Kropp was in Lausanne, Switzerland to play in the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup, putting the cherry on top of a decorated youth career with Argentina. There, Kropp led the tournament in scoring with 21.7 points per game and ranked fourth with 9.7 rebounds per game. He scored at least 18 points in all seven games he played, becoming the first player to do so in the biennial event since 2003.

“I like to look at the player across from me and take it as a challenge,” Kropp said. “This guy’s the top player in Europe or top player in wherever, and I kind of be like, ‘No, I’m just as good as him,’ or ‘I’m better than him.'”

Three years before leading FIBA’s premier youth event in scoring, Kropp walked into a gym in Argentina with nearly 20 other players vying for a roster spot in the 2023 FIBA U16 AmeriCup. The Powell, Ohio, native had traveled over 5,000 miles for a chance to achieve a long-lasting goal — playing for Team Argentina, the country in which his mother was born.

After sending a flurry of emails in an attempt to be recognized by Argentina’s youth coaches, Kropp’s aspiration of playing for his mother’s home country was finally actualized, as he made the cut of the 12-player roster.

“I took a risk. I really had no idea what I was walking into,” Kropp said. “I knew I was going to go play for Argentina, but I didn’t know what it was going to be like, where we were going to stay. I didn’t speak great Spanish at the time.”

The following summer, the 6-foot-9 forward made a name for himself in front of his country’s faithful. At the 2024 FIBA U18 AmeriCup, held in Buenos Aires, Kropp logged 22.0 points and 11.3 rebounds per game, leading the tournament in total points and rebounds.

In the process, Argentina notched a silver-medal finish, its best result since 2008, and Kropp — playing in the city his mother was born and raised in — was named to the tournament’s All-Star Five.

“We had a home crowd every game,” Kropp said. “It was sold out, and it was amazing. Everyone knows all the songs for the national team. They’re singing throughout the whole game. I’d get goosebumps every time we played. I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it.”

A few weeks later, Kropp was in Istanbul, Turkey for the 2024 FIBA U17 World Cup. There, he averaged 20.0 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, ranking third and eighth in the event, respectively. Argentina placed 10th, its best result in a decade.

Nearly a full year later, Special Assistant to the Head Coach Brian James sat in Lausanne as he watched on as Kropp notched 23 points and 9 rebounds at the 2025 U19 World Cup, leading Argentina to a 71-66 victory over perennial basketball powerhouse Serbia.

Now, Kropp is reunited with James in the United States and remains in Evanston until July 22, when he departs for Madrid to join the Argentina senior national team’s training camp. He was named to the country’s preliminary roster for the 2025 FIBA AmeriCup, which takes place from August 21-31. It is an opportunity that the 18-year-old looks forward to.

“When you put on a national team jersey, it just means a lot more,” Kropp said. “Every practice is harder. Every game, every recovery session, every meal, it’s intentional. I think it just means a lot, and I love being able to do that.”

Mabel Kropp, Tyler Kropp’s mother, has seen his dedication to his craft day in and day out since Tyler Kropp began playing organized basketball in third grade.

She has seen her youngest child wear a jersey that reads Argentina across the chest for the past three summers, playing in four competitions. And if Kropp makes the cut for the AmeriCup roster, she’ll see it yet again just weeks down the line.

“It’s hard to describe with words what that means,” Mabel Kropp said. “This makes me very proud. This makes me very happy. It’s very emotional. They play the national anthem, and he comes out. People from my country — they just adore him. What an experience. It’s like a dream.”

As Kropp looks forward to a fruitful four years in Evanston, he thinks about what has led the Wildcats to their unprecedented success in recent years. Looking toward recent NBA draft pick Brooks Barnhizer, Kropp has one goal: win.

“Like Brooks Barnhizer used to always say, ‘Leave a place better than you found it.’ He definitely improved the program, so we want to keep that going, keep that momentum going,” Kropp said.

Improving game flow and pace of play are the primary focuses of the 2026 high school girls lacrosse rules changes.

