Concerns over COVID-19 have cost Upper Perkiomen's spring athletes their entire seasons. It also denied one swimmer the opportunity to win two state championships.

            The PIAA recently canceled the spring sports season and the winter sports championships. The organization announced the decision, made by its board of directors, last week. Robert A. Lombardi, the association's executive director described it as difficult for everyone, according to a written statement issued on April 9.

            Lombardi stated that the board's position – made in accordance with Governor Tom Wolf's announcement on April 9 that Pennsylvania schools will be closed to in-person learning for the remainder of the school year – reflects a steadfast priority of keeping student-athletes, officials and member schools' staffs and their communities safe, while following the guidelines provided by the governor, the Department of Health and the Department of Education.

            A message on the Upper Perkiomen School District's Athletic Department Twitter page expressed disappointment with the decision. The April 9 message asks parents and their families to stay tuned for future announcements regarding virtual celebrations for the spring athletes.

           Allyn Roche, Superintendent of the Upper Perkiomen School District, described the decision as a difficult pill to swallow for the student-athletes, especially those who are losing their senior seasons.

            "The lost opportunities and experiences that student-athletes have worked so hard for during the off-season and prior seasons are understandably big disappointments," Roche said during the school board's April 9 regular meeting.

            A March 12 decision by Wolf to close all public high schools, which led to a decision by the PIAA to suspend the swimming championships, prevented Noel Fresa from competing in the 100- and 200-meter freestyle races at Bucknell University. Fresa was in her hotel room near the event site when she learned of the postponement.

            In support of recommendations of the U.S. Center for Disease Control and health officials across the country, PIAA officials determined that large indoor sporting events should not continue as the country seeks to contain the spread of the virus.

            Via a March 12 news release,  a two-week hiatus in the swimming championships was implemented to allow schools time to perform self-assessments and make decisions to promote optimal health conditions in their communities.

            According to Upper Perk swimming coach Brien Kalnoski, Fresa – who came into States as the No. 2 seed in the 100 free and the top seed in the 200 free – seemed prime to excel.

            The cancellation also prevented Fresa, Kayman Heater, Darragh Martin and Devin Romanowski from competing in the 200 and 400 free relays in the 2A event.