16 Suffolk HS teams sidelined in opening days of 'high-risk' sports resumption

Section XI Executive Director Tom Combs say they're also faced with the challenge of rescheduling the games in a shortened season. He says losing two days to snowstorms made matters even worse.

News 12 Staff

Feb 11, 2021, 3:15 AM

Updated 1,414 days ago

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Just days into "high-risk" sports restarting on Long Island, more than a dozen teams have already been forced to quarantine.
In Suffolk, 16 basketball and wrestling teams are currently sidelined -- 14 in quarantine due to either positive COVID-19 tests or contact tracing. Two have dropped out because of low numbers.
Section XI Executive Director Tom Combs say they're also faced with the challenge of rescheduling the games in a shortened season. He says losing two days to snowstorms made matters even worse.
"By not having school and not having to practice, we had to postpone and push that one game back," says Combs. "So, we moved in essence 32 basketball contests from this past Monday to the 25th of February.
Combs say the teams are following all COVID-safety protocols.
Stony Brook University Hospital infectious disease specialist Dr. Sharon Nachman says the situation highlights the perils of playing high-risk sports during a pandemic.
"I think it's not because of what the team is doing, but what the students are doing outside their team, and that's what we've talked about on many occasions," says Nachman. "That these adolescents and young adults are socializing, they're not wearing masks when they're socializing and more importantly, they feel quite well so they have no idea that they are infected by COVID or that that they're passing it to those they are visiting."
Combs says his student-athletes signed an oath to wear masks at all times and avoid social gatherings.
He pointed out that while 16 teams are out, the majority are playing ball.
"We're looking at 300 teams, so the majority of our teams are still moving on," says Combs. "We hope that they have the opportunity to continue in their season this year."
News 12 reached out to Nassau's high school athletic director but has not heard back yet.