After confirming 17 positive COVID-19 tests at the two township high schools in the last two weeks -- including one each on the two football teams Friday -- the Middletown School District has shut down fall sports for the remainder of this season.
District athletic director Rich Carroll told NJ.com Saturday morning athletic activities are sidelined until Dec. 7. The district also announced in-person instruction is suspended until Dec. 7.
The decision, made at the superintendent level, meant there would be no renewal of the annual Thanksgiving Day football game between North and South. The Middletown South field hockey and girls soccer teams were each top-seeded in their respective sectional tournaments. The Middletown South girls cross country team was denied the opportunity to defend its sectional title Saturday.
“All in-person co-curricular and athletic activities will be suspended for the duration of the temporary building closurew,” Superintendent of Schools Mary Ellen Walker wrote in a letter to North and South parents dated Friday.
Cinnaminson, Burlington County, and Elmwood Park, Bergen County, closed down fall sports. Bridgeton, Keyport and Point Pleasant Boro had previously shut down athletics before the end of the fall season.
The decision has touched off a firestorm in Middletown, with parents planning a protest rally Sunday at 11 a.m.
“After consultation with local health officials, the central administration made the decision to shut down all athletic activities until Dec. 7,” Carroll said.
Friday afternoon, Middletown South canceled its scheduled football game at Toms River North after a positive COVID-19 test, said Carroll, who also noted that a Middletown North player tested positive for coronavirus Saturday morning, resulting in the cancellation of the football game against Ocean Township.
It was a COVID-19-related issue at Ocean that resulted in the game being postponed Friday. The two schools hoped to reschedule either Sunday or Monday until the shutdown came.
The Middletown South football defeated Middletown North, 28-9, on Oct. 30. Bands and cheer squads from both teams were present at the game played at Middletown South.
Under pressure from the community, Walker scheduled a second North-South game on Oct. 26 in order to maintain the Thanksgiving Day tradition. Middletown North and Middletown South have played on Thanksgiving Day for 45 years.
“We scheduled the North-South game in-season just in case we didn’t make it to Thanksgiving Day (because of COVID-19),” Carroll said.
The Asbury Park-Neptune and Wall-Manasquan Thanksgiving rivalry games als were moved to within the regular season.
“The health, safety and well-being of our school community remains our first priority,” Walker wrote.
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Joe Zedalis covers Shore Conference football for NJ.com. He may be reached at jzedalis@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @josephzedalis. Like NJ.com HS sports on Facebook.
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Monmouth County school district cancels traditional football game, ends all fall sports - NJ.com
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