By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The Barton County Commission, at Wednesday's regular meeting, encouraged basketball coach Ethan Thomas on his mission to start a youth basketball league in the county. Some commissioners even pledged monetary support privately. But the body agreed that public tax dollars should not be used to sponsor a new basketball league.
"This is an admirable project you have, and I know you've put a lot of thought and work into it," said Commissioner Jennifer Schartz. "I wholeheartedly support kids and athletics, that kind of goes without saying. But, collectively, as a commission, we made a decision not to add any non-profit activities, and we're out of our funding cycle right now, so we don't even have money earmarked for any kind of project like this."
Thomas, a coach at Central Kansas Christian Academy in Great Bend, said he had fond memories of a similar league growing up and wanted today's young players to have a similar experience.
"I remember playing, when I was in elementary, a Christian basketball league," he said. "We played Hoisington, we played Holy Family, we played St. Rose. We had CKCA, we had Larned, Kinsley, Dodge City, Ness City. We played all over. I played from fourth grade through eighth grade, and it made me who I was today as a basketball player and a basketball coach."
Several issues prevented the formation of a similar Christian league, so Thomas proposed a Barton County elementary school league. In speaking with USD 428 Superintendent Khris Thexton, Thomas learned public elementary schools in the district would be able to use school mascots but not school names. The new league would not violate any Kansas State High School Activities Association rules.
Thomas proposed an 8-week schedule in a league that would feature seven teams from Great Bend. Players from grades 3-4 would make up a B team, and players grades 5-6 would make up the A team. Games would be played at CKCA, Holy Family, and the PAC at the Great Bend High School. The games would also include cheerleaders to allow for development in that sport. Thomas also reported Identifications in Great Bend had agreed on a bargain price for trophies and medals at the end of a single-elimination tournament to close out the season.
"I would also like to include trophies for the tournament," Thomas said. "That was one thing I remember playing in the Christian League. We had a tournament, and we had trophies you could put in your school. It's something you would be proud of, and you could walk with your parents and say, 'Hey, I played, and I earned that trophy.'"
Thomas said using young officials alongside experienced ones would help address the growing concern of a shortage of officials. The season would run in the fall so as not to conflict with area rec programs that begin in the winter.
In the end, the commission agreed it could not fund the approximately $7,000 one-time request to sponsor the league. Commissioner Barb Esfeld referred Thomas to some of the private organizations that might be able to assist, and other commissioners suggested approaching private businesses for sponsorships.
Anyone with questions or anyone interested in helping Thomas fund the league can call (620) 566-7619, or email ethan.thomas@usd428.net.