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The Falcons are banking on youth to fix their defense, but will it work?

Despite needing immediate upgrades, the Falcons made only modest free-agent additions. And after spending four of five draft picks on defense, they’re in the development game. If new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is going to orchestrate a turnaround, it will be because he and his staff proved good teachers. ExploreForget about the Falcons roster. Raheem […]

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Despite needing immediate upgrades, the Falcons made only modest free-agent additions. And after spending four of five draft picks on defense, they’re in the development game. If new defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich is going to orchestrate a turnaround, it will be because he and his staff proved good teachers.

What a treat for Ulbrich and defensive-minded coach Raheem Morris in his second season. They should view this as a privilege. They’re tasked with overseeing a largely homegrown unit that can help guide the Falcons out of this defensive malaise.

“That’s the biggest part of our game (player development),” Morris said. “Free agents are expensive. You get the chance to go out there and draft guys. You get to watch them go play and be exciting. You watch your own, raised at home. That is truly exciting for us. I’m so excited about the last two (draft) classes and what that can look like, everybody getting their opportunity to play this year.”

In 2024, the Falcons drafted defensive lineman Ruke Orhorhoro (second round), edge rusher Bralen Trice (third round), defensive lineman Brandon Dorlus (fourth round) and linebacker JD Bertrand (fifth round) to assist their defense. All players contributed in a limited capacity except Trice, who tore his ACL in the exhibition opener (he’s expected to be ready for training camp). The team needs more from this group moving forward.

This spring, the Falcons added edge rushers Jalon Walker and James Pearce Jr., who instantly assumed the pressure of fixing a moribund pass rush. The team also drafted defensive backs Xavier Watts and Billy Bowman Jr., adding a couple of big-school, experienced defenders to the back end. The Falcons need a couple of home runs here.

“Let’s face it: We have some young guys who are going to have to make some impactful plays for us this year,” All-Pro safety Jessie Bates said Tuesday.

Ages of some notable Falcons defenders (*denotes drafted by team):

DL- David Onyemata (32), Morgan Fox (30), Ta’Quon Graham* (26), Brandon Dorlus* (24), Zach Harrison* (23), Ruke Orhorhoro* (23).

Edge- Jalon Walker* (21), Leonard Floyd (32), James Pearce Jr.* (21), Arnold Ebiketie* (26), DeAngelo Malone* (25).

ILB- Kaden Ellis (29), JD Bertrand* (25), Troy Andersen* (26), Divine Deablo (26).

CB- A.J. Terrell Jr.* (26), Mike Hughes (28), Clark Phillips III* (23), Dee Alford (27), Billy Bowman Jr.* (22), Cobee Bryant (23; the bet here is the undrafted rookie, whom the Falcons have lauded, makes the team).

S- Jessie Bates (28), Xavier Watts* (23), Jordan Fuller (27), DeMarcco Hellams* (24).

The depth chart includes three prominent players aged 30 or above. Beyond that, some of these individuals have very little experience, like Dorlus, Orhorhoro and Phillips, and some have none at all, such as Walker, Pearce and Watts.

This shifts the spotlight to the coaches, who must prepare the youngsters not only to contribute but to do so at a level that’ll help the team qualify for the playoffs. If the Falcons are left on the outside again, the prevailing thought is there will be more changes. The franchise’s stability hinges on its draftees.

But the responsibilities here aren’t just on the coaching staff, as Bates notes.

“Just getting those guys in here, making them feel comfortable,” Bates said of his leadership role as a veteran. “Making them feel comfortable in the scheme and just let them know that you’re in your dream. You just started your dream. But there’s a whole lot more that you can do in this league. You didn’t just get here to get drafted and play one year. You want to have a long career. Just teaching those guys the daily habits. Not just talking about it but being an example for these guys every single day. You do little stuff every day, the type of stuff that adds up. Next thing you know, you’ll be on year eight like me. Good things will happen for you and your family. So just talking to those guys about that.”

Bates continued elaborating, explaining that players like him, Floyd and even the more experienced offensive players must set examples.

“That’s where you have to have your leaders, some solid leaders who these young guys can see,” he said. “See what it looks like. What is the right way to go about your days? Sometimes it’s good to have some young bucks that have no clue out there, they just know how to go fast.

“With those two guys off the edge, Jalon and James, I think we’ll be excited to watch those guys. Just watching them in their individual work, 1-2 step get off the ball, it’s been pretty impressive. There’s going to be some learning things as well as they get through the season, but that’s where you have leaders and guys who have to step up. The older guys who’ve been there before need to show them what it’s about.”

