Rec Sports

A conversation with Hall of Famer and NBA Champion Ray Allen :: WRALSportsFan.com

Published

6 months ago

June 11, 2025

So, Ray, what’s it like transitioning from obviously being a basketball star, NBA champion to now a basketball dad? Well, you gotta remember it wasn’t really a transition because even when I played in the NBA I was still a dad. So now I’m just the dad and the Uber driver, uh, because every morning I’m there and I’m taking the kids to school and picking them up and, you know, at, at all their sporting events. So I’m not as gone as much uh as when I played, um, so just consistently, they know I’m always there and It’s amazing because When I put my shoes on and go take out the trash, they’re like, uh, Dad, where are you going? I’m like, I’m just going to take out the trash because they’re used to now me being home so much, which is uh which is great uh being retired. Obviously, being the son or daughter of Ray Allen has its advantages, but how have you made sure that doesn’t come with too much pressure or too much of a burden too as as they pursued their own basketball dreams. Uh, sometimes I have to take myself out of the, the, uh, equation. Uh, when there’s some games I just don’t go to, just Um, no, or I would say more practices, uh. Uh, being a coach, being an assistant coach in some different programs helping out, sometimes I just kinda stay away from it. Uh, some games I just try to. Wear a hat and sit in the bleachers and I try not to be too loud and draw attention, uh, cause there are times when people know I’m there, they’re like, which one is your son? And I’m like, he’s out there. Because because then kids started to pay more attention to to who who he is and then. They don’t know how to operate with that bull’s eye on their back just yet and so. It it does require me just to pay attention. Uh, at all times. Like, I know you guys want me to be there and I’m going to be there, but I’m not going to be where you need me to be, where you can see me. I’m going to be watching from under the bleachers or Just something just to just take the pressure off of the situation for everybody cause sometimes. The other kids get distracted. Like I, what I would do sometimes, I did this last term there and I left the game early. And I knew the team was playing a little harder because it was my team and my kids were on it. And literally, they ran out of the gym looking for me when I, when I was in the parking lot. And so it, it does sometimes distract other people, but even with my AAU program, I always tell the kids I was like, sometimes you guys are playing against kids that want to beat me and not you because they see the name on your chest. I said, so you got to really understand there’s a little more bull’s-eye on you than you realize. So in the very least, Have energy Uh, don’t let them work harder than you. Uh, be focused and know that they feel like they’re playing in a championship game because they want to be able to beat you guys. No, I’m, I’m just starting this journey myself. I’ve got a seven year old daughter, 5-year-old son, and, and a, a 1 year old here, and, you know, I didn’t play college athletics, pro sports, not expecting them to, but there’s obviously a ton of incentive now for kids to get into college sports if they can, between NIL and scholarships. But I’m trying to figure out, I mean, when’s the right age to pursue more advanced coaching, private lessons, and, and how do you know if your child is, is really gonna benefit that all, from all that comes into that? Well, hm. Because it, it’s not a, it’s not a quid pro quo. Um, if you go into it with the hopes of an a reward or something at the end of the rainbow, then a lot of times you end up disappointed by it because now you’re driving a narrative. Now you’re, you know, I had parents that were paying, I have one parent that was paying $500 an hour. Um, for, for a trainer, and the trainer ought to be ashamed of itself, but. They just knew that he can tell this guy anything because he had the money to pay for it. And that’s just not, that’s not the formula. You know, private lessons is not the formula. The formula for me, for, for kids specifically in basketball is just put them in environments where they could play and there’s other kids better than them and just keep showing up and playing basketball every single day. Uh, foundationally for you as a dad. It’s about your environment that you’re creating for your kids. Do they, do you walk with them on the weekends? Are you playing board games with them, um, at home, instead of them, everybody just going their their separate directions? Are you watching sporting events and cheering and and celebrating and creating your your moments with your family? You know, are you eating at the table together? All those things create this communal spirit that live with inside kids that that allow them to want to be a part of something. You know, now they’re learning how to be a part of a system, a team. And then when you’re playing board games, they’re learning how to want to win at those board games. They want to compete. You know, you don’t win anything, but there’s so much fun. Challenging each other and talking and doing all these things. And so now you’re building something with inside of that, that child, their heart and their desires. So then you put them in any situation and they want to compete. And then they go out and play basketball, and they want to beat the kids and get better. So, it’s about changing their hearts and minds and and putting something on