'It's not good news:' Here's how area coaches are reacting to the IHSA putting hoops, wrestling on hold

Sycamore boys basketball coach Drew Stacy was on Twitter after getting back from school Tuesday when he said he saw something he didn't expect to see for about 24 more hours.

Gov. JB Pritzker's announcement on Tuesday that basketball and wrestling have been put "on hold" ahead of their Nov. 16 scheduled start. The IHSA was expected to make an announcement about the winter season on Wednesday but were given 15 minutes' notice ahead of the governor's announcement, the IHSA said in a statement.

"I had just gotten back from school and was looking at Twitter and stumbled across it," Stacy said. "I was shocked to see that. I wasn't expecting to see that tonight I was expecting to hear that tomorrow. It's not good news."

Stacy said he's trying to remain optimistic. Both he and DeKalb girls basketball coach Mark Sykes said even with the announcement, they are going forward like there will be a season starting on Nov. 16.

Although Stacy admitted he doesn't think that looks great at this point.

"I don't know what to think anymore, to be honest," Stacy said. "Here we were expecting an answer Wednesday and this comes out Tuesday night. It's frustrating that it doesn't seem like anybody is on the same page. The powers that be should be collaborating and making these decisions. I wasn't expecting to see that. I really don't know what to think."

Sykes said it's a good reason why people should work together.

"Everybody is looking for answers and nobody wants to make a bad decision," Sykes said. "That's frustrating that everybody is not on the same page, it appears. I'm not in those meetings so I don't know what's going on but somewhere it seems like interference in communication with all parties involved. I wish it was different."

Stacy said he's most disappointed for the players, especially the seniors. Sykes said his players are the reason he wishes there was a more concrete answer.

"I just wish for them we had some answer so we know how we can move forward to better our kids in any way we can," Sykes said. "As we've talked about the last few weeks and moths, it felt like a 50-50 coin flip on whether or not we'd be able to do this. With what's been going on in our schools, our communities, it's tough. We have a group of kids wanting and ready to play. That's very disappointing"

DeKalb athletic director Peter Goff said there was a 3 p.m. meeting scheduled Wednesday between statewide athletic directors and IHSA director Craig Anderson, and he would know more after that meeting.

"I think first and foremost the only thing that matters is the safety of everyone involved," Goff said. "If we can figure it out to see however everyone can be safe I'll be on every committee the state has."