After calling for applications from associations from across south-eastern Australia; Basketball Victoria yesterday announced the Eltham Wildcats as one of 18 Foundation License holders for their yet-to-be-named Elite League basketball competition set to tip off in 2019.
Having played in the Big V competition for the last 25 years, this announcement pits the powerful Wildcats club with the strongest associations from across Victoria competing against teams from Albury/Wodonga, Geelong, Bendigo as well as metropolitan regions. However, a point of different is the inclusion of Hobart and a combined Northern Tasmania license representing Launceston and the North-West region.
Greg Jeffers the CEO of the Eltham Wildcats said that the announcement was great reward for the club. “Our team have worked over the course of the last 5 years to build a strong and sustainable senior program. It’s been built around local people starting with the Wildcats as young as 3 years of age but continuing through to the elite levels as an adult. We’re the only club in 2019 where you’ll be able to do that, male or female. I am proud of the team behind the scenes that has got us to this point. From our junior coaches, the hundreds of volunteers and paid staff, this is a recognition for the work they’ve done.”
CEO for Basketball Victoria Nick Honey said the selected organisations will create a strong league set to attract premier talent for the 2019 season. “Basketball Victoria would like to congratulate the foundation license holders of the Senior Elite League. These teams will form an exciting, new league that offers extensive playing opportunities to high-calibre athletes throughout Victoria, Tasmania and for Basketball Australia’s Centre of Excellence”.
It has been a successful year for the Eltham Wildcats. In April, the club was awarded Basketball Victoria’s ‘Junior Program of the Year’ and VicSport awarded the club the “2018 Community Event of the Year”.
Meanwhile on the court, the Wildcat U12 Girls won the Victorian Championship, as did the U14 Boys before the boys then continued on by then winning the National Championship; the club’s second in as many years. Back in July the U15 boys travelled to Orlando to compete in the Jr NBA World Championships, where they finished 6th, having defeating the national teams of India and Mexico and a continental representative team of South America.
For a community club such as the Wildcats to compete at the elite senior level, it needs further support and as such calls upon the local community to help ensure that the Wildcats stay amongst the basketball leaders in Australian basketball. If your business would like to partner with the Wildcats, contact jordan@elthamwildcats.net.au.
Further information on the league will be announced in upcoming months in the lead up to the season tip off.
VICTORIAN MANAGED – SENIOR ELITE LEAGUE – 2019 FOUNDATION TEAMS
For further information about the Eltham Wildcats and the programs provided, please contact the office on 9439 5686 or email Greg Jeffers at greg@elthamwildcats.net.au
