Eagle Pass Independent School District Announces Return to Athletics on September 21
By: Miguel Munoz, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2020
Eagle Pass Independent School District Superintendent Samuel Mijares announced in an interview with the Eagle Pass Business Journal on Friday, September 18, 2020 that both C. C. Winn and Eagle Pass High Schools are returning to athletics on Monday, September 21, 2020, commencing with football strength and conditioning practices for one week before having any contact practices.
Mijares noted that both C. C. Winn and Eagle Pass High Schools originally were going to start on September 28, 2020, but that both the Laredo and Laredo United Independent School Districts approved athletics and extracurricular activities starting September 21, prompting Eagle Pass Independent School District to move up its start date to the same September 21 date as the two Laredo school districts.
Although the University Interscholastic League (UIL) authorized smaller high schools in Class 1A through 4A to commence playing football, other fall sports, and extracurricular activities in August, the two larger classifications of 5A and 6A, which Winn and Eagle Pass High Schools belong to, were delayed to start until September 2020.
Laredo United Independent School District Superintendent Roberto J. Salinas stated in a press release that “the UISD Board of Trustees and [I] are pleased to inform our families that band, cheer, dance, and athletic activities at the high school varsity level will resume on Monday,” September 21, 2020.
Mijares noted that the number of new confirmed positive COVID-19 cases have decreased in Maverick County during the past several weeks, allowing the District to provide students the opportunity to compete once again at the varsity level while maintaining a vigilant eye on the COVID-19 cases in the community in the upcoming weeks.
Mijares added that the EPISD will continue to protect the health and safety of students and will take all steps necessary to comply with and follow the strict health and safety protocols dictated by TEA, UIL, and local health authorities. One of the requirements is that all students, staff, coaches, visitors, and spectators are required to wear face masks at all EPISD facilities and indoor and outdoor UIL events.
Eagle Pass High School Athletic Coordinator and Head Football Coach Tom Gonzalez stated that students, staff, coaches, and parents are excited to begin football practices on Monday, September 21, 2020 and are looking forward to playing their first District football game on Thursday, October 22, against the Laredo LBJ Wolves at 7 P.M. at the Laredo United ISD Student Activity Complex. The Eagle Pass High School Eagles are scheduled to play a six game District 29-6A season starting on October 22 and ending on December 2, subject to any state playoffs and what happens between now and then with the COVID-19 pandemic.
