BLACKSVILLE, W.Va. – After weeks of being in the red, a week in the orange and then finally a week in the green, Clay-Battelle had to pull out of its season-opening game at Calhoun County due to a positive COVID-19 case within the football program. This is the fifth game the Cee-Bees will miss due to the virus.
The Monongalia County Board of Education released a statement Friday confirming one positive case at Clay-Battelle, and as a safety precaution canceled the football team’s road game. Other outdoor extracurricular activities over the weekend may proceed.
“As we conduct appropriate contact tracing, disinfecting of all areas within the school will be conducted Saturday,” the release said. “To prevent the spread of COVID-19, everyone is urged to follow best health practices as issued by the Governor’s Executive Orders and outlined by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and the West Virginia Department of Education guidance. This includes wearing face coverings, and practicing social distancing, hand washing and cleaning protocols regularly.”
From the head coach’s perspective, Ryan Wilson said he’s “heartbroken and disappointed” about the situation.
“I feel for our kids and team,” Wilson said. “This is now twice and I feel like we’ve been punched in the gut. We just feel for these kids – our hearts go out to those kids. And our coaching staff and parents. Same thing with our parents, they’ve put in a lot of time with their kids coming into practices and the whole works, too. So I feel for them, the coaches, anyone associated with football.”
Currently, Clay-Battelle is still scheduled to travel to Valley-Wetzel on Oct. 9 at 7 p.m.
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