COVID-19 sacks Serra’s season again

By JEFF STITT

jstitt@yourmvi.com

The Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh announced Sunday that Serra Catholic High School football practices and games will be suspended for 14 days after someone involved with the football program tested positive for COVID-19.

Neither the diocese nor the high school revealed if the person who tested positive was a student, but they confirmed that more than 40 student-athletes and football staff members are quarantined as a result of the positive test.

The diocese said out of an abundance of caution, the high school building will be closed today and all Serra Catholic students will participate in a virtual day of learning.

The Eagles had been slated to host Apollo Ridge Friday night. No game was scheduled for the following week. The team was originally slated to play against Summit Academy but that school canceled fall athletics in August due to concerns about the pandemic.

“Boy, I sure hope it’s not the end of our season,” Serra Athletic Director William Cleary said. “We obviously will not be playing Friday.”

Cleary thinks his players will be eager to get back on the field after the two-week quarantine, but he doesn’t know if the team will have anymore games. 

Cleary plans to be in touch with the WPIAL and is hoping it will either find a way to schedule the Eagles in other regular games “or just put us in the playoffs.”

Cleary said he learned the news about the positive COVID-19 test Sunday and hadn’t had a chance to talk with the entire team.

“They’re probably upset,” Cleary said, later adding that “we’re just going to have to adjust and adapt.”

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