DW athletes begin conditioning October 19

Both schools are working with county health departments for conditioning guidance

WAITSBURG—The Washington Interscholastic Athletics Association (WIAA) recently released a ‘conditioning’ schedule for high school students. The Dayton/Waitsburg athletics combine has worked with athletes and coaches to develop a conditioning schedule for male and female athletes.

Right now, coronavirus restrictions require students to stay within their district for conditioning. Waitsburg athletes must train in Waitsburg, and Dayton athletes must train in Dayton. Superintendent Mark Pickel said that he and Superintendent Strot of Dayton School District met with coaches Roy Rameriz (boys basketball) and Troy Larsen (football), and they discussed beginning what is being called “summer conditioning.” In a typical year, this conditioning would start in August; however, the coronavirus did not allow fall sports.

Starting October 19, Waitsburg athletes will have the opportunity to begin training for their sports. Football and boys basketball practices will be on Monday and Wednesday. Coaches for each sport will alternate schools to coach both Dayton and Waitsburg athletes. Volleyball and girls basketball practices will be Tuesday and Thursday, with the respective coaches alternating schools. Fridays will be available for weight training and conditioning.

Athletes and coaches will be grouped into ‘pods’ similar to the classroom pods to comply with distancing requirements and reduce virus transmission risk. Masks will be required during weight training and in training drills where students are less than 6 feet away from each other. All athletes are required to have a current physical exam prior to beginning practice. The school districts are working closely with their county health departments to update a plan as needed.

Currently, the conditioning plan goes through December 19. The adjusted basketball season is scheduled to begin December 28, but the season is pending coronavirus pandemic status and what risk group each county is in. Athletic competitions are not allowed until counties reach the WIAA risk-factor metrics. Initially, the WIAA was going to depend on counties reaching Stage 4 of the Safe Start reopening plan; however, the athletics association has since adjusted game schedules to follow a ‘high-risk,’ ‘medium-risk,’ and ‘low-risk’ meter.

Coaches have developed safety protocols and will hand those out to athletes before conditioning. The training is only available for high school students. There are no middle school sports at the moment.

During a school board meeting, board member Sarah Boudrieau asked if the districts had considered scholar-athlete standings. How will potential lettering athletes reach their required varsity-play time to earn their sports letter? She was worried that students would not have the incentive to participate in the sports programs, and athlete turnout could be low. Participation has been a problem in recent years for the Dayton-Waitsburg area sports.

Pickel explained that both concerns had been considered, but the seasons are completely dependent on the pandemic status. Because of that, he did not have any definite answers.

“It’s just too early to gauge what this is all going to look like,” Pickel said.

Stephanie Wooderchak said that letter requirements are determined by each district, and that Waitsburg did not have a plan at the moment.

Sports training schedules are available online at both school’s websites, http://www.waitsburgsd.org and http://www.daytonsd.org. If there are scheduling questions, contact Coach Troy Larsen.