Rec Sports

Kuna considers large youth sports complex

Published

8 months ago

May 11, 2025

KUNA — A significant youth sports complex could be coming to Kuna — if all goes as planned.

A public meeting to inform and educate residents and locals on the project was held Wednesday at Swan Falls High School. Around 30 people were in attendance, including the city’s Economic & Community Development Specialist Jessica Hall.

In April 2024, the city of Kuna was approached with an idea for a youth sports complex, presented by True Gritt Youth Sports Chairman David McMenomey, who moved to Meridian from Texas nine years ago. True Gritt is a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing higher levels of athletic competition to the Treasure Valley.

The proposed complex would have both indoor and outdoor sports accommodations including 14 youth baseball/softball fields, eight full-sized indoor basketball courts, and a family entertainment center. The fields will be turf, which would give them around 10 months of use each year, McMenomey said. Development around the complex could also include two hotels, restaurants and a gas station.

The complex would be the first of its kind in the state and region, McMenomey said, and will be located near the intersection of Meadow View and Meridian roads.

“We’re anticipating from looking at other facilities that are similar size and the amount of tournaments that we’d be able to host, between all of the sports, about a million visitors a year coming into the facility,” McMenomey said.

Kuna’s planning and zoning and economic development teams were excited about the project because it would be an “incredible asset” to the city, Hall said to the Idaho Press. The city council will likely begin looking at the complex plans in July.

The city has donated 20 acres of land for a 114-acre sports complex, McMenomey said. The project will likely cost $120 million with the onus on McMenomey to raise the funds.

Not everyone at the meeting was thrilled about the complex coming to Kuna, a southern Ada County community that has seen large-scale growth and development in recent years.

“My home is directly behind this, and all I want to do is sit outside and read a book, and I don’t feel like I’m going to be able to do that,” Stacey Poiriar said during the meeting. “I feel like I’m not going to be able to sell my house now. I’ve been there for three years, and I don’t feel like this is fair.”

If built, the complex would be in Poiriar’s backyard. She’s concerned about traffic and noise that the complex could bring to her neighborhood.

“Nobody talked to our neighborhood. Nobody talked to anybody, letting us know that something of this magnitude was coming,” she said. “I think it’s a great idea — I just don’t think it should be right in the middle of a housing development.”

Andy Riley, president of the Kuna Youth Softball and Baseball Association, also expressed some concerns. Although he is excited at the prospect of having local fields for Kuna teams to play on, Riley is worried about prices. Sometimes, a developer will say that they’re building something for the local community, but they’re really just in it for the money, Riley said.

“Then all of a sudden it’s pay to play and I don’t want to see that happen,” Riley said.

As long as folks can afford to play there, Riley doesn’t see an issue with the complex and expressed excitement at the idea of Kuna teams winning games on their home turf.

Troy Croghan, chief executive officer at True Gritt Youth Sports, estimated that the facility would bring 100 jobs to Kuna.

“We’re all sports dads,” Croghan said. “We’re not some big corporation that’s trying to come and make a bunch of money on this project, in fact, we’re doing it as a nonprofit.”

Before the complex can begin the construction process, a number of steps need to be taken including a rezoning of the application in a public hearing process; a traffic impact study completed by the Idaho Transportation Department and Ada County Highway District; the submission of a subdivision application and infrastructure plans; installation of infrastructure; a design review application; and building permits.

McMenomey estimated that work could be completed by the end of the year, depending on what sponsorships and funds are collected.

According to Hall, if all goes well the sports complex could be built in two-to-three years. Once construction has started, McMenomey estimates the facility could be built in 18 months — a number he says he’s received from several local construction companies.

“Kuna has a large and growing youth population and this complex would allow for a positive outlet for our local youth, as well as for youth across the Treasure Valley,” Hall said. “The complex would provide a location for family fun, and would be a destination for tournaments; the increase of tourism to Kuna would bring new businesses and strengthen our local economy.”

All of this began for McMenomey in 2023, when he was at a Christian business mastermind event. One of the exercises was to pray and ask where God sees you in 20 years, McMenomey said.

“I reluctantly did, and I heard two words: youth sports,” he said. “That’s when I saw a youth sports complex and I was pretty shocked, because I hadn’t seen anything like that before.”

