The Kelowna College Basketball Society and Okanagan College celebrated their newly resurrected basketball program on Thursday evening with their March Madness event.
In December of last year, it was announced that the two organizations would team up to bring a varsity basketball program back to the college, a program that community members, committee members and the student body agree is needed.
“There was a hole in the basketball program and the life of a basketball player in the Okanagan,” said Kelowna College Basketball Society community liaison, Steven Morrison.
“Unless you went to the CIS straight out of high school, there was no college level program for a player to go and maybe develop for a year both as an athlete and academically,” added Morrison.
As the program will be 100% funded by the community for the first few years, this March Madness event was a great way to get locals, future athletes and committee members together all the while raising funds for this new home town team.
“There has been a lot of talk, a lot of ground work and to see everyone here and together tonight is really important to us as a program,” said society president and men’s team head coach, Dino Gini.
While mixing and mingling attendees had a large variety of food choices to try all thanks to the OC Culinary students and their expertise.
As one of the main annual fundraisers for the new team there were a number of fun and enticing ways for those in attendance to offer their support including a silent auction, raffle tickets and fun games.
“This event just shows you that this is a team that was needed in the community, It feels really good, it feels right” added Gini.
Mayor Basran, an honourary committee member, attended the event and said a few words about the new program.
“It’s so important that our student-athletes have the opportunity, and this program really provides another outlet for students attending Okanagan College to continue their athletic endeavors while studying.” said Basran.
“It’s a great opportunity for our athletes to be able to pursue sports while they are pursuing their dreams,” added Basran.
The teams and coaches are already hard at work for the 2017-2018 exhibition year and will be hosting ID camps in early April.
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