STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.— Plenty of local tennis players know the thrill of being ranked No. 1 in their club or high school conference — but what about being declared the best in the country?

That was recently the reality for Staten Island native and junior tennis standout Anna Kapanadze, who was recently crowned the nation’s top 14U player, fueled in large part by her victory at the USTA National Indoor Hardcourt Championship in Toledo, Ohio last month.

Kapanadze, who began playing at age five at the College of Staten Island Community Tennis Center, described each match of the tournament as “a battle,” crediting her opponents with pushing her to play highly intelligent sets.

“All the girls were really good, and I had to problem-solve well in every match. I thought I played a really solid tournament from the quarterfinals on. I beat three girls who were all inside the top 20 in the nation, and those matches were really tough — especially the final. The final (versus Olivia Lin of Massachusetts) was a battle,” she began.

“In the first set, she was returning a lot of balls, and it was a grind. Even though I lost the first set, I felt like I locked in during the next two sets, got more in the zone, strategized and problem-solved well, and switched up my game a little bit.”

The phenom, who takes online high school courses after attending PS 23 and St. Patrick’s in Richmondtown, described the moment she finished the match — knowing she was now the nation’s top youth talent — as special, but added that she believes the real work has only just begun.

“It feels like a big accomplishment because ever since I was little, I envisioned myself in this position. But now what? The main focus now is remaining number one, and that’s going to be tougher. It’s tough to get there, but it’s tougher to stay,” she wisely said.

Her sage insights on the importance of sustaining hard work to remain at the top stem from the rigorous practice schedules she endures as a member of the John McEnroe Tennis Academy, though much of her determination comes from within.

“I think self-drive is really important, and that’s what helped me handle strict schedules. Every time I go out to practice, I want to get better,” she shared.

“I want to work on something and improve at it. That mindset helped me through strict schedules and hard training days. Knowing I was going to practice to get better made it easier — practice might be hard, but at least I’m improving at something.”

Given that tennis is such an individual sport, Kapanadze shared that while it can feel isolating on the court, she knows her support system has been there with her, backing her with every swing of the racket.

“I’d definitely say my parents are a big part of my support system. They take me to tournaments, feed me, and cheer me on. They’re my biggest supporters. I also feel like my friends have also supported me throughout this journey as well, with encouraging words and constant support,” she began.

“Now that I’m at the McEnroe Academy, I also have a team of coaches supporting me. At a recent tournament, my fitness coach and another coach helping other academy players were there as well. Having this team makes a big difference, because tennis is such an individual sport — it’s tough being alone on the court, and having encouragement really helps.”

In addition to the remarkable competition she’s faced, Kapanadze said one of the best parts of playing at a high level has been the chance to travel, including the opportunity to compete in international matches.

“I feel honored that I’m able to travel all across the country. Now I’m even going to be able to travel across the world —I’m going to France in January for another tournament called Les Petits As. It feels amazing to be able to travel at the young age of 13,” she shared.

Kapanadze has already experienced a taste of the pro tennis world, mainly through her sponsorship with Yonex, which provides all her gear, and the youngster is already focused on pursuing a professional tennis career.

“I’m trying to play more ITF [International Tennis Federation] tournaments, where I compete against kids from around the world instead of just across the country. I want to gain that experience at a higher level, and eventually, I’m planning to turn pro right away rather than go to college,” she concluded.

via: Independent | Courtesy

Key Takeaways

• Santa Barbara Volleyball Club will build a new indoor facility on county-owned property on Hollister Avenue following Board of Supervisors approval
• The project addresses a documented shortage of indoor youth sports space in Santa Barbara County
• Facility will be funded through grants and private donations, with no taxpayer funding mentioned
• Club plans to expand programming capacity and open the gym to other youth sports organizations beyond volleyball
• Project moves to planning review and permitting phase with county collaboration

Filling a Gap in Indoor Sports Infrastructure

Santa Barbara Volleyball Club announced plans to construct a dedicated indoor facility on Hollister Avenue, following lease approval from the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors earlier this week. The development targets a shortage of indoor space that has limited youth sports programming in the region.