After doing some digging after the conference, McMenomey said he found similar facilities on the East coast. He then had a sports facilities company do a feasibility study, just to see if the Treasure Valley could support a youth sports facility. The study found that the valley could handle two facilities, he said. That’s when McMenomey began looking for land.

After meeting with several cities, McMenomey found a match with Kuna. He brought it to the city’s economic development team in 2024.

Now, McMenomey is fundraising and looking for big businesses that may be interested in sponsoring the facility and potentially getting naming rights with a sponsorship. Once 50% of the funds are raised — $60 million — McMenomey says he’ll be ready to break ground on the project.

The ultimate goal, McMenomey said, is to create a place for kids to come and play sports, whether it be for tournaments, competition or just fun.

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Families weigh costs and benefits as year-round youth sports industry grows in Wisconsin | WTAQ News Talk | 97.5 FM · 1360 AM

Published

54 minutes ago

December 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Heat is rising off the turf at Kaukauna High School’s football field. With the heat index more than 100 degrees many local school districts made changes to high school and middle school sports practice and game schedules and times.

PC: Fox 11 Online

FOX VALLEY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — Youth sports have become a year-round reality for many families, as more and more indoor sports facilities are being built in Wisconsin.

“I try to fill that gap for some of the boys,” said Rick Cavaiani, owner/founder of Cavaiani Baseball Training in Little Chute.

Training starts as young as eight years old

Teams of 10-year-olds and 11-year-olds scrimmaged while off of school for Christmas break Monday afternoon. Cavaiani serves players from ages eight to 18, providing structured training beginning in November.

“I feel a lot more prepared than normal teams would, because they don’t practice in the winter,” said Garrett Reukauf, who plays for Cavaiani’s 11-and-under team.

Reukauf hopes to become the next Alex Breckheimer of Chilton or Ethan Cole of Fond du Lac, going from Northeast Wisconsin to professional baseball.

“When I first started playing travel baseball, my facility was an old glass-blowing company,” said Cole, who was drafted by the Colorado Rockies last year and played for 5 Star Wisconsin, based in Oshkosh. “It was a super small building — two cages, maybe a room for 90 feet.”

The current setup includes nearly a full infield and multiple batting cages, a weight room, high-tech devices to track his pitching and a small locker room. He doesn’t think he would have been drafted without the facilities or coaching at 5 Star — believing those to be necessities in Wisconsin.

“We’re inside the majority of the year,” said Evan Wick, the co-owner of 5 Star Wisconsin, when asked about the disadvantage Midwest baseball players have. “Kids down south get to see the real ball fly at their own real field every single day.”

The indoor training is producing results.

“When I graduated in 2002, there were four of us in the state of Wisconsin, including myself, that eventually played Division I baseball,” said Cavaiani. “I think this past year, there were almost 50.”

Concerns about longevity, injuries and cost

There are certainly concerns about year-round sports.

It costs thousands of dollars per player, as youth sports has become a $30-40 billion industry
Sports injury has become the second leading cause of emergency room visits for youth
Burnout is on the rise

It’s for the parent to decide whether the risk is worth the reward. But from November to April — for some players once a week, and others three-to-four times — you may find a 10-year-old or a college student playing baseball in Northeast Wisconsin.

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View from the Sideline: Lessons from the playing field | Sports

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2 hours ago

December 31, 2025

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Winter Competition Brings Energy to Gyms, Rinks, and Fields Across the Region

Published

2 hours ago

December 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

As winter settles in across the Finger Lakes, local sports programs are heating up, bringing packed gyms, competitive matchups, and a renewed sense of community pride. From high school basketball rivalries to college hockey action and grassroots youth leagues, the Finger Lakes sports scene continues to thrive during the heart of the winter season.

High School Basketball Takes Center Stage

High school basketball has become the focal point of winter sports across the region, with boys and girls teams settling into league play. Schools in the Wayne Finger Lakes, Finger Lakes East, and Finger Lakes West divisions are already seeing early separation in the standings, while several traditional rivalries have delivered close, physical contests.

