Unsie Zuege of the Chanhassen Villager reports:

It seems the recent ruckus over the Victoria Field House was a good thing. Lots of residents who’d never stepped foot inside the building could see for themselves what the facility has to offer for local fitness and recreation, people like John and Maryse Thomas.

The Thomases moved to Victoria from Eden Prairie just over a year ago. But they had no idea what the Field House gym was like. “Our jaws just dropped,” Maryse Thomas said about their reaction to the facility. In addition to the gymnasium, they were impressed with the workout room, the ice skating rink, and all the land around the facility that includes ball fields, something Lifetime Fitness doesn’t have, Thomas said.

During the meeting, they kept whispering back and forth. The gymnasium in which they sat would be perfect for a youth basketball camp. In fact, Maryse couldn’t contain herself and stepped up to the mike. “My husband is a professional basketball player—he’s a former Timberwolves player—and he would love to put on a basketball camp in this facility,” she announced. Heads in the audience turned and people murmured. Who was this couple?

John Thomas a former Timberwolf, now a free agent was as good as his wife’s word. He and Timberwolf guard Mike James will run a free four-day basketball camp for kids ages 8-18 in the Field House on June 18-21 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Lunch is included.

“We’re hoping to generate greater community awareness of the Field House,” Maryse Thomas said. “There are too many obvious solutions to let it be sold.” After that evening they brainstormed and approached the city’s parks and recreation department with their offer to operate a free basketball camp.

Currently there are 70 children and teens signed up. The Thomases would like to limit participation only to Victoria residents at this time. “If the camp is a success, we’d like to do more,” John Thomas said. Youth will be broken out into groups by age, and Thomas and James will teach a variety of basketball fundamentals, skills and drills.

The Thomases have enlisted the help of community businesses including pizza from Roulette’s, pre-camp warmup exercises by Snap Fitness, and Dr. Tracy Burmeister, a chiropractor to provide medical attention if needed..

“This camp is a kick off to raising awareness of the Field House, and rallying the community to support it,” Thomas said. “I like Victoria’s small town feel and I see the potential for Victoria and it will grow.”

Unsie Zuege is a staff writer for the Chanhassen Villager. She can be reached at uzuege@swpub.com.