them so they can start to say, I want to do that, and I want to compete, and I wanna learn because you’re teaching them that at home. But if you’re saying, go out and play basketball and do all these things, but every day you sit on the couch, you don’t work out, you don’t do anything to improve yourself, they’re mimicking your behavior, and they’re like, oh, I’m good, I’m just gonna stay here. Now your kids, you got two of them playing in AAU tournament this weekend at Disney Wild World of Sports, right? Yeah. I is AAU still the best place you think to compete and get seen at colleges at a high level for, for youth sports? No. I, I don’t think it’s. It doesn’t have to be the best place. It doesn’t have to be the optimum place for you, because remember, It is finding a uh a system for your kids to be able to play basketball every day. Now, if they’re playing every day and they’re competing in their community and they have a place to go, and they have, I played, I became good because my dad was in the Air Force and I played on the weekends with him and all these grown men. You know, I played, if, if I compare percentage wise, AAU was probably. 10, 15% of my life growing up. You know, where you, I played once or twice, 11 summer and then I end up playing a couple more teams that summer. Because now I can showcase my skills, but I wasn’t coming to AAU to build my skills, to learn. My program now is hoping to help those kids build their skills so they can learn and fall in love with the game and then get better. And then you have the games to see how you stack up. But a lot of AAU programs, they’re just about what shoe you’re wearing, the uniforms, what tournaments you’re playing in. And we, as a, as a culture, we we we need to change that. We need kids to start learning the concepts of basketball and understanding. What it takes to be part of a team and then individually work on your own skill set. So, if you’re, I, and I, I don’t even like A kid that’s just playing, just doing all this skill development. I would rather them be out of the backyard playing 21 and playing 2 on 2 and 3 on 3 because now It’s unadulterated. You don’t have to you don’t have to fix these situations. They’re learning how to play basketball by just getting comfortable being in the backyard playing pickups. So that, that, that’s what I would say more than anything is just them playing. It’s funny how much the game has changed too just so recently, like I was looking at some of your stats today. Most threes you made in a season I saw was 269 and two Celtics almost did that this year. Uh, do you think we’ve gone too far with the evolution of the three-point shot and just how much of basketball is a math equation now? Well, threes are more than twos, um, the, these analytical guys will tell you that. Um, but I’ll say that. Not making a 3 isn’t better than making a layup or getting a mid-range shot where you’re getting 2 points. Um, traditionally, In in the NBA big men have always been the leading. The leaders in field goal percentage. Uh, you know, you could bank that literally and and and figuratively. So, over the course of the last couple of years, big men are no longer really have a presence in the game. So that’s a skill that we don’t see anymore. There used to be so much great dominance of bigs on the block, scoring post moves, and when you want a bucket down the stretch, you can go to your big man. Now it’s just shoot 3s. You just keep shooting threes, and that could be a hit or miss proposition. Um, and I think that that doomed the Celtics a lot this year. Uh, just, you know, just living and dying by the three-pointer. Um, but when you need a bucket, sometimes you just need a bucket and it’s gotta, you, you know, it’s gotta be a mid-range. You sometimes get to the hole, get a layup, and that builds offensive rhythm. So, I, I just think right now, analytically. I understand where they where where they come from, but. I, I just think right now, there’s too many players on the team shooting threes. And there’s no diversity in the game. As much as everybody can do it, it’s 5 out basketball, but there’s, there has to be more to it than just that. You know, and and the players today will tell you that the skill, they’re so much better than the players from the past. But I’ll show you. Terrell Brandon, uh, and these are guys I’ve played with, you know, Glenn Robinson. Uh, Ben Baker. Um, You know, those guys that were great mid-range scorers. Terrell was great in the pick and roll. Sam Cassell was great on the block. Um, you know, none of them guys shot threes at all, and they were so specific in their skill set, they could score and were problems out there on the floor. But now we don’t have that type of, those types of players anymore because we, we’ve sacrificed that skill for three-point shooting. And the 3 points, it’s a lot of great shooters in the league today, but there’s also a lot of bad shots taken, a lot of untimely, you know, 3s taken, which, you know, they’re gonna score more cause long term you shoot more 3s, but from a skill perspective, Now certain players aren’t uh uh making it to the league anymore because there’s no No post presence. Yeah, it’s, uh, it’s, it’s fascinating. My son down there. I wish I could say he’s wearing a Ray Allen jersey right now. He’s got, uh, Steph Curry on, but I, I, I was a big fan of your career, so I appreciate you taking time to do this with me today, man. Yeah, no problem. It was a pleasure. And good luck to your kids down there in the tournament. Yeah, thank you. Appreciate you.

