Gov. Tom Wolf sent shockwaves throughout the sports world Thursday when he recommended at his daily press conference that no sports should be played until Jan. 1.

The response came when a reporter asked for guidance regarding fans and spectators at high school sporting events this fall.

The stunning announcement led to the PIAA holding an emergency board meeting not long after Wolf’s announcement in the late morning. The executive session meeting was closed to the media and guests and lasted nearly 90 minutes.

“Today, Governor Wolf issued a statement of strongly recommending no interscholastic and recreational sports until January 1st. We are tremendously disappointed in this decision. Our member schools have worked diligently to develop health and safety plans to allow students the safe return to interscholastic athletics,” the PIAA said in a statement.

The statement noted that the PIAA board of directors will be meeting Friday “to review this action” and will have an official statement Friday.

The recommendation was not an order or mandate by the governor.

Read more in Friday’s Williamsport Sun-Gazette.