ELKHART — Dave Preheim was 100 percent focused on his coaches and athletes Thursday.
On Friday, the Concord athletic director had pivoted to where to go from here.
Concord, along with NorthWood, Northridge and Jimtown, all announced Thursday night that they were suspending fall athletics until further notice.
The decision came after it was announced earlier in the day that all schools in Elkhart County would do virtual learning until at least Sept. 28.
“No one wants to see this because our kids and our coaches have invested a lot into it,” Preheim said by phone Frday. “It’s a tough time and an emotional time for a lot of people.”
The decision by the four schools comes after football, volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls soccer and boys tennis teams all began preseason practices this past Monday. Teams in volleyball, cross country, soccer and tennis can begin games on Aug. 15 with football openers set for Aug. 21.
Girls’ golf teams began play on Monday. In fact, the Concord girls golf team won the NorthWood Invitational title Thursday in Nappanee before the news of the suspended season hit.
“This whole situation has taught me to be ready because things are going to change,” Preheim said of the pandemic. “I’ve told people all along that there are a lot of people involved in these types of decisions. I just certainly hope that we can resume at some point.”
NorthWood AD Norm Sellers said that the focus now moving forward has to continue to be on the student athletes.
“Education-based athletics is all about relationships,” Sellers said. “Our coaches have been with our kids since July 6 so this is tough. But they have done a great job helping them through this and will continue to do so. We have to give our kids hope.”
Sellers says that no one knows the answer as everyone tries to look forward and determine when and if it will be safe to return.
“We will adjust accordingly and hope things change,” Sellers said. “The million dollar question is will we play sports this fall. We have to keep moving forward with a plan.
“The thing is that these decisions are not easy for anyone involved with them. There’s nothing easy about this situation right now. We just have to try and make decisions based on what’s best for the kids and the coaches involved.”
As of Friday afternoon, athletics at Goshen High School and at Elkhart High School were still on.
“It’s day to day right now,” said Goshen AD Larry Kissinger. “There’s been a lot of discussion ongoing here. There are just so many variables with this.”
The newest member to the Northern Lakes Conference, which also includes Concord, NorthWood and Northridge, is Mishawaka. The Cavemen joined the league this year after 96 years in the NIC, replacing Elkhart Memorial, which merged with Elkhart Central to form Elkhart High School and will compete in the NIC.
Mishawaka AD Dean Huppert said he has faith in his colleagues in the NLC as they all navigate through these uncharted waters together.
“I feel for these guys,” Huppert, said. “I know that its hearbreaking for them. I know how much they have invested and the things they have put in place to try and keep their kids and coaches safe in all of this.
“I stand by all of them. I support them and I know that people in the NLC have been doing everything they can to make fall sports happen.”
Huppert, a former longtime sports broadcaster, emphasized how important high school athletics are.
“Kids need sports and it does not matter if it’s in Elkhart County or St. Joseph County or where it’s at,” Huppert said. “I believe that the safest place for a lot of these kids is in an environment with their coaches and with their teams.”
Huppert says that Mishawaka will look at its options moving forward in regard to schedules.
“We will look at options for all of our sports,” Huppert said. “We will have contingency plans. It’s a puzzle with a lot of pieces that have to fit together. You have to be resilient. The answer today may not be the one you get tomorrow. We are number one concerned with keeping our kids and coaches safe and then staying ready to move forward.”
Mishawaka already had a case of COVID-19 among its coaching ranks as head football coach Keith Kinder was diagnosed with the virus last month and has since returned to work.
The NLC includes schools in four counties — NorthWood, Northridge, Concord and Goshen in Elkhart County; Wawasee and Warsaw in Kosciusko County; Mishawaka in St. Joseph County; and Plymouth in Marshall County.
In just football Mishawaka has three games scheduled with Elkhart County schools before Sept. 28 and five overall.
The South Bend Community School Corp. has also extended virtual learning for most students through Oct. 5, but has not suspended athletics to this point. Penn-Harris-Madison, the area’s largest school corporation in eastern St. Joseph County, has also put in-person learning on hold until at least Sept. 14., but also did not prohibit athletic teams from practicing or competing.
Each Saint Joseph County school has games scheduled with Elkhart County schools, many early in the season.
“I don’t think the four county thing is a big deal,” said Wawasee AD Cory Schutz, the secretary of the NLC. “I know that everyone in the NLC is doing what they can within their programs to try and have them continue.
“I trust the schools in the NLC to keep the kids as safe as they can be. Things change and could change again. We will make adjustments as we need to.”
Wawasee schools are still slated to return to in person instruction on Aug. 13.