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MSHSL delays Minnesota high school wrestling season to unknown date: Governor Walz shuts down in-person sports activity

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by MSHSL and Gov. Tim Walz

MSHSL: League issues guidance following Executive Order 20-99


In accordance with Executive Order 20-99 issued tonight by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, the Minnesota State High School League is providing guidance and information to the League’s more than 500 member schools. The Executive Order is in effect from 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 20 through Friday, Dec. 18.


In preparation for the implementation of the restrictions included in the order, section football play must be completed by the end of Friday. The volleyball regular season will also end on Friday. In working with stakeholders including member schools, LEAD Liaisons, the Return to Participation Task Force and Region Secretaries, additional flexibility is provided in the guidance for football and volleyball to complete their competitions.


Dance, in its second week of the season, will also stop in-person practice and competitions, effective late Friday. Other winter sports will have the start of their seasons delayed by this order.


“We recognize the recent rise in positive cases and the impacts on communities and schools. Our schools have been addressing positive cases and close contacts, adjusting learning models and making difficult decisions regarding programs,” League Executive Director Erich Martens said.


“We all know how important these programs are to students and to their mental and physical health and we all want students to participate. We believe League programs offered by our member schools provide the safest and most effective experiences and yet, at this time, we are required to take a pause. We look forward to returning to in-person participation in our winter sports and fine arts activities when these restrictions are lifted.”


The League will provide additional guidance to member schools by the end the week regarding winter sports and fine arts activities. In addition, League Staff will continue to work with others to study options for the remaining winter seasons as well as those scheduled to begin in the spring.


“The League will continue to study options to build a revised calendar of activities that meets our goals of providing the greatest possible experience in every one of the activities provided by the League,” Martens said. “We appreciate the excellent work of our schools and staff in following the guidance provided and implementing protocols that keep students, coaches, officials and others safe and we are confident that they will continue to do so when programs return."

Editor's Note: This guidance was published by the MSHSL following the declaration by Minnesota Governor Tim Walsh through Executive Order 20-99, which is entitled "Emergency Executive Order: Implementing a Four Week Dial Back on Certain Activities to Slow the Spread of COVID-19"


Included in the order are the following provisions affecting wrestling


C. Gymnasiums, fitness centers, recreation centers, indoor sports facilities, indoor climbing facilities, trampoline parks, indoor and outdoor exercise facilities, martial arts facilities, and dance and exercise studios are closed to ingress, egress, use, and occupancy by members of the public. This includes shared or communal facilities serving more than a single household, regardless of whether such facilities are open to the public, including but not limited to those facilities located in an apartment building, condominium, or housing complex. Outdoor sports and recreation facilities may be open to members of the public only as permitted under paragraph 7.c.iv. These establishments may, and are encouraged to, use their facilities to provide virtual or remote programming.


g. Organized Youth Sports. Organized Youth Sports organizations and programs must stop all in-person activities—including practices, group workouts, games, and tournaments.

i. “Organized Youth Sports” means any sports activity, where participants are children or adolescents, organized by an entity, association, club, or organization providing for registration of participants and oversight on a regular basis for a defined period of time. Sports activities within this definition include all sports offered by schools (public and nonpublic), the Minnesota State High School League, or similar organizations, as well as dance, cheerleading, and other sports traditionally offered by supplemental associations or organizations.

Click to read Emergency Executive Order 20-99

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