Due to COVID concerns, both Hoquiam and Elma school districts made the decision on Friday to cancel/suspend various athletic activities.

In a letter sent out on Friday, Hoquiam administrators stated the district “is going to move from in-person learning and activities to virtual learning activities for nine school days for our high school and middle school students and staff.”

The letter further stated that students will be able to return to campus on Monday, Oct. 4 and that all in-person school sporting events and extracurricular activities will be suspended.

While some Hoquiam sports programs are able to compete their regularly-scheduled events on Friday and Saturday, this does not include both the Grizzlies football and volleyball teams, both of which had their games cancelled.

Hoquiam prep sports activities are expected to resume on Sept. 25.

According to Hoquiam administrators, the district currently has 35 positive COVID-19 cases and 300 close contacts, some of which are awaiting test results due to symptoms.

The Elma School District posted an update on its Facebook page at approximately 3 p.m. Friday that the Eagles scheduled football game against Castle Rock later that evening had been cancelled.

“Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 and health related issues, the football game tonight at Castle Rock has been cancelled. We look forward to our next contest on Sept. 24 versus King’s Way Christian,” the post read.

Sources within the school’s athletic department stated the cancellation was due to a contact tracing issue where some student-athletes were possibly exposed to COVID-19 at the school.

As of early Friday evening, no additional scheduled Elma prep sports events have been postponed.