In LaPorte, however, practices for high school football season and other fall sports at LaPorte High School have been put on hold indefinitely because of COVID-19.

The decision was in response to test results coming back positive in the football and boys’ tennis programs, LaPorte High School Athletic Director Ed Gilliland said in a prepared statement.

Practices for football, boys tennis and wrestling were postponed until further notice.

Gilliland said the school corporation is working with the LaPorte County Health Department on when a safe return to practice may occur.

“While we regret this decision, we feel it is in the best interest for the safety, well-being and health of the student athletes in those programs,” he said.

Mishawaka High School appears to have called off voluntary workouts for winter athletes.

The Twitter account of the Mishawaka wrestling team tweeted: “Unfortunately we just received news that all MHS winter sports have been told to halt workouts at this time. This is an effort made to help ensure fall sports safety and outlook for their respective upcoming seasons. We’ll be back, #GoCavemen!”

Mishawaka director of athletics Dean Huppert initially confirmed Monday night that winter sports conditioning at the high school was suspended. He called back later, though, to say because out-of-season workouts are voluntary, no scheduled events had technically been called off.

But for those programs that can move forward, with contact practices scheduled to begin Thursday, precautions in place for all involved due to COVID-19 have made the athletic world a much different place in some regards this fall. Prep teams have had to make multiple adjustments to the new “normal” with things such as masks, sanitizing and limited numbers in locker rooms.

“This one did have a completely different feel to it,” Hostrawser said in a phone interview following a morning practice Monday. “It’s different in that we didn’t have the same type of preparation the past couple of months.

“It’s also different in that we constantly hit the hand sanitizer today and continue to disinfect things. We repeat those things over and over and over right now.”

Hostrawser noted, however, that there was still that sense of anticipation for the start of fall camp.

“I know that our kids and our coaches were all excited to be out there,” noted Hostrawser, who also serves as the athletic director at LaVille. “It’s just a natural high once this day does arrive. This time of the year is special.

“I know that as a coach, the past few nights you wake up thinking about this detail or that detail.”

Marian football coach Mike Davidson met with his team Monday morning. The Knights, who advanced to the Class 3A semistate in 2019, were scheduled to hit the field Monday evening.

“Our message has been and continues to be to control the controllables,” Davidson said. “The main thing is to do the best we can to put our kids in the safest environment possible.”

Davidson is 20-7 in his two years since replacing longtime coach Reggie Glon. The Knights finished 12-2 overall last year and went 6-0 to win the Northern Indiana Conference South Division title.

“In the course of our workouts the last month (conditioning, weights), our kids have become relatively comfortable with the protocols that are in place,” Davidson said. “The thing is that we want to keep as close to a routine with them as possible, but we also can’t get comfortable or lax with the practices that are in place now.”

Hostrawser has put together a strong program with the Lancers. He is 55-26 in seven seasons in Lakeville. The Lancers went 9-3 overall last fall, losing to Lewis Cass in a Class 2A sectional final.

“I think that our kids are doing a good job with what we are asking of them,” Hostrawser said in response to the pandemic. “They have responded in a positive way through all this. They understand what’s at stake.”

“We’ve told our kids that if this is important to them that they have to limit their risks. Their decisions have an impact on all of us. I also tell them to take full advantage of every day that we have. Every day is a gift.”

Davidson noted that he had a couple players speak to the team Monday morning who had their basketball seasons ended back in March by the pandemic. The Knights won a basketball sectional title before the state tournament was first postponed and then canceled by the IHSAA due to the health crisis.

“It was such a roller coaster in June and July,” Davidson said about the ups and downs related to news throughout the area and statewide in regards to the pandemic.

Prep practices also began Monday for volleyball, boys and girls soccer, boys and girls cross country, and boys tennis. Those sports can begin competition on Aug. 15. The first girls golf events of the season began on Monday, including the Goshen Invitational.

Both Hostrawser and Davidson are planning to be under the lights on Aug. 21 for season openers. LaVille is scheduled to host Bremen and Marian is slated to make the short trip to Mishawaka.

“Full speed ahead is the only way that we can approach it,” Hostrawser said. “The difference right now is still the unknown, but we have to have our eyes set on Bremen.”

Davidson is making extra practice plans right now while how the start of school at Marian, which is slated to return on Aug. 10, will look is still undetermined.

“I have two different practice plans for next week depending on how our players do go back to school,” he said. “But we are preparing for the start of season to happen on time. We plan to make the trip to Mishawaka on Aug. 21 to play an outstanding Mishawaka team.”