Dayton-Waitsburg athletics may resume February 15

DAYTON–Whether–or when–the South Central region has progressed to Phase 2 in Governor Inslee's "Roadmap to Recovery" will be the determining factor in the resumption of COVID-19-interrupted high school athletics for the Dayton-Waitsburg Combine program.

Workouts for a six-week "fall" sports season are penciled in to begin Monday, February 15, according to a news release from the DW Athletic Combine January 28. The two sports will be football and volleyball, and no games or matches will be played until the counties of Columbia, Walla Walla, Benton, Franklin, Yakima and Kittitas meet three of four specific measurements to advance to Phase 2, and stay there.

"We told the kids before starting this that it's possible to practice six weeks and never play a game," said Dayton Superintendent Guy Strot. "It's about half and half; half said they're fine with that. I'm hopeful because the South Central Region has made three of the four metrics.

"The bottom line is we're willing to go forward and let our kids play," he said.

The DW Combine Committee, Strot said, will meet again this Friday, February 5, and will have the latest coronavirus numbers from the state to consider. "I anticipate we'll be meeting every Friday from now on," he said.

Even with a green light for practices and games, there are plenty of challenges ahead, Strot noted. February has the potential of snow and freezing temperatures. "I'd like to see the field lined before we get a layer of snow," Strot said. Other issues such as water for teams and rest rooms, allowing spectators, and another "whole host of questions" remain, Strot said.

And there won't be volleyball matches or football practices with pads until the region reaches Phase 2, he added.

The DW Volleyball program has a new head coach, Tracy Barron, and the Lady Wolfpack will include Columbia Burbank, Riverview, WWVA and TriCities Prep in its regional league. The other division of the Eastern Washington Athletic Conference (EWAC) will include Mabton, Kittitas, White Swan, Highland, Cle Elum-Roslyn and Granger. Barron will be assisted by Karen Huwe.

A 12-game schedule is slated to start February 23 and play every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday through March 30. If any matches are canceled for any reason, it will eliminate the possibility of naming a league champion, the schedule footnotes indicate.

"I'm excited to get started," Barron told the Chronicle. "The kids are excited to get started with something to do other than school and go home. My fingers are crossed that we'll be going to Phase 2."

Barron said she doesn't have numbers of sign-ups but athletes are being encouraged to join the team and get their physicals, and other pre-season tasks completed.

Football will start with the season opening on Saturday, February 27 and then with games every Friday in March, culminating with a crossover day Tuesday, March 30, all dependent on the region being in Phase 2 and with the provisio that any cancellation nixes to prospect of naming a league champion.

Dayton-Waitsburg will be in a five-team "East" subdivision of the EWAC, including Columbia-Burbank, Riverview, Mabton, and TriCities Prep. Five teams are in the West division: Highland, Cle Elum-Roslyn, Kittitas, Granger and White Swan.

At the end of five weeks of games, the two divisions will play crossover games on Tuesday, March 30, to determine a league champion.

"We are excited to get going," said Football Coach Troy Larsen. "The seniors really deserve a chance to play." Larsen hopes for at least 30 players turning out.

While in Phase 1, Larsen said practices will be in pods of five, 30 yards apart, and, if the region goes to Phase 2, it'll be full pads "and we can play our league's shortened schedule." He noted that players must wear mouthguards and masks at all times.

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association (WIAA) has set three shortened seasons for the remainder of the 2021 school year. After the Feb. 15-Mar. 29 "fall" season, the "spring" season will be seven weeks from Mar. 30-May 10, and "winter" will be May 11-June 19.

In the January 28 release, the Combine Committee stipulated that the season may be canceled or continued at any time prior to February 15. Determining factors include phase level, transportation, athlete participation and availability of facilities/fields.

DW football practices and home games will take place in Waitsburg. DW volleyball practices and home games will be in Dayton.

Student-athletes, coaches, fans and officials will be required to wear masks at practices, games and matches.

Practices will be allowed during Phase 1, the release stated, in pods of no more than six people.

Spectator access to games and matches has not been determined. School administrations will provide those details after Phase 2 is announced.

Volleyball athletes are required to have five practices prior to competition. Football players must have 10 practices to play in a game.