The Falcons will see if youth does indeed provide innovation — the innovation being a quality defense. Around these parts, such would be considered transformative.





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Hall of Famers inspire youth at U.S Olympic Museum event | Sports

Reagan McMillon received Olympian Misty May-Treanor’s book “MISTY” as a Christmas gift two years ago and has been a fan ever since. On Friday, the 13-year-old met her idol on a beach volleyball court at The Farm sports facility in Colorado Springs, a moment she never expected. “I have these idols that I will never […]

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Reagan McMillon received Olympian Misty May-Treanor’s book “MISTY” as a Christmas gift two years ago and has been a fan ever since.

On Friday, the 13-year-old met her idol on a beach volleyball court at The Farm sports facility in Colorado Springs, a moment she never expected.

“I have these idols that I will never get to meet in person, so to meet her was awesome,” said McMillon, who later had her book signed by May-Treanor. “I was like ‘wow, we are standing on the same sand.’ How she coaches is very charismatic, she has a lot of empathy. She calls me ‘libero.’ I got chills every time she called me that.”

The two met during a volleyball clinic, part of Greatness Gives Back, a two-day outreach event that is part of the U.S Olympic and Paralympic Museum Festival that runs through Sunday. Friday and Saturday, Hall of Fame athletes conduct clinics and speaking engagements for all ages throughout Colorado Springs.

On Saturday there will be a panel featuring Bob Beamon, Tommie Smith, John Carlos, Billy Mills and Dan O’Brien at the U.S Olympic and Paralympic Museum Theater and a basketball clinic with Teresa Edwards at the Fountain YMCA.

“It’s amazing, just the amount of well-known Olympians at all of these events,” U.S Olympic and Paralympic Museum volunteer Molly Danner said. “A lot are the people I remember watching growing up. To see the kids and their excitement it’s just really cool.”

Beside the clinics, Hall of Famers Picabo Street, Tim Daggett and David Kiley spent part of Friday morning visiting multiple patients at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central.

Coffee with alpine skier Picabo Street kicked off the outreach event with several sports clinics following, including a beach volleyball session with Hall of Famer May-Treanor, who earned three Olympic gold medals alongside Kerri Walsh Jennings, who will be inducted Saturday.

“It was fun to be back in Colorado Springs, I haven’t been back since I was inducted in 2019,” May-Treanor said. “I love the way the sport is growing and any time I have the chance to work with the next generation I love it. I used to do my own clinics all over. … I love coaching, it’s something I’ll never get tired of.”

The event was put on in part by Try Volleyball, a new USA volleyball program to encourage kids to get involved with the sport at a local level.

Despite 80-degree weather, Treanor was out on the court for the full two hours enthusiastically engaging and even playing with the 30 participants while Team Colorado Volleyball coaches led them through drills. She offered advice and playfully teased the players, some who were playing the sport for the first time.

“If I can give them one thought and they get 1% better each time, that’s all you can ask for,” May-Treanor said, “They were attentive, hard working. … It was a fun time. Lots of pink and red kids going home today.”

At the end of the session, she sat with the players in a circle on the sand court to answer questions about her life and career. With attentive eyes on her, the Olympian shared about her first beach volleyball tournament with her father at 8-years-old, and how volleyball has been an outlet through hard times.

She encouraged the kids to participate in multiple sports, and shared something her father told her growing up: Play for those that can’t play, there’s always someone that would love to switch places with you.

“I can’t put into words the impact of having her here,” Chrissy Elder of USA Volleyball said. ”She has been at the highest level of volleyball and Try Volleyball is meant to create Olympians. To have the highest level come and coach kids trying it for the first time. … You can’t put it into words how big of an impact it is.”

While she will head back home Saturday, May-Treanor was able to see the Olympic and Paralympic Museum for the first time, which she said was just a thought when she was being inducted.

Across town at Weidner Field, Michelle Akers, a member of the 1996 U.S women’s soccer team that won gold in the first ever women’s tournament, held a meet-n-greet before a soccer clinic on the pitch with 75 kids ages 7 to 13.

The meet-n-greet was not just for kids, a grandmother of one of the participants brought a Wheaties box from the 1990’s with Akers on it for the Olympian to sign for her granddaughter.

“It was fun,” Akers, sporting a grey Adidas tracksuit, said. “I told them to be out there for the love of the game, make sure it’s something you love and you are having fun. If you want to excel, having that love of just playing has to be part of the ingredients to be the best player on the field.”

