New Timeline for MHSAA Sports, Winter Competitions Begin in 2021

A few days after the Michigan High School Athletic Association put their postseasons in three sports on pause, their Representative Council completed a new timeline for when the state titles will be determined.

The MHSAA's council, which includes several athletic directors statewide, met on Wednesday, November 18^th, to discuss the timeline for the postseason schedules for Girls Volleyball, Girls Swimming and Diving in the Lower Peninsula, and both 8-Man and 11-Man Football. The three-week stoppage came after the emergency order from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services on Sunday, November 15^th to shut down several businesses and activities due to the rampant spread of COVID-19 over the last month.

When the stoppage was announced, the Girls Swimming and Diving State Finals were slated to take place November 20^th and 21^st at three Michigan high schools. Volleyball was scheduled for its State Quarterfinals on November 17^th, followed by the Semifinals November 19^th and 20 and the Finals on November 21^st The final two rounds were all set to take place here in Battle Creek at Kellogg Arena.

Lastly, football still had a long way to go. The 8-Man ranks were scheduled to hold their State Semifinals and the 11-Man teams remaining were to hold their Regional Finals.

The MHSAA formally announced the new schedule that remains for the postseason with the intent to complete all three Fall sports before the end of 2020. These competitions will be held after the emergency order is lifted December 8^th, barring any further delays.

Girls Swimming and Diving - The Diving finals will be held Tuesday, December 22^<nd, followed by the Swimming finals on Wednesday, December 23^rd. Division 1 will be held at Hudsonville High School, Division 2 at Grand Rapids Northview and Division 3 at Lake Orion. Among the local divers, Kennedy Lynn of Marshall will be competing at Lake Orion after finishing seventh in Regionals at St. Johns.

Volleyball - The State Quarterfinals will now take place on Tuesday, December 15^th at neutral sites, followed by the Semifinals at Kellogg Arena December 17^th and 18^th. The Finals are Saturday, December 19^th. Two area squads remain in the postseason for volleyball with Bronson in Division 3 and St. Philip in Division 4. Bronson will play Monroe St. Mary Catholic at Whitmore Lake High School for their Quarterfinal. St. Philip's Quarterfinal will be at Portage Northern against Lansing Christian.

Football - For the 8-Man teams remaining, the State Semifinals in both division will be played either Tuesday, December 15^th, or Wednesday, December 16^th. The State Finals take place either December 21^st or 22^nd at Midland Community Stadium in Midland. For the 11-Man squads, the Regional Finals are also either December 15^th or 16^th, followed by the State Semifinals December 21^st and 22^nd. The State Finals will take place at Ford Field in Detroit with Divisions 2, 4, 6 and 8 on Monday, December 28^th, followed by Divisions 1, 3, 5 and 7 on Tuesday, December 29^th. None of our area teams remain in the postseason for football.

With the shift of the postseasons in these sports, the Representative Council also stated that they will determine if the postseasons for the Winter sports will be pushed back. That meeting is scheduled for December 4^th Competitions in these sports are now slated for January 4, 2021. Practices in these sports are already taking place, but are set for virtual workouts and communications during the three-week pause.