By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Nick Baldetti was a high school athlete, so he understands the importance it plays in the lives of kids, but in his role as Reno County's health officer, he also knows that there will likely be some spread connected to the activities that bring athletes together.
"I think we are going to see activity associated with sports, just due to the very nature," Baldetti said. "I've had many conversations. There still has been activity associated with outdoor sports. However, outdoor sports, generally speaking, seem to have more variables playing in favor of having those events. Like baseball, football, softball, track, etc., versus indoor sports."
The Kansas State High School Activities Association voted last week to keep the 2020 fall sports schedule as planned. KDHE secretary Dr. Lee Norman is dubious that the season will be able to go on without interruption, given that Major League Baseball is having such struggles with keeping teams healthy.
"Sports are an important part of the social and emotional development of a lot of kids in school," Baldetti said. "Not all kids, but a lot of kids, that's how they normatively align with, kind of, societal culture, is around sports. Then, the confidence that gets built and the emotional skills and there's a lot of life lessons to be had through sports. I think KSHSAA's recommendations that pulled through is trying to thread that needle."
It really is going to come down to how well everyone chooses to mitigate the spread in the rest of the week whether or not they can play when events come up.