Three gym floors, eight courts, 80-plus participants.
The first day of the two-Saturday Cleveland elementary basketball camp took place this morning from 8:00 to 10:00 am with over two dozen coaches and coaches helpers working on skills with first through sixth graders.
Head boys coach Mike Meyer was the point person in organizing the camp. He said building fundamentals in youth is vital if the Clippers want to keep up with their competition.
“Every good program must begin at a young age. If we don’t start at a youth level, we’re always going to be behind. Just being in the gym and having ball in their hands is going to make them that much better. Hopefully this becomes fun for them, and they find more time to get into the gym.”
The students were split into eight groups, each with a coach and a couple of student basketball players or basketball alumni who had volunteered to help.
“It’s good for the younger kids to see the older kids, Meyer said. “It makes them want to play a little harder.”
Four groups were in the new gym. Myrriah Rutz coached first grade girls with students Greta Hahn and Ava Hahn helping. Scott Rutz led first-grade boys with student Gabe Sullivan and his brother Elijah Sullivan (CHS 2021) assisting. Girls assistant coach Chris Seely coached the second-grade boys with students Jorden Rossow and Brady Bostic helping. Boys assistant Travis Mons mentored third-grade boys with students Alex Johnson and Kyle Connor helping.
Second grader Brodey Rutz said his group worked on controlling the ball, including how to dribble and pass using their finger tips.
“It gets us better at ball handling, so we don’t lose the ball,” he said.
In the smaller floor of the upstairs gym, junior high boys coaches Nancy Heldberg and Kate Anderson coached third grade girls with students Sarena Remiger and Addi Holden helping. On the north half of the larger floor, assistant boys coach Andy Schmidt coached fourth-grade boys with students Mason Kluntz and Bode Bartell helping. On the south half, girls head coach Joe Remiger and boys assistant Carter Kopet coached fifth-grade boys and girls with student Kale Kelley and alum Jackson Meyer (CHS 2021) helping.
In the little gym, area expert Doug Schweim coached sixth-grade boys and girls with alumni Scott Miller and Tavish Satrom helping.
“I felt like it flowed really well,” Meyer said “All the coaches met up here last week, and we went over what the expectations were. I was bouncing around a little bit, but it seemed like it was going really well.”
After the camp ends next Saturday, Meyer plans to start up the open-gym program at the school so students can continue building their skills.
Above: Travis Mons and helpers Alex Johnson and Kyle Connor brought the third-grade troops together at the end of the camp.
Ava Hahn guides first-grade girls.
Second-grade boys enjoyed watching their classmates.
Ava and Greta Hahn helped out with younger girls.
Gabe Sullivan with first-grade boys.
Sarena Remiger helped with third-grade girls.
Bella Baker in a round of “basketball chairs,” a game like musical chairs, but where participants dribble around chairs and upon cue, run down court and have to make a basket before sitting in a vacant chair.
Joe Remiger’s fifth-grade boys and girls.
Jayda Roemhildt won the game of basketball chairs with classmate Blair Voit coming in second.
Dough Schweim’s sixth-grade boys and girls with a couple of seventh graders in the mix. Waiting in back is Harper Rutz.
Tavish Satrom watches a jump shot exercise.
Mike Meyer (right) consults with Doug Schweim.
Elijah Sullivan and first graders.
Coach Andy Schmidt watches layups.
Coach Chris Seely cheers on his players.