from 4.99 percent the week prior. New numbers from the state are expected to be released Thursday afternoon

Superintendent Meg Mayo-Brown said the higher rate of community spread has negatively affected Barnstable schools.

Last week, the district was notified of 45 cases across all nine school in the district. On Monday and Tuesday of this week, another 28 cases were reported in the schools. There's also 260 staff and students in quarantine as close contacts and 60 staff and students in isolation with COVID-19, Mayo-Brown said. This has also forced Barnstable Public School to go fully remote for at least Thursday and Friday.

Athletic Director Scott Thomas encouraged members of the wrestling team to compete in other sports. Other athletic opportunities are available to the Barnstable High School student body on the FamilyID platform.