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Rec Sports

Youth Sports Facilities Are Now Anchoring Billion-Dollar Real Estate Developments

Published

3 minutes ago

December 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Key Takeaways

The U.S. sports facilities market is valued at $36 billion today and is forecast to reach more than $260 billion by 2034, implying annual growth exceeding 20 percent
The Dynasty in Ocoee, Florida, carries a capital stack approaching $1 billion across 155 acres with 17 fields, 1,100 hotel rooms, and up to 500,000 square feet of retail space
Mesa’s Legacy Park project, anchored by Arizona Athletic Grounds, is entitled for 2,500 apartments, a 600-room hotel, 3.4 million square feet of office space, and 300,000 square feet of retail across 200 acres
Spectator sports tourism generated $47.1 billion in direct spending in 2024 and a total economic impact of $114.4 billion, with more than 109 million non-local attendees
Youth sports specialization has driven demand for year-round facilities, with the average number of sports per child dropping from two in 2019 to 1.6 in 2023

via: Travis Barrington – Propmodo

Youth sports facilities have moved beyond the edge-of-town field complex. Developers and cities are now treating tournament venues as anchors for mixed-use districts that include hotels, apartments, office campuses, and retail, creating what amounts to full neighborhoods organized around amateur athletics.

The economics behind the shift are substantial. Sports ETA research indicates youth and amateur sports generate more than $50 billion in direct spending annually. When combined with the broader spectator sports tourism market, which produced $47.1 billion in direct spending in 2024, the visitor volume and spending patterns now support real estate projects at scales typically reserved for downtown office towers or regional malls.

Florida Project Reaches $1 Billion Scale

Montierre Development is advancing The Dynasty in Ocoee, Florida, a privately funded complex on roughly 155 to 159 acres west of Orlando. The project includes 17 multi-sport fields, approximately 1,100 hotel rooms, multiple structured parking garages, and between 350,000 and 500,000 square feet of retail, dining, and entertainment space, plus a riverwalk along the site.

The capital stack approaches $1 billion. Construction is projected to support around 9,800 jobs, with roughly 5,000 permanent positions once operational. The estimated annual economic impact is $540 million.

Central Florida already hosts the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Disney and the Boombah Sports Complex. The Dynasty represents an evolution from those earlier tournament-focused venues toward a full mixed-use district where sports are the organizing principle but not the only use.

Mesa Development Positions Sports Complex as Traffic Generator

In Mesa, Arizona, the Arizona Athletic Grounds (formerly Legacy Sports Park) operates as a regional tournament destination on the city’s southeast edge. The facility draws millions of visitors annually across dozens of fields, courts, and indoor venues.

Directly across the street, developer Vestar and landowner Pacific Proving LLC are planning Legacy Park, a 200-acre, multibillion-dollar mixed-use project. At full buildout, Legacy Park is entitled for 2,500 multifamily units, a 600-key resort hotel, about 3.4 million square feet of midrise office and corporate campus space, and 300,000 square feet of retail and restaurants. The plan includes more than 20 acres of programmed open space organized around a central lake.

The sports complex is not an amenity added to an existing development plan. It is the original traffic generator that provides the mixed-use project with a built-in customer base of traveling families, college programs, and regional tournaments.

Hamilton Shows Adaptive Reuse Model

Spooky Nook Sports at Champion Mill in Hamilton, Ohio, demonstrates another version of sports-anchored development through adaptive reuse. The city partnered with a developer to convert a historic paper mill along the Great Miami River into what is described as the largest indoor sports complex in North America. The project includes a 200-room hotel, convention space, restaurants, a microbrewery, and medical offices within the adaptive reuse framework.

Since opening, the complex has contributed to a broader downtown resurgence. Hamilton’s budget documents and local coverage describe new small businesses in the urban core, riverfront public spaces, and nearby multifamily projects such as Rossville Flats with street-level retail. The tens of thousands of visiting athletes and families each season have provided customer traffic that supports additional commercial activity in the surrounding area.

Specialization Patterns Support Concentrated Facilities

The development model is supported by shifts in youth sports participation. Research from the Aspen Institute and the Sports & Fitness Industry Association shows youth participation in organized sports has stabilized after pandemic lows, but kids are playing fewer sports and specializing earlier. The average number of sports per child dropped from about two in 2019 to around 1.6 in 2023.

