'I'm disappointed for the kids': Coaches react to IDPH putting basketball, wrestling on hold

Area basketball and wrestling coaches had plenty to say about the Illinois Department of Public Health’s decision to elevate basketball to a “high risk” sport and put a hold on both sports. Below are some thoughts from area coaches:

Bureau Valley boys basketball coach Jason Marquis

“At the end of the day, allowing sadness, frustration to carry on for any prolonged amount of time over things you can’t control is mostly ineffective. They need to put their efforts into controlling what they can control. Our focus (Tuesday night) is going home, getting our school work done, brushing our teeth, waking up tomorrow and getting ready to go to work and have a good day of school.”

Fieldcrest boys basketball coach Matt Winkler

"We have taken this all day by day and the kids have been working hard. We have been preparing like were going to open official practices Nov. 16 and have our first game Dec. 1. However, things change all the time, so we'll just wait and see what this all means for basketball programs across the state.
"I think my sentiments aren't any different from any other coach in the state … we just want to play."

Hall boys basketball coach Mike Filippini

“If they say we can’t play we can’t play. We’ve got to abide by their rules. We’ve been practicing twice a week and haven’t had any problems. We haven’t had any cases, outbreaks, anything. I know it’s happened at other schools, but it hasn’t happened to us.”

La Salle-Peru boys basketball coach Jim Cherveny

“My initial reaction was I feel really bad for my team because I think we have a really great group of guys this year who are really going to mesh well. We’ve got a lot of experience coming back. I thought it’d be a really fun season with an ultra competitive, motivated and experienced team.”

La Salle-Peru wrestling coach Matt Rebholz

“I’m very eager to start the season, but at the same time I’m glad there are people out there making decisions to protect people because we’re in the middle of a pandemic.

“The positive thing about (the announcement) is they said the world hold. It’s not off. They didn’t say it’s canceled for the year. We’re just on hold.”

Marquette boys basketball coach Todd Hopkins

“This doesn’t bode well for any indoor sports, to be honest … But we have to do what we have to do. I’m pretty disappointed and so are the kids. You just feel for the kids who are working so hard to get ready for their season. Now, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens next.”

Mendota girls basketball coach John Hansen

“I was bringing the balls out of the closet for practice, so it kind of caught me off guard. … I wasn’t surprised, but it was definitely a pretty big kick because we have people invested and people excited, so it was a pretty big buzz kill for everyone. … The varsity girls are struggling because this is the first time in two or three years where our contact days were loaded with girls showing up. They were really dedicated and really excited about what we could do this year. They went from anger to sadness to anger to hope this is maybe a short term thing.”

Newark girls basketball coach Barb Scott

"I thought this news would be coming out (on Wednesday) and we actually used one of our contact days today. I have been hopeful all along and tried to stay as positive as I can that we'd be starting practices in a few weeks. I know how much the girls are looking forward to getting things started, so I just feel for of our kids. They want this so badly and it's disappointing that aren't going to be able to move forward right now.
"Ultimately everyone's health is the most important thing, I think we can all agree on that, but it's just a very tough line to follow."

Ottawa wrestling coach Peter Marx

"This isn't a huge shock to me. The bigger shock is that they just didn't come out and move it to the summer like the wrestling community has been proposing to the IHSA for a while now. That's what we're hoping for. We know that is the best chance for us to have a season. We're all looking forward to having a summer season, but we'll go with what the state says.
"Under the guidelines they have right now, with a 50-person limit, it was going to be virtually impossible to have a season anyway. That was a plan that was designed to fail in a lot of respects."

Princeton boys basketball coach Jason Smith

“I’m disappointed for the kids more than anything. Especially if we don’t get to have a season, I’d be disappointed for the seniors. I mean, this is their last chance to play basketball in high school. I know we talk about life is more than just sports and what not, but it’s a big part of life. For them to get that part of their life taken away, makes me hurt for them.

“And I hope this is justified when it’s all said and done and not just for political beliefs.”

Princeton wrestling coach Steve Amy

“(Postponing wrestling to the summer) has been on the IHSA docket for a month now. It was discussed at the meeting in September. Hopefully, that’s what’s going to happen and we’re not canceled canceled and we’ll find out (Wednesday) whatever the IHSA says.”

Putnam County girls basketball coach Jared Sale, on Twitter

“No timetable. No criteria to meet to allow the kids to play. No reason given to move basketball from medium risk to high risk after publicly stating IDPH would follow NFHS guidelines. All while every single bordering state is allowing basketball to go on. Pathetic.”

St. Bede girls basketball coach Tom McGunnigal

“I’m still going to wait for the IHSA to come out and talk (Wednesday). We plan to go the rest of the week because that’s what we were allowed. We’ll see what the IHSA has to say. It’s good to have activity. Physical exercise is important. We have a very competitive group of girls. We have girls who want to be active. We’re following the guidelines and rules. We have our masks on. We haven’t had any cases. There are inherent risks in living life. It’s hard when you don’t get a chance to do what you love to do.”