Wichita Heights athletic director: COVID-19 not going away and sports are essential

The Wichita Heights athletic director tweeted early Saturday morning that COVID-19 is never 100% going away and sports are essential to millions of athletes, fans and families.

“We can’t stand by and let it take away a lifestyle that is impactful and rewarding for kids,” Mike Church wrote. “The less than 1% risk is worth the reward!” The tweet was later removed.

The less than 1% risk most likely referred to the death rate of the disease.

Church said he couldn’t speak about the tweet without permission from news and media relations manager Susan Arensman, who did not immediately respond to inquiries from The Eagle.

Wichita teachers started in-service activities Aug. 5. and the district reported cases at six schools this week: Cessna Elementary School, Curtis Middle School, North High School, Sowers Alternative High School, Kensler Elementary School and Pleasant Valley Middle School. School starts Sept. 8.

Wichita, the largest school district in the state, has not released total cases at the schools.

The tweet comes as a cloud of uncertainty surrounds schools in Kansas: Will teaching be in-person or remote? Will sports be played and will fans be allowed?

High school sports are scheduled to continue this fall for most Kansas schools — fall sports have been canceled in Wyandotte County. KSHSAA-sanctioned sports will start practice on Monday.

Greater Wichita Athletic League athletic director J. Means said he is happy sports are returning but wonders how long it will last.

“There is frustration in the fact that what we plan today may get blown up tomorrow,” he said. “No matter what all we do to limit the exposures, we can’t control what any student-athlete is doing outside of school.

“I am sure over the course of the fall season we will have at least one or two more instances. It’s probably not if, it’s when.”

Contributing: Hayden Barber with The Eagle