Wayne-Westland expands free elementary athletics; Hype Athletics provides $134,366 grant

Wayne-Westland school officials and community partners outlined Feb. 24 the district’s growing elementary athletics program and announced a partnership grant to expand the work.

District presenters said the elementary athletics initiative began in 2021 with flag football and cheerleading, expanded to girls’ and boys’ basketball and — beginning spring 2025 — will pilot a four-week soccer program for second- and third-graders. Program organizers said participation is free for families, includes uniforms and provides coaching and playing time at district high-school athletic fields to strengthen feeder pathways.

Presenters Jenny Johnson and Maria Mitter (Mitter) told the board the program now engages more than 1,200 students districtwide; organizers said current counts include about 500 athletes in basketball and cheer combined and that spectators commonly fill the stands on Saturday games. They said the program intentionally removes financial barriers by providing free registration and uniforms and by collaborating with elementary PTOs to run concession stands as fundraisers.

Tocco, the district presenter introducing the program, said the initiative aims to “win back” local athletes who had been rostered elsewhere by offering early exposure and consistent youth programming. Johnson and Mitter said coaches are largely district staff, with volunteer parent coaches used in the flag-football model; the district also uses adult referees for games. Organizers requested additional volunteer coaches for the second- and third-grade soccer pilot.

Community partner Hype Athletics announced $134,366 in funding to support program expansion and continuity. Robbie Darwish, representing Hype Athletics, said the gift will allow the district to scale programs and sustain no-cost participation: “We are investing in our youth and team building and resilience,” he said.

Organizers highlighted social-emotional benefits, family engagement and community-building as primary returns on investment. They described Saturday games where 50–60 children play across multiple fields, often drawing 10–12 family members per child, and noted that elementary PTAs often staff concessions to fund fifth-grade camp and other activities.

District leaders said the athletic work is funded through a mix of grants and district support: earlier seasons ran on grant funding and service-learning grants, and Hype Athletics worked with state aid support coordinated by local partners to secure the recent larger award. Presenters said a small team is exploring sixth-grade participation and intramural offerings to close a transition gap at that grade.

The board thanked organizers and acknowledged upcoming games scheduled at John Glenn High School on March 1 and March 8. Presenters said the soccer pilot will be capped to one team per school for the initial run and that registration was already filling for some schools.