WA Student Athletes Keep Pressure on State to ‘Unlock’ Fall Sports

Just about a month ago, a group of west side HS athletes formed a group known as SAW, or Student Athletes for Washington.  They started a Change.org. petition, trying to get Gov. Inslee and the state to open up at least some form of fall sports.

The recognized 'leader' of the effort is Sam Huard, who is the son of former UW Quarterback Damon Huard, and cousin to Brock Huard (UW) who played in the NFL and is now an ESPN commentator. Sam, who attends Kennedy Catholic, is a highly touted NCAA Division 1 QB prospect.

He recently made an appearance on the Jason Rantz show on AM 770 KTTH radio in Seattle. Despite a lack of movement, Huard and his fellow students have not let up.

According to Huard and the KTTH interview, the state of Maryland is the latest to 'open up' and allow at least some form of fall sports. There are at least 39 states now where organized fall sports are taking place--even if teams are only playing conference games and not traveling out of their area.

Huard again stressed that for dozens of male and female student athletes, they will see their college opportunities dwindle if the COVID Phase shutdowns continue. Whether it's top Division I, or down to Division III (small schools), Huard said WA athletes will be left out if fall sports remain shut down.

It is true that most universities (even small ones) make their recruiting offers and visits during the winter, at least for all sports, after football, volleyball, cross country etc. are done. If WA waits until spring for these modified sports, most scholarship and financial aid offers for sports will be gone--already snapped up.

Huard, and the others on the Change.org petition, pointed out it's NOT just the opportunities being lost, but student mental health suffers, juvenile crime and other related issues rise from no sports. He said there are a lot of kids who might otherwise be tempted to pursue 'other' less desirable activities if sports aren't there to keep them busy.

He told Rantz he understands the state telling these kids they're concerned about their health, but he also said state officials including Inslee have given them no response or feedback to their information and questions about the effects this has on student athletes' mental and psychological well being.

To read more on this, and hear the interview, click on the button below.

(Photo- Tyson Pischel)