Spring state tournament news has athletes, coaches excited
The last time the Illinois High School Association held a spring sports state championship in June of 2019, Huntley defeated St. Charles East 1-0 in extra innings for the Class 4A softball title.
Last year's season was wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic. Sports have returned, currently with boys and girls basketball wrapping up their final week and boys soccer, girls volleyball and football starting next, but none of those sports - nor golf, cross country, girls swimming and girls tennis last fall - were allowed to end their seasons with a state series.
Spring athletes got some good news Monday when the IHSA announced there will be a state series in baseball, softball, girls soccer and track and field, among others.
Saints senior shortstop Katie Gheorghe played in that 2019 state title. During a break in Monday's practice, she checked her phone and saw the announcement of the state tournament.
"Everybody was excited, jumping around," Saints coach Jarod Gutesha said. "A few high-fives here and there. Just playing softball is fun for them but knowing there's that state series is super exciting."
Gutesha knows how much a postseason means for a team.
His uncle is an assistant coach on Glenbard West's boys basketball team that is undefeated but won't have a state tournament.
"The kids play the game because they love it but the excitement of the postseason is something you can't really replicate," Gutesha said.
The IHSA board of directors agreed to hold all rounds of state tournaments for badminton, baseball, softball, bass fishing, boys gymnastics, boys tennis, girls soccer, track and field and water polo.
While Illinois Department of Public Health mitigation rules prevent such tournaments currently for boys volleyball and lacrosse, IHSA officials approved plans for state finals in those sports "in hopes that mitigation changes will allow for it by that time," according to a news release.
Capacity and social distancing regulations will be required at the tournaments.
IHSA officials said state final qualifiers in some individual sports may be modified to better meet gathering mitigations.
The state series guidelines will be posted and shared with coaches and school personnel later this week, the IHSA said.