Murphy – As COVID-19 cases continue to rise, the virus has started to wreak havoc on sports in Cherokee County. Each high school had events postponed this week in connection to the virus.
Andrews football’s game at Cherokee on Friday was cancelled due to COVID-19 cases within the program. With the Wildcats having a typically small roster, it doesn’t take a lot to not have enough players. That’s what happened, as head coach James Phillips said the team has enough players in quarantine to leave their roster too thin for the game.
The game was declared a no contest, and Andrews will be looking for a game to fill what was previously an open date Friday, Sept. 17. The N.C. High School Athletic Association requires teams that cancel games help their opponent find another team to play, which Andrews did by connecting Cherokee to Avery County. The two teams played Friday.
The players who aren’t quarantining practiced last week, with the team treating it as a bye week. Athletes have to quarantine for 10 days after a positive test, then one day symptom free and off all medication, before starting the gradual return to play progression. The progression involves increasing the level of activity until they are cleared to play.
The Cherokee County Board of Education has voted against a mask mandate, making face coverings optional in schools. Andrews athletic director Frank Maennle said masks are optional but strongly encouraged.
“They know the ramifications that the only way to possibly get a full season in is to wear the masks,” Maennle said. “With it being optional, they’re entitled to their own decisions as far as that goes.”
Murphy’s football team is also dealing with COVID cases at the moment, though the Bulldogs already had last week off on the schedule. They return to the field Friday against Georgia Force.
Murphy volleyball has dealt with COVID as well, though the team has no positive cases. With case numbers in the school rising, the team cancelled Thursday’s match against Hiwassee Dam out of caution. Both teams had started to wear masks indoors the last two weeks as a precaution.
“We can’t control other people, but we can control what we do,” Murphy football head coach Joseph Watson said. “If we can wear a mask to help protect our team, and help protect our season and socially distance from those who are not wearing a mask, then we’re going to do everything we can do to protect us and protect our season.”
While Hiwassee Dam volleyball had its match against Murphy postponed, the Lady Eagles had the same thing happen with a match against Hayesville on Aug 23. Though the Yellow Jackets did not have any positive tests, several members of the team weren’t feeling good and Hayesville postponed the match as a precaution.
Though the team isn’t wearing masks, head coach Sam Walker is trying to keep the junior varsity and varsity teams as separate as possible so the coronavirus won’t be able to spread as easily.