On the boys side, teams have emphasized disciplined defense and balanced scoring. Programs with experienced upperclassmen are using depth to maintain pressure throughout four quarters, while younger squads are relying on athleticism and tempo to stay competitive. Several games this month have been decided in the final minutes, a sign that league play may remain tight well into February.

Girls basketball has been equally competitive, with multiple teams leaning on strong guard play and full-court pressure. Coaches across the region have noted improved outside shooting compared to recent seasons, leading to higher-scoring games and faster pace. Crowds have responded in kind, with student sections growing as teams push toward midseason tournaments and postseason positioning.

Wrestling Programs Show Strength and Depth

Wrestling continues to be a point of pride for many Finger Lakes schools, particularly those with long-established programs. Early-season dual meets and invitational tournaments have highlighted the depth of talent across multiple weight classes.

Several schools have already seen multiple wrestlers qualify for podium finishes at weekend tournaments, while younger athletes are gaining valuable experience against strong competition. Coaches have praised the work ethic shown in practice rooms, noting that offseason training and youth wrestling programs are paying dividends at the varsity level.

With sectional competition still weeks away, teams are focused on consistency and conditioning, knowing that late-season stamina often determines postseason success.

College Athletics Provide Regional Spotlight

At the collegiate level, Finger Lakes Community College continues to be a hub for regional athletics. The men’s and women’s basketball programs have shown steady improvement, with several conference wins highlighting disciplined execution and strong rebounding.

FLCC’s teams have leaned heavily on team chemistry, using ball movement and defensive rotations to stay competitive against larger programs. Coaches have emphasized development and resilience, particularly in close games where late possessions have made the difference.

Local colleges and SUNY schools across the broader Finger Lakes region are also contributing to the area’s sports identity, with athletes often drawing support from nearby hometowns when competing in conference matchups.

Hockey Keeps Winter Traditions Alive

Hockey has been making a lot of headlines in the Finger Lakes, with many recent game day photos covering the local newspapers. Local rinks have been busy hosting league games, youth tournaments, and community skating events.

WFL teams have displayed strong goaltending and structured defensive play early in the season, keeping games competitive even against traditionally strong opponents. Coaches have pointed to improved puck movement and discipline as key factors in early success.

Youth hockey programs continue to grow, providing a pipeline for future high school teams and reinforcing the region’s long-standing hockey culture.

Bowling, Indoor Track, and Swimming Gain Momentum

While basketball and wrestling often dominate headlines, several winter sports continue to build momentum behind the scenes.

Bowling teams across the region have started their seasons with impressive individual performances, including multiple high series and consistent team scores. Indoor track athletes are preparing for invitational meets, focusing on speed development and technical events during the colder months.

Swimming programs have also begun conference competition, with relay teams and distance swimmers standing out in early meets. Coaches emphasize the importance of depth, as dual meet success often depends on contributions across every event.

Community and Youth Sports Remain Strong

Beyond school athletics, community sports leagues remain a vital part of life in the Finger Lakes. Youth basketball, travel hockey, and recreational leagues continue to see strong participation, providing opportunities for skill development and community engagement.

Local gyms, community centers, and recreation departments have worked to expand programming, ensuring that young athletes have access to structured competition throughout the winter. These programs not only develop future varsity athletes but also strengthen the bonds between towns and school districts.

Looking Ahead

As winter sports move toward the midpoint of their seasons, the Finger Lakes region is poised for an exciting stretch of competition. League races are tightening, rivalries are intensifying, and athletes across all levels are finding their rhythm.

With tournaments, sectional qualifiers, and postseason play on the horizon, the coming weeks promise meaningful games and memorable moments. For communities across the Finger Lakes, sports continue to serve as a unifying force, bringing people together to cheer, compete, and celebrate local talent.

This content is brought to you by the FingerLakes1.com Team. Support our mission by visiting www.patreon.com/fl1 or learn how you send us your local content here.

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As youth sports professionalize, kids are burning out fast

Published

3 hours ago

December 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

ESCONDIDO, Calif. — Like many mothers in Southern California, Paula Gartin put her twin son and daughter, Mikey and Maddy, into youth sports leagues as soon as they were old enough. For years, they loved playing soccer, baseball and other sports, getting exercise and making friends.