McMillon was just one of several kids across Colorado Springs who had the unique chance to meet an Olympic athlete, with several more opportunities this weekend.

She will be a freshman at Coronado this fall, and the two hours with May-Treanor has given her a fresh boost of motivation to be a libero despite being new to the position.

“I learned from her that everyone’s journey is different,” McMillon said. “It doesn’t matter where you come from, you can still grow up to be who you want to be as long as you set your mind to it.”



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Barrett receives the Ray Aviation Scholarship | News, Sports, Jobs

Adeline Barrett (center), receives the Ray Aviation Scholarship from the Scholarship Coordinator, Kyle Riedel (left) and Chapter Vice President Mario Dandrea. (Submitted photo) BUTLER, Pa. — Adeline Barrett of Columbiana received a unique full-scholarship opportunity for flight training, thanks to EAA Chapter 857 of Butler, Pa. This Ray Aviation Scholarship program is administered by the […]

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Adeline Barrett (center), receives the Ray Aviation Scholarship from the Scholarship Coordinator, Kyle Riedel (left) and Chapter Vice President Mario Dandrea. (Submitted photo)

BUTLER, Pa. — Adeline Barrett of Columbiana received a unique full-scholarship opportunity for flight training, thanks to EAA Chapter 857 of Butler, Pa. This Ray Aviation Scholarship program is administered by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

The Ray Aviation Scholarship program provides up to $12,000 scholarships to young people who are seeking to learn to fly. The Ray Foundation has provided $1.8 million to fund the scholarship program, which seeks to improve the flight training success rate from the current industry standards of 20 percent to 80 percent for program participants. Local EAA chapters are responsible for identifying youth for the Ray Aviation Scholarship program and mentoring them through flight training. The Ray Foundation is furthering the legacy of James C. Ray, an EAA lifetime member who was dedicated to aviation and youth education.

Since its introduction in 2019, the EAA Ray Aviation Scholarship program has allowed over 350 youths to complete their flight training and receive their pilot licenses. This is the fourth Ray Aviation Scholarship received by Chapter 857 thereby bringing thousands of dollars in flight training to our local flight schools. In addition to this scholarship, Chapter 857 has, for over a decade, offered EAA Air Academy Scholarships to area youth. These scholarships offer an aviation-focused, summer-camp like experience in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. There is no better way to expose youth to Aviation and Aerospace opportunities than by participating in an EAA Air Academy event.

Barrett will be training at Haski Aviation based at New Castle Airport, Pa., with Joss Slagle as her instructor. The scholarship is designed to support a flight student through both written and practical segments of flight training that are part of successful FAA pilot certification.

EAA Chapter 857 will hold an upcoming youth-oriented event at the Butler Regional Airport. During the event known as Young Eagle Rallies, kids between the ages of 8 and 17 can register to receive their first flight in a general aviation aircraft by a local pilot. Participants can also meet scholarship recipients to discuss their future for pursuing aviation as a career. Chapter 857 will also present information to participants about youth scholarships available to everyone in the community.

The Young Eagle Rally is scheduled for Aug. 9. More information can be found at the EAA Chapter 857 website: https://chapters.eaa.org/eaa857.



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Washtenaw County 4-H Youth Show Welcomes the Public

Community News The Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds will host the 2024 Washtenaw County 4-H Youth Show July 20 – July 26.  This family-friendly, no-cost public event showcases 4-H Youth Development and the interesting opportunities available to Washtenaw County youth. The show kicks off on Sunday, July 20 at 10 a.m. Tuesday, all projects including “still” […]

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Community News

The Washtenaw Farm Council Grounds will host the 2024 Washtenaw County 4-H Youth Show July 20 – July 26.  This family-friendly, no-cost public event showcases 4-H Youth Development and the interesting opportunities available to Washtenaw County youth.

The show kicks off on Sunday, July 20 at 10 a.m. Tuesday, all projects including “still” non-animal projects and animals, will be on display.

Throughout the week attendees can bid on Entrepreneurship Silent Auction of youth-made craft items. Silent auction items are on display and open for bids July 22 – July 24. Silent Auction proceeds go to the selling 4-H member. The entrepreneurship project seeks to prepare future entrepreneurs for the business world by helping them develop skills in product development, marketing, finance, etc.

The public is also invited to the Activity Tent outside of Building A on Thursday from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. for hands-on, take-home craft activities hosted by 4-H members for youth of all ages.

Livestock and small animals are auctioned Thursday evening at 6:30 pm, July 24 under the open pavilion/Building B. All are welcome.  Buyers can arrive starting at 5pm for a free Buyers’ Dinner, as well as to learn the auction process.



