Waynesboro, Draft postpone athletic events

Robert Sisk / News Virginian
Published: March 27, 2008

Waynesboro and Stuarts Draft high schools postponed Thursday's events reacting to rumors and uncertainties after the Interstate 64, DuPont Community Credit Union and North Commerce Avenue shootings earlier in the day.

"We are just in a holding pattern to see if anything happens and to see if there is anything to it," said Waynesboro Athletic Director Mel Morris. "Hopefully there isn't anything to it and we can move on with games and practice [today]."

The Fort Defiance boys tennis team still traveled to Rockbridge County, but the girls match was cancelled due to rain, not the shootings. Fort Defiance Athletic Director Jack Tucker said that Augusta County Supervisors advised that the schools should not travel over Interstate 64.

"We are going to follow the advice from Augusta County," he said. "It's sad to see it happened, for all citizens as far as travel we will be very conservative."

Morris said that the schools were only postponing events to protect the athletes and fans and not because there were any threats.

"There have been some phone calls and some people asking what is going on and if there is really anything to it," he said.

"We haven't confirmed anything and I know people are concerned and in order to make sure everybody is safe we just called everything off."

Stuarts Draft and Waynesboro's soccer teams were scheduled to meet Wednesday, a potential showdown for an early lead in the Southern Valley District. Waynesboro also had tennis matches scheduled with Spotswood.

"We don't feel comfortable putting the kids out there and having them exposed," Morris said.

As of Thursday, Waynesboro planned on all of Friday's events to go on as scheduled.

"We are jut playing by ear to see if there is anything to it," Morris said. "Right now, we are planning on going with practice and games tomorrow [Friday]."