That specialization has produced year-round club calendars, which favor destinations that can host multiple tournaments simultaneously across several sports. Facilities with reliable weather, quality infrastructure, and sufficient nearby hotel inventory can generate consistent shoulder-season demand that traditional seasonal field complexes cannot match.

Public-Private Structures Address Capital Requirements

The development economics remain complex despite compelling visitor numbers. A single tournament weekend might fill thousands of room nights and generate meaningful restaurant, retail, and fuel spending, but the underlying real estate requires significant upfront capital. Sports facilities carry high costs for land acquisition, design, and construction, along with long payback periods.

Most ambitious youth sports districts involve some combination of municipal land contribution, tourism improvement districts, tax-sharing agreements, and revenue participation structures. The Dynasty in Ocoee includes a development agreement where the city assembled a large portion of the site and negotiated road improvements, dedicated parking revenues, and a per-key hotel fee flowing back to the municipality.

In Hamilton, the Champion Mill project sits within a broader riverfront strategy that includes new trails, public art, and infill housing. The city views the complex as a long-term tax base and placemaking asset rather than a single facility transaction.

Strategic Implications for Developers and Municipalities

For developers and municipalities evaluating youth sports facilities, the opportunity extends beyond weekend tourism bumps. When a sports campus can reliably generate multi-day stays, repeat annual visitation, and demand during typically slow periods, it begins to support the fundamentals of a real neighborhood. That includes hotels, restaurants, service retail, and eventually housing for workers seeking proximity to employment centers.

The approach carries execution risk. Traffic impacts and neighborhood opposition can delay or reduce project scope. Overreliance on a single operator or sport leaves developments exposed to shifts in league calendars or club preferences. Secondary uses need consideration early in planning. Can a fieldhouse accommodate concerts? Can tournament housing convert to extended-stay formats in the offseason? Can parking structures support future EV charging or partial conversion to other uses?

The U.S. sports facilities market is forecast to scale from $36 billion today to more than $260 billion by 2034. The most significant projects in that growth may not be standalone mega-arenas but places where youth and amateur sports are integrated into full mixed-use environments. Cities and developers increasingly treat youth sports not as occasional programming but as durable, programmatic anchors comparable to how hospitals, universities, and professional arenas have historically organized mixed-use districts.

photo: Icon Architecture

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About Youth Sports Business Report

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Our expert editorial team provides authoritative, in-depth reporting on key youth sports industry verticals including:

Sports sponsorship and institutional capital (Private Equity, Venture Capital)
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Whether you’re a sports industry executive, institutional investor, youth sports parent, coach, or sports business enthusiast, Youth Sports Business Report is your most reliable source for the actionable sports business insights you need to stay ahead of youth athletics trends and make informed decisions in the rapidly evolving youth sports landscape.

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Rec Sports

Youth Sports Dec. 10, 2025

Published

11 minutes ago

December 10, 2025

Your Sports Nation

• BOWLING

Sunset Bowling Center

Bumpers

High Scratch Game Boys: Simon Mueller – 49

High Scratch Game Girls: Charlie McClellan – 62; Talissa Palmer – 43; Arden Butherus – 28

Bantams

High Scratch Game Boys: Karter Plowman – 63; Andrew Mueller – 47; Monte Strohl – 41

High Scratch Game Girls: Lylah Baheza – 27

Preps

High Scratch Game Boys: Noah Brubaker – 141; Joe Ovendale – 139; Luke Barkl – 123; Cato Cox – 123

High Scratch Game Girls: Tori Graff – 122; Ashlynn Harris – 94; Mila Butherus – 83; Evony Hastings – 83

Juniors

High Scratch Game Boys: Matthew Chavez – 248; Tristan Cord – 241; Caden Bates – 232

High Scratch Game Girls: Rosy Gallegos – 224; Katie Dewey – 196; Drew Hammond – 184

Other 200+ Games: Tristan Cord – 214. & 213; Rosy Gallegos – 210; Matthew Chavez – 203; Harrison Hunter – 203; Isaiah Pennock – 203; Derek Davison – 203; Kenton Still – 203

600+ Series: Tristan Cord – 668; Matthew Chavez – 644; Rosy Gallegos- 618

• SPIRIT LAKE PARKS AND RECREATION

Basketball

K-2nd Grades

Super 1 Foods: Mavrik Hester 2-points, Colt Trowbridge 1-point, Layla Heyden 5-points

Northern Lights Family Counseling: Gabe Merrill 3-points, Lillee Dippolito 4-points

Zs Enterprises: Addilynn Gurnard 9-points, Boidan Wessling 6-points

Lash Savy: Luke Jones 2-points, Carson Cooper 1-point, Bailey Johnson 3-points, Addyson Bradetich 1point, Ella Allen 1-point.

