Jim & Robyn Fehrenbacher, Founders

Back in 1999, Jim and Robyn Fehrenbacher began their homeschooling journey with their four children, Andrew, Daniel, Natalie, and Ryan. Their oldest son, Andrew, loved playing sports, particularly baseball. As he entered junior high, opportunities for competitive sports in their hometown of Brandon decreased, so Jim and Robyn began to research the possibility of forming a competitive homeschool sports team to provide their children as well as other homeschooling families with an opportunity to play sports in a Christ centered environment.

Prior to Jim’s career as a Physical Therapist, he had received his Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Administration & Coaching with a basketball concentration from the University of Southern Mississippi and had coached and taught in the Pearl Public School system for 5 years. They decided to start with basketball, since it required fewer players and less equipment. The name “Victors” was taken directly from I Corinthians 15:57 which says “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

So, at the beginning of the 2006-2007 school year, they gathered homeschool boys in grades 7-12 at the Flowood YMCA, and Jim led 18-20 boys in learning basketball and playing in an intramural format. In the Spring, they transitioned into learning baseball.

At the beginning of the 2007-2008 school year, Jim discovered two additional new homeschool basketball teams in the state: the Hattiesburg Forerunners, coached by Dennis Aldy, and the Vicksburg Warriors, coached by Larry Storey. So together, they formed a home and away schedule for the season, as well as the first Homeschool Basketball State Championship tournament, played in February 2008. Following the 2007-2008 basketball season, Shea Moody, whose sons played for the Victors, jumped on board and began networking to expand the schedule for both Victors basketball and baseball. By the following year, 2008-2009, the basketball schedule had grown to 26 games versus private schools as well as homeschool teams and tournaments. The baseball team began to play against private schools as well.

In the 2009-2010 school year, Jim Kelly joined up to coach the first Victors girls’ basketball team, which included his daughter Gracie. Through the years that followed, there were many more dedicated parents who formed, managed, and helped coach teams in additional sports. The Victors organization was made possible by their sacrifice and hard work, and by God’s grace.

Over the years, Jim, Shea, and Jim Kelly all served on the Victors Board of Directors and as coaches as their children participated in Victors Homeschool Sports. Other early board members were Paul Reese, David Pyles, and Mike Hillerman. All of these original leaders have hung up their hats, so to speak, as far as Victors is concerned but their vision has continued to grow. Today, Victors provides the opportunity each year for over 125 players across Central Mississippi to participate in the following sports programs: Baseball, Basketball, Cheer, Cross-Country, Softball, Tennis, & Track. We are forever grateful for their vision!

Go Victors!!