The document announces the third season of Upward Basketball starting on January 21 for boys and girls in kindergarten through sixth grade, with evaluations beginning December 5. Registration is open until December 19 and costs $80 per child, with a discount for early registration. The league emphasizes guaranteed playtime for every child and aims to teach basketball skills alongside important life values.

1. Open to boys and girls (K-sixth grade) - No experience
needed - One hour practice and one hour game weekly -
Games January-March - Evaluations start December 5
Register now through December 19 online at
www.chsaviour.org or call (216) 321-8880,
Ext. 257 to
request an application packet
All practices and games played at
Church of the Saviour
2537 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights
(one block north of Fairmount)
Registration $80 per child.
Save $15 per child if you register before December 1.
Heights Observer November 2, 2011 10

2. Upward basketball begins third season in January
Rhonda Dorfman end-of-period shots. Because of these played in the new multipurpose building at the Lee Road Library or at Church
unique rules, games are always finished at Church of the Saviour. Concessions of the Saviour, 2537 Lee Road. Early
Imagine a kids’ basketball league where within a set time period. and halftime entertainment are part of registration, by Dec. 1, is $65; regular
every child gets to play in every game, The time commitment is two each game. registration is $80; and late registra-
every child is welcomed regardless of his hours each week: one hour of practice Parents may register children online tion, after Dec. 10, is $90. Active-duty
or her skill level, and every child learns on weekday evenings and one hour of at upward@chsaviour.org or call 216 military families receive a discount.
not only great basketball skills but also play on Saturday morning or early af- 321-8880 (ext 257) for information or to
important life values. That league will ternoon. request a brochure. Brochures are also Rhonda Dorfman is an Upward Basketball
again be a reality at Church of the Sav- All of the Upward games will be available outside the Family Center volunteer.
iour on Lee Road when a third season of
Upward Basketball begins on Jan. 21.
Last year, more than 125 children
participated in Upward Basketball at Pavilion Skating Club member to compete in U.S. Skating midwest Sectionals
Church of the Saviour. Designed for
boys and girls in kindergarten through Catherine Butler emy, and also takes classes at Tri-C. She
sixth grade, Upward is the world’s larg- is a member of the Junior Honor Society
est Christian sports program for kids. Pavilion Skating Club (PSC) member and received the President’s Award for
It was created with a vision to provide Kimmie Berkovich, who took fourth Academic Excellence last year.
the best sports experience possible for place at the U.S. Figure Skating Re- Berkovich lives in South Euclid and
every child. gional Championships, will compete has been skating at the Cleveland Heights
Upward is a unique league where at the U.S. Figure Skating Midwest ice rink since 2001, when she started
players always have guaranteed play Sectionals in November. Learn to Skate lessons at age three. Berk-
time. “Parents will watch their kids get Berkovich competed in Novice ovich had frequent colds as a child, and
exercise, have fun and make friends, and Ladies Freestyle. It was her first year her parents hoped she would get stronger
learn what’s great about basketball,” said at the novice level. There were a to- and healthier by skating. Her coach urged
Lauren Lanphear, the league’s director. tal of 40 girls organized into three her to continue lessons.
The first games will be played on Jan. qualifying-round groups, representing After taking a summer off, Berk-
21, and the season will conclude with seven states. In the qualifying round, ovich returned, joined the Pavilion
an awards celebration on March 18. Berkovich skated her long program and Skating Club, and has been training ever
Skill assessments will take place on placed first. since. While she skated in the Junior
Dec. 5, 6, and 10 for the sole purpose of PSC had three skaters in the Nov- Club for a couple of years, she always
fairly balancing the teams. No previous ice Ladies Final Round: Berkovich, Lexi preferred to train with the older kids.
basketball experience is required, and Petkovic (8th place) and Alexandra Berkovich has been working with coach
every child is welcome. Upward was Smola (14th place). Molly German since March 2006. It
designed to teach basketball skills and Midwest Sectionals will be held in has been a successful partnership that
to bring out the winner in every child. Fort Collins, Colo., Nov. 16–19. Berk- has enabled her to grow as a person
“You will not find the win-at-all-costs ovich will compete against skaters from and a skater. She also works with Chip
mentality,” said Lanphear. 23 states. She will also be competing in Rossbach, Erin Paglio and Jackie Miles.
courtesy kimmie berkoVich
Upward Basketball utilizes a unique Intermediate Ice Dancing with partner Berkovich’s long and short programs for
game format. Games consist of two Micah Jaffe. Last year, Berkovich and this competition season were choreo-
18-minute halves and an 8-minute half Jaffe finished fifth in Juvenile Ice Danc- graphed by Yuka Sato from Detroit.
time. Possession alternates in jump ball ing at the U.S. Figure Skating Junior
situations. There are no timeouts, and Nationals. Catherine Butler is a Cleveland Heights
Kimmie berkovich
3.25” ball possession changes at the end of Berkovich is a sophomore in the jewelry artist who also figure skates and is a
each 6-minute segment to encourage K–12 Online School, Ohio Virtual Acad- member of the Pavilion Skating Club.