It’s been an almost sleepless summer for Ken Rix.

He led the Warwick North 11/12-year-old all-stars through districts, states and regionals en route to the city’s first-ever Little League World Series appearance.

That wasn’t the only time this summer, though, that Rix helped make history. When he wasn’t planning for the next opponent in Williamsport, he was getting ready for the 2016-17 school year as the Warwick athletic director.

“Any spare time I had at the Little League World Series, when they went to bed, I took care of athletic duties,” Rix said.

Not only will Rix preside over Pilgrim and Toll Gate, but he was integral in delivering middle school sports to Warwick Vets and Winman.

This wasn’t always a successful venture, though.

Rix said he first attempted to establish a middle school pipeline when he was coaching sports at Pilgrim more than a decade ago. The same went for when he filled the A.D. position at Warwick Vets.

“I felt we needed a stronger feeder system,” Rix said. “I didn't have much say as a coach, they couldn't afford it financially. When I was an A.D., I suggested we get it back in but it couldn't be found in the budget.”

Finally, when consolidation began, Rix presented the idea to Superintendent Phillip Thornton. He was open to middle school athletics, but needed to see data that made the plan feasible.

Rix went to work. He set up a committee of 15 to 18 people, ranging from coaches to members of the community, to collect numbers and opinions for the concept. The most staggering surveys were those distributed to grades 5-8.

Of those who participated, Rix said that 92 percent of fifth- and sixth-graders approved of setting up middle school sports. Seventh- and eighth-graders were in the same vein, coming in at 88 percent in favor.

“Once the data was presented to Thornton and the school committee, everyone was on board,” Rix said. “It all had to be budgeted out. I spent the summer ordering uniforms, hiring coaches.”

Vets and Winman will feature all of the sports offered by the Rhode Island Principals Committee on Athletics (RIPCOA), including boys’ and girls’ soccer, boys’ and girls’ basketball, baseball, softball and wrestling to name a few.

Rix said last week that more than 90 boys and 50 girls had signed up for soccer.

It’s only a small sample size, but the decision to add Warwick to the middle school sports fray could prove to be a fruitful one for its high schools, and parents, down the road.

“If we can get the middle school coaches on the same page as the high school coaches, it can make a world of difference,” Rix said. “The most important part of it is getting kids of that age and keeping them busy from 2-5:30 p.m. when the parents come home.”

Vets and Winman aren’t the only Warwick public schools getting a boost. Rix said there will be athletic trainers available at Pilgrim and Toll Gate, as well as training facilities in their small gyms open until 6 p.m.

Rix said he has hired Northeast Sports Training (NEST) to help establish the workout and rehab facilities. If any player suffers a minor injury, they can be treated on the spot. There will also be “full-concussion impact testing” and a concussion management system.