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Leprechauns blank Rivets on the road, 3-0

If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at Send us your privacy questions. At the Northwoods League we consider the privacy of our visitors to be extremely important. This privacy policy document describes in detail the types of personal information is […]

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If you require any more information or have any questions about our privacy policy, please feel free to contact us by email at Send us your privacy questions.

At the Northwoods League we consider the privacy of our visitors to be extremely important. This privacy policy document describes in detail the types of personal information is collected and recorded by northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App and how we use it.

Log Files
Like many other Web sites and mobile apps, northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App make use of log files. These files merely logs visitors to the site – usually a standard procedure for hosting companies and a part of hosting services’s analytics. The information inside the log files includes internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, Internet Service Provider (ISP), date/time stamp, referring/exit pages, and possibly the number of clicks. This information is used to analyze trends, administer the site, track user’s movement around the site, and gather demographic information. IP addresses, and other such information are not linked to any information that is personally identifiable.

Cookies and Web Beacons
northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App use cookies to store information about visitors’ preferences, to record user-specific information on which pages the site visitor accesses or visits, for analytics and marketing, and to personalize or customize our web page content based upon visitors’ browser type or other information that the visitor sends via their browser. We use cookies from third-party partners such as Google for marketing purposes.  Google offers an Opt-Out Browser Add-On to provide website visitors the ability to prevent their data from being used by Google Analytics.

DoubleClick DART Cookie

→ Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads on northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App.
→ Google’s use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to our site’s visitors based upon their visit to northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App and other sites on the Internet.
→ Users may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy at the following URL – http://www.google.com/privacy_ads.html

Our Advertising Partners
Some of our advertising partners may use cookies and web beacons on our site. Our advertising partners include …….

  • Google Ads
  • AdMob (including use of the Android advertising identifier and Apple advertising identifier)

While each of these advertising partners has their own Privacy Policy for their site, an updated and hyperlinked resource is maintained here: Privacy Policies.
You may consult this listing to find the privacy policy for each of the advertising partners of northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App.

These third-party ad servers or ad networks use technology in their respective advertisements and links that appear on northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App and which are sent directly to your browser. They automatically receive your IP address when this occurs. Other technologies (such as cookies, JavaScript, or Web Beacons) may also be used by our site’s third-party ad networks to measure the effectiveness of their advertising campaigns and/or to personalize the advertising content that you see on the site.

northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App has no access to or control over these cookies that are used by third-party advertisers.

Third Party Privacy Policies
You should consult the respective privacy policies of these third-party ad servers for more detailed information on their practices as well as for instructions about how to opt-out of certain practices. northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App privacy policy does not apply to, and we cannot control the activities of, such other advertisers or web sites. You may find a comprehensive listing of these privacy policies and their links here: Privacy Policy Links.

If you wish to disable cookies, you may do so through your individual browser options. More detailed information about cookie management with specific web browsers can be found at the browsers’ respective websites. What Are Cookies?

Children’s Information
We believe it is important to provide added protection for children online. We encourage parents and guardians to spend time online with their children to observe, participate in and/or monitor and guide their online activity.
northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App do not knowingly collect any personally identifiable information from children under the age of 13. If a parent or guardian believes that northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App has in its database the personally-identifiable information of a child under the age of 13, please contact us immediately (using the contact in the first paragraph) and we will use our best efforts to promptly remove such information from our records.

Online Privacy Policy Only
This privacy policy applies only to our online activities and is valid for visitors to our website and regarding information shared and/or collected there.
This policy does not apply to any information collected offline or via channels other than this website.

Consent
By using our website, you hereby consent to our privacy policy and agree to its terms.

Personal Information We Collect
You may access many elements of northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App without disclosing any personal information about yourself. However, should you choose to engage with certain advanced features (e.g. submit a form, make a purchase, take a survey) available on the northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App, you may be asked to share certain personal information so those elements function properly. The personal information we collect may include, but is not limited to:

  • Full name
  • Email address
  • Password
  • Street address
  • Telephone number(s)
  • Payment card information

If we collect your information, in most instances, the applicable page(s) within the northwoodsleague.com, northwoodsleague.net, & the NWL Mobile App will include statements regarding what information is required and functionality for you to submit the required or requested information.

