OHSAA winter tournaments put on hold

SCOTT TRUXELL/independent sports editor

COLUMBUS — It’s uncharted territory in Ohio and beyond.

At 12:45 p.m., just 15 minutes before the 45th annual Ohio High School Athletic Association’s Girls State Basketball Tournament was scheduled to tip off, OHSAA Executive Director Jerry Snodgrass announced that all winter tournament events would be immediately postponed due to growing concerns about the coronavirus COVID-19.

Division II state semifinalists Dayton Carroll and Beloit West Branch were warming up on the court at St. John Arena at Ohio State University when the announcement came that the girls state basketball tournament, the state individual wrestling tournament, the state ice hockey tournament and boys regional and state basketball tournaments have been put on hold.

The announcement was made after state and local officials recommended that no public gatherings take place to help stop the spread of the virus. It also came shortly after a number of college basketball tournaments were canceled, including the Big Ten, and a day after the NBA announced the season would be suspended because of COVID-19.

“We will use this time to work with the appropriate state authorities and health experts to determine our next steps moving forward,” Snodgrass said in a press release. “We realize this is disappointing for our participants and their fans, but the overall health and safety of everyone involved in our tournaments is our priority.”

“We have to do what’s right,” Snodgrass added in a press conference. “Trust me, if anyone knows this was a tough decision to make, I do know.”

Among the area teams affected by the decision – Parkway, Columbus Grove, Ottawa-Glandorf, Shawnee and Lima Senior’s boys’ basketball teams, Minster’s girls basketball team and Van Wert wrestler Gabe Steyer, who qualified for his third consecutive state tournament.

No timetable has been determined for possible rescheduling for the tournaments, and with so many unknowns surrounding COVID-19, and with spring sports scheduled to begin in late March and early April it’s not known if any of the winter sports tournaments can or will be rescheduled.

During a press conference, Snodgrass noted that an outright cancelation of those tournaments is a possibility.

“I don’t want to say they’re canceled – we know that’s on the table, but I also don’t want to go that forward with that yet,” Snodgrass said. “I do know it’s an option.”

The OHSAA will provide updates regarding ticket refunds.

In addition to tournaments being affected, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced Wednesday afternoon that all Ohio schools will be closed for three weeks, starting Monday, March 16.