Page 14 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2021 GREATER BOSTON LEAGUE NOTEBOOK: MIAA to student-athletes... Get the Vax! State board votes in near-unanimous fashion to support schools in encouraging student-athletes to get vaccinated against COVID-19 By Steve Freker T For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-286-8500 or Info@advocatenews.net he Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Board of Directors made it loud and clear what its stance would be when it comes to student-athletes and the widely-available COVID-19 vaccine: Get the Vax! At a meeting at its Franklin headquarters on Tuesday and following a recommendation by its Sports Medicine Committee, the MIAA Board of Directors voted nearly The MIAA Board of Directors voted Tuesday in near unanimous fashion to urge Massachusetts student-athletes to get vaccinated against COVID-19. (Courtesy Photo) unanimously, 22-0-1, in favor of encouraging student-athletes to take the COVID-19 vaccination shots. According to recently apBanking with a hometown touch. Open a free checking account with no monthly fees, and get access to Mobile Banking, Bill Pay and other features. Because no matter where you go, we’re right by you. Call or visit us to sign up. 419 BROADWAY, EVERETT MA 02149 7 7 1 SALEM ST, LYNNFIELD, MA 01940 WWW.EVERET TBANK . COM pointed MIAA Executive Director Bob Baldwin, the Board’s support was in line with the National Federation of High Schools (NFHS) guidance on the issue. Baldwin told the Board that NFHS has set the goal “of getting as many kids vaccinated as possible.” The MIAA director also noted that it would be valuable to get ahead of this issue before the arrival of winter sports, largely due to the fact that some of the MIAA’s traditional, premier postseason venues, such as the TD Garden in Boston, where high-level basketball and hockey championships have been played in the past, are now requiring proof of vaccination for entry to events. Malden Public Schools DirecRight by you. Member FDIC Member DIF tor of Athletics Charlie Conefrey is a member of the MIAA Board of Directors, as well as MIAA District 5 Chairperson, and he joined his colleagues in voting to encourage student-athletes to be vaccinated. There are no public high schools in Massachusetts that formally mandate that students be vaccinated to either attend school or participate in interscholastic athletics, though nearly every school has strict protocols in place to address student-athletes who either display COVID-19 symptoms or test positive for COVID-19. Similar protocols such as these are in place at Everett High, Malden High and Revere High, as well as the fi ve other GBL schools: Chelsea High, Lynn Classical, Lynn English, Medford and Somerville. **** Nearly 40 years of Malden High Football Coaching represented by three former coaches at MHS opener When Malden High opened its season on September 16, nearly 40 years of coaching contributions were represented by the attendance of three former Golden Tornadoes football head coaches. Present at the game were former MHS football Head Coaches Paul Finn, Joe Pappagallo and Steve Freker. Coach Finn is one of the longest-serving head coaches of any sport in MHS history, as he led the Golden TorLEAGUE | SEE Page 20
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