Executive Director Matt Riley described the project as “a major investment in the future of youth sports in Santa Barbara.” With a dedicated facility, the club will no longer need to rely on borrowed gym space and can increase its programming schedule while accommodating other local sports leagues.

The county-owned property sits adjacent to a 34-unit affordable housing development that broke ground last week, creating a cluster of community-focused projects on the same corridor.

Shared-Use Model and Community Access

The facility will operate on a shared-use model, with Santa Barbara Volleyball Club maintaining primary programming while opening the gym to other youth sports organizations. This approach addresses capacity constraints that force many local programs to compete for limited indoor court time at schools and municipal facilities.

“Our goal is to create a safe, high-quality environment where young athletes can develop not only as volleyball players, but as teammates, leaders, and community members,” Riley said.

County Supervisor Laura Capps noted the project demonstrates how local government can partner with community organizations to expand youth programming. “By investing in youth sports and creating spaces where kids can learn teamwork, confidence, and resilience, we’re strengthening the fabric of our community for years to come,” Capps said.

Funding Structure and Next Steps

The project will be funded entirely through grants and private donations, according to Riley. The club will publish additional details on funding progress and construction timelines on its website at santabarbaravolleyballclub.com.

The facility now enters the planning review and permitting phase, with county staff working alongside club leadership to move the project through regulatory approvals. No construction timeline was announced.

Strategic Implications for Santa Barbara Youth Sports

The Hollister Avenue facility represents a growing trend of purpose-built youth sports infrastructure replacing the traditional model of renting time in shared municipal or school facilities. By securing long-term access to dedicated space, Santa Barbara Volleyball Club gains operational control that allows for expanded programming hours, consistent scheduling, and the ability to generate revenue through facility rentals to other organizations.

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By Leslie Castillo
leslie.castillo@waylandpost.org

More than 175 police officers from Wayland and surrounding communities showed up at the Framingham Walmart on Dec. 16 for the 9th annual Shop with a Cop event. Wayland’s Police Chief Ed Burman was one of its original founders.
Students, who had previously signed up for Shop with a Cop and were selected by their principals, used their allotted $50 to shop for themselves and their families. After a quick check-in that included a greeting from Santa, candy, and hot chocolate, the youngsters, caregivers and officers hit the aisles in search of their favorite things. Some popular items chosen included basketballs, Barbies, and Bratz dolls. One young man insisted, “For me, it’s all about the Legos.”

While the selections varied, one common theme resounded – happiness. Both the officers and children shared easy banter and conversations about their favorite shows, sports, and classes. Young and old were beaming as they meandered around the store and seemed equally ecstatic about participating.
“For me, tonight is all about the kids,” said Wayland Officer Shane Bowles. “To see them happy and to share this time with them (makes it worthwhile).”
The students could spend their money on anything they wanted, except gift cards. Well, almost anything. Bowles, the School Resource Officer, showed patience and kindness when one hopeful student asked if she could purchase Wayland’s friendly, familiar, comfort dog, Archie. ”Not tonight. Maybe when you are older,” he explained.
Chief Burman brought genuine enthusiasm and a contagious energy to the event.
“All of the officers here tonight are volunteering their time,” said Burman. ”This is a program that is made possible from generous donations from community businesses, and from the police, fire, school and other unions.”
Officers and students had a chance to bond and spend quality time together during the shopping expedition. After checking out, students and their families shared an in-store meal of Chik-Fil-A before departing.

President Donald Trump announced Thursday the White House will host the “Patriot Games,” a competition with young athletes from across the country, as part of the celebration of the United States’ 250th anniversary next year.

“In the fall, we will host the first ever Patriot Games, an unprecedented four-day athletic event featuring the greatest high school athletes — one young man and one young woman from each state and territory,” Trump said.

Democrats have mocked the athletic competition online, comparing it to “The Hunger Games,” a dystopian young adult novel and popular movie franchise in which children are forced to fight to the death in televised arenas.

