CIF-SS cancels traditional cheer championships due to coronavirus pandemic

CIF officials announced on Monday that the Southern Section’s traditional competitive cheer championships have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The event was scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 3 but Southern California remains in the most restrictive purple tier.

“Today, I must regretfully announce that we are cancelling our 2020-2021 CIF Southern Section Traditional Competitive Cheer Championships scheduled for April 3, 2021, due to the COVID pandemic,” said Commissioner Rob Wigod in a letter to principals and athletic directors.

“In consultation with our Cheer Advisory Committee, it was determined that we could not conduct our Traditional Competitive Cheer Championships in the manner they deserve. Current  California Department of Public Health Guidelines for Youth Sports significantly limit our Cheer  programs being able to adequately prepare for our championships and/or participate in  competitions leading up to our championships. 

“The ability for us to host a Southern Section Championship in one location and have student athletes from all seven counties within the Southern Section footprint be allowed to travel to that  single location is not realistic.”

Wigod added there was some consideration to conducting the event in a virutal format. 

“However, the consensus of our Cheer Advisory Committee was that this option would  not meet the standards of a CIF Southern Section Championship event,” Wigod said.

CIF officials announced on Jan. 19 that a number of post-season competitions were being cancelled, but they hoped that regular seasons could be held.

Cross country became the first sport to compete last week. On Saturday, Beckman hosted Foothill in a nonleague meet.