History of the Swish
The Beginning
The Swish team began as an idea of helping a group of 7th grade boys I met while coaching 7th grade football. I started in coaching by helping a good friend of mine, Jon Arnett, when my son began playing sports. Jon coached basketball, baseball, and flag football, with my son, Jeremy, being a member of his teams. I enjoyed helping out with whatever I could do, keeping stats for the basketball team, running the defense for the flag football team, and helping instruct whenever I could.
At the beginning of my son's 7th grade year, he decided to play tackle football (with my full support) instead of flag football. We looked around at a few different youth organizations, and decided on the 7th grade Trojans. We had no idea how this small decision would have such a huge impact on our lives (mine especially).
I attended practice, at first simply watching, then pacing the sidelines, and finally volunteering. The offense seemed to lack organization. I approached the coaches and volunteered my assistance. Everything changed from this point on as I was quickly promoted to running the entire offense.
During that football season I developed a relationship with many of the players that simply changed my life. These young men came from an environment much different than my own, but most accepted me, and respected me. The desire to win and compete and to accept my coaching won me over. As the football season was nearing conclusion, and some of the players were heading off to basketball practice, an idea occurred to me. What if I started my own basketball team? I proposed the question to the football team, and found many had not played organized basketball due to a lack of opportunity, so I invited everyone on the team to join the basketball team.
We entered the 2006 Winter Spirit League the YMCA sponsors, as a way to get our feet wet. I had no idea how this group would compete. The roster was made up of a few veterans from Biddy basketball, and some that had never played. I didn't know how good we would be, but I knew we had good, fast athletes.
Spirit League
We began that season with thirteen players, twelve of which joined from the Trojan football team, and another that was friends with some of the players. We competed hard in the Spirit League losing one regular season game by 3 in overtime to the tournament runner-up. We lost in the quarter-finals of the tournament, a very disappointing loss to a team we had just beat by 30 a couple of days before. We were guilty of simply not showing up ready to play. We finished the year with a 10-2 record, but I still feel we were one of the top two teams in the league.
During the Spirit League we went by the name of the Bulls, but this was about to change. Half way through the Spirit League season we decided to step up the competition level and enter some summer tournaments.
The Swish are Born
The Swish roster changed and evolved over that first summer season in 2006, and although the team was not very competitive at the start of the season, the players continued to work hard, practice, and improve. By the end of the summer the Swish became a mid-level team. The goal for that first season was to become competitive, learn how to win, and build character. All three goals were met. For the Swish, winning is a secondary goal, the first goal is always to play the game correctly, by playing hard, respecting the game, and respecting others.
Since that first season, the Swish have continued to evolve. The roster has changed as players come and go. Through all of this, the goal of helping these young men has not changed. The Swish continue to help by providing good moral leadership to the youth of Wichita, helping build character, discipline and leadership skills.
As the Swish compete in their fourth season, the roster will continue to evolve, but we will never forget our core principles. Thanks to all of the players who have played for the Swish. This website is dedicated to all of you, it's been an honor to be associated with you.
Play hard, play fast, play smart.
Coach Brad Garrison