NYSPHSAA names task force to study COVID-19 impact on 2020 fall sports

The New York State Public High School Athletic Association announced Tuesday who will be part of its newly created task force in charge of monitoring COVID-19’s impact on the upcoming fall sports season.

The fall sports season is scheduled to begin on August 24. The winter sports season was abruptly ended as championships were about to start, and the spring season was called off as Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced all New York state schools will be closed for the remainder of the year.

The task force, led by NYSPHSAA president Paul Harrica, will have the following members: vice president, Julie Bergman (Section 4); second vice president, Russell Bartlett (Section 10); immediate past president, Jim Osborne (Section 9); incoming second vice president, Tim Mullins (Section 11); past president, Steve Broadwell (Section 8); executive director, Robert Zayas; superintendent east, Ivan Katz (Section 9); superintendent west, Adam Stoltman (Section 6); section executive director east, Tom Combs (Section 11), Matt Walentuk (Section 7); section executive director west, Carl Normandin (Section 10), Kathy Hoyt (Section 5); principal east, Jim Mackin (Section 1); principal west, Paul Gasparini (Section 3); athletic director east, Chris Ceruti (Section 8); athletic director west, Scott Barker (Section 5); NYSAAA, Jim Wright (Section 11); athletic trainers, Rick Knizek (Section 2); district transportation director, Chris Durdon (Section 4); officials, Dennis Burkett; NYS Education Department, Karen Hollowood and Ann Lanoue; NYS Department of Health, TBD.

“The goal of this task force is to bring together a group of experienced administrators and professionals to examine potential impacts of the COVID-19 crisis on the upcoming school year and to provide guidance and recommendations to the 11 Sections of NYSPHSAA,” Harrica said a press release.