Rec Sports

EPIC for Girls empowers, encourages and celebrates student athletes

Published

4 months ago

September 1, 2025

Title IX legislation in the 1970s mandated gender equity in athletics. Despite strides made by women, resource and facility disparities persist.

Omaha nonprofit EPIC for Girls is on a mission to level the playing field by providing school-age teams with gear, travel sponsorship, extra coaching and college exposure they may not have access to otherwise.

Some metro athletes benefiting from EPIC’s work recently spoke to The Reader. Parents and coaches weighed in, too. There’s wide agreement that if girls are to reach their potential, it requires support from families, schools and community organizations to help fill funding and opportunity gaps that can otherwise act as barriers to participation and development.

“EPIC for Girls researches, advocates for and funds innovative solutions that address inequities in sports for girls of color,” said director of programs and strategic partnerships Racquel Henderson. “We do not run direct programming. Instead, we work alongside schools, clubs, community organizations and other partners to strengthen the entire youth sports ecosystem.”

Racquel Henderson

Through its Community of Practice, she said EPIC equips coaches, mentors and program leaders with tools, resources and training to create safe, inclusive, empowering environments.

“We focus on increasing access, representation and opportunity, especially in communities where girls of color are often left out of the game,” Henderson said. “Whether investing in coach development, helping organizations adopt best practices or celebrating the achievements of girls, EPIC’s role is to make sure every girl has the chance to participate, grow and thrive on and off the field.”

Those impacted by EPIC say it empowers student-athletes by helping them develop athletic and life skills that can lead to scholarships for college and set them up for careers.

Omaha Benson juniors Mckenzie (Kenzie) Lewis and Jaeli Franccini have played basketball together since middle school. They competed on the EPIC sponsored Unity Stars summer AAU team. Kenzie’s father Chillous Lewis has “worked with her her whole life” developing her game. She’s also come under the influence of school and AAU coaches. She wears number 10 in honor of the late Darryl Roddy, who impacted her as a coach with Unity Stars and Benson.

Mckenzie Lewis and the late coach Darryl Roddy. (Courtesy photo)

“He meant a lot,” Kenzie noted. “I looked up to him as like a grandpa or great uncle. I really do miss him. I wish he was still here to see the progress that I made because of him.”

Her father’s grateful for what Kenzie got from Roddy and the opportunities EPIC afforded through Unity.

“That’s the team she was raised in,” Chillous Lewis said. “We really appreciate all they did for her. They taught her a lot.”

The growth she made showed when thrust into a starting role early on at Benson.

“We lost five seniors and a few other players and I was the next person up,” she said. “So taking that role on as a young individual was very hard, but it was also a cool learning experience.”

Another sign of maturation came when Benson won in the closing seconds versus Papio South. Instead of immediately celebrating with her team she consoled a Patio player who collapsed in despair. The sportsmanship moment that made her parents “very proud” went viral. Her growth extends off-the-court as a student ambassador.

With colleges eying her hoops ability, she hopes for a breakout junior season. She and her teammates don’t need to look far to see former Benson athletes who’ve achieved at the next level. The late Simone Goods starred at Western Kentucky and Illinois State. Alum Quinesha Lockett excelled at Toledo and now plays professionally overseas. When Lockett’s in town she works with Benson’s girls.

Benson girls basketball head coach Bob Massey appreciates former players like Lockett, Deleyah Harris and Delani Harris coming back to give back.

“I’m blessed to have so many young women who played for me come back in the summer to scrimmage my high school teams, which really helps them develop,” he said. “And they mentor them. I can tell them everything I want to, but if they hear it from one of the girls who are good at basketball and doing good in life they listen more than they do to me. It’s a huge thing in the development of the kids who play for me.”

Players Kenzie and Jaeli appreciate scrimmaging older, more experienced players.

Jaeli Franccini and Coach Liara Baylon celebrating state gold medals. (Courtesy photo)

“They play on a different level,” Jaeli said. “They’ve got high basketball IQs. They see things very differently. Definitely more physical, very strong. They teach us things. They give us advice on how to be better. It helps a lot.”

Playing in summer tournaments has helped get her and Kenzie on college scouting radars.

