Despite concerns over the coronavirus outbreak, the high school spring sports season in the state of Missouri is still on.
Missouri State High School Activities Association announced in a written statement late Monday afternoon that it was not canceling any spring sports championships for the time being.
MSHSAA explained in the statement that it will continue to confer with state and local officials in regard to the option of either holding the respective state championships as scheduled or moving them to later dates if school districts remain in session.
"If we are able to maintain locations for hosting the championship series, and schools are wishing to participate in the post season, we will conduct the championships," Dr. Kerwin Urhahn - MSHSAA executive director - said in the statement. "We are not canceling any Spring sports at this time!"
MSHSAA further noted in the statement that if a school district is closed for a period of time due to COVID-19, no practices or games will take place. If a school district remains in session, it is the district's decision on whether to practice and play games.
As of Monday afternoon in Callaway County, both the South Callaway R-2 and New Bloomfield R-3 school districts had announced that they would suspend classes starting Wednesday and continuing through at least Friday, April 3.
"This is consistent with our prior efforts to execute a measured response under the guidance of the appropriate health and governmental authorities," Urhahn said in the statement.
Ryan Boland can be reached at (573) 826-2422, or on Twitter @FultonSunSports.