Member of LHS football team has confirmed case of COVID-19

By Andy Brown
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Updated: September 21, 2020

Louisburg High School has confirmed a positive case of COVID-19 on the Wildcat football team that will force nearly 50 players to quarantine.

The quarantine does not include 15 athletes, many of whom are on varsity. However, due to a player suffering a season-ending surgery and another out with a separate illness, the Wildcats will be down to just 13 active players for Friday’s contest with Piper.

“There was a JV roster of kids, with nine players who were ‘swing players,’ who would practice with the varsity and the JV,” Louisburg coach Robert Ebenstein said. “We also have a freshman group that practiced separately. So basically we tried to prevent one positive case from bringing down all programs.

“Well, the freshman game was cancelled last Thursday so we had our freshman team scrimmaging our JV team in the first practice. So the one positive case brought down basically everyone from that practice with the county/s interpretation of the close contact rules – which was all the JV players and the nine players who were playing both JV and varsity. “

Almost two weeks ago, the entire Louisburg boys soccer team was forced to quarantine due to an infected player participating in a practice. The Wildcats were able to come back from their quarantine last Thursday.

According to the Miami County Health Department, any player in active participation when the infected player was on the field had to be quarantined unless they wore a mask and goggles.

“It is as broad and simple as that,” Ebenstein said in an email to the football parents. “I have gone through to remove as many players as possible with certainty they were not active participants during those specific plays on last Wednesday. Even if a kid were to be an active participant with a mask on they would not have been safe from close contact quarantine. A mask and a face shield would not make them safe as it does not “seal around the eyes”. Masks and goggles would, but you are not allowed to wear goggles under your facemask as they are not NFHS certified.”

More than a week ago, a member of the Tonganoxie football team tested positive prior to Louisburg’s game with the Chieftains in week two, and only that infected player was forced to quarantined due to different conditions stated by the Leavenworth County Health Department.

“I want all of our kids to be safe in the classroom, but for some reason wearing a mask inside keeps a kid safe, but wearing a mask outside during sports does not,” Ebenstein said. “I don’t understand any of it.

“As for difficulties for this week…one injury we are in trouble, two injuries and we are out of subs, three injuries and we are playing with 10. Not having a scout team all week is not ideal.”

According to the school, they are hoping the students will able to return to in-person classes next Thursday, but the official date has yet to be confirmed.