Government shutdown interrupts Kentucky high school sports

Football teams at Fort Campbell and Fort Knox high schools were sidelined Friday after the government shutdown paused extracurricular activities at the schools for military families.

"I'm Shay McAlister, and this is Shay Informed: an independent, ad-free platform dedicated to honest journalism with compassion and clarity.

Are you new here? Sign up for the free newsletter or subscribe to support our mission.

McLean County High School started their homecoming dance a few hours earlier than expected on Friday, after their opponent, Ft Knox, had to cancel the game.

The western Kentucky high school shared the updates on Facebook this week, first pausing the game and then announcing Friday that it was officially postponed until an unknown date.

McLean County High School's football team will be back to business as usual next week, but for the student athletes at Fort Campbell High School and Fort Knox, there is only uncertainty about if or when they'll be able to play again.

The Department of Defense Education Activity, known as DoDEA, provides educational program oversight for schools on military sites. It said Friday that its schools will remain open for normal instructional operations during the government shutdown, but that all extracurricular activities will be paused for the duration of the government shutdown.

More than just football

According to reporting from AP News, the Fort Campbell High girls volleyball team was on a historic run, having compiled an 11-2 record for a school without a winning season for 15 years in the sport. The squad's senior night game was called off Thursday and two other upcoming games could be as well if the federal shutdown continues.

Mary Hughes, the volleyball team's coach, said Friday that her players have shown “so much grit and tenacity” but for now have no control over how their season ends up.

What happens next?

Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell reportedly reached out to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, asking that athletics and extracurriculars at the schools be designated as activities allowed to proceed despite the shutdown.

For now, the student athletes are left in limbo, not knowing when they may start practicing or participating in competition again.

Like what you see? Learn more about Shay Informed here! This is honest journalism with compassion and clarity.