SYRACUSE – The Wawasee Community School Corp. board approved a pilot program Tuesday night for 7th and 8th grade basketball. The program will group together basketball players from Milford and Wawasee middle schools for practice, allowing all students to be instructed similarly in skills and practice time. They will then be split into teams of equal strengths, with one team playing the Milford schedule and one the Wawasee schedule, thus eliminating “B” teams. This program should help eliminate current problems of low participation numbers, having teams uneven in skills and players getting discouraged by low win records, the board heard. An added bonus will be getting players together early – before they play together at the freshman level. Citing a need for a more balanced approach to developing both skills and a winning mentality, high school Athletic Director Steve Wiktorowski told board members, “We weren’t getting out as much as we could from the feeder teams.” He added that differences in participation numbers between Milford and Wawasee middle schools showed up as unequal, and very often unwinning, teams. Girls varsity basketball coach Kem Zolman agreed, and added that there is low turnout at Milford for girls basketball. This new program might increase the competition level, therefore maintaining interest and hopefully resulting in greater try-out numbers. Teams will be divided by color. This year the gold 7th and 8th grade teams will play the current WMS schedule, and the green teams will follow the Milford schedule. Transportation will be provided to and from the schools, and parents will still have to pick up students after practices and games at the students’ respective schools. The board expressed concern about students being left as sometimes happens with late parent pickups. They were told the coaches would do everything possible to make sure that didn’t happen, as even now they have to wait sometimes for late parents to pick up their children. The coaches said they would be available to meet with parents to explain the program and address any concerns. Superintendent Tom Edington reminded the board, “It is a pilot program,” but everyone expressed hope that it would improve this sports program. In other business, the board: • Hired Derrick Fisher as the new marine mechanics instructor. Fisher has a marine engineering background, and is currently employed at Wawasee Boat Company. • Received information on the new state anti-bullying law, and Wawasee’s program addressing that. • Heard that the high school aviation class made the news with their recent trip to the Goshen airport. The 16 students, half of whom expressed interest in obtaining a pilot’s license, experienced flight simulation. • Approved overnight trips for the Super Mileage Car team and the FFA soil judging team. • Was informed that a helicopter would be landing at Friday night’s Homecoming football game.