Five rules changes were recommended by the NFHS Girls Lacrosse Rules Committee during its annual meeting June 23-25 at The Alexander in Indianapolis. All proposals were later approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

A change to Rule 5-2 Penalty 1 (Starting Play – Draw) allows any player to take the free position when one player draws illegally. Also, for Rule 7-3 Penalties 1a and 3a (Deputy Rules), the offending player shall be placed 4 meters away (instead of behind) from the player taking the free position for a goal circle foul.

Rule 4-3-3d, e, aligns the restart procedure after a possession time-out when the goalkeeper has possession of the ball in the goal circle by requiring play to restart at the closest dot and allows any player to restart play. 

Under Rule 2-4-5, regarding crosse inspection, the allowable times for stick check requests have been revised. Stick checks may only be requested “at any point during a quarter break, halftime, a team-called time-out, prior to the start of an overtime period, prior to the start of a draw, and shall include immediately following goals in regulation and overtime periods,” according to the new rules.

Finally, Rule 2-8-3 (New) & Penalty, regarding electronic equipment, clarifies that no on-field player shall wear any audio (microphone) or video (camera) device during a game. Violation will result in a coach misconduct penalty.

“Girls lacrosse continues to grow at the high school level in both individual participation and state association sponsorship of the sport,” said Lindsey Atkinson, director of sports and liaison to the NFHS Girls Lacrosse Rules Committee. “The committee believes the rules of the game are in a good place and changes that support the pace of play for the players that do not create an advantage for the offense or defense or increase risk are in the best interest of the game.”

A complete listing of the girls lacrosse rules changes will be available on the NFHS website at www.nfhs.org. Click on “Sports” at the top of the home page and select “Girls Lacrosse.” The print version of the 2026 Girls Lacrosse Rules Book will be available for purchase in October at www.NFHS.com, and the digital version will be available in the same timeframe via NFHS Digital at www.nfhs.org/nfhsdigital.

According to the NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey for the 2023-24 academic year, 101,204 girls participated in lacrosse at 3,206 high schools across the country.

SPARKS, Md. — The returning champs from a year ago headline the field at the 2025 USA Lacrosse Youth Nationals, which opens on July 15 at Cedar Lane Regional Park in Bel Air, Md. The two-day event features some of the top girls’ club lacrosse programs in the country competing in the 13U, 14U and 15U age divisions in this fully age-verified tournament.

Top of the Bay Sports and USA Lacrosse are working in conjunction to administer this year’s tournament. It’s the fifth straight year that Top of the Bay has been involved with the event. 

Gait athletes Abby Bosco, Mckenna Davis and Izzy Scane, all of whom are in the U.S. national team player pool, will be performing demos and meet-and-greets for event participants between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. on July 15.

In the 15U age bracket, Mass Elite Red is the returning champ, having edged out Yellow Jackets Maget 10-9 in last year’s 14U championship game. Both teams will compete next week in the tournament’s oldest age bracket and are ranked among the top five teams nationally by US Club Lacrosse.

In the 14U age bracket, Yellow Jackets Friedman is the returning champ and is currently ranked as the No. 1 team in its age group by US Club Lacrosse. The No. 2 ranked team nationally is Team 91 Roar, which will be looking to improve upon its quarterfinal finish at this tournament from a year ago.

The 13U age bracket also features the nation’s No. 1 ranked team – Yellow Jackets Babst – and three other teams ranked among the top 20 clubs in the country.

Cedar Lane, a 110-acre multi-sport recreation complex that opened in 2008, is located northeast of Baltimore in Harford County (Md.) and is conveniently located near Interstate 95. USA Lacrosse has hosted multiple events at Cedar Lane, including the inaugural U15 National Championship (the predecessor to the USA Lacrosse Youth Nationals) in 2009. Most recently, the USA Lacrosse Women’s National Tournament was held at Cedar Lane in 2022.

The 2025 USA Lacrosse Youth Nationals are sponsored by Capelli Sport, Gait Lacrosse, Hotel Planner, GoLiveSports and MedStar Health.

About USA Lacrosse

USA Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is a Recognized Sports Organization of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. As the governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse in the United States, USA Lacrosse fuels the growth, enriches the experience, and fields the best National Teams, supporting more than 425,000 members across the country.

What is “clipping?”

No, it’s not another lacrosse term like crease crank, yard sale or wheels — and it’s also not a phrase your enthusiastic parent will scream from the bleachers. There’s a new phenomenon taking the youth girls’ lacrosse space by storm, and it’s all about quietly spreading positivity.

