Winter sports are back in full swing after having the start of the season pushed back three weeks. The Montana High School Association Executive Board issued a press release on November 4, 2020, explaining the reasoning behind the decision.

In the statement the MHSA was along with the National Federation of High School association made clear that the continuation of sports as well as other activities play a great role and are crucial to Montana youth in their growth and development as well as their mental end emotional well being.

An extensive process guided the boards decision in making such a recommendation. The MHSA moved forward with the belief that the safety of the student athletes, coaches, officials and fans at MHSA activities is paramount and the decision to move the start date to December 7 was the best way to help reduce the possibility of transmission by any participant.

This Monday gyms across the state were filled with student athletes ready to get the winter sports season started. Girls and Boys basketball practice began in earnest at all four Blaine County high schools, Chinook, Harlem, Hays/Lodge Pole and Turner. Wrestling practice began in Chinook, Harlem and Hays/Lodge Pole.

The teams may be in the gym getting prepared for the upcoming season, but they still have a few weeks to go before they can compete. As per the MHSA recommendations, member schools will have to wait until after the new year to compete. The first day contest can be held will be Saturday, January 2, 2021.

As a result schedules had to be modified and schools have been busy lining up their winter schedules. Boys and girls basketball will still be able to complete a 18 game schedule if opponents can be lined up. Emphasis will be on completing all conference games first and filling in the rest of the schedule as can be. The post season schedule will remain the same as originally scheduled for basketball.

Wrestling will undergo a significant change, most notably being that the Class B/C Divisional Tournaments will be held in two locations instead of four. Chinook, Harlem and Hays/Lodge Pole will compete in the Eastern Division this year. The divisional tournament has been pushed back to February 26-27 and the State tournament to March 5-6. Tournament sites and formats are still being discussed.

As in previous years the Blaine County Journal ~ News will look to do a Winter Sports Preview once again. We would like to publish this in the December 30 edition. We hope to include updated schedules for each school to include both basketball and wrestling.

Please look for any updates or changes in coming issues or contact your local school for up to date information regarding Winter sports.