But by their early teens, the competition got stiffer, the coaches became more demanding, injuries intervened and their travel teams demanded that they focus on only one sport. Shuttling to weekend tournaments turned into a chore. Sports became less enjoyable.

Maddy dropped soccer because she didn’t like the coach and took up volleyball. Mikey played club soccer and baseball as a youngster, then chose baseball before he suffered a knee injury in his first football practice during the baseball offseason. By 15, he had stopped playing team sports. Both are now in college and more focused on academics.

“I feel like there is so much judgment around youth sports. If you’re not participating in sports, you’re not doing what you’re supposed to be doing as a kid,” Gartin said. “There’s this expectation you should be involved, that it’s something you should be doing. You feel you have to push your kids. There’s pressure on them.”

Youth sports can have a positive effect on children’s self-esteem and confidence and teach them discipline and social skills. But a growing body of recent research has shown how coaches and parents can heap pressure on children, how heavy workloads can lead to burnout and fractured relationships with family members and friends, and how overuse injuries can stem from playing single sports.

A report published by the American Academy of Pediatrics in 2024 showed how overuse injuries and overtraining can lead to burnout in young athletes. The report cited pressure by parents and coaches as additional risk factors. Another study, in the Journal of Sport &Social Issues, highlighted how giving priority to a win-at-all-costs culture can stunt a young athlete’s personal development and well-being. Researchers at the University of Hawaii found that abusive and intrusive behavior by parents can add to stress on athletes.

Mental health is a vast topic, from clinical issues like depression and suicidal thoughts to anxiety and psychological abuse. There is now a broad movement to increase training for coaches so they can identify signs and symptoms of mental health conditions, said Vince Minjares, a program manager in the Aspen Institute’s Sports &Society Program. Since 2020, seven states have begun requiring coaches to receive mental health training, he said.

Domineering coaches and parents have been around for generations. But their pressure has been amplified by the professionalization of youth sports. A growing number of sports leagues are being run as profit-driven businesses to meet demand from parents who urge their children to play at earlier ages to try to improve their chances of playing college or pro sports. According to a survey by the Aspen Institute, 11.4% of parents believe that their children can play professionally.

“There’s this push to specialize earlier and earlier,” said Meredith Whitley, a professor at Adelphi University who studies youth sports. “But at what cost? For those young people, you’re seeing burnout happen earlier because of injuries, overuse and mental fatigue.”

The additional stress is one reason more children are dropping out. The share of school-age children playing sports fell to 53.8% in 2022, from 58.4% in 2017, according to the National Survey of Children’s Health. While more than 60 million adolescents play sports, up to 70% of them drop out by age 13.

While groups like the Aspen Institute focus on long-standing issues of access and cost in youth sports, combating mental health problems in young athletes is an emerging area. In recent years, professional athletes like Naomi Osaka and Michael Phelps have shined a light on the issue. But parents who want to teach their children the positive parts of playing sports are finding that some of the worst aspects of being a young athlete are hard to avoid.

That was apparent to the parents who took their sons to hear Travis Snider speak at Driveline Academy in Kent, Washington, one Sunday last spring. Snider was a baseball phenom growing up near Seattle and was taken by the Toronto Blue Jays in the first round of the 2006 MLB draft.

But he finished eight unremarkable seasons as an outfielder and played his last major league game at 27. While attempting a comeback in the minor leagues, he worked with a life coach to help him make sense of why his early promise fizzled. He unearthed childhood traumas and unrealistic expectations on the field.

In a playoff game as an 11-year-old, he had had a panic attack on the mound and was removed from the game.

Though he reached the highest level of his sport, Snider felt as if distorted priorities turned baseball into a burden, something he wanted to help others avoid.

Last year, he started a company, 3A Athletics, to help children, parents and coaches develop healthier approaches to sports that include separating professional aspirations from the reality that most young athletes just want to get some exercise and make friends.

“We as a culture really blended the two into the same experience, which is really toxic for kids as they’re going through the early stages of identity formation,” Snider said. “You have a lot of parents who are sports fans that want to watch youth sports the same way they watch pro sports without recognizing, ‘Hey, the thing I love the most is out there running around on the field.’”