There’s been a shift in girls’ sports. After practice or throughout a tournament, young athletes are getting “clipped” by clothespins. That’s right; small wooden clothespins, all decorated and bedazzled with funny memes or words of encouragement. 

Pat McGinnis, Kerri O’Day and Jesse Arline, coaches of the M&D 2031 Black, support their athletes in their quest to quietly change the energy of youth sports. 

“Clipping’s when you write a positive or funny message on a clip,” midfielder Kylie Briggs said, “and then when someone’s not paying attention or they’re distracted, you walk up to them, and you can put it on one of their belongings.” 

Each clip comes with a handwritten affirmation or design — like “You’re Strong,” “Keep Pushing,” or even a reference to a chronically online joke. There are no stats or scoreboard advantages, just the passing of good vibes from one girl to another. 

“We’re building each other up and making each other feel positive,” attacker Landry O’Day said. “Which I think is good because, you know, girlhood.”

HOW IT STARTED

“Landry came up with the idea in our group chat,” midfielder Katie Gorman said. 

When Arline asked where O’Day came up with the idea, she spoke with an excited voice: “TikTok!” 

“I got the idea from people in volleyball and cheer doing it.” O’Day said. “Then I thought, ‘Why can’t lacrosse do it?’” 

Clipping is popular in girls’ youth sports, especially in the tournament space. From soccer to volleyball to cheer, young athletes are sharing their latest clipping attempts on social media, targeting everyone from players and coaches to parents and event staff. 

Some girls even got the chance to clip four-time NBA champion Steph Curry at a volleyball tournament. 

As for designing the clips, each girl has their own approach. 

Midfielder Grayson Sody and O’Day joined together during spring break and decorated clips. They also do it as a team. The girls expressed that even if someone doesn’t have the capability or time to make one, they help each other out. 

“Some people make them and then they’ll share it with [others] so they can clip people, too,” midfielder Bryn Bryson said. 
While the girls work on different clips, they draw inspiration from other clips they’ve seen in passing. Each player puts their own spin on their designs. 

“I put, ‘They not like us,’” said Bryson, referencing a song by Kendrick Lamar. 

“I usually put funny things on there like a drawing of Patrick [Star],” Sody said.

WHY CLIPPING MATTERS

In sports, the focus is often on performance: who scored, who started, who won. But clipping flips that narrative. It centers on character, not competition. 

“It just brings you a lot of confidence,” Briggs said. “It makes you feel better about yourself.” 

At its core, clipping is about emotional recognition: seeing the whole person behind the player. It reminds kids that being a good teammate isn’t just about assists or hustle. It’s about empathy, kindness and the small moments that build a real sense of belonging. 

That sentiment is echoed by Caitlin Schmelz, the vice president of lacrosse at Elite Tournaments. 

“Clipping has added a fun and meaningful way for teams to interact beyond the game,” she said. “It encourages players to recognize and appreciate each other — whether teammates or opponents — and creates a sense of connection that often leads to more positive sideline interactions and shared moments across programs.” 

The benefits go beyond the individual. 

“Clipping encourages athletes to look for the good in others, even in competitive settings,” Schmelz said. “It’s a great reminder that sportsmanship matters and helps build a culture where respect and encouragement are just as important as performance.” 

This culture shift has a ripple effect on morale and confidence. 

“For individuals, getting a clip feels like a personal ‘you’re doing great’ moment, especially during tense games,” Schmelz said. “For teams, it becomes a shared ritual that lifts spirits and brings a sense of unity and positivity to the sidelines.” 

Even the way athletes support each other has evolved. Schmelz has noticed that players have become more encouraging toward their teammates and even toward other teams. 

Clipping has turned into more than just a trend; it’s a reminder of the heart behind the hustle. 

“I’ve learned that athletes thrive on connection just as much as competition,” Schmelz said. “They’re not only here to play — they care about encouraging each other and being part of something positive.”

HOW TO START CLIPPING

As for advice to anyone thinking about introducing clipping to their team? 

“Go for it!” Schmelz said. “Once you start, it catches on fast. We’ve even had events where stores ran out of clothes pins. It’s simple, impactful and brings a whole new energy to the game.” 

