Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The New Mexico Activities Association last week announced its state championship schedules for cross country and volleyball, but there will not be state-title games for football.
Football will conclude with a so-called “bowl game” that would allow chosen teams to compete outside of their respective regions.
The NMAA stated in a news release Wednesday the New Mexico Public Education Department ruled that championship events could be held “but must take place in accordance with the state’s public health orders.”
“Most notably, this means that all events must adhere to the guidelines established in the public health order for high school athletics and large entertainment venues per the color designation of each county,” the news release stated.
Though seven counties in New Mexico, including Quay, have attained the highest turquoise level of low COVID-19 risk, nearly 20 other counties remained in the more restrictive yellow and red zones.
State tournament brackets for volleyball will be announced Saturday night on the NMAA’s website. Instead of 16 teams being chosen for the state tournament in each enrollment class, just eight teams will be picked.
The quarterfinals and semifinals will be held at the higher seed’s gym or at a neutral site. The quarterfinals for Class 1A through 4A will be March 29. Semifinals for Class 1A will be March 30, with Class 2A through 4A on March 31. Class 5A will hold its quarterfinals on March 30 and the semifinals on April 1.
The finals will be April 1-3 at The Pit at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. The Class 1A final would be 2 p.m. April 1, with the Class 2A through 4A finals the following day at times to be determined later. The Class 5A finals will be 4 p.m. April 3.
Tournament venues won’t know whether spectators will be allowed until their respective counties learn their COVID-19 risk levels later this week.
The cross-country state championships will be held March 26-27 at Albuquerque Academy. The venue won’t know whether spectators will be allowed until Bernalillo County learns its COVID-19 risk level later this week.
For football, matchups for NMAA Bowl Games will be announced Wednesday through Friday. Game dates will be April 1-3, with locations to be determined by the matchups.
Bowl game venues won’t know whether spectators will be allowed until their respective counties learn their COVID-19 risk levels later this week.
NMAA Executive Director Sally Marquez sounded a positive note in the announcement.
“The return of high school athletics has positively impacted communities across New Mexico, and we have now taken another step towards some sort of normalcy for our students with the announcement that our fall sports’ seasons can conclude with a culminating event,” she said. “We truly appreciate the support from the PED, the Department of Health, and the Governor’s Office for their help in making this happen.”