Sangamon Sun

Veteran state Sen. Steve McClure (R-Springfield) is pressuring Gov. J.B. Pritzker to show consistency in his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and answer the burning question of why high school student-athletes shouldn't be allowed to resume competing.

“Just like the governor has done on other things, it makes more sense that this should be done based on local regions,” McClure told the Sangamon Sun. “There should not be a blanket policy that applies across the whole state. I thought that was the reason why we put different regions in place to begin with.”

Pritzker recently doubled down on his decision to keep most student-athletes off the field over COVID-19 concerns, sparking protests from parents, students and coaches all across the state.

The Illinois High School Association fired off a letter to Pritzker requesting that they be allowed “to resume control over determining the resumption of sports and activities.” Currently, the two sides are allowing teams across the state to practice this month under specific COVID-19 guidelines. But the Chicago Public School system isn’t part of that agreement, meaning even if the governor were to have a change of heart there’s no guarantee those schools would be  able to resume play by the fall.

“I don’t know what the governor's motivations are, but you can let his actions speak for themselves,” McClure added. “And I know here in this part of the state kids want to play and are willing to take their chances.”

McClure said many high schoolers now feel cheated and discarded.

“They know that they will never have this chance again and they’re really bothered that it could be so easily taken away from them,” he said. “Taken away without them even having a voice about what’s happening.”