The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association has announced the cancellation of all Massachusetts sectional swim meets.
Due to the blizzard predicted to hit the state today and Saturday, the MIAA has postponed all tournaments scheduled to take place this weekend. All swimming sectional tournaments have been canceled and will not be rescheduled.
"We regret that facility and time constraints prohibit the rescheduling of these events," the MIAA said in a statement released on its website Thursday afternoon.
"I’ve been working really hard for that time and was excited to go," Hoosac’s Michaella Vecchiarelli said. "Then to find out two days before the meet that it’s canceled for the weather ... it is really disappointing."
The state meet will go forward as scheduled on Feb. 16 and 17.
Western Mass. Division III wrestling has been postponed until Friday, Feb. 15. The two-day format will remain the same at Monument Mountain. That will also push back the state and all-state meet by one week, which now is the weekend the New England Regional tournament was scheduled. It’s unclear what will happen with that tournament if not all New England states can participate, but if it’s not delayed a week, wrestlers from Massachusetts will not be able to participate because of the all-state meet.
The cancellation of the Western Mass. swim meet will deny swimmers who have not qualified
Vecchiarelli missed the cut by .58 of a second in the 50 freestyle.
Emma Whitney had already qualified for states in the 100 butterfly. Elizabeth Bernardy also was able to qualify for states in the 100 breaststroke. Both the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams made up of Vecchiarelli, Bernardy, Emma Whitney and Julia Whitney have qualified for states.
"Our relay team made it, so I’ll still be able to go," Vecchiarelli said. "It’s nice, but I would have liked a shot as an individual."
The wrestling meet will give wrestlers an extra week to prepare for the tournament.
"I have to lose weight and make weight," Greylock’s Devon Pelletier said Wednesday before finding out the meet was pushed back. "I’ve really been focused on trying to make weight this time. I haven’t wrestled in a single tournament this year."
The extra time will give him a chance to do so. Unfortunately for the swimmers, it won’t be the same scenario. If they haven’t qualified for states they will not get a chance.
"You’d think with planning a huge meet like this where there are upwards of 20 teams, they would have a backup," Vecchiarelli said. "You’d think they would push the schedule back rather than canceling an entire sectional competition."
To reach Sam Monroe, email
smonroe@thetranscript.com.
On Twitter: @NAT_DigitalSam.
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