He added, “We’ve got to take a step back and detach from what has become normalized and what kind of vortex we get sucked into.”

Driveline Academy, an elite training facility filled with batting cages, speed guns, sensors and framed jerseys of pro players, might be the kind of vortex Snider would want people to avoid. But Deven Morgan, director of youth baseball at Driveline, hired 3A Athletics to help parents and young athletes put their sport in context.

“It’s part of a stack of tools we can deploy to our families and kids to help them understand that there is a structural way that you can understand this stuff and relate to your kid,” he said.

“We are going to get more out of this entire endeavor if we approach this thing from a lens of positivity.”

During his one-hour seminar, Snider and his partner, Seth Taylor, told the six sets of parents and sons how to navigate the mental roadblocks that come from competitive sports. Snider showed the group a journal he kept during the 2014 season that helped him overcome some of his fears, and encouraged the ballplayers to do the same.

“It’s not just about writing the bad stuff,” he said. “The whole goal is to start to open up about this stuff.”

Taylor took the group through a series of mental exercises, including visualization and relaxation techniques, to help players confront their fears and parents to understand their role as a support system.

His message seemed to get through to Amy Worrell-Kneller, who had brought her 14-year-old son, Wyatt, to the session.

“Generally, there’s always a few parents who are the ones who seem to be hanging on too tight, and the kids take that on,” she said. “At this age, they’re social creatures, but it starts with the parents.”

Coaches play a role, too. The Catholic Youth Organization in the Diocese of Cleveland has been trying to ratchet down the pressure on young athletes. At a training session in August, about 120 football, soccer, volleyball and cross-country coaches met for three hours to learn how to create “safe spaces” for children.

“Kids start to drop out by 12, 13 because it’s not fun and parents can make it not fun,” said Drew Vilinsky, the trainer. “Kids are tired and distracted before they get to practice, and have a limited amount of time, so don’t let it get stale.”

Coaches were told, among other things, to let children lead stretches and other tasks to promote confidence. Track coaches should use whistles, not starting guns, and withhold times from young runners during races.

“We’re trying not to overwhelm a kid with anxiety,” said Lisa Ryder, a track and cross-country coach for runners through eighth grade. “CYO is not going to get your kid to be LeBron.”

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Golden Bears pull away from young Blue Dons | News, Sports, Jobs

Published

4 hours ago

December 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

STRONG TO THE HOOP — Oak Glen’s Gavin Geisse drives to the hoop past Madonna’s Reno Fuscardo and Luke Wingett during Tuesday’s game. – Andrew Grimm

NEW MANCHESTER — Knowing his team had a big edge in experience, veteran Oak Glen head coach Jerry Everly wanted to see his group take care of business against Madonna in its last game before the new year.

His Golden Bears did just that, pulling away for an 80-34 victory over the youthful Blue Dons inside the Bears Den Tuesday night.

The victory sends Oak Glen into the new year above the .500 mark at 3-2.

“We played well against a team that we should beat,” Everly said. “They’re very young, their time will come, so we wanted to take care of business and get them while they’re young. We wanted to take care of ourselves, worry about our own game and execute, and I thought we did.

“I told them to take care of business and not take anything for granted, not come out sloppy and execute the things we work on in practice and I thought we did a good job of that. We still have some things to work on, but that’s good, we’ll keep working.

Madonna’s Tyler Dillon jumps against defense from Oak Glen’s Elijah Knisley. – Andrew Grimm

“It’s good to go into the new year above .500.”

Oak Glen had four players reach double figures — two of whom did so coming off the bench — and knocked down nine 3s in the victory.

Gavin Geisse netted 14 points to lead the way, while Mason Kell hit three of the triples to finish with 11. Colt Hissam also tallied three treys and finished with 11 points off the bench, while Tyler Evans came off the bench and also tallied 11.

All told, 10 of 11 players to see the floor for Everly’s team scored, all 10 contributing at least five points.

Oak Glen opened an 18-8 lead after one, then scored 25 points in the second quarter to push the lead to 24 at halftime, then continued to build it the rest of the way to the 46-point victory.

