Faith Christian Academy (FCA), located at 27 Beach Road in Apalachin, has a new basketball team. School director Carol Thissell says "the merger of students, who have hoped for a basketball team, with Coach Jim Kilmartin, is a definite answer to prayer." Kilmartin, of Apalachin, is thrilled about fulfilling his life-long dream of being a coach and loves working with the students. He also serves as FCA's P.E. teacher for the 4th through 12th grades.

"The team has practiced hard since we started in December and I'm very proud of them," Kilmartin said. "I couldn't ask for a better group of students. They're very well behaved." Most of the team members have never played organized basketball so Kilmartin emphasizes learning the rules of the game, basic fundamentals, the importance of playing as a team, and good sportsmanship. He believes playing basketball is a privilege and stresses that academics come first.

FCA sported their fledgling basket ball team at a recent exhibition game held at the Owego Elementary School. The first game played against a team of parents, teachers, and friends was challenging for the students. Kilmartin told the team to "look at the overall accomplishments and not the score" after the adults overtook them 32 - 22. He encouraged them on, saying "how well they worked together for every play and every basket."

Freshman, Mike Sodan, of Little Meadows said the team has "come a long way without having had experience as an organized team. Coach Kilmartin has made us into a team and helped us out a lot. We look forward to a re-match with the parent/teachers on March 6."

Thissell said she is "pleased how practices and games have brought about opportunities for parents and teachers to get to know one another." She anticipates continued "family unity and fun in upcoming games."

Kilmartin has a real heart for coaching the students, according to his wife, Kim, who says "he talks constantly about the team." The new-found relationship between coach and players has produced a winning combination, fulfilling the needs of both. FCA's basketball team expects to grow in number, sharpen their skills and compete with homeschooled teams and other area schools in the future.

Coach Jim Kilmartin