Chillous Lewis said traveling out of state has made his daughter have “to grow up.” The exposure has already netted her offers from HCBUs (Historically Black College and Universities).

“I told her that all the time and effort she’s put in has been worth it,” he said.

Kenzie’s personal growth has extended to conducting EPIC basketball camps for students at Nelson Mandela Elementary School and working as a youth basketball referee thanks to an EPIC officiating school she got certified in.

“Older players did for me so I wanted to return the favor to younger players,” Kenzie said about wirning with younger players. “I want to be looked at as a leader and some of them do look up to me.”

She’s added varsity track and softball to her routine become a three-sport athlete. Benson head girls track coach Liara Baylon likes what Kenzie brings.

“She’s a hard worker for sure,” Baylon said. “She’s definitely getting results on both ends.”

Jaeli has been turning heads on the court a long time, but the last two years has emerged a sprint phenom. Her rapid progress on the track came working with Baylon.

“The relationship got closer and closer after we saw my potential,” Jaeli said. “Maybe two weeks into practice she’s telling me, ‘You’re going to go to state.’ And I was like, ‘What – as a freshman?’ And she never backed off that statement. Ever since then that was the goal, and that’s what I did my freshman year. And then it was to do better my sophomore year – and that’s what I did.”

She went from placing seventh at state as a freshman in the 400 and 100 to last spring winning gold medals in the 100 and 200, breaking school records en route.

“She’s a natural,” Baylon said. “The track gods have got something going for her. But it was a lot of mental, physical hard work she put into the season. I’m so proud she finished the way she did – on top.”

Jaeli is glad she put in the work.

“It made me mature more,” she said. “If I want to do something I know I can do it with the right people around me to support me.”

She and her coach have big goals in mind.

“We definitely have state records on our mind – we’re chasing them,” Baylon said. “Our slogan is go get everything you can get.”

Jaeli’s also a top student. Baylon makes sure all her girls get their academics in order before competing.

“I always tell them being a student-athlete is a blueprint for real life and what you’re going to experience in the real world when it’s all over,” Baylon said.

Despite inequities, women’s athletics is more open with possibilities than ever before and student-athletes like Franccini are well aware of it. “That’s very exciting,” Jaeli said. “Even a few years ago it wasn’t like that. I’m so glad people are watching and women athletes are getting what they deserve now.”

Omaha North dean of students and head girls basketball coach Michaela Dailey sees past and present players take advantage of new pathways. She said EPIC facilitates role modeling-mentoring opportunities. For example, it arranged for local girls to engage women’s college hoops living legend Dawn Staley, a Hall of Fame former player and current coach at South Carolina, during an Omaha visit.

“It was crazy to see her,” Jaeli said. “We were able to ask her questions. My question was what do you look for in a player. She went down the list of attitude, athleticism, how you are with teammates, coaches, refs.”

Coach Michaela Dailey and her North High team. (Courtesy photo)

“EPIC has made a huge impact on our basketball program,” Dailey added. “Their support has not only increased the resources available to us but also elevated the overall quality of experiences our girls are able to access. Through EPIC we’ve been able to provide essential items like equipment, team apparel, travel expenses, meals during the season and leadership development opportunities.”

Some North girls come from households on the margins and Dailey said EPIC “has helped us remove many of the financial and systemic barriers that often limit opportunities for girls in under-resourced communities.”

“EPIC’s investment… has opened doors to experiences many of our players wouldn’t otherwise have access to: skill development sessions, camps led by college and professional coaches, exposure tournaments, mental health and wellness initiatives and leadership training,” Dailey added.

EPIC makes it possible for youths to attend Omaha Supernovas volleyball and Creighton women’s basketball games. Many local girls got the chance to meet their idol, Paige Bueckers, when her UConn Huskies faced the Jays at DJ Sokol Arena. Bueckers now stars in the WNBA.

North grad Dariauna Lewis enjoyed a stellar Alabama A&M career before playing her final year at Syracuse. She now plays professionally overseas. She’s among a cadre of urban Omaha athletes who return to give clinics.

North senior Justine Tcheuhchoua has bonded with her.

“I basically spent the whole summer alongside of her coaching girls,” said Justine, who teamed with older sister Noelle at Omaha Central before transferring to North to play under Dailey (her coach as a middle schooler). Noelle is now on scholarship at Jackson State.

