When Cazenovia High School chose to go to all-remote learning until Nov. 12 in the wake of a COVID-19 case discovered at the high school early this week, it forced the school to cancel the rest of its athletic contests for the fall season.
Everything from boys and girls soccer to cross country and field hockey was affected as at least 60 students and teachers at the high school were asked to isolate and quarantine, in line with Madison County Department of Health guidelines.
In a letter sent Tuesday to district residents, Cazenovia athletic director Mike Byrnes explained the background for the decision, saying that the amount of students affected, and the amount of practice and game time lost, was too much to overcome.
“Unfortunately this means that all of our Fall 2020 game seasons must now come to a close, as there will be no time allotted after the potential return on or after Nov. 12 to resume the game schedule,” said Byrnes.
The girls soccer Lakers won all six games it played this fall, beating its opponents by a combined 29-2 margin. Cazenovia was set to face Christian Brothers Academy on Wednesday, Homer on Friday and Fabius-Pompey next Monday night.
This also affected four varsity boys soccer games, starting with Tuesday’s trip to West Genesee and continuing with games originally set for Christian Brothers Academy on Thursday, Westhill on Saturday and Homer on Nov. 10. Cazenovia played just four times this season, winning three of them.
As for the Cazenovia field hockey team, who has gone through a series of starts and stops this fall due to weather and other COVID-19 outbreaks (which canceled Cato-Meridian’s fall season), it saw three games wiped out at Camden and Baldwinsville this week, plus a Nov. 9 trip to Homer, the Lakers finishing its season 1-3-2.
Finally, the Cazenovia cross country teams were set to conclude their season Saturday hosting Marcellus at the Sean Googin Sports Complex, but that, too, is canceled.
Byrnes said that he was grateful to everyone in the Cazenovia community for pulling together to fit in all that they could in September and October.
“You all brought much pride to our school and community these past seven weeks (and) I am proud of the efforts made by all during this Fall 2020 season to function as safely and effectively as we did,” said Byrnes.
“While we all wish that the season could have concluded without this interruption, we all made the most of each day and should be proud of what was accomplished.”
