At South Kent School, our long standing traditions are crucial to maintaining a strong culture and enduring the school’s 100-year history. At the same time, as the world and educational landscape changes, new traditions must evolve. In 2022, in the wake of COVID, Fifth Form student Griffin Davis started a new tradition that further improved an already tight-knit community: the South Kent School Intramural Basketball League (SKSIBL). While COVID still plagued schools nationwide, Davis found a way to unite the student body and keep his fellow classmates active amidst the isolation and protocols.
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“I wanted to bring the school together because of COVID and being separated into cohorts by sports teams for a year and a half. What better way to do that than getting a bunch of guys on the court together?” Davis exclaimed.
The students seized this opportunity and contributed to the SKSIBL’s rapid growth and excitement generated around campus and as you can tell from Instagram it is still going strong!
“Students were still obliged to wear masks, and it was difficult to find time to separate ourselves from the daily schedule. So this idea came at a great time,” said Fifth Form Student and SKSIBL’s current Commissioner Austin Michaud. It was another way to stay physically active while meeting students you do not know, and that’s why we knew this would be the start of something long standing.”
To this day, Griffin Davis remains in touch with the kids organizing the league and the players; he is proud of the progress it’s made since he graduated.
“I remember right before the start of the SKSIBL, I didn’t even know half the names that were signed up. Quickly, it morphed into something bigger than I would’ve ever imagined. It’s a nice feeling to see new guys at the school enjoying it even after my time on the Hillside.”
Now in its third season, the SKSIBL has evolved into a 9-team league, with each team coached by Prep or Development Basketball players. Games are held every Tuesday and Thursday throughout the spring trimester, and the best 8 records compete in the playoffs in early May. This season, Commissioner Austin Michaud introduced a new element to the league – a mock draft. This process involved drafting players to the teams until there were 10-12 students per team, adding a fresh twist to the league.
“It’s been a lot of fun taking an innovative approach to this league, listening to the students, and executing tasks how I see fit. Learning how to incorporate some of their ideas while setting appropriate boundaries improves my leadership skills, which I’m very thankful for,” says Michaud.
To learn more about the league and its mission, visit the IBL Instagram Page and the website created by Austin Michaud.