Update
This Privacy Policy was last updated on: Friday, December 7, 2018.
Should we update, amend or make any changes to our privacy policy, those changes will be posted here.





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Burbank Boys & Girls Club Of Burbank Offers Basketball For Members And Non-Members

By Rick Assad Better together is a motto for the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank and Greater East Valley and it also applies to the sport of basketball. It’s always fun and special when playing with people you know, and it is for youngsters ages six through 18. “We try to create an environment […]

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By Rick Assad

Better together is a motto for the Boys & Girls Club of Burbank and Greater East Valley and it also applies to the sport of basketball.

It’s always fun and special when playing with people you know, and it is for youngsters ages six through 18.

“We try to create an environment per Boys and Girls Club values, where we promote and encourage belonging, integrity, respect, inclusion, empowerment in an environment where they feel less pressure and a place to naturally grow without pressure,” said Mike Graceffo, a longtime coach of numerous sports in Burbank.

The youngsters don’t have to be members of the Boys & Girls Club or live in Burbank to play the game of basketball because it’s open to anyone and everyone.

There are three levels of play offered by the Boys & Girls Club and the first is the Most Valuable Player Youth Basketball which meets every Tuesday. There is a $10 fee that can be paid at the door.

The time for this session is 6:15 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. and is available for first graders through the 12th grade.

Graceffo will oversee this level and if parents are interested, they can contact him at mikegraceffo@bgcburbank.org.

The next level is Her Hoops which is for girls exquisitely and is offered every Wednesday.

Boys & Girls Club of Burbank and Greater East Valley flyer for its basketball sessions. (Photo courtesy Mike Graceffo)

It runs from 4:30 p.m. through 6 p.m. and is for young ladies that are in the sixth grade through 12th grade.

For those interested in having their child play hoops they can contact Justin Waters at justin.waters@bgcburbank.org.

And lastly, the Next Level Academy is available every Friday and the time is 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and is for sixth graders through 12th grade. Waters is also in charge of this level.

There are numerous coaches, staff and volunteers that will make the players’ time fun playing basketball and include Rashawn Morris, Brandon Baker, Sayahn Mudd, Keonte Terrell, Levi Johnson, Fred Orr and Jeffrey Dumas.

“The one thing all these guys have in common is their passion, commitment, love of kids and basketball, and wanting to instill life lessons and core values,” Graceffo said.

Knowing how to shoot, pass, dribble, rebound and play defense are key elements in playing basketball.

But it takes time to perfect these skills. Plus, it’s vital to enjoy what you’re doing.

“I don’t want to speak for the other coaches but I would think we all have the same goals in mind,” said Graceffo, “and that is to make it fun for the kids, teach them the proper way to play the game, introduce them to the proper fundamentals, get them ready for higher levels of basketball if they choose that route, and also incorporate life lessons.”

Graceffo then added: “And we all emphasize the importance of being a great student-athlete and being a good person,” he continued.

Playing the game well and enjoying yourself makes basketball even more fun.

“I feel the best and most fun part is seeing the enthusiasm when the players see that they are improving,” Graceffo noted. “Also, the interaction between the players when they get to bond and become somewhat of a team. And the most rewarding part is when a player comes up to us and tells us that they made a particular team or did something well in a game.”

When Graceffo is in charge of a bunch of eager athletes, he knows what he wants to accomplish.

“Again, every coach is different, but my philosophy has always been to make it a fun and enjoyable experience, encourage them to participate and play, teach them the proper fundamentals, encourage good sportsmanship, and that they can achieve any dream or goal in life if they work hard,” he stressed.

Factoring in skills and the player’s age is important for Graceffo.