3rd/4th Grade

Boys

Bayview Marina: (Wed. 12-3) Owen Heyden 2- points, Easton Reyes 4-points, Henry Richter 4-points (Sat. 12-6) Kian Aga 2-points, Charlie Salie 4-points

• RATHDRUM PARKS AND RECREATION

Basketball

Kindergarten Basketball

League Sponsored By: PNW Drywall

PNW Drywall vs. Nail Pops

PNW Drywall: Elijah W (Eli) Wilhelm (6), Benjamin Guiffrida (2), Michael Boissoneau Jr. (26)

Nail Pops: Jace McMurray (8), Roman Bean (2)

Tiny Tapers vs. Mini Mudders

Tiny Tapers: Brighton Rondas (2), Kacie Stephens-Fox (2), Kayson Anderson (2), Cameron Lancaster (4), Halle Lauderdale (6)

Mini Mudders: Jameson Hammond (8), Mason Garnham (6), Timon Bird (4)

1st Grade Basketball

League Sponsored By: Les Schwab Tires – Rathdrum

Road Rascals vs. Neon Nitro

Road Rascals: Easton Zielinski (4), Roman Packer (2), Jonathan Kettle (6), Xavier Hiebert (12), Savannah Thompson (2)

Neon Nitro: Brody Novak (2), Colton Wolff (4), Grant Porter (10)

Burnouts vs. Tred Warriors

Burnouts: Kaylee Howe (8), Zach Clark (4), Theodore Snodgrass (2)

Tread Warriors: Benjamin McLane (2), Scarlett Sitar (6), Huxley Cowan (2)

Lugnut Legends vs. Road Runners

Lugnut Legends: Tucker Sigler (6). Ryder Ireland (2)

Road Runners: Barrett Thompson (2), Cooper Behmer (2), Carter Hamilton (2)

2nd Grade Basketball

League Sponsored By: Mountain View Vet Clinic

Critter Crew vs. Healing Hoopers

Critter Crew: Danielle Prutsman (4), Wilderness Mobbs (2), Camryn Reimche (6), Aiden Ketzenberg (10)

Healing Hoopers: Kamden Carter (6), Tia Rinaldi (2), Tobin Bird (6), Gianna Dahlin (2), June Sapp (2)

Vet Vipers vs. Bark Side

Vet Vipers: Ember Weitz (14), Ridge South (2), Brooks Walker (12), Caeden Bosch (2), Evan Sheppard (6), Holland Bechtel (8)

Bark Side: Xander Hall (4)

Beast Mode vs. Jungle Jammers

Beast Mode: Asher Nordstrom (4), Keeley Moody (14)

Jungle Jammers: Avery Anderson (2), Madison Lauderdale (2), Ellie Howell (2), Tristan Palmer (4), Eli McFadden (4)

Vet Vipers vs. Bark Side

Young’s Family Foundation: Reagan Bauer (2), Penny Gilbert (2), Esther Mihara (4)

Les Schwab: Paxlyn Beaver (2), Hazel Busch (2), Ariyah Lonestar (4), Charlotte Sogge (4)

3rd & 4th Grade Girls Basketball

Young’s Family Foundation vs. Les Schwab

Young’s Family Foundation: Reagan Bauer (2), Penny Gilbert (2), Esther Mihara (4)

Les Schwab: Paxlyn Beaver (2), Hazel Busch (2), Ariyah Lonestar (4), Charlotte Sogge (4)

Outreach Eats vs. NextHome Cornerstone Realty

Outreach Eats: Adeline Losee (8), Grace Howell (4), MaliaJayn Rippey (2), Adalynn Briles (2)

NextHome Cornerstone Realty: Daisy Ash (10), Alayna Sternberg (6), Norah Barnhouse (2)

Les Schwab vs. Young’s Family Foundation

Les Schwab: Paxlyn Beaver (6), Charlotte Sogge (2)

