If You Can Dodge a Wrench, You Can Dodge a Ball

FCA hosts 3rd annual dodgeball tournament

Article by Jake Butterfield

On Friday, February 27, the Fellowship of the Christian Athletes held its annual FCA Dodgeball Tournament. This was the third year FCA has put on this event.  The tournament provides a positive environment for students to compete against each other while still having fun. “It [the tournament] was at least a 17.2 on the Fun Scale,” commented senior Lance Hultgren, a member of the 2013 and this year’s championship team. The Fun Scale is typically measured from 1-10.

The tournament took place last Friday at 6:30 in the Richard Homewood gym.  The teams were made up of six players each, three boys and three girls.  This year there was also a junior high portion to the tournament held in the middle school gym.  The high school tournament was made up of 10 teams, including two adult teams.  The 3rd Annual Dodgeball Tournament Championship team was made up of seniors Lance Hultgren and Tori Tomlinson, junior Duncan Fort, sophomore Paris Vigil, and freshmen Tucker Kimball and Georgia Hutton.  The team, led by Hultgren, sported “Dream Team” jerseys.  They battled through pool play to remain undefeated, then edged out a narrow victory in the championship match.

FCA’s next event will be the Kansas FCA Spring Conference on March 28 and 29.  Conference is held biannually at Rock Springs 4-H Conference Center just outside of Junction City.  The cost of camp is just $50 and any high school or junior high student is invited to attend.  If you have any questions talk to FCA sponsor, Lucas Boss, and get signed up today!

Growing in Fellowship

OCFCA strives to influence its school and community through God’s glory

Article by Jake Butterfield

One of the newest clubs to be added to Osage City High School’s list of clubs is Fellowship of Christian Athletes. The organization is a nationwide association with its headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. FCA holds eight national conferences each year totaling with 47,000 attendees. According to its website (fca.org), the FCA mission is, “To present to coaches and athletes, and all whom they influence, the challenge and adventure of receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, serving Him in their relationships and in the fellowship of the church.”

When asked about the goals of FCA in Kansas, East Kansas FCA Director Kevin Wade commented, “The biggest goal for FCA in eastern Kansas is to establish great events and opportunities for coaches and athletes to grow in their spiritual leadership, facilitate existing huddle groups, and help new groups off to a great start and see them grow.” Wade is in charge of establishing funding resources in order to allow FCA to grow in Kansas. “Without a doubt the best part of my job is to grow relationships with coaches and athletes and be part of spiritual growth through FCA. It’s such a pleasure to share a vision for the ministry and see that vision slowly start to come through and see the impact God can make through coaches and athletes,” Wade said about the privileges of his job. The organization is constantly growing and has expanded greatly since becoming a club at OCHS just three years ago.

OCFCA is a student-led organization sponsored by USD 420 teachers Lucas and Kate Boss. Prior to moving back home to Osage City, both Lucas and Kate taught in the Santa Fe Trail school district, where they also started an FCA club and were involved in it for 10 years. When asked about his favorite part of being the OCFCA huddle leader, Lucas said, “Getting to be a part of kids’ lives and influencing them in a positive way. God has blessed me with a great family, school, and hometown. I’d be letting Him down if I didn’t give all I have for His glory!” Since FCA has come to OCHS, the group has developed into a continually growing organization. The huddle began with just a handful of weekly meeting attendees, but sent a bus load of student-athletes to this fall’s FCA Conference held at Rock Springs Ranch.

FCA meets every Sunday at 6 p.m. in Mrs. Wilkins room. The group also hosts 5th Quarter events after home football and basketball games. Upcoming 5th Quarters include February 6th at the Community Building and February 13th hosted by Community Covenant Church. FCA will also be holding its third annual dodgeball tournament February 27th. Dodgeball teams can be made up of three boys and three girls. FCA is a group open to anyone and all high school students are welcome to attend any of these events.

Photo courtesy of http://spartanburg2.k12.sc.us/