The Dexter football team learned just how challenging and different and difficult this season is – if they hadn’t realized it already.
On Friday night, the Dreadnaughts scheduled football game at Tecumseh was cancelled after school officials in Tecumseh announced late this week that the high school will close and switch to fully remote learning with over 100 anticipated to quarantine after a positive case of COVID-19 was reported. An announcement regarding future athletic events is expected soon from Tecumseh school officials.
Dexter scrambled to find an opponent for Friday night’s sudden open date and found one. Unfortunately, the Dreadnaughts lost 26-20 to Gladwin to fall to 1-2 on the season. Gladwin had an opening after it’s game with Shepherd was cancelled. The game was played in Gladwin, a small school (less than 500 students) about an hour north of Midland. Dexter made the 2-hour, 40-minute bus trip Friday night less than 24 hours after getting word the Tecumseh game was called off.
Dexter lost its season opener with Chelsea but won 54-0 last week at Adrian. The Dreadnaughts are scheduled to play Lincoln on Friday.
The goal of this season isn’t winning football games but getting a chance to play and staying safe.
“We have over 600 kids in the face-to-face environment in the high schools so it’s a big deal. it’s a lot of people to send home,” Tecumseh School District Superintendent Rick Hilderley said, as reported by WTOL11.
In an email sent to families Thursday providing further instructions, Tecumseh Public Schools said they had worked with the Lenawee Health Department to utilize contact tracing following the positive case. The health department also anticipates at least two more positive tests soon.
Contact tracing determined over 100 individuals, including “several” teachers, are expected to require quarantine for two weeks to monitor symptoms.
The full email sent to Tecumseh Public Schools families reads:
Tecumseh Families,
TPS has been informed of one more positive COVID-19 case. In addition, we have been informed by the Health Department to expect at least two more positive tests, soon. When contact tracing the confirmed positive case AND the potential cases advised of by the Health Department, more than a hundred individuals at THS will be or potentially could be sent to quarantine, including several teachers. Therefore, we believe it is best for all concerned to close Tecumseh High School at this time. The tentative return date as of now is Tuesday, October 13.
On Monday, October 5, ALL THS students will be placed in the Distance Learning format on the normal schedule. Tomorrow, all THS students who are NOT in quarantine will be allowed into the building after 10am to retrieve any needed items. Teachers will be available by email during the day Friday to answer questions.
Decisions about athletic teams will be made in the morning and will be communicated through program head coaches.
All other TPS buildings will run as they have been. Busses will continue to be in service.
Again, we are making this decision with the belief that it is the safest approach for all staff and students.
Thank you
