Sandpoint moves forward with fall sports season
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY) Max Thielbahr catches a pass in a game at Moscow on Oct. 11, 2019. Moscow High School canceled all fall sports last night.
SANDPOINT — Sandpoint athletic director Kris Knowles’ phone was ringing off the hook today following Moscow High School’s announcement last night to cancel fall sports this season.
Knowles reassured parents, athletes, coaches and others in the community that SHS is moving forward with a fall season.
“Our intentions at Sandpoint High School are to play fall sports,” he said. “We have the support of our school board to do that and our intent is to continue to play fall sports as best we can.”
“Moscow’s decision was Moscow’s decision and that’s not Sandpoint’s decision at this point,” he added.
Moscow is believed to be the first high school in the state to pull the plug on the fall season due to the coronavirus pandemic. Moscow will instead do intramurals to avoid travel and contact with other communities.
The cancellation has an impact on all six SHS fall sports. Moscow, Lakeland and Sandpoint makeup the 4A Inland Empire, but now — at least this fall — the league only consists of Lakeland and Sandpoint.
The loss of games will have a significant impact on the Bulldogs.
“I don’t know that we’ll be able to replace them,” Knowles said. “I just don’t know who we would play at this point.”
In volleyball and boys and girls soccer, Sandpoint plays each school in the 4A and 5A Inland Empire League twice this season. Knowles said one option would be to play two teams in the IEL three times this fall and count one game as non-league.
“For about the 400th time this year we are going to realign our schedules,” he said.
The decision also impacts district tournaments. Now Lakeland and Sandpoint will be duking it out for a spot to state in each sport. Knowles said the IEL will meet next week to discuss schedule changes and reconfiguring district tournaments.
Throughout the past few months, Knowles said the IEL has been meeting weekly or biweekly to prepare and adjust for every possible scenario and they all know where each other stands.
Knowles said he believes Sandpoint coaches are taking the right approach and doing everything they can to play as many games as possible this fall.
Knowles said he is worried about a potential trickle-down effect from Moscow’s decision, but none of the conversations he’s had with other ADs around North Idaho are pointing toward them canceling the fall season. Knowles added that he isn’t surprised that a school in North Idaho decided to cancel.
“We were hoping all schools were going to be able to start and finish the season, but obviously were going to have to adjust minus Moscow,” he said. “As of today, we are moving forward.”