The M&D 2031 Black players caution that it’s best to do it stealthily. 

“I think you have to be cool and quiet about it,” Sody said. “You sneak up behind them and just clip their hair or something. And it’s really funny. … I just think it’s really cool whoever created it.” 

The pins are small. The messages are short. But the feeling? Lasting. 

For these young athletes, clipping is more than a cute trend. It’s a quiet revolution in how they show up for each other. In a sport that can be high-pressure and competitive, clipping offers a moment to pause, recognize and uplift. 

It’s easy to cheer when someone scores. It’s harder, and more meaningful, to lift someone up when they’re struggling, frustrated or overlooked. 

That’s what clipping teaches: that encouragement doesn’t need to be loud or flashy. Sometimes, it’s just a glittery clothespin with a handwritten “You’re doing great!” stuck on your gear bag when you least expect it and most need it.

CLIPPING WITH USA LACROSSE

As this movement continues to grow, USA Lacrosse is excited to bring the tradition of clipping to an even bigger stage. At the upcoming USA Lacrosse Youth Nationals, taking place July 15–16 at Cedar Lane Regional Park in Maryland, athletes and fans alike will be able to stop by a Clipping Design Station to create their own clips. 

The event, which brings together the top 13U–15U girls’ teams from across the country, is known for its high-level play and championship atmosphere. But this year, it’s also becoming a hub for connection, creativity and sportsmanship. 

Whether you’re playing in the tournament, cheering from the sideline, or coaching from the bench, the Clipping Station invites everyone to join the movement. You can craft personalized clips, decorate them with affirmations, glitter, memes, or whatever message feels meaningful, and pass it on to someone who could use a boost. 

Because even at the most competitive levels, what sticks isn’t always the score; it’s how we support one another along the way.

LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — The vision for a 17-acre sports and entertainment complex along View High Drive in Lee’s Summit started on a napkin.

“It actually did,” 3D Builders KC Managing Partner Scott Wheatley said. “It started on a napkin, with me and another dad, we were sitting there watching our kids play in a tiny, little facility, and were like, ‘We’ve got to do better for our kids.’”

Lee’s Summit dads turn idea on napkin into plans for youth sports complex

Kansas has added several pristine facilities — especially for soccer, basketball and volleyball — in recent years.

“The vision for this property really is for Missouri residents to have a state of the art facility in Missouri, so they don’t have to drive to Kansas every weekend for games at Compass Minerals or Garmin or HomeField KC or Bluhawk,” fellow 3D Builders KC Managing Partner Justin Beebe said. “… We’d like the residents in Missouri to be able to have something of their own and be able to stay local and do something for the community and for the kids that are here.”

Wheatley has two daughters, ages 8 and 11, while Beebe has 9-year-old triplet girls who love soccer, basketball, swimming and even jiu jitsu.

“We started this thing two years ago,” Beebe said. “We’re like, ‘Let’s just see what we can do. Let’s see how far we can take this, if we can get it done.’ … I live right around the corner, and he (Wheatley) lives right down the road right there, so it’s great for our neighbors and for the community to have something like this right here.”

View High Sports and Entertainment grew from its humble beginnings, scrawled onto a napkin, into a 180,000-square-foot concept one mile north of Longview Community College. It’s anchored by a full FIFA-regulation indoor soccer field, gym space for eight basketball courts or 12 volleyball courts, an athletic training facility, hitting and pitching tunnels, a restaurant and a family entertainment center, which will include an arcade, golf simulators and an indoor playground.

The building will also have space for a medical office and retail space, while an additional 90,000-square-foot outdoor space will include a multi-use field and five pickleball courts.

“They underestimate themselves a little bit when they portray themselves as a couple dads on a napkin — only because there’s been a lot of dads doing this with a lot of napkins, moms and dads over the last 30 years, but they’re getting it done,” Lee’s Summit Mayor Bill Baird said.

The project received a boost last month when the Lee’s Summit City Council unanimously approved a Community Improvement District to help pay for View High Sports and Entertainment.

3D Builders KC hopes to break ground on the project this fall after a final round of investment, with plans to have their daughters playing there by the fall of 2026.

