The Kentucky high school sport most affected by COVID-19 quaratines and protocol may surprise you. It’s cheerleading.
As cheer squads across the state try and balance the safety of cheering at basketball games with practicing on their own routines, the KHSAA said Thursday they will have a state competition.
KHSAA Assistant Commissioner Sarah Bridenbaugh said of the five sports she oversees, she gets more COVID-related questions about cheerleading.
The KHSAA normally holds its state cheer competition in December. Commissioner Julian Tackett told the board of control Thursday that no dates for this year’s state competition has been set. He said other states have used a virtual option where routines are recorded on video and judged. Tackett said he did not consider that a viable option for Kentucky.
In order to comply with limited capacity on site, Tackett said there are some questions about allowing every cheerleader watch the routines. The region and state competition is split into three divisions — All-Girls Small, All-Girls Medium and Game Day Divisions.
Alltech Arena has been the recent host of the KHSAA State Cheer Competition. However, that location is managed by the Kentucky Horse Park, which is not allowing visitors. Alltech Arena also hosts the state wrestling tournament which will likely move to a large high school for 2021.
