Weyauwega-Fremont spectators must wear masks

By Angie Landsverk

The number of spectators at Weyauwega-Fremont athletic competitions is being limited this fall due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This also includes only allowing home fans at the competitions.

No guests or visitors are being allowed.

“We value our W-F community and fans. At this time, tickets for home sporting events are not available for our general public,” said Jodi Alix, the district’s middle and high school principal. “While we appreciate the public and their support, we are giving only four tickets to each player for their family members and there will be some set aside for students.”

The procedure is due to the need for social distancing, she said.

Spectators are required to wear masks and to physically distance.

Student tickets are being distributed in a lottery style.

“Currently, please check our Youtube site for livestreaming of games/contests which can be found on our district website,” Alix said.

The W-F School Board discussed the plan on Sept. 8, during its Committee of the Whole meeting.

The procedure is being implemented, with the board expected to formally approve it when it meets on Sept. 28.

Every facility is different, District Administrator Phillip Tubbs told the board last week.

The recommendations were brought forward by W-F’s athletic department and administration.

Tubbs said it followed meetings with superintendents in the conference.

For football, the plan is four tickets per player and listed coach and 75 student tickets in a lottery system.

At football games, the home and visitor sides will be used to spread out the fans as much as possible, Tubbs said.

For varsity and junior varsity volleyball, the recommendation is four tickets per player and listed coach and 25 student tickets in a lottery system.

The plan for junior varsity 2 and middle school volleyball is two tickets per player and listed coach.

For cross country, the recommendation is four tickets per player and listed coach.

Livestreaming events

Tubbs said the district is working with a company to livestream events.

The booster club covered the $2,500 cost of cameras for the effort, he said.

Now, it just needs to be set up.

Until then, the district plans to livestream events the same way it handled the graduation ceremony, Tubbs said.

Board member Tim Baehnman said a lot of parents will be angry about not being able to watch their children at away games.

“We can’t live in fear,” he said.

Tubbs said, “Originally, I was open to having guests.”

Conversations with superintendents and athletic directors in other districts showed it would be a logistical nightmare, he said.

“We would have to print tickets and get them to to the other district to sell,” Tubbs said.

He also noted the reason why they are trying to stay in conference for events is to mitigate the spread of the virus.

The W-F district – and many other districts – are not letting parents in the schools this fall, Tubbs said.

“But yet we’re going to let visitors in?” he asked.

Tubbs said he understands how parents feel about not being able to go to all the games.

But he looks at the current situation as one that at least includes athletic competitions.

That was not the case for student athletes and their families last spring.

Parents will be able to see all the home games, Tubbs said.

“I think you’re doing the right thing,” said board member Sandy Smith.

Alix said many schools are doing the same thing W-F is doing.

“We didn’t come up with it on our own,” she said.

Board member Matt Betz said, “We’re never going to make everyone happy.”

He said the No. 1 concern is trying to keep the students in school for in-person instruction.

Tubbs said bringing the recommendations to the board was the first step.

Communicating the information to district families was planned.

“A couple weeks ago, we didn’t even know if we’d be able to play sports,” said board member Debi Bartel.