“We complemented each other,” Justine said of their sister tandem. “But I’m also experimenting with how I play on my own. I feel like when I started playing with more confidence and playing like I knew I could play more schools (colleges) started to take notice. That was really big motivation for me to keep playing hard, keep going hard, keep getting better.

“It’s hard to manage time between school life, home life, sports life – it can be really overwhelming. But it’s really all about knowing your priorities. I’m happy with where I’m at now but I’m always striving to continue to get better.”

She’s optimistic North girls hoops are poised for big things.

“We have the talent but we have to get the fundamentals part better,” Justine said. “The goal is not just to make it to state, the goal is to win it. I do feel we have that opportunity in right front of us. All we have to do is work hard to get there.”

Justine already has an offer to join Noelle at Jackson State but is keeping her options open.

The sisters are likely not the last in the family to make their mark. A younger sister plays varsity basketball with Justine. Two sisters in elementary school are showing promise.

“You’re going to be hearing the Tcheuhchoua name a lot,” Justine said.

Her Cameroon, Africa immigrant parents are thrilled that their daughters have found something they love doing that can propel their lives forward.

Justine’s among a trio of seniors, along with Sierra Thomas and A’yanna Hill, who played for the same EPIC sponsored AAU team Express United coached by Dailey and Antonio Hill (A’yanna’s father).

A’yanna Hill and her father Antonio Hill. (Courtesy photo)

“They were so dominant, they were so good together,” A’yanna said of the ensemble. “Me and Dailey have had a big piece of their basketball adolescence. It’s been beautiful to watch.”

Then the girls went their separate ways for high school. But Justine, Sierra and others have since transferred to North.

“It’s like a surreal moment that these girls have all come back together,” A’yanna said. “It’s a feel-good story. They’re all going to play together their senior year and hopefully come away with one ending goal in winning the state championship.”

Dailey feels she has her most talented North team.

In addition to Dailey and Hill, Sierra was coached by her father Barry Thomas. She started high school at South, then transferred to North to reunite with Dailey. Sierra appreciates that Dailey and EPIC have provided mentors to conduct player and team development sessions.

“We had a weekly class learning how we could communicate better within the team, what to do when you notice a teammate is going through any issues,” Sierra said. “The change from the beginning of the season to the end with how we dealt with things was night and day.”

Sierra credits mental toughness coaching with helping her get through a season ending injury.

“My freshman year I averaged nearly a double-double in points and rebounds. My sophomore year I went through an injury.”

Her mother, Sherie Thomas, recalled how Sierra played through the pain until she couldn’t anymore.

“She got injured in a game and continued to play because that’s how much her team meant to her,” Sherie Thomas said. “Finally she had to come out. We only realized after taking her to the doctor that she had torn her ACL.”

Sierra said sitting out and working her way back through rehab taught her mindfulness.

“It was hard,” she said. “But I learned I need to do what’s in my control. I couldn’t control my injury but I could control how I reacted to it and how I grew from it.”

Last year she was still feeling her way back, working off the rust.

“I haven’t been able to hit double-doubles,” Sierra said. “But this year I want to get as close as I can to average a double-double because I know it will help the team. We lost one of our biggest rebounders. I need to excel in that role.”

To get back to where she used to be, she’s taking advantage of any time she gets on the floor in team practice and in extra individual workouts.

Much like her star teammates, Sierra’s getting interest from colleges. Like them, she hopes to see how far she can take her playing career in the new age of NIL, revenue sharing and social media followings.

“There’s been a lot more attention to women’s sports,” Sierra said. “I’m able to now watch the WNBA on live television and I haven’t always been able to do that. It’s really exciting where it’s going.”

Sherie Thomas is not only proud of what Sierra does on the court but in the classroom, including all state academic scholar honors and dual language studies.

“Sierra is a scholar first and foremost,” Sherie Thomas said. “She’s always prioritizing her education.”

Coach Dailey said her student athletes accept that they must perform in the classroom before they perform on the court.

Dariauna Lewis is someone Sierra looks up to.

“She comes to North to visit whenever she’s in town from playing overseas,” Sierra said. “She’s a leader we can look up to because she’s been in our shoes.”

