HOLLAND MI (WHTC-AM/FM) – Holland Christian High’s basketball teams won’t be playing at all this weekend.
On Thursday afternoon, officials from Grand Rapids Christian High announced that all of its basketball teams that were scheduled to host Holland Christian on Thursday and Friday would not be competing “due to student illness.”
There was no other comment attached to this brief statement by the Eagles as to the nature of the extent of the outbreak, which initially led to belief that it was centered in Grand Rapids. However, WXMI-TV reported on Thursday evening that the outbreak was instead centered in Holland, citing a letter sent on Tuesday by HCHS Athletic Director Dave Engbers to parents of Maroons basketball players that said, in part, “We have recently been made aware of pertussis (also known as whooping cough) in some Holland Christian High School basketball players. As a result, we are working closely with Allegan County Health Department in response and we wish to provide you with some important information.” Engbers went on to describe the symptoms and treatments for this disease, but made no mention as to how many players were afflicted.
Holland Christian Schools has made no comment thus far on the cancellations, other than to post the words “games cancelled” for all of its contests slated for Thursday and Friday on its website, and there is no word as to when or if these contests would be made up. The Holland Christian varsity boys are now idle until competing in a holiday tournament at Grand Haven on December 28th; the girls are scheduled to return to action next Friday, December 21st, hosting Grandville.
