After months of optimism and chewing on different scenarios, the HHSAA made it official today: The spring sports season has ended and will not be made up.
The decision scraps eight state championships, which were supposed to begin with boys volleyball and girls water polo on May 4. Judo, tennis, softball, track and field, golf and baseball all will be scrapped.
Among highlights that will be missing will be Chenoa Frederick of KS-Hawaii building off her eight career gold medals in the state track and field championships, four of them including a record last year. Kamehameha’s Skye Realin was going for her third straight judo gold.
Punahou has to put a number of team accomplishments on hold. The Buffanblu were going for a 13th straight state title in girls water polo, an eighth straight crown in boys volleyball, and an 18th straight championship in girls tennis.
The school was also going for a sweep of track and field team titles for the third year in a row.
Iolani was trying to get a fourth straight title in boys tennis.
The state does intend on having a Hall of Honor this year, but no banquet will be held.
HHSAA Executive Director Chris Chun issued the following statement:
“This decision to cancel the remainder of the spring season was extremely difficult for all involved considering the impact it will have on our students, parents, coaches and administrators throughout our state.
I would like to commend our leadership team from our five leagues in working together, thinking outside the box, in the face of an unprecedented crisis. Collectively, we have always planned for many different emergency scenarios from security threats to medical emergencies to natural disasters. In this case, the HHSAA and its member leagues used that same spirit and planning by expressing a willingness to discuss and explore every scenario and option possible to save the spring season. However, because the health and safety of our student-athletes and communities are our top priorities, there is no viable option to salvage the spring season. This decision was based upon state and county mandates, closure of facilities, and best health practices set forth by the Center of Disease Control and the Hawaii State Department of Health. We will continue to build upon the progress made in anticipation for the long-awaited return to sports.
To our seniors, we thank you for the positive contributions you made on your teams, schools and communities. While this worldwide event has caused you to grow up faster than planned, you all have very bright futures ahead. We hope the lessons learned while participating in education-based athletics, along with the friendships and memories made, will make a lasting impression.”
Super unfortunate that a lot of great athletes are ending their careers this way. Koa Eldredge and Makana Murashige are two others.
A huge loser is the OIA, which dominates softball state championships.