BROOKLYN CENTER — The Minnesota State High School League pulled the plug on all spring high school sports after the decision was made by Governor Tim Walz to close all schools for the remainder of the year. The decision was made on Thursday afternoon.

In a press release issued via email, the MSHSL said that the decision of the League is aligned with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Minnesota Department of Health and is in support of practices that focus on community health and safety.

The cancellation applied to all forms of student participation in all MSHSL activities, athletics and fine arts. The section and state tournaments for each of the League’s spring activities are also cancelled. This cancellation applies to adapted bowling, adapted softball, badminton, baseball, clay target, golf, lacrosse, music, robotics, softball, speech, synchronized swimming, tennis, track and field and visual arts. League activities and athletics for the spring season have been suspended since March 15.

Area coaches and Activities Directors were left disappointed and saddened by the news on Thursday. Sleepy Eye St. Mary’s AD Bruce Woitas, who was to begin his 30th season of coaching the baseball program, wasn’t totally shocked by the decision from the MSHSL. That didn’t make it any easier hearing the news.

“Obviously everything was looking that way, and earlier [Thursday] the state high school league had a Zoom meeting that everyone could participate in and they had their medical advisor for the state talking on there as well and just right there, you knew it wasn’t going to be good,” Woitas said. “There was already rumors that Governor Walz was going to make the decision today and obviously he did and that followed suit with the high school league canceling the spring season.

“It was kind of unfortunate, I guess in the back of my mind I was kind of hoping we had three outs yet and you’re down a couple of runs, but let’s make a rally and get a comeback and get a season yet, but that’s not going to happen,” Woitas said. “My heart goes out to the seniors, the obviously the main thing is we have to protect our health and not put each other at risk. We have to respect the decision and just get through it.”

Springfield baseball coach Brandon Wilhelmi saw the email announcement issued by the MSHSL with his wife Katie. Katie is the softball coach at Springfield and the news hit them hard at the same time. Both Brandon and Katie have six seniors on the roster.

“I had a feeling,” Wilhelmi said. “We feel terrible for everybody, especially the seniors. I had a good group of kids and it’s not easy.”

The MSHSL also said in a press release that the League will continue to communicate with and assist member schools during the cancellation of these athletics and fine arts activities. The League’s Board of Directors will hold its regular Board Meeting on Friday via digital communication to further discuss ways to work with member schools as they complete the academic year and look toward next year.

“This difficult decision was one we had hoped we would not need to make,” League Executive Director Erich Martens said in the MSHSL press release. “Our activities and athletics offer so much to so many students and their school communities, and we thank all who work to provide these amazing opportunities for students. We also value the incredible benefits of strong and supportive connections between students and their coaches and advisors, and our hope is that these will continue even during this time when they are not able to participate or meet face to face.

“Our work will continue in providing leadership and guidance for our member schools and will soon turn to the summer and planning for a return to participation this fall,” Martens said. “At this time, everything we can do to slow the spread and impacts of COVID-19 will help ensure the health of all, and will most certainly increase the chances that programming for students can return.”

Wilhelmi said that he tried to remain positive with the players all throughout the spring season.

“We tried pushing some things through our school messaging system, we tried doing some things with some meets via Zoom and Google Meets,” he said. “I see a few of them here and there and some of them are down at the ballpark yet, just continuing to work out and hit by themselves. I guess Monday’s press conference [by Walz] shed some light that this was going to happen but until it happens really happens, you just hope for the best.”

Wilhelmi said he was going to talk to his players on Thursday.

“Just thinking about it makes me emotional because I know it’s going to be difficult,” Wilhelmi said. “Maybe some of them have dealt with it already. The basketball players lost their postseason and I can’t imagine that they dealt with it well. It’s going to be really, really difficult having that conversation.”

Here is background information and the timeline of decisions and declarations:

(Source: Minnesota State High School League)

March 12: The League cancels the adapted floor hockey state tournament and announces the cancellation of the consolation rounds of the girls basketball state tournament. The League also issues a directive that the remaining championship rounds of the girls basketball state tournament will be conducted with a specific number of spectators.

March 13: The League cancels the remainder of the girls basketball state tournament. All boys basketball section tournament games are cancelled as is the state tournament scheduled to take place March 18-21. The section Speech tournament events for the week of March 15-21 are postponed indefinitely. In a communication to member schools, the League shares participation limitations that extend to April 6 that limit participation to practice and tryouts only.

March 15: In accordance with Emergency Executive Order 20-02 issued by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the League updates participation limitations that there will be no participation in any athletic or fine arts activities through March 27. The League’s previous directive prohibiting scrimmages, contents and competitions will continue through April 6.

March 17: The League issues updated spring participation limitations to guide participants, administrators and coaches during the suspension of activities.

March 25: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz issues a Stay At Home order and closes Minnesota schools until May 4. The League alerts member schools that all spring activities are suspended.