WIAA state tournaments go the way of NCAA tournaments

Attendance limited at winter state tournaments

In keeping with policies and guidance from the World Health Organization and public health organizations, the Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association (WIAA) is restricting attendance for all remaining winter tournament events.

Guidelines for mass gatherings call for limiting public events to 50-250 attendees, depending on the event and the venue, a step that is “prudent and necessary” due to the pandemic that has created  unprecedented circumstances, according to a WIAA press release.

“The WIAA has been keeping up with public health and medical updates and has recognized the changing environment over the past 24 hours,” Executive Director Dave Anderson said. “As good and responsible citizens, we are adhering to policies consistent to preventing the spread of COVID-19.”

• The policy limits attendance at the state tournament to 88 tickets per team, two supervisors and a limit of 22 team personnel. In addition, the boys and girls 3-Point Challenge competitions scheduled for Saturday will be held with participants and one chaperone allowed.

• Contest officials, timer, scorekeeper, announcer, team host, WIAA staff, WIAA athletic trainers and Board of Control members deemed essential to the administration of the tournament are permitted.

• Cheerleaders, pep bands, school photographers, videographers and on-site sponsors will be prohibited.

• The live television broadcast of the state tournament will be available; however, limited radio stations will be given clearance to broadcast. Press accommodations will be restricted to either a small pool that would provide copy to the state or to one reporter per school team.

Tickets for the WIAA Girls and Boys State Basketball Tournaments, except the party of 88 immediate family members, will be refunded in full. Please allow staff time to make these refunds and contact the WIAA office only if no refund is seen within two weeks of the tournament.

Any tickets purchased at school for the State Girls Basketball Tournament will we be refunded by the school and not the Resch Center or the WIAA.