A sharp rise in COVID-19 cases throughout Kitsap County brought to an end a shred of normalcy for some high school athletes.

The Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap school districts both recently announced a pause of off-season conditioning for athletes in response to the coronavirus increase. South Kitsap was set to begin workouts on Nov. 9, but never got started.

“Due to a continued rise in COVID-19 case activity in Kitsap County, we need to pause high school athletics off season conditioning activities starting [Nov. 9],” NKSD officials said in a release to families.

Kitsap County’s rate of positive cases per 100,000 residents was 152.1 as of Nov. 16.

“We will continue to monitor case trends and will notify families when numbers decline and conditioning activities may resume,” the statement continues. “Please continue to follow mitigation and prevention guidelines to help slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community.”

BISD followed suit, ending indoor workouts and requiring masks at all times for outdoor workouts.

“As of Nov. 9, all indoor out of season workouts have been cancelled for at least 14 days due to rising county COVID metrics,” says a release from BISD, cancelling all activity through the Thanksgiving break.

Sport-specific practices were set to begin Nov. 30 in the lead up to the WIAA Season 2, during which regular winter sports — basketball, swimming, wrestling and bowling — were set to take place. But the rapid increase in COVID transmission statewide has put in doubt the having any competitions over the next couple of months.

If Season 2 is not held, winter sports would be moved to either Season 3 or 4.