NIAA officially cancels rest of spring sports season

Robert Perea, The Fernley Reporter

What was a foregone conclusion Tuesday, became official Thursday.

Following Governor’s Steve Sisolak’s announcement Wednesday that schools will remain closed through the end of the school year, the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association Board of Control on Thursday canceled the rest of the spring sports season.

“It is understood that this is a tremendous disappointment for everyone connected in any way to education-based athletics,” NIAA Executive Director Bart Thompson wrote in a statement. “The passion associated with the programs and competition are what make it an effective tool in accomplishing the mission of our member schools. We particularly empathize with our student athletes, especially the Class of 2020, who are denied the opportunity of participation this Spring. We all look forward to the day when education-based sports programs safely resume.”

The NIAA Board of Control was scheduled to hold its regularly scheduled meeting Thursday, so it put off making a formal statement following Sisolak’s announcement Tuesday, until it had the chance to meet as a Board.

The NIAA is expected to discuss plans and alternatives for fall sports during the summer.