“I’m extremely excited,” Wheatley said. “I’ve dreamed about it for the last two and a half years as we’ve gone through this whole process. The process starting out is way more than we ever dreamed it would be, but it’s starting to come to fruition.”

—

KSHB 41 reporter Tod Palmer covers sports business and eastern Jackson County. Share your story idea with Tod.

Bret Harte High School senior Boston Williams is the Calaveras Enterprise Bret Harte Male 2024-25 Athlete of the Year. Guy Dossi/Calaveras Enterprise

The athletic arena has always been a safe space for Boston Williams. From his younger days playing youth sports to his final year as a three-sport Bret Harte High School student-athlete, Williams’ safe space always included athletic competition.

Williams’ sports journey involved multiple moves across multiple states, ending at Bret Harte, where he will be remembered as one of the top players to ever put on a Bullfrog basketball uniform.

A deep love for sports was developed at a young age when Williams discovered he could escape any issues in his life and immerse himself in athletic competition.

“When I was younger, I didn’t have much to do and there was just stuff going on at home and with the stuff at home, sports became a distraction,” Williams said. “Going to the YMCA every night, from 9 to midnight playing with the older kids, it just drew me in with the competitiveness and just being able to create bonds and friendships and just distracting me from stuff.”

When Williams was a freshman, everything he did included sports. He played football in the fall, basketball in the winter, and baseball in the spring. However, in the middle of baseball season, Williams transferred out of Bret Harte to Sonora – a move he was unhappy to make.

Boston Williams played football, basketball, and was on the track team during his senior year at Bret Harte. Guy Dossi/Calaveras Enterprise

“This was my first high school, so it was my first love,” Williams said about leaving Bret Harte. “I hated transferring to Sonora because they were in our league and I was always going against them, but now I was on their team. It just didn’t feel right.”

Williams’ tenure as a Wildcat was not a long one. After his freshman year, he packed his bags and moved to Texas – another relocation he was not thrilled to make. After a year in the Lone Star State, Williams was given an option: stay in Texas or return to Bret Harte. For Williams, the answer was an easy one.

“When my mom gave me the option to stay in Texas or come back to Bret Harte, it was a no-brainer; I wanted to come back to Bret Harte,” Williams said. “I missed being in purple and gold. I missed the school spirit. I missed the Calaveras games, and just the support system and people I had around me. I just missed it so much.”

Williams returned to Angels Camp in time for his junior year. In his final two years as a Bullfrog, he turned heads on the gridiron, the hardwood and the track. Williams was home, and he was determined to make it count.

Drawn to the Lights

Boston Williams played football, basketball, and was on the track team during his senior year at Bret Harte. Guy Dossi/Calaveras Enterprise

When Williams rejoined Bret Harte at the start of his junior year, he decided to forgo football to focus on basketball, his favorite sport. And in the winter of 2023-24, it seemed like a good decision. Williams helped lead the Bullfrogs to a second-place finish in the Mother Lode League standings and was named a first-team all-league member.

But when summer arrived before his senior year, Williams got the urge to return to football, despite knowing that an injury could drastically hinder his performance on the court. Williams weighed his options and decided that playing under the Friday night lights was where he wanted to spend his fall.

“I played my freshman year, and there’s nothing like the adrenaline; there’s nothing like it. I just missed the thrill of catching balls, the crowd cheering, and I felt like I wanted to play football again,” Williams said. “A lot of people wanted me to play and I was like, ‘You know, it’s my last year, why not? I’m never going to have the chance to ever play again, so I might as well just play,’ and I’m glad I did. I don’t regret that decision.”

And when it came to the fear of injury, Williams leaned on his faith – a common practice in his life.

“It was a thought in my mind, and I talked a lot about that with the people around me,” Williams said. “But it was a lot of prayer and realizing that it’s in God’s plan. Whatever was going to happen is going to happen, so I just gave it up to God.”

In just his second year of football, and first as a varsity player, Williams was named a first-team all-Mother Lode League member. He finished the season with 19 catches for 296 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for 116 yards and two scores. On defense, Williams recorded two interceptions, and he returned a kickoff for a touchdown – the most memorable play of his season.

