Athletics History
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. Luke 2:52.
Over ten years ago Dick Bates had a dream. His desire was for his son to play competitive middle school basketball. The problem was that his son was enrolled in Circle and there was no outlet for athletic involvement. Circle athletics began when Mr. Bates and several other CCS dads started the first middle school basketball team at Circle.
In the first few years the victories on the court were few and far between but the spirit of camaraderie was born and the boys were determined to improve. When the players reached high school, Dennis Wean assumed the coaching role and began to hone the team into a competitive group armed only with an outdoor court, the heart and dedication of the players, and the support of their families. After playing an independent schedule for several years, Circle joined the Florida Christian Conference (FCC) in 1995. FCC is a small Christian school conference comprised of twenty to twenty-five schools. Circle's five year membership in the FCC was highlighted by two varsity boys' basketball state championships in 1998-99 and 2000-01, two boys' varsity golf state runner-up finishes in 1999-2000 and 2000-01, and a boys' junior varsity state championship in 1997- 98. The FCC membership was a positive experience for Circle athletics but was impractical for Circle families because of out of town games at so many distant schools.
For many years boys' basketball was the only high school sport at Circle. Then in 1999 three programs were added: boys' golf, girls' basketball, and girls' cheerleading. Sean Gillespie joined the Circle staff as the school's first athletic director in September 2000. Mr. Gillespie was faced with the challenge of developing an athletic program in the unconventional environment of a homeschooling organization. Under his leadership Circle joined the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) in the spring of 2001. FHSAA has provided local opponents at the highest level of competition. In the first year of FHSAA membership Circle established teams in boys' soccer, girls' volleyball, swimming and diving, girls' tennis, and track and field. During the 2002-03 school year cross country and boys' tennis were added.
Each athletic program that begins and develops is a fulfillment of the dream that began more than ten years ago: the desire to give students in the homeschooling arena an opportunity to play competitive athletics. Where this journey will lead is uncertain but one thing is sure - as long as students demonstrate the character, dedication, and hard work, and parents provide the encouragement and support that has characterized Circle athletics to this point, there are many exciting stories still to be written. The athletic program is in the formative stage with much still needing to be accomplished. It will take a concerted effort on the part of everyone involved to see the program develop to maturity.