When the Bradford boys swimming team hosts Franklin and the Indian Trail boys swimming team hosts Oak Creek at the YMCA Callahan Branch on Monday at 4:30 p.m., it’ll officially mark the Kenosha Unified Schools District’s return to athletic competition.
KUSD completed its falls sports schedule, but athletic competition in the district has been on hold since the School Board voted on Nov. 17 to move students to all-virtual instruction through Jan. 8, which was this past Friday. With that vote, KUSD also voted to suspend all KUSD athletic activities from Nov. 30 through Jan. 3, which was a week ago Sunday.
That included all practices, weight lifting and team-related activities, but KUSD programs were allowed to begin practicing again this past Monday, Jan. 4, and can begin competition again this week. The winter sports sanctioned by the WIAA are boys and girls basketball, gymnastics, boys and girls hockey (KUSD only has a boys program), boys swimming and wrestling.
As was the case for fall sports, the KUSD programs — Bradford, Tremper and Indian Trail — will be playing a conference-only schedule. For now, the Southeast Conference includes five programs, the three KUSD schools, Franklin and Oak Creek. The three Racine Unified School District programs, Case, Park and Horlick, still have athletic events on hold indefinitely.
Additionally, no spectators will be allowed yet at KUSD indoor events. The district has a full list of COVID-19 safety protocols in place for each winter sport.
In basketball, Bradford and Tremper will open their seasons by playing each other at 7 p.m. Tuesday, with the boys at Tremper and the girls at the Bradford Fieldhouse. Indian Trail opens against Franklin at 7 p.m. Tuesday, with the boys at Indian Trail and the girls at Franklin.
The wrestling teams open Thursday with Tremper hosting Bradford and Indian Trail hosting Franklin at 7 p.m. Tremper also hosts Bradford in boys swimming at 4:30 p.m. Thursday.
The Kenosha Unified hockey team, meanwhile, opens its schedule by hosting New Berlin Eisenhower at 7 p.m. Friday at the Pleasant Prairie IcePlex.
The Kenosha Combined gymnastics team isn’t scheduled to compete until Jan. 28 at Mukwonago.
Shore 7
Shoreland Lutheran’s Quentin Bolton dunks during a Metro Classic Conference boys basketball game against Burlington Catholic Central on Saturday at Shoreland. In Tuesday’s non-conference home win over Heritage Christian, Bolton had 22 points, 16 rebounds and four steals.
Shore 9
Shoreland Lutheran's Quentin Bolton grabs a rebound over Burlington Catholic Central's Michael Dietzel during a Metro Classic Conference boys basketball game Saturday at Shoreland. The Pacers won, 61-19, to improve to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the Metro Classic.
Shore 1
Burlington Catholic Central's Neal McCourt shoots the ball over Shoreland Lutheran's Emmet Strassburg during a Metro Classic Conference boys basketball game Saturday at Shoreland. The Pacers won, 61-19, to improve to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the Metro Classic.
Shore 2
Shoreland Lutheran's Quentin Bolton priest to knock the ball away from Burlington Catholic Central's Reid Muellenbach during a Metro Classic Conference boys basketball game Saturday at Shoreland. The Pacers won, 61-19, to improve to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the Metro Classic.
Shore 3
Shoreland Lutheran's Nolan Cipov passes the ball as he drives the baseline against Burlington Catholic Central's Michael Dietzel during a Metro Classic Conference boys basketball game Saturday at Shoreland. The Pacers won, 61-19, to improve to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the Metro Classic.
Shore 4
Burlington Catholic Central's Max Robson brings the ball up the court against Shoreland Lutheran's Konnor Hill during a Metro Classic Conference boys basketball game Saturday at Shoreland. The Pacers won, 61-19, to improve to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the Metro Classic.
Shore 5
Shoreland Lutheran's Konnor Hill guards Burlington Catholic Central's Max Robson as he brings the ball up the court during a Metro Classic Conference boys basketball game Saturday at Shoreland. The Pacers won, 61-19, to improve to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the Metro Classic.