Boston Williams played football, basketball, and was on the track team during his senior year at Bret Harte. Guy Dossi/Calaveras Enterprise

“I was cramping, but they needed someone on kickoff return because they didn’t have a replacement,” Williams recalled. “So, I went back out with the cramp still, and I got it and I just took off with nothing but adrenaline as I got past the first people. The crowd got louder and louder and then I was in the end zone, and I saw everyone cheering and it was amazing.”

Unfortunately for Williams, he didn’t get to experience the thrill of victory in his return to football. Despite finishing the season 0-9, Williams focuses on the positive experiences rather than the final scores.

“I did enjoy myself, even though, unfortunately, we didn’t win any games, I met a lot of new people that I didn’t think I was going to be friends with, and I created those bonds,” Williams said. “That’s what made it worth it for me; building those new friendships at school and meeting these new people.”

In the second-to-last game of the season, Williams’ biggest fear became a reality. Midway through the game, he suffered a shoulder injury that not only kept him from playing in the final game of the year, but also put a question mark around the upcoming basketball season.

“It was hurting, and I could barely move it,” Williams said.

A Record-Breaking Year

Boston Williams played football, basketball, and was on the track team during his senior year at Bret Harte. Guy Dossi/Calaveras Enterprise

Williams knew right away he was hurt. While playing against Riverbank in the final home game of the season, he injured his shoulder and hoped it wouldn’t sideline him for a significant part of his senior basketball season.

“It probably took three weeks until I finally was able to get a range of motion,” Williams said. “It was right before basketball season and there was practice, and I just was watching them practice and I wanted to be out there. So, I put on a sling, and I would go out and practice in the sling, with just my left hand and work on my left hand on the sideline, while everyone else was practicing. I missed being out there and being with the guys and playing. So, I just sat there on the sideline in the sling, practicing and practicing and just wishing I could come back really fast.”

Williams was cleared to play before the start of the season. After winning the first game, Bret Harte dropped its next three and didn’t look like a team that could compete for a league title, let alone make a deep playoff run.

“We barely had any practice with our full team, and so the chemistry wasn’t there, and our connection wasn’t there,” Williams said about the early struggles. “Once we finally practiced together and we started getting closer and closer, we finally were a full team and 100%, and we started winning some games and the vibes were really up there and we knew that we had potential to be a great team. We knew if we worked hard all season at practice and went 100% that we would be able to be a really good team and go really far. Once we realized that, we’re like, ‘OK, we can do this,’ and we ended up doing that and it was just an amazing season.”

Boston Williams played football, basketball, and was on the track team during his senior year at Bret Harte. Guy Dossi/Calaveras Enterprise

Bret Harte found its groove, ending the preseason with wins in 11 of its final 13 games. In a 76-58 win over Amador in the Bret Harte Tournament championship game, Williams scored a career-high 44 points — just four shy of Dan Radford’s school record of 47 set in 2012. He also made eight 3-pointers, tying Will Finn’s record from 2008.

Bret Harte head coach Brian Barnett noticed a difference in Williams during the preseason that wasn’t there the previous year.

“I think it would have to be his leadership,” Barnett said. “His biggest jump in all of it is that he was sought as a leader. Whereas when he was a junior, he was coming back from Texas and it was kind of like, ‘OK, we know he’s a good athlete, but we’re not going to follow him.’ And I think this year his team’s followed him more than they did as a junior, and he was willing to step into that role.”

The Bullfrogs started league play with six straight wins, including a 60-57 road victory over Calaveras. But they stumbled in the second half, setting up a winner-take-all game against Calaveras in Angels Camp. With the league title on the line, Bret Harte fell short – a loss that continues to haunt Williams.

Boston Williams played football, basketball, and was on the track team during his senior year at Bret Harte. Guy Dossi/Calaveras Enterprise

“I still think about it to this day,” Williams said. “We beat them twice already in the season, and that game was for the league championship. The energy was high, it was the most people I’ve ever seen in the gym, and we just came out flat and we didn’t play our normal game. Knowing that we didn’t play the best that we could have played, it just really sucked. That one’s definitely going to stick with me.”

Bret Harte rallied in the playoffs, beating John Adams in the opening round and knocking off Futures in the second round. In the 63-51 home win over Futures, Williams surpassed 1,000 career points, becoming just the ninth Bullfrog to ever reach the 1,000-point club.

