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Local athletic games cancelled amidst COVID surge
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The Turlock versus Pitman varsity boys basketball game, originally scheduled for Friday was postponed until Feb. 5 due to COVID-19.

The rise of COVID-19 cases and individuals being deemed close contact has forced multiple athletic games at Turlock High school to be postponed. In the case of wrestling, the Central California Athletic League decided to eliminate all but one league match.

“The CCAL thought it would be in the best interest of the athletes to have less contact; therefore, to have just one league dual,” said THS wrestling head coach Mike Contreras.

The league championship will be decided at the CCAL tournament at Downey High School on Feb. 4. The team was forced to cancel this week's crosstown rivalry match against Pitman. The Bulldogs are competing at the MidCals this weekend in Gilroy, however.

“Everyone is disappointed about not being able to wrestle, especially not being able to compete against Pitman at home,” said Contreras.

The Bulldog basketball team also had to deal with two postponements in the last two weeks. The first was against Enochs and the second was against Pitman this week, which was rescheduled to Feb. 5. On both occasions the opposing schools were the ones that cancelled, according to head coach Nick Nathanson. The basketball team's situation is more fluid though, and they expect to play a league matchup against Downey on Wednesday.

“While we understand the COVID situation is fluid, my guys are beyond not being able to play a Friday night game against our rivals Pitman,” said Nathanson.

On a positive note, the boys and girls soccer teams have not been forced to miss games yet, and are expected to play every game if given the opportunity.

“Even though we are missing key players, we will continue to play our scheduled matches the way they are without those players as long as we have enough players to start a match,” said boys head coach Jose Alonso Garcia.