Baseball is one of the sports that will have regional championships. Beckman warms up during a game last week at Patriot Park. (Photo Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone)
CIF state officials announced Wednesday that the annual state championships will not be held this spring for high school sports due to the limited number of sections in Northern California that will be having post-season championships.
But officials said that CIF Southern California Regional championships will be held in baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, softball, tennis and boys volleyball.
“As has been the case throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the CIF will need to be flexible and will be prepared to adjust the remaining championship schedules as necessary as completing CIF Section Championships is a priority,” the release from the state read.
“With only two of the six Northern California Region Sections offering championships at this time (Central Coast Section and Oakland Section), it is not feasible for the State CIF to conduct Northern California Regional Championships. Also, due to the limited number of Sections in Northern California conducting championships, coupled with potential logistical/travel issues, the State CIF will not be hosting state championships in swim and dive, track and field and wrestling.”
The state regional playoffs will begin as soon as the CIF Southern Section playoffs end, the state release said.
Soccer and tennis regional championships are scheduled to run until June 5, boys volleyball until June 12, golf until June 15, basketball until June 19, and baseball and softball until June 26.
The Southern California sections are Southern, Central, Los Angeles City and San Diego.
Also on Wednesday, CIF Southern Section Commissioner Rob Wigod said that locations for the diving and swimming championships have been approved by the Orange County Department of Public Health.
The diving event will be held on Thursday, May 20 and Friday, May 21 at the Marguerite Aquatics Center in Mission Viejo.
The swimming finals will be held at Santa Margarita High School on Tuesday, May 25 (Division 2), Thursday, May 27 (Division 1) and Saturday, May 29 (Divisions 4 and 3).
No spectators will be allowed at either events but both events will be livestreamed with more details to come, Wigod said.
Wigod added that CIF Southern Section officials are still working on securing approval with health departments for sites for boys and girls golf, boys and girls individual tennis and boys and girls track and field.
“Progress continues to be made and we are hopeful that will continue,” Wigod said in his letter to principals and athletic directors and shared with the media. “There is light at the end of the tunnel, and we will keep moving toward that light in the days and weeks in front of us until we complete this journey. We have been on this ride together since mid-March of 2020 and we have every intention of finishing strong in the time ahead.”
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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