The dream is getting bigger for Ethan Thomas. Early last year, Thomas began gauging interest in a travel basketball league for area elementary schools. By December, that had turned into a series of five games to be played between Holy Family and Central Kansas Christian Academy (CKCA) in Great Bend. Season two is now underway, and Thomas said the league is growing.
"Me and my wife, Ashlie, have been working almost tirelessly for the last year and a half to get an elementary basketball league going," Ethan said. "We are excited to say we have started the Central Kansas Christian Basketball League. This year we are excited to have four teams."
The CKCA Warriors and Holy Family Shooting Stars will be joined by the Stafford Trojans and Chase Kats. This year's schedule will include seven or eight games with the format staying the same: third and fourth graders will make up a school's "B" team, and fifth and sixth graders will make up the "A" team. Each school will have its own representative that helps find coaches and officials. High school athletes will be paired with experienced officials to boost interest in officiating for the next generation.
The league will not track student grades and therefore is not under the umbrella of the Kansas State High School Activities Association, but Ethan said the goal is to mirror KSHSAA rules as closely as possible.
"We're still going to follow basically what KSHSAA is doing so the kids learn what they need to learn by the time they go to middle school and they're already ready to play," he said. "Another exciting thing was, because of the rule change with homeschooling, we're allowing that as well."
Three homeschooled students have already joined the CKCA team. Practice is underway and the first game is scheduled between CKCA and Holy Family on Monday, Oct. 23. CKCA will play in its gym, Holy Family will play at St. Rose, and Chase will play at Chase High School. Stafford will play its games in Great Bend. The season will wind down with a tournament on Dec. 9-10 at CKCA.
The Thomases approached several area businesses with sponsorship packages ranging from $300 to $1,000. Twenty businesses have signed up so far with those funds paying for officials, trophies and medals, and banners to be hung in participating schools.
Ethan said the league may continue to grow. He is already in communication with two more potential schools. To help promote the league, the Thomases have created a Facebook page and webstore for the league. Follow the page for league information and for a chance to win custom merchandise.