For decades, IMBA, or the Intramural Basketball League, has been a staple tradition at State High, providing countless students with an athletic opportunitiy outside of an official State High sport. IMBA is a high school favorite of many, because it’s not just an extracurricular, it’s a way for students to grow as leaders and players and of course, to have fun competing against friends.

IMBA is a student-led program, with juniors Dylan Briggs and Jack Snyder as co-commissioners. Briggs explained their motivation for taking the roles. “We both love basketball, we’re both kinda just casual players who like to play, which is basically like the definition of an IMBA players…so we thought we would suit the league very well,” Briggs said. 

Junior IMBA player Veer Patel highlighted the advantages of having student leadership, particularly when it comes to communication. “I feel like it’s easier to tell one of them if you have an issue with a game time, like just the other day I had a conflict and [Briggs] was able to move the game back, which I kind of appreciated,” Patel said.

Briggs, in addition to his role as co-commissioner, has also participated in IMBA as a player through all three years of his high school career. While he has enjoyed many aspects of the league, he emphasized the unique opportunity that all four grade levels have to compete against one another.

“I remember freshman year, we thought it was really funny to go and play against the seniors, knowing that we were gonna get whooped,” Briggs said. “But we just thought it would be fun and a chance to go play basketball against these seniors that we never really talk to.” 

Patel echoed his admiration for IMBA, especially how it’s helped his performance on the court. “It has kinda given me the chance to improve upon basketball skills, just keep improving…which I appreciate,” he said.

Having been a part of the State High Boys Basketball Team in years past, Patel also pointed out one of IMBA’s biggest advantages over an official high school sport.

“With high school sports, not everyone gets a chance to play,” Patel said. “But with IMBA, a lot of people get the chance to play, even if it is a close game or you’re getting blown out by 30.”

Yet, students still face roadblocks in the heat of the IMBA season. A common issue in the league is disagreements among team members over leadership and decision-making. In a student-run program, conflicts are inevitable–especially with passionate players that have strong opinions.

That said, this can benefit students in the long run; because there aren’t typically adults to mediate the conflict, students are forced to navigate conflicts and find solutions on their own. This provides an opportunity to strengthen problem solving skills, a much needed skill for teens preparing to face the world on their own. 

While not always perfect, IMBA remains a beloved tradition at State High and it continues to leave an impact on the lives of participants. With its ever-evolving student leadership, it will be exciting to see how the league continues to grow and change in coming years.