CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- While some high school athletes in other states played games this weekend, local student-athletes are anxious to join them.
Dozens of athletes gathered Sunday morning at the McCook Athletic Center to call for a return to in-person school and sports.
Wheaton Warrenville South senior Jaylen Brown hopes to play football in college and feels he's at a disadvantage with recruiters, because his season has been pushed to the spring while students in Indiana are playing now.
"I know I haven't gotten the chance to put myself out there more this year, and I know other kids out there are getting the opportunity," he said.
Brown said he and other athletes are willing to do whatever it takes to return to school and the sidelines, including temperature checks and wearing masks.
"Sign any waivers, do whatever we can to keep everyone safe and go back to school effectively so we can learn at a higher level and play sports again," he said.
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Nora Oberhoffer said she and her family debated moving from Glen Ellyn to Wisconsin so her sophomore could play football this fall.
"All the kids around us are playing sports, and they are going out of state to play, because of the rules and regulations," she said. "We are being crippled by our state."
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Spring athletes like Jordan Bodden already had one seasons cut short by COVID-19.
The junior at Wauconda High School is worried this year may also be cut if there's a spike in cases or other problems arise.
"Why do I get to be affected two years in a row? I already missed out on all of those games, all that opportunity to get film, or to get colleges looking at me," she said.
All attended the rally encouraging the Illinois Department of Public Health and the Illinois High School Association to come to an agreement this week about resuming sports.