Sports canceled as a precaution

Sports at Wasco High School was put on hold last week, with all games and matches cancelled due to increased violence in the area. With another two shootings in the city of Wasco – coupled with rumors on social media – the school decided to cancel all extra-curricular activities, including the football game against Delano High that was scheduled for Thursday night.

Coach Chad Martinez said that the students’ safety is the first priority. “At the end of the day, wins and losses come, but we want students to be safe. Not just Wasco is on edge, but everyone is on edge, because everyone just wants to be safe.”

Schools in the Delano, Wasco and McFarland School Districts canceled all activities for that time period. Online reports citing violence turned out to be untrue and without foundation..

Police Chief Kevin Zimmermann responded on Facebook to postings on social media sites about “a shooting in Shafter” last week. denying any such thing had happened. “There has been no recent shootings in the city of Shafter,” said Zimmermann.

He also went on to say that they have found no credible threats involving Shafter or Shafter High. SHS Principal Russell Shipley said that there have been no cancellations of school events. “We did have volleyball matches canceled but that was because Wasco High had canceled the matches on their end.”

The actions – or lack thereof – won’t affect the upcoming Shafter/Wasco Week. Shipley said, “As far as we know, everything is going to schedule, nothing altered.”

When contacted, Kyna Meecham of the activities department at Wasco High, said, “Everything is a go for Wasco/Shafter Week. The breakfast, rallies and the game are on schedule.”

The Kern County Sheriff’s Department had stated that they could find no credible threats of violence involving Wasco High, but that the school had decided to be cautious with the cancelations.