Two Lansing-area school districts have decided to reinstate all fall sports after initially postponing some sports to the spring as Holt and East Lansing have given the green light for football, volleyball, boys soccer and girls swimming and diving to proceed.

According to the Lansing State Journal, Holt announced the plans on Monday while East Lansing reinstated the four sports on Sunday. Holt announced the continuation of each sport at the varsity level only.

On Thursday last week, Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Order 176, which allowed gyms and pools to open with restrictions in regions where they were previously closed. The Michigan High School Athletic Association responded by reinstating football to the fall after initially moving it to spring back on Aug. 14. The MHSAA also gave clearance for boys soccer, volleyball and girls swim to resume competition this week.

In a release, Holt superintendent David Hornak said outdoor sports within the district will be limiting total attendance to 100 individuals while indoor sports are limited to two guests per athlete.

“It was just about a month ago when we postponed for high risk sports,” Hornak said in the district’s statement. “To that end, at this point, with the most recent (Executive Order) and a reduction in positivity levels in our area, it is our hope that we can provide every senior athlete an opportunity to participate on Senior Night at some point this fall.”

Holt athletic director Renee Sadler added, “the health and safety of our student athletes, families, coaches and community is our most important responsibility. We will strictly enforce EO 2020-176 and follow all MHSAA guidelines moving forward. While things may look a little different this fall, we are grateful to be back.”

In a joint statement from East Lansing superintendent Dori Leyko and athletic director Nikki Norris, middle school athletics and extra-curricular activities remain canceled within the district. The statement added the district is “also awaiting more information regarding cheerleading, band, and other extra-curricular activities, not specifically addressed in the EO.”

Holt and East Lansing join Ferndale as schools to reinstate sports to the fall after having initially postponed to the spring independently of MHSAA rulings.

On Friday last week, Lansing Public School board president Gabrielle Lawrence told MLive that the district currently has no plans to reinstate fall sports after postponing all of them to the spring. Everett, Sexton and Eastern High Schools are all within the Lansing Public School district. Okemos is another Lansing-area district that moved football, soccer, volleyball and swim to the spring.

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