Will County Gazette

Republican candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives Mike Fricilone wants to know what science Gov. J.B. Pritzker is honoring with his decision to keep Illinois high school athletes sidelined.

“For kids that catch the COVID, we’re not seeing serious illness nearly as much as with others,” Fricilone told the Will County Gazette. “I really can’t understand what Gov. Pritzker is looking at that tells him all groups need to be treated exactly the same.”

All across the state, coaches, parents and student athletes are speaking out against the governor’s actions, including holding rallies in hopes of moving him to reconsider.

Now running against Marie Newman in the 3rd Congressional District, Fricilone is proving to be among the most outspoken.

“We need to get back to normal life for these kids,” he added. “It’s definitely time to reopen schools, even if it’s on some kind of split schedule. And the reality is sports is a vital part of that of the school experience for many of these kids. From that, some of them earn scholarship opportunities they never could otherwise. I think everyone is committed to taking the proper precautions that will allow us to do this as safely as we going, just like you’re seeing others do.”

Fricilone said he was pleased the Illinois High School Association fired off a letter to Pritzker requesting that they be allowed “to resume control over determining the resumption of sports and activities.” Currently, the two sides are allowing teams across the state to practice this month under specific COVID-19 guidelines

“I’m sure there’s some politics involved here, even though I’m not sure what the governor’s direct reasons are at this point,” Fricilone added. “I think if we can get past all that, we can come up with a plan that works for everyone.”