More than twice as many Gravenhurst students in Grades 6 to 9 will now have the opportunity to play basketball, thanks to the addition of coach Erika Einarson to the Gravenhurst High School Intermediate Basketball League.

Last spring, student athletes from the boys basketball teams at GHS volunteered through organizing, recruiting, coaching, refereeing and officiating a boys basketball league for Grades 7, 8 and 9 students. All games and practices were held in the evenings at GHS and mixed students from the four elementary “feeder” schools in Gravenhurst and the surrounding areas.

This year, with the addition of Einarson, and thanks to the donation of additional gym space at Gravenhurst Public School, the league will be able to more than double in size. In addition to boys from Grades 7 to 9, the league is now open to females and to Grade 6 students as well.

Einarson, who played for Bracebridge and Muskoka Lakes Secondary School and the Bracebridge Breakers OBA team while in high school, went on to play OUAA university basketball for Trent and Queen’s. Her coaching experience includes various boys and girls Ontario high school teams, as well as teams in England. Currently, she is the GHS Gryphons senior girls basketball coach.

The GHS IBL aims to introduce basketball fundamentals while reinforcing and modelling character traits that are celebrated at GHS and its “feeder” schools.

The IBL also strives to support and reinforce the efforts of the GHS LINK program. This annual program was organized and carried out this fall at GHS prior to the first week of classes by Kathy Brown, Jennifer Schandlen, Iggi Van Kooten and Gerald Willmott. It included events and activities for students new to GHS using current student-leaders as mentors and resources. The aim of the annual program continues to be to help ease the stress or intimidation that has sometimes been associated with the first weeks of high school in Grade 9.

Participants in this spring’s Intermediate Basketball League will once again receive two hours of gym time each week consisting of a practice and a game. In addition, each day, two students are recognized for their character, including: respect for officials; respect for coaches; respect for teammates; demonstration of positive on-court behaviour; co-operation with coaches, opponents and officials; and strong work ethic.

Once again this year, this league is supported and organized with the help of teachers at each of the local elementary schools. If you know a student who would be interested in participating in this basketball league, information is available thanks to the time and effort of the following: Glen Orchard – Mark Janke, Gravenhurst Public School – Lisa Sellon, K.P. Manson – Derek Schofield, and at Muskoka Beechgrove – Allison Durocher.

The cost for the entire eight-week season is $20, with all proceeds going back into athletics at GHS.

The registration deadline is Wednesday, March 26. The league will run on Mondays (girls at GHS/boys at GPS) and Thursdays (girls at GPS/boys at GHS) from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., starting April 7 and ending with the last game on May 29.

If you have any questions or would like to volunteer or sponsor the league, contact Erika Einarson (ext. 751) or Aaron Beausoleil (ext. 232) at Gravenhurst High School, 687-2283.