A year ago, the Greater Houlton Christian Academy did not have varsity basketball available to its students. That will change this coming winter.
On June 15, the SAD 14/RSU 84 school board met and approved the request from GHCA to form cooperative varsity girls and boys basketball teams for the 2015-16 season.
A formal application was submitted to the Maine Principals Association for final approval.
“The agreement is for one year and can be renewed with approval of each school’s governing board,” explained East Grand Athletic Director Chris Young.
“We are excited to once again have the opportunity for our high school athletes to participate in all three seasons of sports at the varsity level,” said GHCA Athletic Director Barrett Potter.
East Grand and GHCA already have a cooperative agreement for baseball and softball for the last two seasons.
“It’s has been a great relationship between the two schools for spring sports,” said Young. “Adding basketball will strengthen our program, give the GHCA students a place to play, and increase East Grand’s exposure in the Houlton area.”
The team color and mascot will remain with the host school — maroon and white — and the program will be under East Grand’s direction, with the girls playing for coach Mike Carlos and the boys under the guidance of Steve Gray, who was a former girls and boys coach at the Academy. Potter and Young will be working together with the programs.
“We have empty uniforms, spots on our teams and we would love to revive junior varsity teams and get more athletes playing and improving at basketball,” said Young. “This agreement helps us make that happen.”
