Just as the Minnesota State High School Leagues readies to start winter competition on Thursday, an ill-timed winter storm system is creating some worries about whether or not many of Thursday's scheduled games will happen.
Winter sports finally get the 'green light' Thursday ending a pause on activities that started in mid-November as the state battled rising COVID-19 cases and ICU shortages.
In December, the MSHSL finalized its plans for a winter sports season with COVID-19 regulations that include mandatory face masks for student-athletes participating in practices or games, with an exceptions for wrestling, swimming and diving, gymnastics, and cheerleading.
John Oxton is the longtime head boys basketball coach at Lakeville North and told WCCO Radio's Steve Thomson that he sees face masks as more of an annoyance than a health risk for student-athletes.
"I feel badly for kids for kids because [masks] do make it hard for the kids to breathe and you couple that with just not being in shape," Oxton said. "We're trying to just worry about what we can control and that's not what we can control."
The turnaround for winter high school athletes is quick as practices started January 4.
"There's not much we can do about that. The kids, to be honest, aren't upset about the quick turnaround," Oxton said. "The conditioning is a concern and then you add-in having to wear masks. Our kids aren't complaining about it, though. They're just happy for the opportunity."
The Lakeville North boys basketball team opens its season Friday at Farmington in a South Suburban Conference match-up.
Last Friday, Let Them Play MN sued Governor Tim Walz and state officials in an attempt to repeal the state's mask mandate for high school and youth athletes. The suit alleges the state has not shown data backing-up the mandate.
The group, founded in August 2020, has been at odds with the Walz administration throughout much of the COVID-19 pandemic due to mandates and the mid-November pause that ended the fall sports seasons prematurely.
It's unclear when a ruling on the mask lawsuit will be handed down.
