It’s time to unmask our student-athletes

On: December 13, 2021

I regularly shoot local Chatham County high school sports.

There is one thing I have clearly recognized looking through hundreds of my images of these sporting events. It is almost guaranteed that the face masks that student-athletes are required to wear fail to stay in place.

In all practical terms, these students are playing without masks.

You can view some of these images at
https://www.facebook.com/chathamjournal/photos/

The mandatory masks don’t just apply to players it also applies to our Chatham cheerleaders. It is difficult for them to perform their cheers and routines and keep their masks in place.

We are at the end of the school semester and there have not been any serious COVID breakouts among Chatham County schools.

In fact, our Chatham County students-athletes are in the lowest risk group of all in Chatham County due to their age and fitness. All are required to get a medical exam before being allowed to compete.

BTW, wrestlers are not required to wear masks while competing.

It is time that we unmask our student-athletes.

This evening there is a Chatham County School Board meeting. They will vote on whether or not to extend mandatory mask wearing for students and staff for another month.

They may vote to extend the mask mandate for the general school population. Even if they do this, some board member should bring up the motion to allow student-athletes to compete without requiring mask wearing. Individuals could exercise that option if they choose.

Folks can comment during the school board meeting or you can send emails expressing your opinion on mandatory masking to

Mr. Gary L. Leonard		Chairman
Ms. Del Turner		Vice-Chair
Mr. David M. Hamm		Board Member
Ms. Melissa Hlavac		Board Member
Ms. Jane Allen Wilson		Board Member
Dr. Anthony D. Jackson		Superintendent
Mrs. Kristin C Guthrie		Clerk to Board of Education