“Obviously if I’m coaching highly skilled, older, or highly advanced players, I am going to be more intense, work them harder, teach them more advanced drills, techniques, whereas, if the kids are younger and or just beginning, then I would be more inclined to tailor the practice, drills, to their level,” he acknowledged.

Getting better isn’t easy, and it takes time and patience but with hard work and determination, playing basketball well is possible.

“The biggest thing I try to do is get the kids to understand that if they want to succeed and be a top-tier player, they have to work harder than the next person,” Graceffo said. “And that they cannot just rely on their practices. They need to apply what they are learning and work on their game on their own. I also give them and show them what I call self-help drills that they can do on their own to get better.”

Most importantly, the player has to want to get better. It’s not going to just happen because they like basketball.

“It’s all about motivation and getting these young athletes to understand that the hard work that they are putting in now will pay off later,” Graceffo said.



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Little League® International Launches Text to Give Campaign to Help Support its Tournament Experience and Disaster Relief Efforts

With the start of approximately 340 games on ESPN Platforms kicking off on July 19, Little League® International is excited to announce the launch of its new Text to Give Campaign, giving supporters of the Little League program the chance to step up to the plate to provide the necessary funding to enhance future opportunities […]

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With the start of approximately 340 games on ESPN Platforms kicking off on July 19, Little League® International is excited to announce the launch of its new Text to Give Campaign, giving supporters of the Little League program the chance to step up to the plate to provide the necessary funding to enhance future opportunities and experiences at the Little League World Series as well as Little League International’s Disaster Relief efforts for its local leagues and communities.  

“For nearly a century, we have been trusted to positively impact communities all around the world, but we still have so much work to do in order to bring the benefits of participating in youth sports to more children and families,” said Pat Wilson, Little League President and CEO. “Through our centralized philanthropic efforts, we can help tackle the diverse challenges and seek new opportunities in an effort to expand our reach and support programs that provide direct resources to local leagues, participants and families, and local communities. While we have terrific partners, including ESPN, and we are extremely grateful for their support, our philanthropic efforts like this new Text to Give campaign will allow us to complement the support we receive from our corporate partners and bring the added level of enhanced support that our local leagues, volunteers, and communities deserve.”  

Running through September 15, 2025, the Text to Give campaign is focused on two key strategic initiatives of the organization’s Philanthropic efforts:   

Little League World Series Tournament Experience (Text LLWS to 345345) 

Funds raised through this campaign are dedicated to enhancing all resources in the Little League program and creating new opportunities for participants and their families, from supporting local leagues to enhancing the tournament experience all the way through our seven World Series events. Each year, Little League International pays for the housing, travel for international and domestic teams, meals, and accommodations for all teams who compete at all seven World Series tournaments. The cost of operating all of Little League’s Region Tournaments and the seven World Series Tournaments totals more than $12.5 million annually, with the Little League Baseball® World Series in Williamsport costing approximately $7.5 million alone, as part of Little League’s overall annual operating budget. Ranging anywhere from $5,000 to $60,000, the average cost to travel teams to the LLBWS each year is approximately $30,000 per team while the average cost to run a U.S. Region Tournament (both Baseball and Softball) each year, is approximately $450,000. In Williamsport alone, there have been a total of 11,025 players across 811 teams competing in the 77 years of the Little League Baseball World Series. The organization continues to look for ways to enhance the overall experience for not only the players, coaches, and umpires, but for all fans and families who make the bucket-list trip to the birthplace of Little League each summer.

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Disaster Relief Support (Text RALLY to 345345)  

Year over year, Little League continues to see local leagues experience devasting effects from natural disasters. Funds raised through this campaign are focused on helping programs impacted by disaster to receive the support they need to rebuild, recover, and continue providing children with the life lessons learned through youth baseball and softball. Whether it’s repairing fields or replacing equipment, the Disaster Relief Fund allows Little League to provide support to local communities during times of greatest need. Unfortunately, disasters occur every year in communities all around the world, and the Little League fields are many times the first place that families and neighborhoods turn to.   

