Press Release

SYRACUSE – The Wawasee athletic department issued a press release Tuesday updating its policy for the 2020-21 athletic school year requiring new physicals.

Per the athletic office:

“As directed by superintendent Dr. Tom Edington and the Wawasee school board, every Wawasee athlete entering grades 6-12 will be required to have an updated physical examination conducted by a doctor, a physician assistant, or a nurse practitioner.

“We apologize for making this unforeseen change. If we have learned one thing throughout the COVID crisis it is that changes are happening daily, we must make adjustments to help ensure the safety and well-being of all our student athletes.

“Even though a parent-completed waiver form for this year was approved by the IHSAA, area pediatricians and family doctors have requested all student athletes continue their annual physicals. The Wawasee school board agrees with these doctors and made the decision to require a new physical for 2020-21 at their most recent meeting.

“If a physical (dated after April 1, 2020) has already been submitted, nothing more needs to be done. If the IHSAA’s Health History Update Questionnaire and Consent Certificate (HHUQCC) was completed, a new physical must be conducted with that physical form being submitted to the athletic department. If the Health History Update was submitted, the athlete will have until August 14 to submit a new, completed physical form in order to continue participating.

“The school corporation has worked out a reduced fee with Lutheran Health Network (Med Stat locations) for $43. The same amount will be charged at the Goshen Health locations in Syracuse and Milford. The Wawasee Central Office will subsidize anyone unable to cover $23 of the fee for the physical. If the expense of the physical is an issue, please contact the athletic department to make it known that you will need assistance in covering the cost of the physical.

“Again, if you complete the Health History Update Questionnaire and Consent Certificate (HHUQCC), you will have until August 14 to submit a new physical. The new physical may be submitted any time prior to that date to make an athlete eligible for sports at any of the Wawasee schools. If a new physical has not been submitted by August 14, a student may not participate in any athletic activities.

“Many of our high school teams will begin workouts and activities on July 6. If a completed HHUQCC has been submitted by that day, athletes may participate in those workouts; a new physical must be submitted prior to August 14 in order to continue participating after that date.”