As high school wrestling season kicks off, some are questioning Illinois’ indoor mask policy for sports.
The rules from the 2020-21 season include some that have parents shaking their heads.
Masks are mandated for all indoor high school sports per Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Aug. 4 executive order. The season starts on Nov. 8. The rules currently in place for mask wearing in the sport seem to some as contradictory.
Social distancing and mask requirements are waived only when wrestlers are engaged.
“Appropriate social distancing must be maintained at all times,” the guidelines read.
Matches consist of three periods of six minutes each during which wrestlers are locked onto each other without masks.
“Always require use of facial coverings except when wrestlers are actively wrestling on the mat,” the guidelines read.
However, those same participants are not allowed to shake hand after the match, according to last year’s rules.
“Eliminate all handshakes and fist bumps prior to and after the contest,” the rules read.
Last year, schools were limited in competition and only allowed to wrestle with those from the same conference, “in the same COVID region” or “in a different COVID region yet are within a 30-mile distance from school to school.”
The rules include a number of other mandates regarding mask-wearing including “coaches/ volunteers must wear a mask,” “Coaches must wear face coverings at all times,” “The IHSA (Illinois High School Association) prefers that officials wear solid black face coverings with no lettering or logos,” “Officials may remove their face coverings during timeouts, between periods/innings, etc. remain socially distant from others,” and “Replace face coverings immediately after eating or drinking.”
Those affiliated with setting up and officiating the wrestling tournaments said they are not responsible for setting or policing COVID regulations.
Members of the Illinois Wrestling Coaches and Officials Association (IWCOA) are deflecting inquiries to the IHSA.
“The IHSA governs interscholastic high school wrestling, not the IWCOA,” Mick Torres, an executive board member with IWCOA, told Prairie State Wire.
Torres is an active tournament organizer and formerly worked as an official.
He was a wrestler at Yorkville High School and in college at Northern Illinois University in the 1970s.
“The IWCOA does not make or enforce rules. This process is performed by the IHSA,” Roy Snyder the president of with IWCOA, told Prairie State Wire.
Snyder suggested the IHSA itself comment on mask usage.
IHSA executive director Sam Knox did not respond to an interview request.
