CIF commissioner wants to be ‘hopeful, optimistic’ about possible return of sports

Santa Ana High school soccer star Saul Ortuno was honored by CIF commissioner Rob Wigod in February. Wigod awarded Ortuno the CIF Spirit of Sport Award and a $500 scholarship. (Photo courtesy Santa Ana High)

CIF Southern Section Commissioner Rob Wigod has been trying to lead the way for the return of high school sports in 2021 amid mounting challenges due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Wigod along with officials from his office have provided a number of updates on sports since the pandemic began and haulted high school sports in March. In December, he answered questions from athletes in a press conference. He’s also done a number of interviews, including one on Tuesday, Dec. 17 with OC Sports Zone in which he talked about what lies ahead.

Wigod pointed out there are many challenges ahead. Coronavirus cases continue to surge throughout the state and Orange County remains in the most restrictive purple tier. But Wigod said he is still hopeful that conditions will eventually allow for the safe return of sports, although no starting dates have been set.

California Department of Public Health officials have said that no sports can begin until at least Jan. 25, 2021 and has laid out tiers which counties must be in for sports to happen. An additional update from the state is expected around the first of the year.

Wigod said he plans to provide another update for the CIF Southern Section on Tuesday, Jan. 19.

At the end of the extensive last interview with OC Sports Zone, Wigod was asked to summarize what lies ahead and what his message was for athletes.

Wigod’s response was saved for this article:

“I think there is an opportunity for us to continue to advocate for what we believe in and we’re going to continue to do that. On Dec. 17 (when the interview was held), I just do not believe it’s time to look ahead into January, February and March and know exactly what that’s going to look like, so I want to be hopeful, I want to be optimistic and I want to stay prepared so if the opportunity arises, we’re ready to go, and I said that the last time.

“This isn’t the opportunity to say it’s the time to give up and then we may have that opportunity that comes and we didn’t take advantage of being as ready as we can be. I do believe there are still the opportunities in front of us and as long as that’s the case, we’re going to work as hard as we can to try and make it happen and we’re going to hope and expect that everybody can stick with it as long as they can so they get back to what they love to do and what we love to watch them do.”

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM OC SPORTS ZONE!

-Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com

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