Sierra confirmed she’d like to pay it forward, too, after her college career ends. Teammate A’yanna Hill also views Dariauna Lewis as a role model and mentor.

Nebraska Supreme coach Latrell Wrightsell said this each-one-to-teach-one model inspires succeeding generations of players.

“That’s the beauty of it,” Wrightsell said. “Young ladies now can see the ones that came before them and know it’s very possible.”

Omaha Central grad Lilliana Johnson grew up around organized athletics since her grandfather runs Deleon Youth Sports.

“I was introduced to basketball when I was 5. I tried a lot of different sports and basketball was the only one I stuck with. I really loved it,” said Johnson, who grew up part of a cohort of girl jocks who became like a second family. “Basketball has helped me grow as a person. It made me realize you can always push forward in something you want to do in life and always get better. If you’re determined, there’s always a will and a way.”

She valued competing in out-of-state tournaments for the Latrell Wrightsell-coached AAU team she played on. “

It’s cool to experience being part of a Nebraska team that can go out and compete and win against teams from other states,” she said.

Wrightsell said those are priceless platforms for his athletes to shine in.

“EPIC helps support Nebraska Hoops Elite so we can travel to play in the best tournaments and leagues where our young ladies can showcase their skills to college coaches,” Wrightsell said. “Without them it would be very challenging to give these young ladies a level playing field, exposure and opportunities.”

Getting that exposure was key for Johnson.

“I knew I wanted to go to college for it,” she said. “Not a lot of people in my family have been to college. I wanted to be that changing point for my family. That’s what pushed me to do better.”

After high school she opted to attend Cloud County Community College in Kansas.

“Going the junior college route was probably one of the best things I did,” she said. “Not being too far away from home but being far enough.”

Her play there, in summer leagues and at Central attracted the attention of Division I Cal State Fullerton, whose scholarship offer she accepted. She’s part of a new roster for its new coach.

“I feel very blessed to have this opportunity,” she said.

She feels she’s in the right place at the right time with women’s basketball enjoying the Caitlin Clark effect.

“This is a big change in women’s athletics,” she said. “It’s a dream come true for girls. It makes me so happy this is the era I get to play in women’s basketball.”

Aniya Foster is only entering eighth grade but already has a taste of athletic glory by being part of three EPIC softball league championship teams. Her mother Shanna Brown said Aniya nearly missed out on sharing in all that success.

“When I first brought playing to her attention she actually said no, she didn’t want to do it,” Brown said. “But I encouraged her to try it anyway. She went to that first practice and she loved it and kept going.”

What got her hooked, said Aniya, “was the team, the girls who bonded well together – we had shared interests.”

“I loved having something to do over the summer and not sitting at home,” she added. “It gets me outside and active.”

The increased confidence, her mother said, prompted Aniya to get involved in school plays, serve as pool manager, lead the African American book studies club and participate in a Girls Inc., University of Nebraska Omaha STEM program, Eureka.

“Aniya knows she wants to be around friends who care about their lives. She wants to be a positive example,” she said.

Brown appreciates that EPIC gives girls like her daughter, Aniya, opportunities to see local college and professional teams play at no cost as both a fun night out and horizon expanding experience. She and other parents like that EPIC does social media shout-outs when girls achieve between the lines or in the classroom, celebrating everything from championships to scholarships to sportsmanship.

Kenzie Lewis echoed many of her fellow student-athletes.

“I’m so glad EPIC for Girls is a thing because they do give girls around Omaha some notice and ring some bells to their name.”

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Roundup of news from Hull’s wide world of sports — The Hull Times

Published

45 seconds ago

January 9, 2026

Your Sports Nation

• The Hull High Boys Varsity Basketball team also split its last two matchups, losing a close game, 48-47, to Academy of the Pacific Rim Charter School in Boston on Friday, January 2, and defeating Falmouth Academy at home, 60-20, on Monday. Up next for the 3-2 team are a rematch with Academy of the Pacific Rim at home on Thursday, January 8 at 6:30 p.m. and a road game against Upper Cape Cod Regional Vocational Technical High School on Friday, January 9 at 6:30 p.m. The JV squad defeated the Academy of the Pacific Rim team, 54-35, on January 2 and will play the Dragons again on Thursday at 5 p.m. before the varsity game.

