Even with schedules largely set, the 2020 fall season promises to carry a measure of uncertainty as teams deal with competition while returning to school during a global pandemic.

While games are on the calendar for football, volleyball, cross country, and girls swimming, local coaches anticipate more changes than normal when it comes to various competitions, especially as different schools have different protocols relating to positive COVID-19 tests — which is why the football schedule was built with the intention of letting all teams qualify for the playoffs, according to IHSAA Communications Director Chris Cuellar.

Pella Cross Country Head Coach Doug Cutler says the upcoming schedule has been greatly reduced, with some traditional meets eliminated due to cancellation of competitive seasons at colleges, a desire to avoid large groups of different teams, and to maintain flexibility with some uncertainty hanging over the upcoming season. Cutler does say it’s just good to be back overall though, and he feels the athletes are ready to be flexible and to be back together again.

Stay tuned to 92.1 KRLS for continuing coverage as local teams prepare to compete this fall.