This week, The Garden Island’s weekly poll question relates to local sports and whether or not the Hawai‘i High School Athletic Association should attempt to have a spring sports schedule.
The clock is now ticking, and with the cancellation of fall and winter sports for the HHSAA-sanctioned leagues, it appears grim, but that is always subject to change in the ever-changing COVID-19 world that we live in.
The HHSAA or Kaua‘i Interscholastic Federation haven’t publicly expressed much, as they continue to hash out the logistics of whether or not to forfeit.
It would seem logical to take a stance that they should just scrap the entire 2020-21 season, given that the majority of the seasons were already shelved.
So many moving parts and factors are under consideration, but the HHSAA has publicly stated it is going to do its best to make sure spring sports such as baseball, tennis and softball don’t get robbed of a second consecutive season, though this remains possible and seems more plausible by the day.
Our non-scientific poll showcased a great divide in the community on whether or not activities should resume or should they just shelve them for the 2021-2022 season.
In the non-scientific poll, as of late Sunday, 27 readers said “yes,” they should have spring sports, and 31 said “no.”
Former University of Hawai‘i football player and NFL and Canadian Football League player Chad Owens remained adamant that he needed his senior year to even give himself a chance at a collegiate scholarship, during last Friday’s Zoom panel on what to do with fall high school sports.
Owens created a solid argument to play for sure, and his passion and his success story behind it certainly validates his purpose in the middle of the conversation. And he raised some interesting questions.
The reality is the majority of players who participate in high-school sports will just do that, and not play beyond high school. However, there are many on-the-bubble players who will be competing for a coveted scholarship, and the window of opportunity is small for these players.
Most players won’t even get an opportunity to play NCAA Division I or II, but several could have a chance to play NAIA or National Junior College Athletic Association sports. Both organizations are great vehicles to getting your education paid for.
If they take away yet another spring season, how many of these players might be robbed of a chance for a college scholarship is hard to quantify.
Some detractors may say there aren’t many scholarships out there available, but an opportunity, big or small, could be the opportunity of a lifetime for one of these players.
Owens mentioned there are several families that have moved to the mainland states that are playing sports just for that opportunity to fund an education.
It appears that many students will have to improvise and come up with creative ways to showcase their skills to prospective college coaches that surely understand the unique set of circumstances.
Will they play? Should they play? What type of circumstance will it be if they play? These all remain to be seen, and like virtually everything now, the answer will vary depending on who you ask.
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Jason Blasco, reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or jblasco@thegardenisland.com.