Oak Glen’s Kam Hebron puts up a shot past the Blue Dons Vinny Chiodi and Anthony DeCaria. – Andrew Grimm

For Madonna (1-6), which dressed a lineup of five sophomores, three freshman and a junior, the early season growing pains continued, though they continue to play hard for their veteran coach.

“We’re learning, there are growing pains,” Madonna head coach George Vargo said. “Our kids play hard, they just have to learn the game better. But they keep playing hard and they don’t give up. We start a freshman and four sophomores, so we know we’re going to go through the growing pains. We’ll get better as we go and keep learning and keep growing.

“We’ve seen a lot of improvements from Game 1 to Game 7.”

The Dons were led by 14 points from Reno Fuscardo and eight from Jake Druga.

UP NEXT

Madonna’s Jake Druga drives against Oak Glen’s Gavin Geisse and Will Weekley. – Andrew Grimm

Madonna: Has another tough match up Saturday when it travels to Toronto.

Oak Glen: Has a big game on the road Saturday night at Wellsville.

Oak Glen 80, Madonna 34

M 8-11-11-4 — 34

OG 18-25-18-19 — 80

Below, Oak Glen’s Mason Kell shoots past Madonna’s Vinny Chiodi. – Andrew Grimm

MADONNA (1-6): Wingert 1 1-2 3; Dillon 1 2-2 4; Chiodi 2 0-0 5; Druga 4 0-0 8; Fuscardo 5 4-8 14; Gray 0 0-0 0; Welch 0 0-0 0; Decaria 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 13, 7-12; 34.

OAK GLEN (3-2): Hartung 3 0-0 7; Kell 4 0-0 11; Weekley 2 0-0 4; Willey 3 0-0 6; Geisse 7 0-0 14; Evans 4 2-2 11; Ates 2 0-0 5; Herbock 2 1-2 5; Dawson 3 0-0 6; Hissam 4 0-0 11; Dittman 0 0-0 0. TOTALS: 34, 3-5; 80.

3-POINTERS: Madonna 1 (Chiodi); Oak Glen 9 (Kell 3, Hissam 3, Hartung, Evans, Ates).

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Revolution sign defender Ethan Kohler from Werder Bremen

Published

4 hours ago

December 31, 2025

Your Sports Nation

New England Revolution

Originally from California, Kohler is another signing who has previous ties to newly-installed Revolution head coach Marko Mitrović

Zavier Gozo (left) and Ethan Kohler (right) celebrate after the U.S. win over Italy at the FIFA U-20 World Cup round of 16 in Oct. 2025. AP Photo/Andre Penner

By Hayden Bird

December 31, 2025 | 11:06 AM

1 minute to read

The Revolution have continued an offseason path of adding young players who have experience playing under new head coach Marko Mitrović.

On Wednesday, New England announced the acquisition of defender Ethan Kohler as a transfer signing from German club SV Werder Bremen. New England has signed Kohler to a contract through the 2028-29 season, with a club option for 2029-30.

Kohler, 20, is California native, and returns to the U.S. after signing with Werder Bremen in 2023. He appeared at both the U-19 and reserve team levels for the German club, helping Werder Bremen II win the Bremen-Liga title in 2023-24. Kohler also recently made nine appearances for another German club, SC Veri, during a loan stint.

Seen as a versatile defender by New England, Kohler — like fellow recent acquisition Brooklyn Raines — has experience playing under Mitrović at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup. The now current New England head coach led the U.S. team during the tournament, guiding the Americans to a quarterfinal appearance.

Kohler started four games at the U-20 World Cup as a center-back, helping the U.S. achieve clean sheet wins over Italy and France.

“I met and worked with Ethan for the first time almost four years ago,” Mitrović said in the team announcement. “He is an elite professional and highly competitive player who loves to win. His work ethic and standards are very high, important qualities for our team and environment in creating a winning culture.

“Ethan’s strength on the ball can help us control the game in possession, though he is also one of those players who takes great pride in his defending. I am excited to have Ethan with us.”

New England will begin preseason training in January as the club tries to reverse a two-year trend of being shut out of the postseason. Mitrović, hired in November, will have some interesting choices to make as he reshapes the team in his image. The Revolution kick off the 2026 MLS regular season in Nashville on Feb. 21.

Hayden Bird is a sports staff writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things sports in New England.

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