About

Mission Statement

The mission of the South Charlotte Thunder Athletic Organization is to promote and provide healthy and competitive athletic programs for home educators in the Charlotte area. Our aim is to be God-centered, believing that Jesus is Savior and Lord. All activities will focus on the growth and development of student athletes in a Christian and encouraging manner.

Benefits

Competitive school sports
Statewide league with playoffs
Full schedule of games
Year around training & skills development
Affordable
Positive environment

Eligibility

Must be a registered homeschool student
Live in North Carolina or South Carolina
Middle school or high school age (see below for specific age requirements by team)

General calendar

Tryouts in October
Regular season games Nov - Feb
Playoffs in February and March
East Coast National tournament in March
Off season clinics April - October

Current & Future Teams

Boys varsity (each player must not be age 19 as of the August 1 prior to the season)
Boys junior varsity (each player must not be age 17 as of the August 1 prior to the season)
Boys middle school (each player must not be age 14 as of the August 1 prior to the season)
Girls middle school (each player must not be age 15 as of the August 1 prior to the season; Possibly returning to age 14 in 2022-23 season.)
Planning for 2022-2023! Girls varsity (each player must not be age 19 as of the August 1 prior to the season)

Source for age information: Page 4 of the NCHEAC Handbook

History

The organization was formed in April 2016 in order to give North Carolina home educators in the Charlotte area an opportunity to participate in competitive middle and high school level sports. The South Charlotte Thunder is a non-profit organization with 501(c)(3) status and a member of the North Carolinians for Home Education Athletic Commission - West Region (NCHEAC). NCHEAC facilitates a well-organized conference and state playoff system. Currently, the South Charlotte Thunder offers boys middle school, junior varsity, and varsity basketball programs. As interest levels increase, the goal is to add other programs and sports as well.

The South Charlotte Thunder was formed by three men (Jewel Abbott, Anthony Hailey, and Clay Broussard) who served as the founding Board of Directors for the 2016-17 season. In March of 2017, the Thunder welcomed Greg Johnson to the board. In March 2019, the Thunder welcomed Daniel Kern and Justin Bouldin to the board. Ron Broome joined the board in March 2020. In April 2021, Gage Alfredson joined the board. Grismar Westbrook became the newest board member in August 2021 while Tracy Gallimore joined a month later in September 2021. The board’s primary function is to set the direction and oversee all activities of the organization.

2016 - 2017

Boys varsity inaugural season
NCHEAC Varsity Boys Basketball Conference, Regional, & State Champions

2017 - 2018

Boys JV inaugural season
NCHEAC Varsity Boys Basketball Conference, Regional, & State Champions
NCHEAC JV Boys Conference, Regional, & State Champions

2018 - 2019

Boys middle school inaugural season
3-Peat NCHEAC Varsity Boys Basketball Conference, Regional, & State Champions
Thunder Varsity Overall Record (27-3) with undefeated Regular Season Conference Record
Coach Shawn Hill - NCHEAC Western Region Conference Coach of the Year
Varsity finished 2nd Place in top bracket at the East Coast Nationals in Lynchburg, VA with a 5-1 record

2019 - 2020

Thunder varsity had a 19-8 overall record with a 7-1 conference record
4-Peat NCHEAC Varsity Boys Basketball Regional Champions
NCHEAC Varsity Boys State Runners-up
NCHEAC JV Boys Regional Champions
NCHEAC JV Boys State Runners-up
Coach Shawn Hill - NCHEAC Western Region Conference Coach of the Year

2020 - 2021

Girls middle school inaugural season

Click here for more Thunder history and past rosters.

Coaching Staff

Shawn Hill

Varsity Boys Head Coach

Coach Hill led both the South Charlotte Thunder Boys JV & Varsity teams to NCHEAC state championships in the 2017-18 season and was named the NCHEAC Western Conference Coach of the Year. Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Coach Hill played three years of varsity basketball at South Young High School. He then proceeded to play four years of college basketball – two years at Walters State Community College in Morristown, TN and two years at Bryan College in Dayton, TN. Before coaching the South Charotte Thunder, he coached high school basketball (Damascus Christian Academy) for 9 years and several years at various levels of youth recreational/church leagues. He and his wife, Shannon, have been married for 18 years. They have 3 children – Avery (15 yrs.), Aaron (13), and Addison (10) whom they homeschool. Coach Hill is a teacher/tutor who teaches various classes and administers standardized testing for homeschooled students.