'This would not be in my script:' ADs figuring out how to handle hoops

Chauncey Carrick knows that thanks to the IHSA's vote on Wednesday, Sycamore can have a boys and girls basketball season.

Whether or not there will be one is still up in the air.

"I would say that we are definitely interested in playing basketball," Carrick said. "We would love to play basketball. With this just coming out I need time to talk to my superintendent. I believe our intent would be to play and that's our hope."

The IHSA board cleared the way for basketball to play on Wednesday even though on Tuesday Gov. JB Pritzker and the IDPH changed the risk level for the sport, effectively putting it on hold. IHSA director Craig Anderson in a press conference Wednesday said there could be ramifications from the Illinois State Board of Education for public schools that elect to play basketball.

In a separate press conference, Pritzker said districts would potentially be taking on a legal liability.

So while Carrick said the intent is to go forward with a season – practices are slated to start Nov. 16 and games Nov. 30 – he's not sure if it will be feasible.

And given how the 24-hour period in which Pritzker announced the hold on hoops, to the IHSA's decision to defy that, Carrick said he didn't know what a time frame will look like if Sycamore will go forward with its season.

"The way it's gone the last 24 hours I have no idea what's going to happen," Carrick said. "I appreciate the IHSA board taking a stand. I also understand that we need to continue to do what's best for our students of Sycamore. ... As far as a time frame, it's hard to say. If you asked me Monday how this would shake out over the last 24 hours, this would not be in my script."

DeKalb athletic director Peter Goff said he's also in a wait-and-see mode – on not only more guidance from the IHSA but approval from the school board, which is next scheduled to meet Nov. 17.

"Hopefully everything goes through and our kids can get up there in compete," Goff said. "If we can do it safety-wise, then I hope we get to play."

Goff said safety is the top concern, but added that through contact days in all sports coaches and athletes have done well so far.

"Our kids and coaches in all sports have done a remarkable job of keeping our student-athletes safe," Goff said. "Our kids have done a great job listening to what guidelines we have to have."

The IHSA also announced that most winter sports – boys swimming, gymnastics, cheerleading and dance – will go on as planned.

Wrestling, however, will be put off until the summer season, slated to run April 19 to June 26. Baseball, softball and track field are slated for the summer season as well.

Genoa-Kingston wrestling coach Chad Wilmarth said he's keeping an optimistic outlook and is in favor of anything that will allowed the sport to be played this school year.

"At this point coaches, athletes gotta stay positive with the right mentality in having some kind of season," Wilmarth said. "Something is always better than nothing. We want to get these seniors some kind of familiarity of what a season should look like. Some type of season is better than none."

Carrick said while the move to the spring may increase the chances of the season happening, it may have a negative effect on the sport.

"It's going to be asking kids who play multiple sports to choose," Carrick said. "It puts wrestling up against baseball and track and field. It's one more boys sport to have in the spring. It's basically pitting programs against programs. For big schools, 3A schools, they'll be fine. But for a school like us that relies on kids to be out for more than one sport it could be a big detriment."