• The Girls Varsity Basketball team is 0-6 on the season after losses to Ursuline Academy in the Scituate Holiday Tournament, 40-19, on December 31, and a 44-37 loss on the road to New Heights Charter School in Brockton on Monday. Next up for the Pirates are a road game against Boston Latin Academy on Friday, January 9 at 6 p.m. and then home matchups against Excel Academy Charter School on Monday, January 12 at 6:30 p.m. and Abington High School on Wednesday, January 14 at 5:30 p.m.

• The Hingham-Hull Cooperative Gymnastics squad’s next competition will be held on Saturday, January 10 at 6 p.m. against Scituate High School at the South Shore YMCA Gymnastics Training Center.

• The next meet for the Boys and Girls Indoor Track teams will be against Mashpee on Monday, January 26 at 4 p.m. at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston.

• For the full schedule for each Hull High team, visit www.arbiterlive.com/Teams?entityId=10611.

• Hull Pirates In-Town Youth Basketball begins this weekend. Programs include a skills and drills co-ed session for grades 1 and 2 from 8-9 a.m., a co-ed program for grades 3 and 4 from 9-10 a.m., as well as an open gym program (also co-ed) for grades 5-8 from 10-11:30 a.m., all at the Jacobs School gym. Some travel teams are on the road this weekend, but there are home games as well:

Saturday, January 10 at the Jacobs School: Girls Grade 6 vs. Hingham at 2 p.m.; Girls Grade 7 vs. Marshfield at 3 p.m.; Girls Grade 8 vs. Cohasset at 4 p.m.

Sunday, January 11 at the Jacobs School: Girls Grade 7 vs. Halifax at 12 p.m.

Sunday, January 11 at the Hull High: Boys Grade 8 vs. Hanover at 1 p.m.; Boys Grade 4 vs. Scituate at 2:15 p.m.; Boys Grade 3 vs. Norwell at 3:30 p.m.

For more information, visit http://hullbasketball.leagueapps.com/camps.

• A combined Girls 3/4 travel basketball team competes at the fourth-grade level and has a record of 1-3. Next games are against Kingston on Saturday, January 10 at 6 p.m. and against Sandwich on Sunday, January 11 at 2 p.m. All games are played at Indian Head Elementary School in Hanson, so fans have to travel to take in a game. The full schedule of game times and weekly opponents is at this link: www.oldcolonybasketball.org/team/hull/4/1.

• Registration is open for Hull Youth Lacrosse – two travel teams and the in-town programs – through January 22. For more information, visit www.hulllax.com or email hullyouthlax@gmail.com if you have any questions.

• Coaches, league organizers, and superfans – We need your help to report the scores and results of the latest events in Hull’s sports world! Please send local sports news and photos to sports@hulltimes.com. Deadline is Wednesday at noon. When providing details of the games or races, please be sure to include the sport/team, the players’ full names, and the final scores. When sending photos, names of those pictured are greatly appreciated, as well as who should get credit for taking the photo.

Thank you for your help!

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Century standout travels through Europe with Northern Lights Volleyball club team – Post Bulletin

Published

2 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

The Northern Lights Volleyball 16-1 club team spent the holidays traveling through Europe and competing in two tournaments abroad Dec. 25-Jan. 5.

The team won the 18U Youth Alpen Tournament in Innsbruck, Austria and took third place in the 19U SV Dynamo International Youth Tournament in Apeldoorn, Netherlands.

The 16-1 team out of Burnsville, Minn., is made up of players from high schools around the state, including Rochester Century’s sophomore Laney Stellmaker. Other players on the roster attend Eagan, Prior Lake, St. Paul Academy, Lakeville North, East Ridge, Thomas Jefferson (Bloomington), Waconia and Chanhassen.

According to its website, the SV Dynamo tournament “guarantees three days of top-level volleyball with the best youth teams from the Netherlands and beyond. For many clubs, the youth tournament has been the ideal preparation for the Open Club (national championships for club teams). Foreign top youth teams see the tournament as a unique opportunity to measure their strength against European opponents.”

The NLV 16-2 team also traveled and competed in the tournaments, finishing third in Apeldoorn and sixth in Innsbruck.

Players from both teams documented their travels with

journals and videos.

