On Wednesday, September 2, 2020 Goshen Community Schools (GCS) administration was informed that a Goshen High School (GHS) football student-athlete had tested positively for COVID-19. The positive case was reported to the Elkhart County Health Department (ECHD) by the GHS school nurse as per GCS COVID-19 procedures.

Following discussion among Dr. Steven Hope, GCS Interim Superintendent; Susan Stiffney, RN, Director of Human Resource Services and GCS Safety Officer, Lori Martin Executive Assistant to the Superintendent/PR; Dr. Barry Younghans, GHS Principal; Larry Kissinger, GHS Athletic Director; Wendy Swallow, RN, GHS School Nurse/GCS School Nurse Coordinator; and Kyle Park, GHS Head Football Coach, decisions have been made to ensure the safety of all students, teachers and staff as well as the Goshen community.

Upon the recommendation of ECHD, Goshen High School JV and varsity football players will be required to quarantine for 14 days, since the players are considered close contacts to the student-athlete who tested positive. Quarantine means the players will not attend school, football practices, or any other co-curricular activities during the 14-day quarantine.

The varsity football game scheduled for Friday, September 4, 2020 and the JV football game scheduled for Saturday, September 5, 2020, will be canceled. More information about ticket refunds for the GHS/Mishawaka football game will be released later.

After missing 5-10 days of scheduled practices, IHSAA rules require that student-athletes practice at least 4 days upon return, prior to a competitive game. Since the GHS players will still be in quarantine until late next week, the home football game with NorthWood, scheduled to be played on Friday, September 11, 2020, will also be canceled.

The freshmen football players are not identified to be close contacts, so they may continue to hold practices and play their games as scheduled.

Coach Park is speaking with his student-athletes this evening and he will convey the information listed above to his team. GCS knows how disappointing this must be for the student-athletes who have worked hard to be ready to compete and have looked forward to representing their school. We hope that the community will continue to support the JV and varsity football players during the next 14 days through emails or phone calls, but not visits!

Thank you for continuing to wear a mask, wash your hands, stay physically distanced, and stay away from large gatherings such as cookouts, parties, or sleepovers. It helps all of us in the community!

(The Spanish translation of this press release will be sent out later this evening when it is available.)