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Throughout the course of the Region and World Series tournaments in 2025, the Text to Give campaign will showcase a variety of informational assets, including on-site signage, digital advertisements, social media efforts, and a PSA that will air across ESPN Platforms.   

As a mission-driven nonprofit, Little League’s revenues are used to not only fund the service-driven operations to nearly 5,500 leagues and 1 million volunteers worldwide, but to also extend benefits like grant funding, volunteer training and experiences for kids to experience the Little League baseball and softball program. 

Little League Baseball, Incorporated is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, and every donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. To learn more about Little League’s overall philanthropic efforts, including what has been already done to date and what you can do to support, visit LittleLeague.org/Impact 



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Nominations open for WNY’s top youth sports coaches

Nominations have officially opened Project Play WNY’s Coaches Honor Roll Awards and Dick Gallagher Lifetime Service Award. BUFFALO, N.Y. — Nominations are now open for Project Play WNY’s Coaches Honor Roll Awards and Dick Gallagher Lifetime Service Award. Individuals and organizations from WNY are invited to nominate their favorite youth sports coaches from non-scholastic programs. Nominations […]

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Nominations have officially opened Project Play WNY’s Coaches Honor Roll Awards and Dick Gallagher Lifetime Service Award.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Nominations are now open for Project Play WNY’s Coaches Honor Roll Awards and Dick Gallagher Lifetime Service Award.

Individuals and organizations from WNY are invited to nominate their favorite youth sports coaches from non-scholastic programs. Nominations should be submitted on Project Play WNY’s website by Aug. 31. Winners will be announced in the fall and celebrated at the annual Thank You Coach event in October in partnership with the Buffalo Bills.

All coaches must receive at least two separate nominations to be considered for a Coaches Honor Roll Award. Each submission should describe how the nominee demonstrates the qualities of a great coach who is focused on youth development, sportsmanship, leadership, integrity. Submissions should also explain how the nominee represents the values of Project Play WNY, which aims to provide a more inclusive and supportive environment for children.

The Dick Gallagher Lifetime Service Award recognizes an individual who used their position, either as a youth sports coach or youth sports organization leader to support and advocate for youth athletes both on and off the field, for at least a decade. The award honors Dick Gallagher, a youth sports advocate and Buffalo Sports Hall of Fame inductee. Gallagher also dedicated his professional life to help young people that were struggling with addiction.



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Little League® Alumni Take Home Awards at the 2025 ESPYs

Highlighting the greatest athletes and sports moments of the year, the ESPYs honor and celebrate those who have made a tremendous impact on the sports world. Every year, a number of Little League® alumni are celebrated for their achievements, and this year is no different. Below are the winners from this year’s award show who […]

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Highlighting the greatest athletes and sports moments of the year, the ESPYs honor and celebrate those who have made a tremendous impact on the sports world. Every year, a number of Little League® alumni are celebrated for their achievements, and this year is no different. Below are the winners from this year’s award show who began their careers on a Little League field:  

Ilona Maher

Best Breakthrough Athlete
North Burlington LL (Burlington, Vt.)

Taking her talents to not only the rugby field, but the dance floor as well, Ilona Maher had a year to remember. The rugby star earned the bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in the 7-on-7 women’s rugby tournament, before placing second in the same year’s season of the ABC hit show, Dancing with the Stars. Off the field, Maher has been an incredible advocate for accessibility and growth in women’s sports and female confidence, living by the slogan “Beast, Beauty, Brains.” 

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Cooper Flagg

Best Men’s College Athlete
Sebasticook Valley LL (Newport, Maine)

After an incredible season at Duke University and becoming the #1 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, the former Little Leaguer® asserted his dominance in the NCAA. Flagg, in his only season at Duke, added a significant amount of hardware, earning himself the Oscar Robertson Trophy and Wayman Tisdale award for being the national player of the year and freshman of the year. These awards highlight Flagg’s talent and contributions to basketball, solidifying his status as a top player in college basketball.

