Salina Post
SALINA — A national homeschool basketball tournament is coming to Salina next year.
Visit Salina announced this morning that the National Division II Christian Homeschool Basketball Tournament (ND2CHA) has selected Salina as its host location for the 2024, 2025, and 2026 tournaments. Each three-day event is expected to bring more than 80 teams of middle and high school boys and girls from the Midwest to Salina.
Visit Salina has estimated that the three-day event will generate an economic impact of $932,000 for the Salina area.
"We are excited to have our tournament in Salina. Besides
the central location, Salina has exceptional facilities like the Salina Fieldhouse and KWU’s Mabee Arena. In addition, Salina’s diverse lodging and dining options will provide excellent choices for our athletes, families, officials, and spectators," said tournament director Steve Poage.
The dates of the tournaments are as follows.
Feb. 29 – March 2, 2024 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
March 6 – March 8, 2025 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
March 5 – March 7, 2026 (Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
The Salina Fieldhouse and Kansas Wesleyan University’s Mabee Arena will be the primary facilities for the event, with most of the tournament play taking place at the Salina Fieldhouse, Visit Salina noted. Games are expected to begin at approximately 7:30 a.m. and will be played throughout the day and evening.
On the Friday afternoon of the tournament, the games will pause for a Time Out, a special event for players and spectators featuring a devotional speaker and a shooting contest, according to Visit Salina. The Time-Out will take place in Mabee Arena.
"A big thank you to the National Division II Christian Homeschool Association and to the Salina Fieldhouse and Kansas Wesleyan University on working together to make this event a possibility in Salina. This is a great event for Salina, and we are so excited to welcome teams from throughout the United States," said Visit Salina's Tiffany Benien. "I truly believe Salina will embrace this event, provide an atmosphere to grow in the future, and continue its success!"