WC Wisconsin News

La Crosse schools are pressing on with high-risk sports and activities despite CDC recommendations.

The CDC recently recommended that schools cancel high-risk sports and activities in areas of high COVID transmission, but La Crosse area schools plan to keep them going, according to News8000.

According to News8000, the CDC places sports into three categories: High, intermediate and low-risk. Football, wrestling, band and choir all fall under high-risk activities.

The CDC analyzes risk factors to determine what risk category to place the activity in. They analyze the community levels of COVID-19, physical closeness of players, the intensity level of the activity, the length of time that players are close together, the setting of the activity, etc.

While these activities do present a tricky situation for handling COVID protocols, La Crosse interim superintendent Dale Carlson says that students’ mental health matters too, which these activities feed into, according to News8000.

“We think it’s what's best for our kids right now to be able to still provide that opportunity for them to practice together, compete together and learn together," Carlson said, according to News8000.

According to News8000, the CDC states that the country has high levels of viral transmission but simultaneously says sports are good for the mental well-being of students.

“Kids find so much joy in sports that are doing it,” Mayo Clinic Health System pediatric and sports medicine doctor David Soma said, according to News8000. “If we can keep it going as safely as possible, I think that’s the best interests of kids in most situations."

According to News8000, high-risk sports and activities include football, wrestling, band and choir, among others.

“Health and safety remain our top priority,” Carlson said, per News8000. “But also with that, we want to provide these opportunities for our students.”

News8000 reports that Onalaska, West Salem, Holmen, Bangor and Aquinas leaders intend to continue sports and activities.