User:Steve.leer

Homeschool Unified Sports Teams of Lafayette
Homeschool Unified Sports Teams of Lafayette (HUSTL, "hustle") is a Lafayette, Ind.-based nonprofit organization providing athletic opportunities for home-educated students in west-central and northwest Indiana, USA. HUSTL sponsors basketball, soccer, volleyball and cheerleading teams for boys and girls ages 8 to 18. HUSTL's teams play under the name of Tippecanoe Tornados. Tippecanoe is the home county of the Tornados.

The Tornados compete against other homeschool and Christian school teams from across Indiana and eastern Illinois. The Tornados basketball and volleyball teams also participate in the annual Indiana Christian Basketball Alliance state homeschool tournaments.

History

HUSTL began in June 2003, when founder and athletic director Steve Leer held an organizational meeting at his home in Lafayette. Nine local homeschool parents attended the meeting, where it was determined that a boys basketball program would be formed for the coming winter.

The first basketball practice took place in September 2003 in the gym of Community Reformed Church of Lafayette. Eighteen boys, ages 11 through 17, attended the first practice. That same night, sisters of some of the boys asked about forming a girls team. They were told if enough girls wanted to play a team would be established. By the following week, 15 girls had signed up. For its inaugural 2003-04 season, HUSTL fielded three basketball teams: junior high boys, varsity girls and varsity boys.

A junior high girls team and cheerleading squads were added for the 2004-05 season, and two fall sports -- girls volleyball and co-ed soccer -- joined the HUSTL family in 2005. In 2007, HUSTL introduced the Microbursts -- a developmental basketball program for home-educated elementary school students. By February 2007, 80 elementary, junior high and high school students were participating in HUSTL-sponsored athletic programs.

Beginning in the fall of 2007, the Tornados will compete in the new State Line Christian Conference. Other teams in the conference include John Paul II Catholic and Gibault Holy Cross Catholic high schools, both of Terre Haute, Ind.; Covington Christian School of Covington, Ind.; Zions Hill Christian School of Linton, Ind.; and the Living Water Marlins homeschool athletic club of Greencastle, Ind.

Administration

HUSTL is an all-volunteer organization, governed by a five-member Board of Directors nominated and elected by parents. The board sets policy and approves the organization's annual budget. The HUSTL athletic director handles the organization's day-to-day operations, and serves at the pleasure of the board.

Mission Statement

HUSTL's Mission Statement reads as follows: "HUSTL organizes and operates Christ-centered competitive and recreational athletic programs for home-educated students."