Moments after Gov. Bullock’s press conference detailing the phased reopening plan for the state Wednesday, the Montana High School Association issued a statement canceling spring sports.

“Because of the previous MHSA Board action, resumption of spring activities depended on our students’ ability to return to in-person instruction without restrictions by May 4,” executive director Mark Beckman said in his statement.

Bullock’s plan calls for optional reopening of schools on May 7.

“If in-person instruction didn’t resume by that time, spring activities would be canceled,” Beckman’s statement continued. “The spring 2020 is canceled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.”

Reached Wednesday, Glacier activities director Mark Dennehy expressed sadness but not surprise.

“We kind of thought it was coming but we hoped for the best, that’s for sure,” he said. “You feel bad for the athletes and their coaches.

“Our softball girls – we had everybody back from last year. But hey – we’ll begin work for next year. I guess that’s where we’re at.”

“Truly I’m sad for the kids,” Flathead AD Bryce Wilson said. “Like Chance Sheldon-Allen, who was a 100-meter defending champion, and he doesn’t get to defend that title. There were kids that were only track kids and work for nine months and their season goes away.

“That’s the saddest part to me, the coaches and the kids. The time they put in and the memories they would have created throughout the season.”

Whitefish AD Aric Harris said he’d talked to Pat Dryden, coach of the Bulldogs’ loaded girls’ tennis team, right after Bullock’s press conference.

“I said, ‘Reading through it, it just doesn’t look good,’” Harris said. “Of course shortly after we got the word from Mark Beckman. Unfortunate.

“I really feel for our seniors that are missing out on not only competing but the overall experience. Athletics is so much more than competing, it’s bonding and building relationships. It’s too bad kids all across the country don’t have that.

“At the same time this is something beyond our control. I respect the decision the MHSA made. I understand.”

Dennehy questioned whether Glacier High School would reopen its doors to students on May 7.

“That’s yet to be determined, but I can’t imagine us opening,” he said. “We’ll see what the school boards throughout the (Flathead) Valley do. It’s a little more challenging for a Class AA school - it’s a little more difficult to social distance with 1,200 students.”

Beckman also noted that, “We look forward to the resumption of high school activities during the 2020-21 school year with some level of normalcy.”

Harris looks forward to that day with the Bulldogs.

“This teaches a lot about resiliency,” he said. “Our kids will be stronger for this.”