Lee Central meeting next week to discuss athletes' return

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Lee Central High School will be discussing how to move forward in allowing student-athletes to begin conditioning and workouts in a meeting next week.

Lee Central athletic director Roberson Brown said he and Lee County School District officials will be meeting to establish a plan for the return from the coronavirus pandemic. The South Carolina High School League announced at the end of May that conditioning workouts could begin for student-athletes dependent upon a date being set by either the schools or the respective school districts.

The SCHSL closed its spring sports schedule in the middle of March due to coronavirus. It said workouts could begin but strict social distancing, disinfecting and cleansing protocol had to be followed.

Sumter School District has yet to set a return date for its three high schools -- Sumter, Crestwood and Lakewood. Scott's Branch athletic director Rodney Barr has been unavailable for comment on when his school might set a date.

East Clarendon began the first week of the 2-week Phase 1 proposed by the SCHSL on Monday. Manning will begin its first week of workouts this Monday.

The South Carolina Independent School Association also announced at the end of May that its schools could begin summer workouts on June 1.

Four of the five local SCISA schools had some of their athletic teams begin workouts on the first day. Wilson Hall and Thomas Sumter Academy had several sports teams begin workouts last week. Laurence Manning Academy and Robert E. Lee Academy had their football teams begin workouts.

Clarendon Hall began workouts on Monday.