Sports at Bellwood-Antis will continue with few interruptions following a fire in the middle school that closed school at the middle and high school through the Christmas break.
The middle school wrestling room was severely damaged following a fire early Tuesday morning. The fire spread from the wrestling room to the boys junior high locker room.
Former Bellwood-Antis student Elias Alley was arrested for setting the blaze later in the day.
According to B-A superintendent Edward DiSabato, the middle school gym will likely be usable before the locker room and wrestling room are available. However, athletics in general will continue undisrupted.
On Tuesday, the boys basketball team was scheduled to face Williamsburg at home. The game was postponed until a date to be named later after school was closed earlier in the day.
The Blue Devils will match up tomorrow at home against Penns Valley without further interference. The game will tip-off at 7:00 p.m.
The Lady Devils take on Central Mountain tonight at 7:00 p.m. followed by a trip to Penns Valley on Friday. Both contests will be held away without disruptions.
Coach Kyley Longo said her team practiced at the Summit in Altoona on Tuesday after the high school building was closed.
As of now, Blue Devil junior high and high school basketball teams will practice in Myers Elementary’s gym, which will then affect youth teams that use Myers.
“It’s going to take a lot of communication, collaboration, and teamwork as we figure it out,” Coach Longo said.
B-A’s wrestling team will host a match against United, Friday. The middle school gym has always hosted B-A wrestling matches, but the event will now be held in the high school gymnasium at 7:00 p.m.
Mr. DiSabato said the status of the middle school facilities will be determined as more information is collected.
“We are hopeful for a full return after the holiday break, but we will have to wait for a full assessment of the damage,” he said.