The run for a section title ended in the semifinals, and Williams’ Bret Harte career came to a close in the opening round of the CIF State NorCal Division V playoffs in a heartbreaking 41-40 road loss to Gridley.

“That hurt so bad,” Williams said. “We got it back into the locker room, and there was just complete silence. Everyone was looking down at the ground. You can feel the tension in the air. You can feel the sadness from everyone. I cried, and some other teammates cried, and it hurt a lot. It stung knowing that was the last game that I’ll ever play in a Bret Harte uniform with my Bret Harte teammates.”

Boston Williams played football, basketball, and was on the track team during his senior year at Bret Harte. Guy Dossi/Calaveras Enterprise

Williams was named the Most Outstanding Player of the Mother Lode League. He wrapped up his senior season with 655 total points, shooting 102-for-124 from the free-throw line, averaging 21.1 points per game, and adding 164 rebounds, 57 assists and 66 steals. Williams finished his career with 1,041 total points, ranking ninth all-time in school history. His career scoring average of 17.6 points per game is seventh all-time. He also ranks third in both career free-throw percentage (78.7%) and career 3-pointers made (132). For single-season records, Williams’ 655 points rank fourth all-time. He also finished his senior season with 77 made 3-pointers, the third-highest single-season total in school history.

Although his Bret Harte career is complete, Williams is not done with basketball. In the fall, he will attend Columbia College and will be a member of the Claim Jumper basketball team.

“Knowing all the hours and hard work that I put in on the basketball court, whether I was in the weight room or shooting extra, or just dribbling at home, it’s such a blessing that God gave me the opportunity to continue my basketball career,” Williams said. “I’m super thankful to have the opportunity. I know that if I have my eyes set on Jesus and on the right things that I will be able to succeed and go far with Columbia. I’m just thankful for that opportunity.”

Jumping for Joy

Boston Williams played football, basketball, and was on the track team during his senior year at Bret Harte. Guy Dossi/Calaveras Enterprise

Following his outstanding basketball season, Williams made his way to the sand at Bret Harte’s Dorroh Field, where he competed in both the long and triple jump. Being able to compete against himself and try to be better than he was the day before is what drew Williams to Bret Harte’s track and field team.

“I like the internal competition,” Williams said. “You always want to better yourself, so you always go into the next meet thinking, ‘Oh, I’m going to jump better. I’m going to beat the previous Boston,’ and it’s just very fun. But sometimes you can get in your own head when you jump and it’s like, ‘Oh, that’s worse than last week.’ You could get in your own head, but once you get over that hump and know the goal, you’re just going against yourself, and you always want to beat yourself.”

As a junior, Williams participated in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter races, along with the 4×400-meter relay and both jumps. Yet when his senior season came around, Williams decided to forgo any of the running and focused solely on jumping.

“I enjoy it because I just like to jump,” Williams said. “It’s the thrill of running and just jumping into the sand pit and trying to beat your previous mark that you hit and trying to get a PR and you only get a certain number of tries is fun. There’s a thrill to it, this weird thrill that I didn’t know there was when I started track. I really enjoy jumping into the sand pit and trying to beat my previous marks.”

Boston Williams played football, basketball, and was on the track team during his senior year at Bret Harte. Guy Dossi/Calaveras Enterprise

Williams set a new personal record in the long jump by measuring 19 feet, 8 inches at the second Mother Lode League meet of the season. And at the Mother Lode League finals, he set a season-best mark of 39 feet, 9.5 inches in the triple jump, which landed him in second place.

“Boston is a blessing to work with,” Bret Harte head track and field coach Jon Byrnes said. “He brings a relaxed attitude and a jovial atmosphere to where we are without losing any seriousness that needs to happen. We know that track is not his first sport, but it’s something that he wanted to do to put a feather in his cap and to say before he left high school that he did this, and he did this, and he did this, and he was just a pleasure to be with, and I’m really going to miss him.”

And although Williams was unable to win a league title in basketball, he finally got the chance to be a Mother Lode League champion, courtesy of the track and field team.

