Greenville churches partnering to take part in Upward basketball, cheerleading league

GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — Jarvis Memorial and Saint James United Methodist churches are sponsoring the Upward Basketball and Cheerleading League in Greenville for the 14th year.

Upward is a faith-based program where boys and girls in Kindergarten through sixth grade can learn basketball skills and life lessons in a safe and secure environment.

Participants are matched with a person having a similar skill level and every team plays the same amount of time.

“We’ve got dedicated volunteers who are given devotions at the middle of every practice as a devotion in the middle of the games,” Director of Upward Sports Richard Cannon said. “This is a faith based program. So the kids, we hope, will learn good sportsmanship, good character, learn to get along.”

Each child receives a full uniform, rewards at practice and an end of the year gift. Evaluations begin Oct. 14-17 and the season begins Jan. 11.

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