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Shohei Ohtani

Best MLB Player
Mizusawa (Japan) LL

The three-time MLB MVP added another award to the trophy case, taking home Best MLB player for the fourth time in five seasons to cap off his historic 50/50 season in 2024. This marks the sixth-straight ESPY for the Mizusawa Little League grad, as well as the fifth time Ohtani has received the award of Best MLB Player. 

When the Los Angeles Angels and Cleveland Guardians played in Williamsport in the fourth-ever MLB Little League Classic, Ohtani spent his time leading up to the game with some of the teams that competed in the Little League Baseball® World Series.

Shohei Ohtani 2021 MLB Little League Classic

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Cameron Boozer

National Gatorade Player of the Year
Kendall LL (Miami, Fla.)

Growing up, Cameron Boozer played for Kendall Little League in Miami, Florida, before becoming a basketball star at Christopher Columbus High School. Boozer was previously named the Gatorade Player of the Year in 2023, recognized for his exceptional performance and leadership that contributed to his success on the basketball court.

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While only one Little Leaguer was recognized as one of the two Gatorade National Players of the Year at the ESPYs, several state winners in baseball and softball got their start in the Little League community: 

Arizona – Landon Hood – Goodyear LL – Goodyear, Ariz.  

California – Ayla Tuua – Cosumnes River LL – Raacho Murieta, Calif.  

Colorado – Connor Larkin – Dry Creek Baseball LL – Centennial Co.  

Connecticut – Cam Righi – Wethersfield LL – Wethersfield, Conn.  

Connecticut – Camryn Fisher – Ellington Girls Softball LL – Ellington, Conn. 

Delaware – Jase Mitchell – Milton (Del.) LL 

Delaware – Ava Calciano – Lewes (Del.) LL

Georgia – Keon Johnson – Vine Ingle LL (Macon, Ga.)  

Illinois – Jaden Fauske – Clarendon Hills (Ill.) LL

Iowa – Taitn Gray – Urbandale (Iowa) LL 

Kentucky – Cole Mclean – Campbellsville (Ky.) Youth Baseball LL 

Louisiana – Kynzee Anderson – Bossier LL (Bossier City, La.)  

Maine – Erik Swenson – Scarborough (Maine) LL 

Massachusetts – Bradley McCafferty – Beverly (Mass.) LL 

Nebraska –  Brody Jindra – Keystone LL (Omaha, Neb.)  

New Mexico – Anthony Del Angel – Cibola LL (Rio Rancho, N.M.) and Paradise Hills LL (Albuquerque, N.M.)  

North Carolina – Coy James – Davie County LL (Advance, N.C.) and Davie American LL (Mocksville, NC) 

Ohio – Matt Ponatoski – West Side LL (Hamilton, Ohio)

Oklahoma – Ethan Holliday – Cimarron Valley LL (Stillwater, Okla.)

Rhode Island – Brady Collins – Cumberland (R.I.) National LL and Cumberland (R.I.) LL 

South Carolina – Carson Bolemon – Greenville LL (Greenville, S.C.) and Winston-Salem (N.C.) National LL

Texas – Cy Chrisman – McAllister Park LL (San Antonio, Texas) and McAllister Park National LL (San Antonio, Texas) 

Texas – Hannah Wells – Greater Medina Lake LL (Lakehills, Texas) 

Vermont – Anastase Bourgois – Connecticut Valley LL (Bradford, Vt.) 

Virginia – Mason Pike – Tuckahoe LL (Henrico, Va.) and Tuckahoe National LL (Henrico, Va.) 

Virginia – Kaylee Hodges – Central Chesterfield (Va.) LL 

Washington – Weston Smith – South Hill LL (Pullyallp, Wash.)

