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When the Bristol Township School District decided two weeks ago to suspend fall sports at all of its schools, including Harry S. Truman High School, there was a feeling in the community that the voices from those affected the most — the students — weren’t heard.
As a result, Truman abstained from voting when the Suburban One League met last week to determine which teams would be in for the fall 2020 season and which would be out. Players, parents and coaches wanted another chance to make their feelings known to the school board and they got that opportunity.
But Wednesday night, the school board affirmed its prior decision, suspending the fall season due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
“We had a four-hour meeting to talk with them,” said Truman football coach Ben Johnson. “All of the fall sports were represented, cheerleading, marching band, the coaches, members of the community. It was a great discussion from 4 o’clock to 8 o’clock at night. Every aspect was heard, data was presented.
“The Board was gracious enough to hear us out, and the decision was ultimately made. The Board is looking out for the safety of the community and the safety of the students.”
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Truman is the second SOL school to opt out of the fall, joining Cheltenham, while Plymouth Whitemarsh has decided to play all sports except football. Truman’s Lower Bucks neighbors in the SOL — Bensalem, Pennsbury, Neshaminy, Council Rock North and Council Rock South — will be competing this fall.
“That’s what hurt the most,” said Truman junior linebacker Devon Harris. “Those are our rivals. We were looking forward to playing them. Now, we have to wait until spring, and they’re going to be playing in the fall so we won’t get a chance to play them. Those are people that we have been playing against for years.”
Elsewhere, Bristol Borough School District decided to allow Bristol to compete this fall, while Morrisville opted to not play sports. Private schools Holy Ghost Prep and Villa Joseph Marie have decided to have fall sports, while George School, Archbishop Wood and Conwell-Egan will not.
After the PIAA ruled on Aug. 21 that fall sports could go forward and that the decision to do so would be left to the individual schools across the state, the Bristol Township School Board met on Aug. 25 and the result was the decision not to go forward with a fall season.
“While BTSD wishes circumstances were different and COVID-19 cases were more stable, they are not,” said superintendent Dr. Melanie Gehrens in a statement the following day. “Therefore, the School Board, on August 25, 2020, made the difficult decision to not approve the Suburban One League fall sports schedule.
“This means that Bristol Township schools will not be participating in fall sports at this time, but we are hopeful that the PIAA will follow through on its stated commitment to provide a season for all athletes by presenting us with an opportunity to compete later in the school year.”
Johnson said he’s now looking forward to making plans for a possible spring season, once the PIAA sets guidelines for how to proceed.
“It was (the Board’s) decision, it’s respected and now we’re making sure kids are adjusting with virtual learning in school,” Johnson said. “I, along with a few other coaches that are in the building, are making sure the kids are logging on and doing what they need to do every day.
“(As far as football) we’re pretty much preparing for spring. The Board promised we could have some games in the spring and now we’re waiting for the PIAA for guidance on how that is going to work.”
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