The president revealed the plans for the Patriot Games in a video announcement from Freedom 250, which was launched Thursday. It is a “a national, non-partisan organization leading the Administration’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday,” according to a news release.

Trump previously previewed the competition in July, saying at the time it would be televised and led by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy.

During the video, Trump also highlighted his plans to begin construction soon on a new arch monument in the nation’s capital.

“We are the only major place without a triumphal arc. A beautiful triumphal arc, one like in Paris, where they have the great, a beautiful arc. They call it the Arc de Triomphe, and we’re going to have one in Washington, D.C., very soon,” Trump said.

A UFC fight on the South Lawn is another of Trump’s ideas for the 250th celebration and will take place on his birthday, June 14.

“On Flag Day, we will have a one-of-a-kind UFC event here at the White House. It’ll be the greatest champion fighters in the world, all fighting that same night. The great Dana White is hosting, and it’s going to be something special,” Trump said.

Trump has long touted his desire to shape the nation’s 250th celebrations. In the past year, the Trump administration has moved quickly to align federal funding with the president’s anniversary priorities, and agencies have followed suit.

The Department of Agriculture, for instance, has embraced the president’s Great American State Fair initiative. The idea was first floated by Trump on the campaign trail in 2023, and it asks states to compete to have their fair chosen by Trump as the “most patriotic.”

Meanwhile, the White House is conducting a sweeping review of the Smithsonian Institution and has demanded the 250th content at the nation’s largest museum complex renews national pride.

The Luka Doncic Foundation, which was established by the Los Angeles Lakers star in 2024 to empower and inspire young athletes worldwide, is celebrating World Basketball Day and a year of important progress with the launch of several new initiatives aimed at reshaping the youth sports landscape.

According to the press release, the Foundation has been guided by the mission that sports should be something kids love and want to keep coming back to and is working to protect that belief in a few different ways: developing new approaches to coaching in youth basketball; taking a hard look at how the youth basketball system actually works and where it breaks down; and, building a global athlete support program to help kids across all sports keep playing when barriers get in the way.

“Each of these partnerships was carefully developed to move the Luka Doncic Foundation forward in pursuit of its mission to ensure youth sports are a joyful, enriching force in the lives of kids around the world,” noted Foundation CEO Lara Beth Seager. “These initiatives are helping us lay the groundwork for a future where every child has the opportunity to thrive through sports – regardless of their background or circumstance.”

“I’m so proud of all of the work we’ve accomplished in the year since we’ve launched, and I can’t wait to see what else we can do together,” said Doncic. “If we can continue providing opportunities to young athletes, and making sports more accessible and fun, I’ll know we did something right.”

Included in these new initiatives is the development of the Total Hoops Curriculum, which is working to develop a pilot curriculum and implementation toolkit that develops and supports a system of coaching that allows kids to play freely, embrace mistakes, and rediscover their love of the game.

To showcase and test this new curriculum, the Foundation will partner with the Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA to host a pilot clinic during NBA All-Star 2026. Newly trained Total Hoops Approach coaches will work with 100 youth athletes ages 9-15 from across Los Angeles to test new techniques aimed at reminding kids what sports can give them – friendship, confidence, and joy – and helping coaches make the court a place they want to return to.

Additionally, this coming spring, the Foundation will open applications to athletes ages 12-15 from all sports in U.S.A., U.K., China (PRC), France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia providing grants to help overcome barriers to participation.

Per the Luka Doncic Foundation, World Basketball Day is about more than just basketball. It’s a day to celebrate everything the sport brings to its young athletes – joy, connection, and a sense of belonging. Protecting that mission is at the core of the foundation, and each of these initiatives and partnerships are meant to further that ideal.

Luka Doncic buys E-bikes for teammates and Lakers staff

Luka Doncic has constantly displayed his generosity through the work of his foundation, but he also recently extended that to his teammates and Lakers staff members by buying them all E-bikes to celebrate the holiday season.

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