Savior Pastoral Center is most likely not a high school teenager’s first choice of where they would like to be on a Saturday night at 8:30. However, for those participating in CYO basketball, it might be what they have been looking forward to all day. CYO stands for Catholic Youth Organization, which holds a recreational basketball league for Catholic high schoolers who belong to a parish in the area. The games occur on Saturdays between 8:00 am-8:00 pm, in obscure locations such as Hocker Grove Middle School and Savior Pastoral Center. Many STA students join CYO basketball for fun, seeing it as a “satirical” basketball league to not take too seriously.
However, the league does come with strenuous rules. These rules, if not respected and followed, can result in a players’ or teams’ suspension. Some of the most problematic rules are the no jewelry rule (including permanent), the required undershirts for female players and the requirement that someone over 25 years old must be present on the sidelines at game time.
Freshman Cece Santa joined CYO basketball this year and is in a league with freshman and sophomore teams. The fun and ease of the game is what she looks forward to.
“I think it’s fun because nobody takes it too seriously,” Santa says. “You get to see friends from other grades and it’s almost funny because you are seeing people that you see at school but not normally outside of school.”
From freshmen to seniors, friend groups from all grades enjoy taking part in CYO basketball. Senior Sidney Brooks recalls her favorite part of the week, despite the obscure times and locations of the Saturday games.
“I think it’s just something to look forward to every week,” Brooks says. “I know I have something fun to do on Saturday and that I will see my friends and whether we lose or not, it’s fun.”
However, Brooks has unfortunately become victim to one of the strict rules of the league. CYO has no exceptions to their jewelry rule, whether it’s permanent or not.
“They made me cut my permanent bracelet off,” Brooks says. “It was my big birthday present freshman year, and I was so mad they made me cut
it off. I probably should’ve not played that game, but I cut it off because I was upset at how the referee was acting.”
Despite the oddly strict rules, far locations and not-so-flattering uniforms, STA students from all grades find excitement and fun in the winter CYO
basketball season. Whether on the sidelines or balling out, CYO basketball has become a lasting hobby for Catholic students around KC.
