MHS fall sports are 'challenging'

     COVID-19 continues to affect the Monticello Community School District in a variety of ways, and the fall sports season is no exception.

     “The COVID stuff has been challenging,” activities director Tim Lambert said during a special meeting of the Monticello School Board Sept. 9.

     Lambert offered a report to the board during the meeting, where he outlined some of the things coaches are doing, the financial effects, and scheduling issues as a result of trying to conduct a fall sports season during a pandemic.

     “It’s constantly changing,” he said.

     Lambert said he meets with the fall coaches “multiple times a day” to discuss protocols and situations. He also said there is a financial burden. Revenues are down for the Monticello Athletic Booster Club, and expenses throughout the activities department, as a result of sanitizing equipment, thermometers and other factors, are up.

     Also, he said, “It’s a lot more work,” as coaches work to sanitize equipment before and after practices. Athletes also have their temperatures taken before each practice.

     “We’re doing everything we can to keep them safe,” Lambert said.

     As for scheduling, the quarantine of more than 140 students resulted in all of last week’s activities being either postponed or cancelled, including:

     • Football vs. Anamosa Sept. 11 was cancelled; it will not be made up. This will be the first time there will be no Cowbell game since 1921, when the scheduled game was cancelled due to a snowstorm.

     • Football at Maquoketa was moved from Friday to Saturday, Sept. 18 to 19, so that players returning from quarantine will be able to play.

     • Home volleyball vs. Center Point-Urbana Sept. 8 and vs. Anamosa Sept. 10 were postponed. The Anamosa match will be made up Oct. 13, for high school teams only.

     • Home cross country Sept. 12 was cancelled.

     Lambert said there were some bright spots to all of this.

     “All our coaches have done a great job,” he said. “And other schools have been really cooperative. Everybody is in the same boat.”

     He also announced that Monticello is scheduled to host the Class 3A state qualifying cross country meet Oct. 22.

     On Sept. 10, Lambert learned that Monticello will also host the River Valley Conference Meet, scheduled for Oct. 13. That meet was originally scheduled to be at Kickers Soccer Park in Iowa City, but COVID-19 issues there have caused it to be moved.