Stellmaker, an All-Big Nine selection, recorded 493 set assists, 200 kills, 313 digs, 61 ace serves and 20 blocks during her sophomore campaign with the Panthers. She also reached 1,000 career set assists during the 2025 season.

Our newsroom occasionally reports stories under a byline of “staff.” Often, the “staff” byline is used when rewriting basic news briefs that originate from official sources, such as a city press release about a road closure, and which require little or no reporting. At times, this byline is used when a news story includes numerous authors or when the story is formed by aggregating previously reported news from various sources. If outside sources are used, it is noted within the story.

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Introducing Community Coach | USA Ultimate

Published

2 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Colorado Springs, Colo. (January 8, 2026) – USA Ultimate has recently made available a new, free resource for adults teaching young, beginning ultimate players. This new program, titled Community Coach, offers a learning experience targeted to individuals who have an interest in coaching but limited experience with the sport of ultimate.

The effort — led by USA Ultimate’s Youth and Education Program Manager Sam Callan — was developed in collaboration with Youth Programs Director Dan Raabe and Grant Boyd of USA Ultimate Affiliate, California Ultimate, with input from others in the ultimate coaching community.

The program went live with a soft launch near the end of last year and is currently available through the USA Ultimate’s Mobile Coach website and app.

The course is aimed at those looking to start middle school programs and includes:

An introduction to coaching, including advice from elite ultimate coach Matty Tsang.
A module covering the basics of the game and how to facilitate a learning environment with videos covering how to teach skills, including throwing and catching.
Videos featuring longtime ultimate coach Libby Cravens explaining how to teach offensive and defensive plays.
Four introductory practice plans with equipment lists and advice for how to change things up to fit different groups and spaces.
A kid-friendly rules introduction and additional resources.

“We are excited to introduce this new coaching program for adults who are newcomers to ultimate,” shared Callan. “Making ultimate accessible is an ongoing goal of USAU and getting parents and teachers involved is a great way to extend the availability of ultimate programming to youth who are exploring new sports.”

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More pools and pickleball — a quick guide to what’s in Pima County’s new parks master plan

Published

2 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

Pima County is getting ready to invest in parks and pools — and new splash pads, expanded aquatics programs and upgraded community centers are coming.

Those measures and many others are included in the county’s first-ever Parks and Recreation Master Plan, which will guide how the department spends money and plans facilities for the next 10-20 years. Here are the highlights.

The big ideas

The plan identifies six priority areas to guide decision-making: strengthening organizational capacity, expanding access and equity, maintaining existing assets, broadening recreation programs, enhancing partnerships and advancing sustainability.

Action items in the 20-year plan include:

Investing in pool facilities at several locations to replace outdated pumps, filters, heaters and locker rooms
Modernizing community centers on the northwest side, south side and west side to improve accessibility and functionality
Developing Esmond Station Park in the Vail area to meet recreation needs in one of the county’s fastest-growing regions
Adding new splash pads and shaded playgrounds countywide
Expanding aquatics capacity and youth sports programming
Converting turf to drought-tolerant landscaping and transitioning parks to reclaimed water irrigation
Installing solar lighting at five or more parks and replacing athletic field lights with LEDs

What the county manages now

Pima County Parks and Recreation oversees 41 parks across 5,707 acres, 12 community centers, nine pools, 106 sports fields, nine dog parks, three shooting range complexes, and 150 miles of multi-use paths — including the popular 138-mile Chuck Huckelberry Loop. The department also runs a swim team program with more than 800 young swimmers.

The City of Tucson and other local towns maintain their own systems of parks, separate from the county system.

Why the plan matters

The department is facing financial pressures. According to benchmarking data in the plan, Pima County’s parks funding is $17 per capita compared to $24 at the low end nationally — a gap of about $6.6 million annually.

Staffing is also below national benchmarks. The department has about 237 full-time employees, roughly 25 fewer than recommended for a system this size. And budget growth has trailed inflation by 22.7%, leaving the department about $1.5 million short of its 2019 inflation-adjusted spending level.

Popular programs like swim lessons and water aerobics regularly sell out early in the season at pools like Manzanita and Kino, but staffing and facility constraints prevent the department from expanding offerings to meet demand.

