OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen.

On Thursday afternoon, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association announced that it had postponed all of the winter championships indefinitely. The sports being affected are ice hockey, bowling, girls and boys basketball.

NYSPHSAA Executive Director Dr. Robert Zayas said, “It was my goal to complete the winter championships on schedule. It has become increasingly more difficult to host these championship events with the number of challenges that have been presented. I also have concerns as the executive director of NYSPHSAA and a parent, that students will be participating in an event under circumstances that are not conducive to a quality and beneficial participation experience.”

The program that is arguably taking the biggest hit, possibly in the entire state, is Dunkirk High School. Just one day before the Lady Marauders bowling team was set to travel to Syracuse, where they would attempt to defend their State Championship, NYSPHSAA put their tournament on hold with no answer of when it may be played.

Also frustrated are the members of the basketball team. Powered by their senior starting five, the core group has been working hard for four years to earn their first trip to the Far West Regionals. Just on Wednesday night, Dunkirk pulled off one of the biggest wins in program history and now they don’t know when they will play again or if they will get to play again.

This story will be updated in Friday’s edition.