“I always wanted to be a Mother Lode League champion in basketball, and football, but that, of course, didn’t happen,” Williams said. “But at least I get to leave high school knowing that I am a league champion at one sport that I dedicated time to. It’s a good feeling that during the season, winning a league title was our main goal, and we ended up getting a league championship. So that’s a good feeling to know that I’m leaving high school as a league champion.”

Following his Faith

Boston Williams played football, basketball, and was on the track team during his senior year at Bret Harte. Guy Dossi/Calaveras Enterprise

The one thing that Williams takes more seriously than athletics is his faith. A devout Christian, Williams is often more known in certain groups as a person of faith rather than an outstanding athlete.

Williams was a member of Bret Harte’s Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), and he believed that the time he spent there was just as important as any time he spent on the court or field.

“It’s really important to be involved in FCA because there’s a lot of student-athletes who are Christian and it’s good to create that connection and that bond with other Christian athletes, knowing that you’re all representing one goal and that is to represent Christ when we step on the field, the court, the pitch, any of it,” Williams said. “It’s good to know that you have a group of people that are behind you, and believe in the same thing that you believe in.”

While Williams tries to be a positive representative of his faith, oftentimes it’s difficult in the heat of battle, when emotions are running high during a game.

Boston Williams played football, basketball, and was on the track team during his senior year at Bret Harte. Guy Dossi/Calaveras Enterprise

“It’s pretty hard sometimes,” Williams said. “You go out on the court and sometimes you let your emotions get the best of you and you say things you don’t want to. But there’s always the thought in my head that I’m not doing this for me, I’m doing this for the Lord. I’m doing it for God because we’re just a vessel. We’re representations of Christ. So, trying to go out on the court and being a good representation of Christ, whether that’s keeping your language to a minimum, whether that’s keeping calm and controlling your emotions, is so important. That’s my main goal and focus when I’m on the court, win or lose, is just to be thankful that God gave me the opportunity.”

Williams’ faith was on full display in May during “Fields of Faith,” a gathering of Christian student-athletes from schools not only in the Mother Lode League but also from Ripon and Manteca. Williams spoke in front of nearly 500 people – the majority of them strangers – to talk about how faith saved his life at a time when he was on the verge of ending it.

“I just felt very called by God to share my testimony because maybe one person needed to hear it that night to maybe reconsider their thoughts and their actions,” Williams said. “I was nervous, but I gave it to God, and I prayed. I was like, ‘Lord, just speak through me, and let your words come out of my mouth.’ So, I just gave it to God, and I went up there and after a lot of prayer, I just spoke, and God really spoke through me. And, you know, it did help someone there that night.”

Boston Williams played football, basketball, and was on the track team during his senior year at Bret Harte. Guy Dossi/Calaveras Enterprise

One person Williams went to for guidance was FCA leader and assistant track coach Isaak McCamey, as he knew opening himself up and telling his story would not be easy.

“The advice we gave him was just to be himself, and Boston’s very good at being himself,” McCamey said. “I think that just giving him permission to tell his story, to not try to tell somebody else’s, but just tell him how God changed his life and how he can change theirs and provide hope for others.”

Williams will be remembered for many things, but perhaps what he’ll be remembered most for will have nothing to do with athletic competition. McCamey believes Williams will be remembered for the hope he gives others – something far more valuable than any record, championship or title.

“I think the best way I can describe Boston is that he gives people hope,” McCamey said. “He gives them hope that there’s a better way, that they can stand out, that they don’t have to hide, but that they can have a faith that’s bold, that they can live out their faith and do great things.”
__________________________________________________________________________________

Hall of Fame
Bret Harte High School winners of the Calaveras Enterprise Male Student-Athlete of the Year award
2005 Erik Aardal
2006 Levi Emerson
2007 Kyle Inks
2008 Brett Downey
2009 Chris Pile
2010 Jackson Gates
2011 Carson Ellington
2012 Josh Bailey
2013 Conor Zumbach
2014 Tristan Boblet
2015 Connor Landis
2016 Michael Ziehlke
2017 Ryan Kraft
2018 Kodiak Stephens
2019 Ryan Kraft and Michael Costa
2020 Kodiak Stephens
2021 Kieran Rymple
2022 Erik Trent
2023 Ezra Radabaugh
2024 Brayden Bowersox
2025 Boston Williams