A family enjoys Flowing Wells Park, a Pima County property, on Oct. 4, 2025. Credit: Becky Pallack

What the community said

The planning process gathered input from more than 650 households through surveys, plus feedback at community events including Tucson Meet Yourself, the Rillito and Rincon Valley Farmers Markets, the Fourth Avenue Street Fair, and the Tucson Rodeo.

Common themes emerged across all five county districts:

Repairing and updating existing parks, pools and community centers
Expanding aquatics programs and community events
Adding walking loops, dog parks and playgrounds
Improving overall sports field and park access
More pickleball courts

Among the more surprising requests is a cricket field in Catalina Foothills.

What’s next

The Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission approved the plan on Nov. 14 and then the Board of Supervisors approved it on Dec. 16.

Implementation will require general fund support and is expected to unfold in three phases: short-term goals through Fiscal Year 2030, mid-term goals through 2035, and long-term sustainability initiatives extending to 2046.

Paying for these improvements will be the topic of future county budget discussions. Some capital projects, including pool renovations and park updates, may be funded through bond initiatives.

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Lakers’ JJ Redick reflects on ‘resilience’ and loss a year after Los Angeles wildfires

Published

4 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

SAN ANTONIO — JJ Redick’s phone buzzed during the Los Angeles Lakers’ coaches meeting Wednesday in San Antonio, just as the staff began trying to figure out a way to beat a conference rival on the second night of a back- to-back.

Redick knew the anniversary was near. But he didn’t know it was that date until he read his wife, Chelsea’s, Instagram post and all of the emotions flooded back. Tears filled his eyes.

“Sorry, guys,” he told his staff.

A year ago, the Lakers were in Dallas when Redick woke up from a pregame nap to learn that his family would be evacuating the house they rented in the Pacific Palisades, a community they planned to make their permanent Los Angeles home. A fire that began in the Santa Monica Mountains sprinted through dried-out vegetation pushed by dangerous winds. By nightfall, it devoured nearly an entire community, including the home in which Redick, his wife and two children were living. Another fire in the nearby San Gabriel Mountains did the same in Altadena. In total, at least 31 people died. An estimated 13,000 homes were destroyed.

In the 12 months since, Redick and his family bounced from hotels to short-term rentals and then back again to hotels. He and his family have vowed to rebuild the Palisades Recreation Center, where his sons once played youth sports. That effort continues this week with the foundation Redick co-founded, LA Sports Strong, hosting its largest fundraiser to date on Thursday.

Following the Lakers’ loss to the San Antonio Spurs on the first anniversary of the fires, Redick told The Athletic that the impact of the fire on his family and friends still lingers — and has even brought to light again the characteristics in the people he loves most.

“Sometimes you have to be reminded by the resilience of people,” Redick said. “We’re having a big event (Thursday). It’s our first real large fundraising event for the rebuild of the rec center. We’re making a lot of headway. And seeing families that have relocated multiple times over the last year — we had to as well — we were in a hotel for five and a half to 10 months before we ended up getting settled. … I told Chelsea today … I’m proud of her, and I’m proud of the kids, and I’m proud of all our friends.

“It’s been a lot for a year.”

Redick and his family recently moved into a new home. Many of his friends and neighbors have not.

As he reflected on the past year, Redick didn’t revisit the horrific drive through the Palisades the morning after the fire, the difficult trip back with a reporter or the grief-filled nights inside hotel lobbies with friends who had lost everything. Instead, he spoke with some level of gratitude for his loved ones and their resilience through a defining period in their lives.

“The first 10 days, you’re devastated,” he said. “You’re in shock, and you’re just trying to function in some ways.”

In some ways, Redick’s family was fortunate. He said his sons’ school wasn’t impacted by the fires, so they had some sense of normalcy. His job, too, created an escape. But the devastation landed hardest at home — particularly for his wife.

“I think for a long time, Chelsea, she wore it the hardest. And she’s a mom, and what do moms want? They want to nest. They want to have a bed for their kids, and they want to have stuff up on the walls that show that this is where we live and this is where our family plays Rummikub together and watches stupid Netflix kid shows together. Like the disruption of that.”

Nearly all of their personal belongings, and the routines that had given the family comfort, were lost in the fires.

