The Northern California Regional Water Polo Championships have been canceled due to poor air quality. Garces Memorial High School was expected to play in the championships as part of their run for a state title.
Today’s State Playoff Match is cancelled. pic.twitter.com/G7MOw7K2xj
— Garces Memorial High (@GarcesMemorial) November 16, 2018
The championships were scheduled to be held this weekend in Clovis. However, the air quality of the area has been greatly affected due to the Camp Fire.
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) tweeted out confirmation of the cancellation this morning.
We are confirming that NorCal Regional Water Polo Championships have been canceled due to poor air quality.
We would like to congratulate the NorCal Water Polo teams for a great season! Thank you all for being great team players during difficult times. pic.twitter.com/HBsifbQMSu
— CIF State (@CIFState) November 16, 2018
The Northern Coast Section Team Tennis Championships, which were also scheduled for this weekend, have also canceled. Gil Lemmon, the Commissioner of Athletics for the Northern Coast Section of the CIF, issued a statement regarding the cancellation of the tournaments saying the championships "are contests, not life and death."
"Let us not forget that over 65 people in the community of Paradise, and surrounding communities, lost their lives, over 600 people are missing, thousands lost their homes, and have been uprooted to other areas of California, or even other states, all in an instant. And many Northern Section student-athletes have lost the opportunity to participate in any post-season high school championship event."
Full statement from Gil Lemmon:
