FOREST CITY — After a meeting among representatives of each school in the Western Piedmont Athletic Conference, a revised sports schedule was released that impacts Lake Lure Classical Academy and The Masters Academy (TMA).

Lake Lure Classical Academy Athletic Director Tripp Searcy came up with the schedule and says that he is excited to have something in place.

“I just hope our athletes get a chance to play this year,” he said. “Pushing sports back until November gives us a better chance of that happening. A shortened season is better than no season.”

According to Searcy, this allows the schools, even though they aren’t North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) members, to have a schedule that is similar to the NCHSAA calendar. The schedule that each team will play will consist of playing each conference team once and schools are allowed to schedule non-conference games.

There are a total of 12 teams in the conference and the number of games played by each school will vary, depending on the number of non-conference games the school schedules.

“I think any opportunity that allows our kids to get out and compete and have the opportunity to enjoy athletics to complete their academic and high school experience is great,” said TMA Athletic Director Ryan Elkins. “At the end of the day, if the kids are going to get to play and have that experience, then I am happy.”

Each sport will also have a conference tournament.

Fall sports including cross country, girls volleyball and boys soccer will be able to begin optional workouts on Oct. 19 with tryouts/practices beginning Nov. 4. The fall sports season will end Jan. 16.

Boys and girls basketball may begin optional workouts on Jan. 4 and tryouts/practices can begin on Jan. 18. The winter sports season will end on March 20.

Spring sports including golf, softball, baseball and girls soccer will begin optional workouts on March 8 and tryouts/practices can begin March 22. The springs sports season will end on May 22.