SIOUX CITY (KTIV) – The Siouxland Sports Academy is planning to rock out at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino during a benefit concert event.

The benefit concert featuring Above the Covers is expected to take place on Friday, Dec. 19.

“We are very excited to be able to host this event in this great facility with this great local band to raise money for kids in need. It is very important to us that we are able to provide opportunities to kids regardless of socioeconomic status,” said SSA Executive Director Dustin Cooper.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for a silent auction and social. The band performs at 7:30 p.m.

The Siouxland Sports Academy says its organization is a 501c3 nonprofit that works to create opportunities for young people in Siouxland.

The nonprofit also says 100% of the proceeds in ticket sales and at the auction will go towards financing local youth sports scholarships.

“During the concert, there will be silent auction items up for grabs that include priceless autographed sports memorabilia, unbelievable sports experiences, and at intermission of the concert, a trip to Turks and Caicos will be live auctioned!” said Siouxland Sports Academy.

Tickets are available on the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino’s website.

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EAU CLAIRE, Wis. — Eau Claire has flagged down a major sporting event for 2026: the Pylon 7on7 Flag Football Tournament is heading to the Sonnentag Field House from March 14 to 15. 

The tournament — a traveling flag football tournament for high school athletes — is expected to welcome about 1,000 athletes, coaches, families and fans. Pylon 7on7 said it will welcome more than 30 teams to the Wisconsin-based event.

The Eau Claire tournament will be indoors.

Pylon 7on7 is a “critical exposure platform” for high schoolers looking to play football in college. Over the past 20 years, more than 3,000 student-athletes who have played in Pylon 7on7 committed to Division I programs. More than 300 players made it to the NFL.

“We’re extremely excited to welcome Pylon 7on7 to Eau Claire,” said Lucas Connolly, sports relationship manager for Visit Eau Claire. “This event brings elite competition to our community and provides young athletes with a platform to compete, be seen, and develop, while highlighting the Sonnentag Center as a top-tier venue for national sporting events.”

Visit Eau Claire said it expects a positive, direct economic impact from the tournament.

“This tournament is another example of how Eau Claire continues to grow as a destination for youth sports, and we are excited to partner with Visit Eau Claire to welcome Pylon 7on7 Football and the many athletes, families, and visitors who will experience our community,” said Steve Kirk, Interim General Manager of the Sonnentag Center.

Eau Claire is just one site of more than two dozen Pylon 7on7 tournaments taking place from Jan. through May 2026. Nationals will take place in Indianapolis on May 30 and 31. 

TWIN FALLS, Idaho (KMVT/Gray News) – Two children in Idaho are critically injured after a tree fell on them while they were waiting for the school bus.

The Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office said high winds caused rotten trees to fall on power lines before collapsing on the children.

The kids, both under the age of 10, and an older sibling were waiting outside for their bus when the tree collapsed. According to the sheriff’s office, the older sibling was not injured.

Aaron Hudson, the Twin Falls fire deputy chief, told KTVB first responders had to first get the kids out from the tree and downed power lines before they could prepare them for transport.

The sheriff’s office said one of the children was taken to the hospital by ambulance, while the other was airlifted.

According to Hudson, the weather conditions caused difficulties during transport. He said that it prevented the helicopter from going any further than the local hospital.

The family of the children has started a GoFundMe to help cover medical expenses.

Copyright 2025 KMVT via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

As youth sports participation costs rise and facility availability remains a bottleneck for growth, US-based 360 Hoops has announced a formal commercial rollout for 2026.

The company, which specialises in a patented three-basket hardware system and a proprietary 3v3v3 gameplay format, is positioning itself to address the primary pain point for facility operators: revenue density per square metre.

The pivot from prototype to national property follows a 2025 validation phase that included visibility on ESPN’s “The Ocho” and integration into US youth development programs.

By allowing five units to be deployed on a single standard basketball court, the system can support up to 60 active athletes simultaneously, a six-fold increase over traditional 5v5 training sessions.

Co-founder of 360 Hoops, Anthony Gomez, noted that the value proposition for club directors and private complexes hinges on this spatial efficiency.

“It really comes down to one question: how much value can you generate per square foot?” Gomez said.

The business model is built on vertical integration, combining high-margin unit sales with long-term revenue pathways including sanctioned tournament rights, licensing, and brand partnerships.

This “ecosystem” approach seeks to create a defensible category that insulates the brand from competitors—a tactic often seen in the rapid commercialisation of sports like pickleball and padel.

The organisation’s credibility is supported by the involvement of Mike Brey, an assistant coach for the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, who serves as an investor and advisor.

His presence suggests a focus on ensuring the technical skills developed in the 360-degree format are transferable to the traditional game, a necessity for long-term adoption by governing bodies and schools.

With a Year 1 target of 30 markets, the company plans to establish flagship complex partnerships before expanding into schools and community parks.

The non-stop 14-minute game format offers a high-density content opportunity that aligns with current trends in fast-paced, urban sports consumption.

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Michelle Agyemang has been named the BBC Young Sports Personality of the Year for 2025.

Celebrating athletes who make history with their performances, the prestigious awards were held on Thursday night, and Michelle was selected by a panel of experts as the best young talent across all of British sport.

She came out on top against the previous winner Luke Littler who won the World Darts Championship this year, as well as cricketer Davina Perrin who became England’s second-top run scorer in the 2025 Women’s U19 T20 World Cup.

Michelle follows in the footsteps of other greats who have won the Young Sports Personality of the Year prize, including Wayne Rooney and Sir Andy Murray, while she is the second Gunner to win the prize while at the club, with Theo Walcott collecting the trophy in 2006.

Michelle enjoyed a successful season on loan at Brighton & Hove Albion last season, scoring five times in 22 appearances, before lighting the international stage on fire with England. Our striker scored 41 seconds into her Lionesses debut in the UEFA Nations League against Belgium, earning her a spot in the squad for Euro 2025.

She repaid Sarina Wiegman’s faith, scoring vital late equalisers against Sweden and Italy in the knockout stages, in matches England went on to win as they retained their title, and saw Michelle named the Young Player of the Tournament.

She also won the Golden Girl trophy as Europe’s best young player, and was nominated for the prestigious Kopa Trophy, handed to the world’s top under-21 female footballer.