Levi Scholl takes the football on a rushing play during a practice session for the Kosciusko Thunder football team. Photos by Nathan Pace.

By Nathan Pace
InkFreeNews

ETNA GREEN — A downside for home-schooled students has traditionally been not being able to play a team sport, such as football. The Kosciusko Thunder Football team has been aiming to remedy this situation.

“Honestly, most of these kids thought they would never get the opportunity to play football,” Coach Derek Hockemeyer said. “A lot of them had played pee wee- age level but if you can’t go to middle school, you can’t get on a team. This has been an opportunity to have that bit of a dream that they weren’t going to be able to exercise otherwise.”

Hockemeyer is the coach of the Thunder and is beginning the second season of its existence. The Thunder currently is just a middle school age level but has hopes to expand into high school. Hockemeyer and parents of other home- schooled students discussed starting a home-schooled team early last year.

“Last spring, one of the home-school moms started talking, and we put together a community meeting,” Hockemeyer said. “I was the only guy at the meeting with any coaching experience. It kind of fell to me to take the lead on coaching from there.”

His wife, Beth, and daughter, Britney, help with the administration elements of the team. Hockemeyer also coaches his son, Brady, on the team.

The Kosciusko Thunder football team practices in Etna Green and will begin its second season Saturday, Aug. 30.

Thanks to a $5,000 donation from a sponsor, the new football team was able to get off the ground just in time to play the 2024 season. The Thunder had 14 players and played four games and one scrimmage in its season debut. The Thunder holds practices in Etna Green at the town park on High Street.

For the upcoming 2025 season, the Thunder are now up to 19 players. One of those players is Gerald O’Shea, Warsaw.

“It’s full of very good boys that are a lot of fun to play with. It’s my first year of football, so I just wanted to try it out,” O’Shea said.

O’Shea said there are benefits to just interacting with his teammates.

“Playing with a team will help yourself. I am just excited to play my first game,” O’Shea said.

The Warsaw and Syracuse areas produced the most players for the team; however, the Kosciusko Thunder do have to travel a little bit for games. The closest opponent is in Osceola. Two Fort Wayne programs are also on the schedule and new this year is a game against a team from Noblesville.

Sponsorships have helped cover the cost of the equipment and there is a $125 fee to join the team for the season. Hockemeyer has said the team will also give a donation to Etna Green for use of the field.

“So far, we’ve been very welcomed here at Etna Green and able to make it a permanent home,” Hockemeyer said.

The Thunder only practice at Etna Green as they share the field with a youth league affiliated with Triton athletics. So far, dates to host a game have not worked out due to scheduling conflicts and lack of officiating crews.

The team was aiming for a chance at creating a high school team this season but fell short of the players needed. Hockemeyer said if they can get 12 players, they can play eight-man football against other schools in the state. Most of the middle school team will move up to high school age next year. The challenge in 2026 will be fielding a middle school team again.

“I think only four kids don’t age out of middle school this season,” Hockemeyer said.

One aspect Hockemeyer emphasizes about the the team is a commitment to Christian values, on and off the field.

“We lead with Christian principals and we pray with the boys every practice,” Hockemeyer said.

Jack Hurst, left, receives his pads for the new season from Beth Hockemeyer.

Gerald O’Shea tries on his new helmet to see how it fits. O’Shea will be playing football for the first time.