As golfers finished off their rounds Tuesday in the 4A and 3A district tournaments, so ended the fall portion of their golf season.
It may seem like we just turned the calendar to October, but that’s where we are at. It’s the postseason for golfers. And next week, the postseason gets started for athletes in cross country, tennis and slowpitch softball.
But unlike last school year, these district tournaments are not culminating events.
Competitors in the 4A and 3A were competing for spots in the bi-district tournaments, which will be played next spring ahead of the state tournaments.
And that makes these district events so much more meaningful.
We’ll get more into the postseason schedule for swimming, girls soccer and volleyball later on. Those events are not scheduled until late October or early November.
We will note that the WIAA announced last week that the 4A state volleyball tournament will be held at the Yakima Valley SunDome along with the 3A and 2A state tournaments.
Originally, the 4A event was scheduled to be held at St. Martin’s University in Lacey. But the WIAA was not able resolve some contractual issues with the university.
Now with all three tournaments being played over three days — Nov. 18, 19 and 20 — it will make attending the event more difficult for fans of 3A teams.
The 3A tournament will be held over Thursday and Friday of that weekend. The 2A and 4A tournaments will be held over Friday and Saturday — a more fan-friendly schedule.
When the events were slated at two different sites, all tournaments were Friday-Saturday events.
The WIAA also announced that no spectators or non-essential personnel will be allowed into the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way for the state championship for girls swimming and diving on Nov. 12-13. This has to do with the facilities COVID-19 guidelines regarding facility capacity.
The meet will be livestreamed on the internet by the NFHS Network, although that requires a subscription.
Here is a rundown on the postseason schedules for boys golf, boys tennis, cross country and slowpitch softball.
Golf
2A: The district tournament is scheduled for Oct. 20-21 at Riverside Golf Course in Chehalis. This will conclude the fall portion of the season.
1A: The district tournament is scheduled for Oct. 21-22 at Tumwater Valley Golf Course in Tumwater. This will conclude the fall portion of the season.
Cross country
4A: The district meet returns to its traditional location — last season COVID protocols forced the meet to be held at Battle Ground High School — at Lewisville Park on Oct. 20. The bi-district meet will be at Chambers Bay near Tacoma on Oct. 30.
3A: The district meet will be held at Kelso High School on Oct. 20. The bi-district meet will be at Chambers Bay on Oct. 30.
2A: The 2A Greater St. Helens League meet is Oct. 21 at Lake Sacajawea in Longview. The district meet will take place Oct. 28 at Lewis River Golf Course.
1A: The Trico League meet is Oct. 20 at Vancouver Lake. The district meet will be Oct. 28 at Lewis River Golf Course.
Tennis
4A: The district tournament will be Oct. 22-23 at Club Green Meadows. The bi-district tournament will be held Oct. 28-30 at the Boeing Tennis Center in Kent.
3A: The district tournament will be Oct. 22-23 at Vancouver Tennis Center. The bi-district tournament will be Oct. 28-30 at the Sprinker Tennis Center in Spanaway.
2A: The 2A Greater St. Helens League tournament will be Oct. 22-23 at Vancouver Tennis Center. The district tournament will be Oct. 26 and Oct. 28 at Steamboat Tennis and Athletic Club in Olympia.
Slowpitch softball
4A: The district tournament will be Oct. 21 at Fort Vancouver High School. The state tournament is Oct. 29-30 at the Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima.
3A/2A: The district tournament will be Oct. 20 at Fort Vancouver High School. The state tournament is Oct. 29-30 at the Gateway Sports Complex in Yakima.
Tim Martinez is the assistant sports editor/prep coordinator for The Columbian. He can be reached at 360-735-4538, tim.martinez@columbian.com or follow his Twitter handle @360TMart.