West Virginia – Sawyer Deering – Hurricane (W.V.) LL

West Virginia – Audrea Watts – Salt Rock (W.V.) Youth Sports LL

While the 2025 ESPY Awards have come to a close, the love for the sport will continue to come to life over the coming weeks as more than 340 Little League® Baseball and Softball games will be broadcast across ESPN Platforms starting on Saturday, July 19, with the Little League Softball Region Tournaments as the Summer of Softball continues to shine. 

NOTE: If you know of a notable Little League graduate that would fit into any of these categories listed above, please complete the Little League Alumni Submission form. Feel free to also share your Little League alumni story on social media by tagging @LittleLeague and by using #LLAlumni in your posts. 





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Sporting success runs in the Spears family in dynamic display

The couple met on the campus of LSU. About two decades later, they’ve become leading voices of youth sports as their children see major success on and off the court. DALLAS — The number one volleyball player in the country last year and the number three basketball player in the 2027 class both come from […]

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The couple met on the campus of LSU. About two decades later, they’ve become leading voices of youth sports as their children see major success on and off the court.

DALLAS — The number one volleyball player in the country last year and the number three basketball player in the 2027 class both come from the same home, the children of Marcus and Aiysha Spears.

Mom and Dad met on the campus of LSU in Baton Rouge. Aiysha was a basketball player, and Marcus played on the football team. One evening, all the athletes were headed out. 

Marcus recounted, “When literally like a movie,” he begins, “When I walked out, I saw her. She had a skirt on. She had a shirt with a tiger on the front of it and some boots, and I was like Oh, I got to have her.”


Aiysha says they became good friends first, which blossomed into a love that has led them to nearly 20 years of marriage and three beautiful children: Macaria “Cari” Spears, Marcus Spears, Jr., and Miko Spears. 

Their daughters play volleyball while their son follows in his mom’s footsteps as a basketball player.

When WFAA asked, “Who’s the best athlete in this house?” 

The usually reserved Aiysha came alive and shot her hand up right away. 

“Was fortunate to be drafted by the Mystics first round, #7, you know,” she teased, “Highest draft pick in the house… me.” 

After a good laugh, Marcus rolled his eyes in jest but conceded. He was a first-round draft pick, selected 20th overall, by the Dallas Cowboys. Now, you can catch him as an analyst on ESPN.

When it comes to drafts, though, Marcus Jr. could have them both beat one day. He stood 6’8” as a sophomore and a standout player for Dynamic Prep in Irving. The blue bloods of college basketball are already watching high school career closely. Marcus Jr. has received calls from Duke, Kentucky and mom and dad’s alma mater, LSU.

“I know you wanna talk about your baby. That mama and boy relationship, I’m telling you,” Marcus shook his head. Aiysha remembers, “Boy, he was a giraffe, he was a baby giraffe, and he was struggling. Yes, he was.”


She went on to say, “He was not on the top team, but he’s been working these past two years and it’s just coming together, and when I finally saw him in the uniform, I was like, oh my goodness, your work is starting to like really pay off. Like you can see it, and I can see the confidence in him.”

Marcus Jr. is representing USA Basketball, at the same time his big sister Cari is representing USA Volleyball on the U19 Team. Years ago, her dad remembers the moment he knew she was special beyond her athletic ability after a USA Volleyball game.

“She eventually broke down after the last game. They won a gold medal and everything, but she broke down because it was her first time not being like a central part of a team,” Marcus smiled. “In my mind as a dad, I’m like Oh, I got a dog. I got a freaking dog. She wants to be in it.”


Their youngest, Miko, is just 12 years old but already making her mark on the volleyball court. Her moment came after a loss in a big tournament in Kansas City. 

“She was crushed. And it’s because she wanted to win,” Aiysha explained. “It was just like, OK, Miko, you do want this, you want volleyball, not because your sister is playing it, but because you want it.”

It comes as no surprise that Marcus is the most animated of the two at games. 

“I’m loud, voice be gone,” he laughed. He talks to all the girls on the volleyball teams, giving motivational speeches before big games. As for Aiysha, she gestured, “I’m sitting down on the side.”

