As the fall sports season begins to wrap up, winter sports are the next concern for Mendham High School. Sports including track, swimming, basketball, ice hockey, and wrestling are in jeopardy as a result of the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. Following Governor Murphy’s announcement to resume indoor sports last October, the New Jersey Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) has revealed its procedures for the winter season. 

According to patch.com, practices will begin December 3, with competition starting December 21 and ending February 3, 2021. These will be limited to 25% capacity, with the prohibition of spectators. Basketball holiday tournaments, wrestling quad meets, and other invitational meets are currently up in the air. The NJSIAA announced that they “will continue to monitor and advise as to what may or may not be permissible”. However, this past Monday Governor Murphy announced that all interstate games and tournaments for youth sports, including high school, will be prohibited. 

Despite the NJSIAA’s plans for an abbreviated winter season, on October 30 N.J. saw the Burlington County Institute of Technology shut down their winter sports due to COVID concerns. As stated on NJ.com, the district is the second in the state to cancel their winter sports for the upcoming season, joining Burlington City.

At Mendham, winter sports will be the first indoor sports played this school year. As N.J. endures the Coronavirus day by day, the state’s transmission rate has increased to 1.23 as of November 8 with hospitalizations at a four-month high. Mendham’s winter season is on track to begin, yet case numbers are rising. The pandemic is far from over and because of this, winter sports are at risk of cancelation.