Macomb County lawmaker says it’s clear student-athletes can participate safely

State Rep. Doug Wozniak, of Shelby Township, today said compelling House Oversight Committee testimony shows all high school sports can be contested safely in Michigan – underscoring the impact the governor’s decision will have on the development of young people throughout the state if it is not reversed.

Whitmer recently extended the ban on contact winter sports at the high school level to Feb. 21, Wozniak said, taking away what several coaches and athletic directors said is a vital support system for athletes across all corners of Michigan.

“Based on the testimony given this week, students, coaches, and athletic directors are extremely frustrated,” Wozniak said. “There are kids who have been training and working their entire lives to earn scholarships who are now being left in the dark. This is about more than a game – for many, this is their futures on the line. It’s clear these sports can be conducted safely, so the governor trying to ban them makes no sense and is cruel.”

The Michigan High School Athletic Association has consistently advocated for play in a fashion that respects the threat facing Michigan while prioritizing safety for players and coaches. A rapid testing pilot program in conjunction with the state’s Department of Health and Human Services that was put in place at the conclusion of the association’s fall championships tested a total of nearly 5,000 athletes, coaches, team personnel, cheerleaders and other applicable individuals. Out of nearly 30,000 tests that were given, 99.8 percent produced negative results.

On Wednesday, the MHSAA’s representative council made up of student-athletes around the state reaffirmed its commitment to resuming all high school sports contested during the winter season.

“Sports can be played sensibly and safely, as they are being done in other states, so let’s get the season going,” Wozniak said.

A recent study from the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that high school sports in the state have not caused an increase in COVID-19 infections among athletes. Over the course of a month, researchers surveyed over 200 schools that restarted fall sports in September, which included more than 16,000 practices and more than 4,000 games. A total of 271 athletes contracted COVID-19 in that time period. Contact tracing performed for 209 of those athletes shows only one case was attributed to participation in sports. Illinois announced this week that high school basketball competition can begin immediately after games were on hold through orders like Michigan’s.

“Our kids and their families deserve better than this,” Wozniak said. “In bordering states, kids are playing because the data shows it’s safe to do so. During this week’s hearing, it was made clear it’s safe for kids to start the season. It’s my hope the governor will see the error in her ways and allow the season to start up.”