When asked how they keep their house normal, Aiysha replied, “That’s a good question. I just, it’s how I was raised. I just kind of keep it old-fashioned, like we’re going to keep the values. The trash has to go out. You’ve got to get it, get it out there. You know, the dishes are dirty. We’ve got to get those dishes clean. Clean the room, you know, just old school values, I guess that’s what it is.”

On whether youth sports have gone too far, Marcus says no. 

“Now, their scheduling has gone too far. They do too much. But I think the pressure that parents are under, they’re, they’re starting to put that on the kids,” Marcus said.

Aiysha points out, “We didn’t have all the eyes on us. Like, social media has a lot of eyes on all the kids, like if your kid is not doing this, then they’re not going to make it, which is not true. Everybody just has their different lanes that they have to figure out how they’re going to get there.”

An empty nest is a few short years away. Although the couple has some plans, continuing to watch their kids excel and thrive in sports and life is top of the list.

“I think we’re going to buy ourselves a Winnebago and we’re going to travel and watch the kids,” Marcus nods. “That’s his dream,” Aiysha pauses. “I said I could do a tiny house.” 

After all, their house is now big on faith, family, and full-court success.




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Junior Seals Summer Skills Camp Returns, Led by NLL West Coast Stars

July 17, 2025 By: Rob Luchessi The weekend of June 24 and 25, the San Diego Seals hosted their fifth annual Junior Seals Summer Skills Camp. Coached by some of the NLL’s biggest West Coast stars, including Seals captain Wes Berg, ‘24-25 offensive standout Tre Leclaire and League vet Cam Holding, the Summer Skills Camp […]

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The weekend of June 24 and 25, the San Diego Seals hosted their fifth annual Junior Seals Summer Skills Camp. Coached by some of the NLL’s biggest West Coast stars, including Seals captain Wes Berg, ‘24-25 offensive standout Tre Leclaire and League vet Cam Holding, the Summer Skills Camp welcomes local youth players of all skill and exposure levels to a weekend of in-game instruction and extreme fun.

Currently headed by Holding with support from his teammates and the Seals Organization, this year’s iteration attracted over 120 eager players to the 4s Ranch Sports Park, tightly packed with drills and activities, and even included celebrity appearances by the San Diego Sirens, the in-house dance team, and the Seals’ mascot, Salty. “[Camp] was awesome, they had an absolute blast,” said Holding. “The kids love getting autographs, they love competing for prizes.”

Holding, the current Director of the Junior Seals program, has been coaching field and box lacrosse for the better part of the last decade, from Pop Warner to the highest rungs of the collegiate box lacrosse circuit. With years of experience on the sidelines as a player and coach, his greatest strength as an educator is his ability to cater his coaching to even the greenest of players.

“It’s more so about having fun learning the game,” Holding explained.

“It’s not super detail-skill oriented, it’s designed for general beginner to mid-level players.”

Though the region has become synonymous with lacrosse talent over the last several years due to the introduction of two professional teams, West Coast lacrosse participation is still trailing behind the “Big Four” youth sports; football, baseball, soccer and basketball. However, the participation gaps are slowly closing, due in part to grassroots efforts made by the Seals in the form of camps and community outreach, but also to the growing number of California natives and local San Diego athletes blazing trails to success in their sport.

Atop that list of lacrosse professionals representing their region is Marquez White, the short-stick defensive midfielder from Princeton University. White was drafted 35th overall by the Buffalo Bandits in the 2024 NLL Draft, before being acquired by the Seals mid-season during moments before the trade deadline. White was also a member of the San Diego Royals, the Seals-affiliated collegiate box team that won three National Collegiate Box Series (NCBS) Championships, and has become a familiar face on the Summer Skills Camp coaching staff.

“I’ve done this camp for three years now, but this was my first time as a Seal,” White explained, humbly extending praise and credit to his coaches-turned-teammates on the success of the camp over the years. “[Holding] does a really good job running it and making it really fun for the kids, and exposing them to being around professional lacrosse players.”

