by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi

High school athletics have been sidelined for nine months, but this week, athletes will return to play in Northumberland County.
After a mandatory hiatus by Virginia High School League (VHSL) canceled spring and fall sports in 2020, athletes were given the go-ahead to begin play in December with a list of COVID-19 prevention measures in place. The ultimate decision to play or not rested with individual school divisions.
Lancaster had a wait-and-see approach, but an administrative committee made the official decision last Wednesday to not participate in winter sports, according to Lancaster High School athletic director Dave Zeiler.
Northumberland, however, has given the green light to its basketball, wrestling, indoor track and cheering squads to begin practice this week and begin play as early as Monday, January 25. The schedules are still being finalized…