Coaches, players keeping hope alive for spring sports

Hope is still alive for the spring sports season.

The odds of baseball, golf, softball and track and field salvaging a season depend on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and statewide lockdown. The Hawaii High School Athletic Association is waiting patiently, willing to extend the spring season into summer if necessary. Several administrators on Oahu believe the fate of the spring season will be determined by the virus and DOE Superintendent Christina Kishimoto. 

She will address the issue of graduation ceremonies for the state's public high schools on Wednesday. Principals, athletic directors, coaches and players will be listening closely for any word on a possible continuation or cancellation of the remaining spring sports season. Kishimoto said recently that classes would not reconvene on campuses until 28 consecutive days without a new COVID-19 case had passed. Online instruction is the new status quo. 

"That looks pretty bleak that it will open or even have time for anything," McKinley Athletic Director Bob Morikuni said. "I'm just hoping it doesn't go into fall." 

If hope remains alive for extending the spring season, the OIA will discuss. 

"After Dr. Kishimoto addresses everyone regarding the rest of the school year and graduation, we will meet and discuss athletics," Leilehua Athletic Director Nolan Tokuda said. 

Across the way, the ILH is also in wait-and-see mode. 

'I think we all would love to play some of the season, but it's a distant second to general health and safety at this point," Punahou boys volleyball coach Rick Tune said. 

The private-school ILH has been creative, historically.  

"We are meeting as league athletic directors on Monday afternoon," Punahou athletic director and football coach Kale Ane said. "We will be looking at a lot of different possibilities. Wish we were talking about games and athletes." 

The numbers in Hawaii have been less severe compared to some states on the mainland. As of mid-day Saturday, Hawaii has 486 confirmed cases and eight deaths, a rate of 1.6 percent. That is less than half of the national death rate. In the U.S., there have been 528,275 cases and 20,395 deaths, a rate of 3.9 percent. 

Globally, there have been 1,767,855 cases and 108,281 deaths, a rate of 6.1 percent (Wikipedia, WHO). 

One study, by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, indicates a peak for the virus in the islands could be Apr. 17 with six deaths on that date. If and when the virus becomes manageable — whatever that might mean in the near future — states could get back into the classroom or continue with online classes. 

What would that mean for spring sports? Safety permitting, HHSAA Executive Director Christopher Chun is exercising patience. Punahou baseball coach Keenan Sue has already noted that his team is ready and willing to play for as long as it takes. 

There is the real possibility that the lockdown could stretch deep into the summer. 

"We were told to sit tight," Kahuku football coach Sterling Carvalho said. 

Longtime football coach Ron Lee of Saint Louis is hoping to see contingency plans for any and all possible scenarios. 

"At least for now, if we're going back to school in May, why not plan? I'm hoping during this week and next, the numbers really come down. Hawaii's not bad," Lee said. "If the numbers stay under control, Gov. (David) Ige should see about when they might start opening up. The recovery's going to be a re al problem. Especially in construction and tourism."

Lee retired a decade ago after a long career with the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort. He is a planner by nature. Spring sports are a long shot, but fall sports like football could be manageable. 

"Everyone's at home. Why not have some conference calls and throw some ideas out there," he said. "For our high school football, we don't have to start in July. Move it to September, and that would be a target once we see how April goes. But don't wait until it happens, and now what will we do. I don't think schools will open in May. We don't have to have spring football, but if everything goes right, we could start football in August. Now you've got May, June, July to see how things go. If it's safe, then good. If not, then we go in September," he said. 

The ILH, in particular, has a lot of cushion on the back end of the football schedule. 

"If it's not September, why not November or January? If there's no crowds, try and get everything adjusted," Lee said. "Right now, all the coaches are sitting on our hands because we don't know if we're going to have a season. If nobody takes the leadership, what's going to happen. Easy to say cancel. What about the kids. They're already taking a hit in spring sports." 

Meanwhile, football teams that had scheduled preseason games on the mainland in August have begun to unplug. 

"We probably have to cancel our trip to Las Vegas," Damien Athletic Director and football coach Eddie Klaneski said. "No time to fundraise." 

Aiea, Farrington and McKinley were planning jointly to play games in the Northwest. Kapolei is scheduled to play in Texas. 

"Everything is kind of in limbo," longtime Aiea coach Wendell Say said. "We're going to cancel our mainland trip. It was going to be a good trip. That's the same week Hawaii plays at Oregon. As of last Friday, we were still fundraising. We don't know when this will end. Parents will be struggling with layoffs."

Coaches across the state are staying in contact with their assistant coaches and players. 

"We sent our kids a workout plan," Say said. "But monitoring them, they're on their own. I feel sorry for our seniors who only play baseball." 

Contingency plans are key, said Lee, who led Kaiser to an Oahu Prep Bowl title in 1979 and later was an assistant coach under brother Cal at Kalani. Like everyone else, Lee has stayed indoors, spending time with his grandson. 

"If they cancel classes on campus in spring and summer, then spring football is out," Lee said. "Hopefully, by May, start slow and bring people back to work. The ADs can look at, what is the latest we can start."