The Alaska School Activities Association, the governing body for Alaska’s school co-curricular activities, released on Sunday morning the details to ASAA cancellation of high school basketball and cheer state championship competitions.
Billy Strickland, ASAA Executive Director
The Alaska School Activities Association is announcing the cancellation of the 2020 State
Basketball and Cheer Championships.
This decision is based on the following:
• On Wednesday, March 11, 2020, the State of Alaska and the Alaska School Activities
Association announced the postponement of the State Basketball and Cheer
Championships.
• On Friday, March 13, 2020, the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, the
Alaska Chief Medical Officer, the Alaska Division of Public Health and the Office of the
Governor issued its first health mandate. As part of Mandate 1.2, from March 16 through
March 30, all public schools are to be operated as non-student contact days in which
students will not be attending school. During this time, all after school activities are to be
suspended.
• The purpose of the postponement and mandate is to reduce the possibility for spreading
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
ASAA agrees with the State of Alaska’s assessment that our best course of action in dealing with
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), is to slow down the statewide spreading of the
virus. One of the ways to mitigate the spread is to not have large statewide gatherings. March
Madness Alaska is possibly the largest statewide gathering each year and ASAA would not be
acting responsibly if we were to host this year’s event. ASAA understands many students and
adults will be severely disappointed by the need to cancel March Madness Alaska. However,
when discussing the merits of educational based activity participation, concepts such as
“teamwork” and “sacrifice” are often mentioned. This is a time when these concepts will be
applied, in order to help best protect our State.
ASAA’s stated mission is to strengthen student wellness, academic and social development by
advocating equitable participation and fostering healthy competition for ALL Alaska
students. #winforlife. By “win for life” ASAA hopes to convey the benefits of educational based
activities go with the student well beyond their last contest or event. Our State is fortunate to
have dedicated coaches and advisors that help students gain these benefits both in victory and
defeat. Cancelling a state tournament is not something we take lightly. We recognize that for
many student’s this opportunity will not come again. However, we prioritize the health of our
students, coaches, school staffs, fans and elders over the want to determine this year’s
champions.
Kenai Peninsula Borough School District schools and facilities are closed through Friday, March 27th (Governor Dunleavy announced closure through March 30th).