Shore 6
Shoreland Lutheran’s John Goines grabs a rebound over Burlington Catholic Central’s Michael Dietzel during a Metro Classic Conference boys basketball game Saturday at Shoreland. The Pacers won, 61-19, to improve to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the Metro Classic.
Shore 8
Burlington Catholic Central's Neal McCourt drives to the basket between Shoreland Lutheran's Konnor Hill, left, and Bryce Pfeilstifter, right, during a Metro Classic Conference boys basketball game Saturday at Shoreland. The Pacers won, 61-19, to improve to 3-2 overall and 2-2 in the Metro Classic.
SJ-SC 1
St. Joseph's Peter Stapleton drives toward basket against Racine St. Catherine's Marcel Tyler during a Metro Classic Conference boys basketball game Friday night at the Madrigrano Gymnasium.
SJ-SC 2
St. Joseph's Caiden Lecce passes the ball as he's defended by Racine St. Catherine's Kamari McGee during a Metro Classic Conference boys basketball game Friday night at the Madrigrano Gymnasium.
SJ-SC 3
St. Joseph's Caiden Lecce, center, drives the lane against Racine St. Catherine's Calvin Hunter, left, and Tyrese Hunter, right, during a Metro Classic Conference boys basketball game Friday night at the Madrigrano Gymnasium.
SJ-SC 4
St. Joseph's Jacob Ashmus drives against Racine St. Catherine's Jameer Barker during a Metro Classic Conference boys basketball game Friday night at the Madrigrano Gymnasium.
SJ-SC 5
St. Joseph's Caden Tolefree drives to the basket against Racine St. Catherine's Marcel Tyler during a Metro Classic Conference boys basketball game Friday night at the Madrigrano Gymnasium.
SJ-SC 6
St. Joseph's Andrew Alia shoots over Racine St. Catherine's Jameer Barker during a Metro Classic Conference boys basketball game Friday night at the Madrigrano Gymnasium.
SJ-SC 7
St. Joseph's Andrew Alia, center, battles for a rebound with Racine St. Catherine's Victavian Thomas, right, and Jameer Barker, left, during a Metro Classic Conference boys basketball game Friday night at the Madrigrano Gymnasium.
SJ-SC 8
St. Joseph's Andrew Alia, right, battles for a rebound with against Racine St. Catherine's Jameer Barker, middle, during a Metro Classic Conference boys basketball game Friday night at the Madrigrano Gymnasium.
SJ-SC 9
St. Joseph's Peter Stapleton, right, battles for a rebound with Racine St. Catherine's Jameer Barker, left, and Domonic Pitts, center, during a Metro Classic Conference boys basketball game Friday night at the Madrigrano Gymnasium.
CENTRAL BASKETBALL - BOYS
Central’s Kenny Garth moves the ball against Union Grove during a Southern Lakes Conference boys basketball game in Paddock Lake on Friday night.
CENTRAL BASKETBALL - BOYS
Central's Devin Griffin shoots during against Union Grove during a Southern Lakes Conference boys basketball game in Paddock Lake on Friday night.
CENTRAL BASKETBALL - BOYS
Central's Devin Griffin weaves between Union Grove defenders during a Southern Lakes Conference boys basketball game in Paddock Lake on Friday night.
CENTRAL BASKETBALL - BOYS
Central's Jack Rose shoots over Union Grove defenders during a Southern Lakes Conference boys basketball game in Paddock Lake on Friday night.
CENTRAL BASKETBALL - BOYS
Central's Kenny Garth shoots over a Union Grove defender during a Southern Lakes Conference boys basketball game in Paddock Lake on Friday night.
CENTRAL BASKETBALL - BOYS
COUNTY SHOWDOWN ON TAP TONIGHT
Central's Devin Griffin goes up for a shot against Union Grove during a Southern Lakes Conference boys basketball game in Paddock Lake earlier this season. Griffin and the Falcons will head to the Madrigrano Gymnasium for a big inter-conference county showdown against St. Joseph tonight at 5:30. The Falcons, who lead the Southern Lakes Conference, enter the game with a 5-1 record. The Lancers, tied for second in the Metro Classic Conference, are 3-1 and were ranked No. 9 in Division-4 in the latest state coaches poll.
Mike Johnson
Sports Editor