“It didn’t really get normal again for a long time,” Redick said. “And I think a lot of people are still going through that. And that was the angst that we felt as a family. I know my boys felt it for months and months after. And it wasn’t until we felt settled again. And even that took two to three weeks of, ‘Oh, OK, we can actually turn off that valve of anxiety that we’ve had for the last 10 months.’”

In the immediate aftermath of the fires, Redick became one of the public faces of the tragedy. He spoke emotionally about the rec center and the bonds he formed in the Palisades following the Lakers’ first practice back after the fires. He was raw, and he promised to try to be a part of solutions.

A year later, he remembered that sentiment.

“I talked about our family. We were, we’re gonna be fine,” he remembered. “We were gonna go through the very specific challenges that our family was gonna face. And that was devastating and sad. And was emotional.

“I think the harder part, and it still is, it’s like that sense of loss of community. … We still feel that. And all the people that we hung out with in Palisades, we still hang out with them all the time, but they’re just not in the Palisades.”

Stories like this, tied to the anniversary, remember the devastation. For Redick, the reminders are constant.

“There are certainly stories like us. Like, now we’re settled. But I know so many people that aren’t still settled,” Redick said. “And it’s just amazing to see their … spirit and hope and optimism. We all have bad days, but the resiliency really just stuck out to me about everyone in that community.”

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Rec Sports

UW-La Crosse aims to break attendance record Saturday during Bubba’s Youth Day honoring coach Moran Lonning’s son

Published

4 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

UW-La Crosse is inviting the community to Mitchell Hall on Saturday for a day of play and remembrance, dedicated to the legacy of Charlie “Bubba” Lonning Weber.

The festivities kick off at from noon-2:45 p.m. with the Charlie’s Kids fest, and lead into the UW-L women’s basketball game after that, where attendance is free and they hope to break the WIAC single-game attendance record of 2,112 fans.

The game will also feature a deeply personal tribute, as the Eagles take the court in special jerseys. Each jersey will be inscribed with the names of 19 infants who have passed away, serving as a visual memorial to raise awareness for pregnancy and infant loss.

Know before you go: Bubba’s Youth Day & Charlie’s Kids fest

If you are planning to help “Fill Mitchell Hall” Saturday, here is the schedule and what you need to know:

Charlie’s Kids fest (Noon–2:45 p.m.): The pre-game party takes place in the Mitchell Hall Fieldhouse. It features inflatables, obstacle courses, and activity stations for kids (preschool through 8th grade).
The Big Game (3 p.m.): Stick around as UW-La Crosse Women’s Basketball takes on UW-Platteville. This is the official push to break the WIAC attendance record of 2,112 fans.
Admission is FREE: Both the fest and the basketball game are free for fans of all ages.
Registration & Waivers: While the event is free, children participating in the fest must be accompanied by an adult. You can save time by signing the required waiver online before you arrive.
The Cause: The event is hosted by Bubba’s Fund, which supports the Charlie’s Kids Foundation. Their mission is to provide SIDS education and “sleep safe” resources to new parents, a mission that has already significantly impacted childcare safety in the La Crosse area.

While the record is a target, organizers say the primary goal is to “Fill Mitchell Hall” with support for a cause that has already transformed local childcare safety.

Alex Weber (left), Moran Lonning and Charlie “Bubba” Lonning Weber (PHOTO: bubbasfund.org)

The event supports Bubba’s Fund, established by UW-L women’s basketball coach Moran Lonning and her husband, Alex Weber, after their son Charlie passed away in 2024 at just three months old.

Since then, the fund has reached a major milestone in successfully providing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to every state-licensed childcare facility in La Crosse.

Saturday’s events will help sustain that momentum and support “Rising Athletes,” a nonprofit that removes financial barriers for local youth sports.

Charlie’s Kids Fest at Mitchell Hall Fieldhouse is free for children (preschool through 8th grade) and features inflatables, obstacle courses, plus a chance to play alongside UW-L student-athletes.

Parents are encouraged to sign a participation waiver in advance at bubbasfund.org.

Moran was a guest on La Crosse Talk on Thursday morning with Sean Dwyer.

La Crosse Talk airs weekdays at 6-8 a.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find the show on Apple Podcast, Spotify or here.

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