On the evening of August 20 the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, or KHSAA, met to discuss the argument of whether or not high school sports would be allowed to compete. The final decision from the board was that these fall sports could begin competition on September 7th.

While many of these fall activities have already begun socially distanced practices, these clarifications from the Kentucky Department of Health have left students and parents with a sigh of relief.

The first practices will be held Monday, August 24 and the games will start on September 7th for soccer, cross country, volleyball and football teams. The first Highlands football game will be September 11th against Simon Kenton in Fort Thomas. 

Many athletes apart of these programs were thrilled to hear this news for a possible season, especially the seniors:

Senior volleyball players Laura Winkler and Maria Little were relieved to hear there season can finally start. Winkler says, “I’m very excited that we are able to start our season! We have tryouts this week which will allow us to finally have a live play. I’m relieved that so far we can have a season but it also feels too good to be true knowing that our season can change at any moment.”

“The volleyball program has been having optional open gyms, following the KHSAA guidelines, the past few weeks,” explained Senior Maria Little, “So I am glad we are able to finally begin real gameplay”.

“I am happy to know that unlike the spring, I won’t have to miss out on a season like we had to do with the track. Obviously we don’t know the safety procedures that’ll be in place yet, but I think I can speak for everyone that we will follow whatever procedures that are in place so we can have our season go as normal as possible,” Senior cross country runner Will Griffith said.

Senior soccer starter McKenzie Nehus was also eased knowing she could still play her senior year. “I’m excited that we are finally getting the opportunity to start our season. I’ve been kind of skeptical that we wouldn’t even get to have tryouts, so being able to do that alone is all I could ask for at this point.”

Senior Highlands football player Jake Arthur stated, “I’m excited that I will still get to play my senior season. We can begin putting plays together with all positions involved. I’m looking forward to a successful season.”

Although this was delighting news for Highlands students, other schools in Kentucky were not as lucky. On August 24th, several dozen parents and high school student-athletes gathered outside the state capital, Frankfort, to push for the right to play this fall.

This “Let them play” rally came from the fear that the vote to start the seasons next month, by the state high school athletic association, would be revoked by the governor and state health officials. Therefore, the parents and athletes of these fall sports protested to send a simple and clear message: let them play.