The next fall high school sports season will start on time.
Section VI and WNY athletic officials reached an agreement Monday with the help of officials from the New York State Public High School Sports Athletic Association, ending a pay dispute that threatened to sideline local teams .
“At approximately 5:30 p.m. (Monday), Section VI reached an agreement with WNY athletic officials,” read a statement released late Monday by Section VI executive director Mark DiFilippo, the former athletic director of Niagara Wheatfield. “Everyone involved is excited to move forward with Fall Sports on behalf of our member schools and, most importantly, our student-athletes. We appreciate the assistance of Dr. Robert Zayas and Todd Nelson of NYSPHSAA.
“Section VI continues to value the work of our sports officials on behalf of our student-athletes. We look forward to a memorable year of sports in Western New York.
Late last week, news broke that the Section VI referees were threatening to sit out matches from August 29 to September 10 as their association contract expired on August 31.
A press release sent by the High School Sports Officials of Western New York blamed the section: “The sticking point lies with Section VI, which is unwilling to raise umpires’ salaries (sic) in times of inflation, even after their salaries were frozen for two years. .”
Zayas, president of the NYSPHSAA, quickly announced on Twitter that he had requested a meeting between Section VI and officials Monday in Buffalo.
“Both groups want a resolution for the betterment of students,” Zayas wrote at the time. “I can’t wait to meet. The students cannot afford to be negatively impacted by this situation.
