As cases tick upward, the coronavirus is starting to have an even more negative role in winter sports in the Fort Mill School District.
Several teams within the Fort Mill School District are feeling the impact of the virus through cancelled games either because of the virus in their own programs or because of their opponent’s issues with the virus.
At Fort Mill High, the boys’ varsity basketball team has had nearly two weeks’ worth of games wiped out due to the virus inside their program. They are currently schedule to get back to play Dec. 21 in the Nation Ford Holiday Classic tournament. The Jackets last played Dec. 1 at Lancaster. They currently sit at 0-4 on the season.
While the girl’s program hasn’t had issues that has caused them to cancel games, the team’s game against Indian Land this week was cancelled as Indian Land is currently doing online only classes because of being short staffed at the school due to either the virus itself or staff quarantining. In turn this has cancelled all athletic activities until Dec. 28 for the school. The Fort Mill girls’ team will be back in action Friday against Northwestern at home. The Lady Jackets are currently 3-4 on the season.
The Indian Land athletic activities cancellation has also delayed the start of Nation Ford wrestling season, as they were supposed to take on the two-time defending 3A state champion Warriors wrestling team Dec. 14 to open the season. The Falcons’ wrestling program will now open their season at Lexington this weekend.
Nation Ford has also had basketball games cancelled as their game against East Clarendon was cancelled Dec. 15. East Clarendon is in virtual learning as a school district as well also cancelling all sporting activities until after their winter break.
One team that has really gotten hit this winter with COVID issues is the Catawba Ridge wrestling program. Not only did they have their share of issues with the virus inside their own program, they are now having to rework their entire schedule and it is uncertain when their season will start.
The Copperheads’ wrestling program was supposed to start the season Dec. 16 at Region 3-4A opponent South Pointe and then participate in the Milltown Duals at Fort Mill Dec. 19, but because of the virus within the program both of those dates were cancelled. That pushed their start back to Dec. 21 hosting Lancaster. However, that match is now cancelled because Lancaster, like Indian Land, has had all of its athletic activities cancelled until Dec. 28. According to its current schedule, Catawba Ridge wrestling won’t start their season until Jan. 2 as of now. That schedule, like all this winter, is subject to change.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
