Framingham sports put on pause again after latest surge in COVID cases; Keefe Tech awaiting clarification
With the recent surge in COVID-19 cases, the city of Framingham has opted to shut down after school extra-curricular activities – including sports – for two weeks, starting Friday, Jan. 7.
It is unclear at the moment whether this includes Joseph P. Keefe Technical High School. In response, Keefe Tech has modified its fan policy, however, to only allow parents and siblings to attend games.
"That seems to be the $1 million question here in the building right now," Keefe Tech athletic director Chris Kane said. "I just got off the phone with our superintendent and he is trying to get clarification through the department of public health today. We have not heard one way or the other yet whether that affects us."
This comes weeks after Framingham High School resumed its season after a previous two-week shutdown earlier this winter.
More: Amid COVID-19 surge, Framingham halts all group activities for two weeks
"My kids just won their first league game in 2 years only to get off the ice to find out their season is being paused for 2 weeks for the second time this season and after not playing at all last year," tweeted Framingham girls hockey coach Casey Diana on Wednesday. "I am just so, so sad for them. They and their peers deserve so much better."
My kids just won their first league game in 2 years only to get off the ice to find out their season is being paused for 2 weeks for the second time this season and after not playing at all last year.
I am just so, so sad for them. They and their peers deserve so much better.— Casey (@casey_diana79) January 5, 2022
This comes after the 2020-21 school year in which all Framingham sports teams did not participate due to COVID-19 concerns.
Other Framingham coaches have expressed their frustration on social media as well.
"Huge disappointment for these student athletes," Framingham girls basketball coach Kristen Audet-Fucarile commented on a Daily News Facebook post. "Also hearing this through social media and not giving coaches the ability to talk to their teams. Poor communication and decision making all around. Are we truly thinking about the kids?"
Framingham senior wrestler Shea Curry also expressed his frustration about the stop and go aspect to the season.
"It's frustrating because it seems like as soon as we come back, we get canceled again," Curry said. "This has happened, I think, three times now where we have to take a break and come back."
"We all just want to compete and we all just want to get on a mat and wrestle," Flyers senior wrestling captain Griffin Yarlamoff said. "We’re all wrestlers and that’s what we do and we’re thankful for every moment that we are given even though these are such hard times.”
Framingham wrestling coach Erik Delahanty is frustrated by yet another shutdown but has told his kids and is focused on trying to control what they can control.
"We’ve already been shut down twice already so this is the third time," Delahanty said. "We have a lot of new guys on the team and in the varsity lineup, so when you lose four weeks, it’s hard to keep up with the other teams that are competing throughout the year.
"It is what it is and you can control what you can control and at least they have something.”
Sports and other extra-curricular after school activities are expected to resume Jan. 21.
Ethan Winter is a senior multimedia sports journalist at the Daily News. He can be reached at ewinter@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @EWints.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Framingham sports shut down again due to COVID-19 surge