Young’s Family Foundation: Reagan Bauer (2), Esther Mihara (16)

3rd & 4th Grade Boys Basketball

CW Construction vs. Alpha Anglers

CW Construction: Cole Mayfield (1), Malachi Wilhelm (8), Hudson Hildesheim (2), Chase Hallas (2), Kallum Straw (8), Liam Reed (2)

Alpha Anglers: Connor Nelson (6), Brian Tompkins (2)

Les Schwab vs. John Brown Transport

Les Schwab: Jotham Raiche (6), Tayvin Sims (8), Blake Singleton (2), Wyatt Drake (4)

John Brown Transport: Caustin Fencl (2), Hawkin Chiciac (6), Ridge Powers (14), Zackaree Hester (2), Noah Davis (8)

• HAYDEN RECREATION AND COMMUNITY EVENTS

Basketball

Dec. 6

PRE K-K

Affordable Restoration: Cora Couzens-2 pts; Hagen Peugh-4 pts; Henry Ratcliff-2 pts

Architects West: Barrett Turley-4 pts

CDA Clean Team: Camden Anderson-22 pts; Beau Watson-12 pts

Chomper Café: Carter Astin-2 pts; Cori Dudley-6 pts; Jonsey Paul-4 pts

Edward Jones: Brody Rickel-8 pts

Heli-1 Corporation: Keenan Fowler-9 pts; Ethan Aiman-9 pts

Hot Shots: Kinley Morrison-8 pts; Jack Richardson-4 pts; Kian Farnworth-2 pts

Jacklin Northwest: Crosby Simons-8 pts; Brooks Mohawk-2 pts; Bridger Jacklin-6 pts; Porter Forsmann-4 pts

Lakeside Pediatrics: Ezekiel Mouanoutoua-4 pts; Hank Pittman-16 pts; Raegan Greve-2 pts

McDonald’s: Bernie Bauer-12 pts

NexTitle: Devin Cole-10 pts; Ezra Skala-2 pts; Ansel Young-2 pts

RMED Attorneys at Law: Fox Selbe-5 pts; Henry Symbal-3 pts

Saccone Electric: Trenton Adkinson-4 pts; Rowan Magrath-2 pts; Margot Saccone-4 pts

Saturday Night Inc: Brixton Clelland-2 pts; Greyson Young-10 pts

Slick Rock Tanning & Spa: Wesley Dahl-8 pts; Luke Drake-12 pts; River Price-16 pts

St. Joseph’s ENT: Annabelle Gardner-4 pts; Levi Forbush-8 pts

Super 1 Foods: Gus Pfinsgraff-4 pts; Brooks Shriner-4 pts; Graham Shriner-8 pts; John Lalanne-2 pts

True North Heating & Cooling: Eli Jereczek-4 pts;

Tumble Stone: Dalton Hilton-20 pts; Ruby Williams- 2 pts

Widmyer Corporation: Bennett Grambeau-4 pts; Josie Widmyer-4 pts

1st/2nd Girls

Belle’s Brunch House: Callie Brown-6 pts; Brielle Enyeart-10 pts; Everly Fraize-8 pts; Stella Richards-2 pts

Brunch Box: Avery Feagans-4 pts; Charlie Hubiak-8 pts; Landrey Ralston-28 pts; Cora Looney-6 pts

Coeur d’Alene Kids Dental: Coeur d’Alene Kids Dental: Davida Jo Basye-Reed-8 pts; Emma Burton-4 pts; Oaklie Shannon-16 pts

Dairy Queen: Mckinley Baughton-2 pts; Charlotte Lalanne-8 pts; Annie Richardson-8 pts

Daum Construction: Lola Daum-4 pts; Jade Hephner-14 pts; Joleigh Hoel-18 pts; Keeley Hofer-2 pts

Dr. Dance Dentistry for Kids: Kennedy Brown-14 pts; Rylee McCracken-6 pts; SierraMay Phillips-38 pts

Hippo Car Wash: Willa Gardner-6 pts; Andi Mitchell-6 pts; Octavia Tewalt-14 pts

Jordan Woodcraft: Molly Cohee-2 pts; Maxine Hogan-12 pts; Arwen Jackson-2 pts; Sydney Lutes-4 pts; Presley Saint-18 pts

1st/2nd Boys

ACI Northwest: Bear Gustafson-4 pts; Oliver Mensch-6 pts; Rockwell Peck-2 pts; Axel Zbinden-10 pts

