Westford School Committee Cancels Hockey, Basketball Seasons

WESTFORD, MA — There will be no more hockey or basketball for Westford public school students this winter, despite tearful pushback from students and parents.

Westford’s School Committee voted 4-3 Tuesday to cancel both seasons amid a second surge in coronavirus cases. At the beginning of the school year, the district had allowed team sports to continue, subject to a midyear check-in.

Superintendent of Schools Everett Olsen supported canceling the sports, citing the general increase in cases, the growing number of people 19 and younger contracting the virus, and a desire to avoid exposing coaches and students to the virus during indoor games and practices.

So far, some 441 people have tested positive for the coronavirus in Westford.

A School Committee member said during its meeting Tuesday the board was aware of one case of exposure to the virus related to the hockey program that had disrupted the resumption of in-person classes.

"I know I'm making some with athletes in the families unhappy, but I hope you will respect the fact that I did my homework," Olsen said. "Many of our coaches are also our teachers, so that could compromise the ability to provide instruction to all of our students."

But parents disagreed with the move.

Dr. Rebecca Rosenstein, mother of a Westford Academy basketball player, said she has worked with many adults at Emerson Hospital who have tested positive for the virus but no children had been admitted there.

"But I have seen countless numbers of children struggling with anxiety and depression and Isolation and hopelessness just like other pediatricians have, all related to COVID," she said adding she believes activities that bring joy and companionship and exercise can be the antidote.

Rosenstein said she believes Westford could offer a modified season by following state regulations, meaning no fans, no use of locker rooms and mandatory use of masks.

"I'm sure we could not find any other enthusiastic ambassadors for safety than our student-athletes," she said.

Another parent who worked in an emergency room echoed the sentiment about the long-term mental health danger of not having sports in schools.

Students from the girls varsity basketball team argued that Gov. Charlie Baker had not asked that schools cancel sports and pointed out their team has had no cases. The team also said they would follow every rule and commit to remote school if they could continue playing.

The School Committee discussed whether student athletes should be asked to abide by a code of conduct. Some members worried that players would just flock to unregulated athletic clubs if school sports were discontinued, but others said the priority should be getting kids back in school, not keeping contact sports going while coronavirus numbers were on the rise.

About 30 school districts plan to keep all of their winter sports by following mask and distancing guidelines from the state, according to Olsen.

School wrestling and indoor track programs have also been canceled in Westford by the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association.