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Panorama youth boys basketball camp now open for regristration | Raccoon Valley Radio

Panorama youth boys basketball camp now open for regristration | Raccoon Valley Radio – The One to Count On The Panorama Panthers boys basketball team will be hosting a youth boys basketball camp on August 11, 13-15th at Panorama Middle School. Register online today through gobound or […]

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Panorama youth boys basketball camp now open for regristration | Raccoon Valley Radio – The One to Count On


































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The Panorama Panthers boys basketball team will be hosting a youth boys basketball camp on August 11, 13-15th at Panorama Middle School. Register online today through gobound or visit this link.

This youth basketball camp with be for boys entering third grade through eighth grade. The cost is $60 and includes a T-Shirt if registration is completed by July 25th. The camp will be held on August 11th from 8am-12pm, with no camp on Tuesday the 12th, then camp resumes on Wednesday the 13th-15th from 8am-12pm.


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Run 4 the Roses girls basketball tournament draws big crowds to Louisville

The Kentucky Expo Center is filled this week with activity as it hosts Run 4 The Roses, the largest girls youth basketball tournament in the United States. Drawing more than 40,000 athletes, spectators, and coaches from across the globe, the event provides an unparalleled opportunity for players to showcase their skills in front of college […]

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The Kentucky Expo Center is filled this week with activity as it hosts Run 4 The Roses, the largest girls youth basketball tournament in the United States. Drawing more than 40,000 athletes, spectators, and coaches from across the globe, the event provides an unparalleled opportunity for players to showcase their skills in front of college coaches nationwide.“That’s just what I want to do, play aggressive. Get points. Help my team out,” said Grace Harris, an athlete from Georgia.With more than 2,000 teams participating from countries like Denmark, Sweden, Spain and Australia, the level of competition is fierce. In addition to the talent on the court, the influx of visitors has transformed Louisville into a hub of activity. “When you put that many people from out of this city here, they’re eating in our restaurants. They’re going to our attractions. They’re going over to Kentucky Kingdom. They’re experiencing Louisville,” said Greg Fante, president and CEO of the Louisville Sports Commission. The estimated $45.6 million economic impact for the city extends far beyond the court. Numerous vendors at the event are seeing increased business. “I think the best part is interacting with the customers and getting our brand out so they can continue to know our name,” said Shelbi Valentine, AMiracle-Ade Lemonade.Local restaurants and businesses are also feeling the effects. Louisville Tavern, located on South 4th Street, has been bustling with out-of-town customers. “It’s been booming. It’s been great,” said Jason Sweete, Louisville Tavern.For many, including Sweete’s team, it’s an opportunity to showcase Louisville’s hospitality. “It’s good to have a stretch of five days like this where we know we’re going to be open to close, we’re going to be jamming in here,” said Sweete.Run 4 The Roses Classic and Championship runs from July 10-15.

The Kentucky Expo Center is filled this week with activity as it hosts Run 4 The Roses, the largest girls youth basketball tournament in the United States.

Drawing more than 40,000 athletes, spectators, and coaches from across the globe, the event provides an unparalleled opportunity for players to showcase their skills in front of college coaches nationwide.

“That’s just what I want to do, play aggressive. Get points. Help my team out,” said Grace Harris, an athlete from Georgia.

With more than 2,000 teams participating from countries like Denmark, Sweden, Spain and Australia, the level of competition is fierce. In addition to the talent on the court, the influx of visitors has transformed Louisville into a hub of activity.

“When you put that many people from out of this city here, they’re eating in our restaurants. They’re going to our attractions. They’re going over to Kentucky Kingdom. They’re experiencing Louisville,” said Greg Fante, president and CEO of the Louisville Sports Commission.

The estimated $45.6 million economic impact for the city extends far beyond the court. Numerous vendors at the event are seeing increased business.

“I think the best part is interacting with the customers and getting our brand out so they can continue to know our name,” said Shelbi Valentine, AMiracle-Ade Lemonade.

Local restaurants and businesses are also feeling the effects. Louisville Tavern, located on South 4th Street, has been bustling with out-of-town customers.

“It’s been booming. It’s been great,” said Jason Sweete, Louisville Tavern.

For many, including Sweete’s team, it’s an opportunity to showcase Louisville’s hospitality.

“It’s good to have a stretch of five days like this where we know we’re going to be open to close, we’re going to be jamming in here,” said Sweete.

Run 4 The Roses Classic and Championship runs from July 10-15.



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