Schools to pay tribute as pandemic halts spring sports

A 20-minute statewide tribute to high school senior athletes who are missing their spring sports seasons is scheduled for Friday night.

In North Idaho, #BeTheLightID is scheduled to take place at 8:20 p.m.

Many schools will be turning on the lights in their outdoor stadiums at that time, and fans are invited to drive by the stadiums — remaining in their cars — to honor the class of 2020, which saw its spring sports season cut short by the coronavirus pandemic.

Those area schools known to be turning on the lights Friday night are Coeur d’Alene, Lake City, Lakeland, Timberlake, Sandpoint, Priest River and Clark Fork. In Post Falls, the lights will be turned on at The Fields at Real Life Ministries soccer complex.

St. Maries and Lakeside are among those not participating.

Plummer-Worley School District Superintendent Judi Sharrett cited Idaho’s stay-home order for public safety reasons in explaining why Lakeside opted out.

At St. Maries, athletic director Todd Gilkey said the school board has shut down all of event sites to go along with the stay-home order.

#BeTheLightID is scheduled to take place in other states as well. Spring sports events and practices have been suspended since March 17 by the Idaho High School Activities Association. The Idaho State Board of Education has issued a “soft closure” of all schools for the remainder of the school year, but the IHSAA has yet to officially pull the plug on the spring sports season.