Just as high school postseason events heat up, local school officials are doing their best not to put them on ice.
More threats of snow and winter weather across Clark County this weekend and next week have created tricky situations for area athletic directors and tournament officials trying to get ahead of the weather that may impact playoff games and events for basketball, gymnastics, swimming and wrestling.
Wednesday, officials for the 1A Southwest District basketball tournaments didn’t take any chances. They moved Saturday’s 1A boys district tournament semifinal and consolation games to afternoon tip-offs — 1 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. — at Hoquiam and King’s Way Christian high schools, the designated sites for Round 2 games, La Center athletic director Matt Cooke said. Games are scheduled to resume Tuesday.
“We’re going to take it as we go,” Cooke said, “and take the next available date. … It could get challenging next week.”
The National Weather Service in Portland predicts another cold system with potential snow beginning Saturday and temperatures hovering in the mid-30s through late next week. More snow is in the forecast next week across Western Washington.
For the 2A tournament, a decision may come Thursday if Saturday’s first-round boys games could be impacted, Columbia River athletic director Tony Liberatore said. Not all first-round matchups between the 2A GSHL and 2A Evergreen conference were finalized Wednesday.
The 4A and 3A West Central/Southwest bi-district basketball tournaments already postponed play-in games twice, causing a ripple scheduling effect for games in the boys and girls tournaments.
In wrestling, Camas hosts 4A regionals Friday and Saturday, and is drawing teams in from Spokane and Tri-Cities regions in addition to wrestlers from all five 4A GSHL schools.
As of Wednesday, Camas athletic director Rory Oster, also the tournament director, said the tournament will stay as planned, but added Saturday’s start time of 10 a.m. may be adjusted depending on coaches’ preferences. The first two rounds plus two consolation rounds start at 4 p.m. Friday with the conclusion of the tournament beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday.
All statewide regional wrestling tournaments take place this weekend, and some are a one-day event, such as Washougal (2A regionals) at 10 a.m. Saturday and Castle Rock (1A).
Clark County teams traveling locally to events could make for a major headache, and that has ADs such as Liberatore concerned.
“If our district says no travel (Saturday),” he said, “we’re done.”
Mat Classic, the state wrestling tournament, is scheduled for Feb. 15-16 at the Tacoma Dome.
Northpointe is scheduled to host 4A/3A/2A gymnastics districts Saturday. District boys swimming is scheduled for Friday and Saturday at Kelso (4A, 3A) and Mark Morris (2A).
