All Athletic Events Cancelled by OSSAA Due to COVID-19
The Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Associaiton (OSSAA) met on Thursday, March 26, 2020 and officially ended the 2019-2020 sports season in the state of Oklahoma due to the COVID-19 pandemic that is sweeping the nation. The vote from the board of directors was unanimous and comes just a day after the Oklahoma State Board of Education moved all schools in the state to a distance learning model for the remainder of the school year. With that announcement school buildings, including all athletic facilities both indoor and outdoor, are closed until the end of the school year.
The cancellations include the Class 2A-6A State Basketball Tournaments, which the Bronchos (4A-#8) qualified for, as well as all spring sports for the remainder of the year including Golf, Soccer, Baseball, and Track & Field. Also included in the cancellation are all spring activities in other sports such as spring football practice and any sport-specific camps. David Jackson, Executive Director of the OSSAA said, "It's disheartening to allow those teams that have worked really hard to get to the state tournament to not have a chance to play in it. For a lot of people, that's a once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment."
Bethany Athletic Director Jon Arthur added, "Even though this decision was most likely for the best it doesn't make it any easier on the young people and coaches who have prepared for this moment for a long time. Some of our seniors have been preparing for this season for their entire lives just to have it taken away. What is even harder is that many college athletes will get eligibility given back to them with this season being canceled, but for most of our high school athletes they will never play their sport again. It is truly a heart wrenching end for our players and coaches." Arthur went on to add, "We would just like to give a big thank you to the young people who have represented Bethany so well over their high school careers as well as the coaches that put in an unbelievable amount of time in getting their teams and facilities ready. Bethany is truly fortunate to have this great group of student-athletes and coaches representing us."
An announcement has not yet been made in regards to summer and fall athletic events.