But while White may still see himself as the kid brother of the team, Holding recognizes White’s potential not only as a model player for their campers, but as a model adult. White, as well as the other collegiate players under the coaches’ tent’s presence, allows campers the opportunity to not only learn from the best, but see the best-of-the-best having fun playing the game they love in an intimate setting.

“It’s a shared interest and a shared love for the game, and I think ultimately that’s what helps keep the game growing,” said Holding. “When you have somebody like [White], who’s an incredible role model, and guys like Berg and myself and Leclaire, these kids look up to them, and it keeps them motivated to keep getting better and keep growing, and that’s just contagious across the board.”

Additionally, as those campers get older, Holding explained, they begin to repeat the cycle and invest in the next generation of athletes as they once were, working to better the youth scene they were once a part of and illustrating a tangible pathway to success. Holding holds White in such high regard for just that reason, explaining that despite the difference in resources and local role models as compared to when he was in the campers’ place, he has always been a local-first kind of man.

“These camps weren’t around when [White] was their age, but he grew up in the same system that all these kids are playing in,” Holding said. “Now they’re seeing him on the big stage with the Seals and learning from him and looking up to him as a role model in the community. I’ve coached Marquez for the last five years and it’s been really fun to watch him grow as a player, as a person, and give back to the community.”

White also brings a unique perspective to camp, being part of one of the last few graduating classes to experience pre-Seals San Diego lacrosse. Following their inaugural season in 2018, White has had the opportunity to watch his community’s lacrosse scene grow exponentially as the region has been introduced to both the NLL’s Seals and the Premier Lacrosse League’s California Redwoods.

“[The Seals] have done a really good job just getting their name out to a lot of the youth programs,” said White, once again nodding to Holding for his grassroots efforts. “[Holding and the Seals] are a very big part of why lacrosse has kind of exploded in San Diego, why so many of these kids are picking up a stick and even more so going into the box, which is really awesome to see.”

As a member of the 2024 NLL Rookie class, White no longer has the luxury of watching his peers leading the charge in his community. The Poway-native is now on the front lines of the sports growth in the market he was cultivated in, inheriting the responsibility from his captains and coaches to spread the good word. “I don’t know if I’ve really grasped how lucky I am that I get to be a part of it,” White said. “I’ve got a Seals shirt on right now [during this interview], and I’ve been wearing a Seals shirt since I was in high school, but now it’s actually my team, these are actually my teammates.”

While it’s easy for fans and campers alike to see Holding and White standing at the peak, it’s easier to forget that the journey to the top is not without its share of briar patches and quicksand. “Whenever I run a camp, I always look at those kids and think to myself ‘I was in their position like 15 years ago,’ and I like to tell them that,” said White. “It’s really cool to share with them that I started in the same exact shoes they were and this is the end goal, this is what it looks like, and I hope to make them feel like it’s possible.” As a product of both the San Diego youth lacrosse scene and the Royals pipeline, White hopes that his presence at camps can continue to help inspire the next generation of San Diego-bred collegiate and professional athletes, and foster the same level of respect for the game in his campers that he carries with him.

“Just be thankful for your coaches, thankful to the game, thankful to your family,” said White. “Because I think it’s all those people around you that make you that will put you in the position you are, especially in a sport like lacrosse.”

Though skills, stats and wins and losses are still the name of the game, Holding and White both agree that there is more to learning the game of lacrosse than the chance for glory, and hope their Junior Seals leave camp having learned that lesson. Holding also especially feels the need to make the Summer Skills Camp to be an opportunity to enjoy lacrosse as a game first instead of a sport as the level of competition grows.

“There’s so much pressure with different clubs and what kids want and what their goals are, this whole Division 1 thing– man, just go out, have fun,” he said, reminiscing on his childhood connection to lacrosse and the creative ways he and his friends would find ways to play out of season. “I think that’s super important for kids to have fun, not get burned out and continue to want to develop.”

 





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