Michigan high school girls swimming state championship meets have been postponed after a new COVID-19 restriction, but has a new start date released by the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA).
Originally scheduled for the week before Thanksgiving, the girls state meets have been pushed to December, but now are scheduled for Jan. 15-16.
There are three divisions in Michigan high school swimming and the state meets will occur at three separate locations. Diving will be on Jan. 15 with swimming timed finals on Jan. 16.
The meets were already changed to timed finals to help combat the possible spread of COVID-19 by limiting contact between swimmers with fewer swims.
The MHSAA athletes still participating in tournament play will be allowed to do so as part of a Michigan Department of Heath & Human Services (MDHHS) pilot rapid testing program designed to gain insight and collect data on the spread of COVID-19 as the MDHHS plans to provide expanded rapid testing availability to schools in January. It is anticipated that specifics and details of the Fall tournament pilot testing program will be coming from the MDHHS.
Other fall sports in Michigan also saw their postseasons postponed. Football and volleyball are the only other MHSAA sports in Michigan that haven’t completed their fall seasons. Boys water polo is a fall season but not sanctioned by the MHSAA. It is governed by the Michigan Water Polo Coaches Association and had already postponed its season to the spring.
All indoor Winter sports – which are not part of the pilot rapid testing program – remain on pause from the MDHHS until Jan. 16, although girls and boys alpine skiing season – competed outdoors and following safety protocols including all activity must be outdoors – will be allowed to begin practice Monday, Dec. 21. The Council will meet again Tuesday, Dec. 22, to discuss details for the rest of Winter sports.
The restrictions also pushed back the beginning of the winter seasons as well, meaning the boys swimming and diving season will not start until Jan. 16 as well. Other winter sports in Michigan are boys and girls basketball, hockey, wrestling, bowling and competitive cheer.
The boys swim season was postponed before the state meet in March in heartbreaking fashion. It was postponed just two days before the state meet and because of the pandemic, was never completed.