Time out: Governor Whitmer again pushes back start of winter contact sports

Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) have again pushed back the start of several winter sports.

Governor Whitmer and MDHHS announced Friday (Jan. 22) that Winter contact sports – including MHSAA activities in girls and boys basketball, competitive cheer, ice hockey and wrestling – must remain non-contact through Feb. 21. The previous emergency order was set to expire at the end of January and would’ve allowed those sports to begin contact activities Feb. 1.

“We found out about this decision at 9:30 a.m. like everyone else, and we will address it as quickly as possible after taking the weekend to collect more information,” said Mark Uyl, executive director of the Michigan High School Athletic Association. “We did not anticipate this delay in winter contact practices and competition, and today’s announcement has created many new questions.

“Obviously, this is disappointing to thousands of athletes who have been training with their teams over the last week and watching teams in other states around Michigan play for the last two months.”

The MHSAA will have no other comments on Friday’s Governor/MDHHS announcements until early next week after more information has been gathered.