Dr. Dance Dentistry for Kids: Kaden Buynak-6 pts; Taytum Davis-6 pts; Beau Barkley-2 pts

Evergroom Mobile Pet Grooming: Bentley Fiestam-10 pts; Averett Harkema-12 pts; Mason Fietsam-2 pts; Nixon Sinn-8 pts; Klyde Thompson-2 pts

Eye Guys Optical: Dawson Leary-18 pts; Miller Meeks-10 pts; Zeke Rathbun-4 pts; Anthony Lambert-2 pts; Caleb Peterson-6 pts

FirstLight Home Care: Grey Leggat-26 pts; Jacob Otto-14 pts; Parker Hampton-2 pts; Colton Cole-4 pts

Fred’s Plumbing: Henley Pospisil-10 pts; Carter Stotz-2 pts

Home Savvy: Dalton Rowland-3 pts; Waylon Webb-3 pts; Brody Corbeill-1 pts; Ryker Bartoo-9 pts

Interstate Concrete and Asphalt: Everett Feagans-14 pts; Patrick Jennings-8 pts; Garrett Kling-8 pts; Max Warker-12 pts

Lancaster Market: Liam Knutson-8 pts; Max McCracken-8 pts; Asher Wilson-2 pts

McDonald’s: Abram Kruger-4 pts; Cooper Swanson-14 pts; Henry Barnett-2 pts; Aiden Aschenbrener-2 pts

Mountain West Bank: Tommy Erickson-18 pts; Lane Palmer-10 pts; Owen Palmer-12 pts; Wells Price-20 pts; Porter Smith-2 pts; Zane Spencer-6 pts

New Leaf Nursery: Luca Clark-20 pts; Maddox Hite-2 pts; Brayden Rosenblum-8 pts; Tobias Velasquez-2 pts

NuVu Property Management: Reece Agostinelli-6 pts; Colt Brown-2 pts; Zack Hill-2 pts; Easton Hofer-10 pts; Cy Pittman- 4 pts

Polar Excavation: Owen Davis-4 pts; Leo Reyes-8 pts; Bennie Bauer-4 pts; Andrew Alberton-8 pts

Ramco Custom Construction: Bode Dale-6 pts; Jameson Fore-10 pts; Rocco Ramierz-4 pts; Karson Tonsgard-10 pts

SCJ Alliance: Michael Basye-Reed-4 pts; Sawyer Hodgson-14 pts; Jrue Galvin-2 pts

Scott Smith Homes Team: Eli Irwin-6 pts; Barrett Mason-6 pts; Konrad Schneidmiller-6 pts; Kylar Smith-4 pts

Slick Rock Tanning & Spa: Jackson Airman-18 pts; Leandro Seeds-4 pts

Super 1 Foods: Bentley Hatley-2 pts; Asa Tarbutton-4 pts

• GYMNASTICS

Avant Coeur

Boys

Dec. 6-7

Cold Turkey Meet

Metropolitan Gymnastics

Kent, Wash.

Level 5

Jakob Clinton tied for 1st on Pommel with a 8.700 and took 5th on Vault with a 8.8

Level 7

Yakym Teteria took 1st on Floor with a 11.900, 1st on Rings with a 11.000, 2nd on PBars with a 10.800, 1st on High Bar with a 10.000 and 1st All Around with a 62.700

Level 8

Preston Pool took 7th on Pommel with a 9.000

Level 9

Ethan Laughery took 6th on Rings with a 10.100 and took 2nd on PBars with an 11.100

Koda Wolfe had a high of 7.600 on Pommel

Level 10

Dylan Abrahamson-Fernandez tied for 5th on Floor with a 11.700, took 5th on PBars with a

10.400, 4th on High Bar with a 9.800 and 4th All Around with a 58.300

Dylan Coulson tied for 5th on FLoor with a 11.700, took 2nd on Rings with a 12.800 and took

2nd on High Bar with a 10.000

Lance Mosher had a high of 11.100 on Floor, took 4th on PBars with a 10.500 and 5th on High Bar with a 9.300

Conan Tapia took 4th on Floor with a 11.500, 1st on Rings with a 12.200, 2nd on PBars with a 10.600, 1st on High Bar with a 11.200 and 2nd All Around with a 66.10

Submit items for youth and non-varsity high school sports by noon Tuesday for publication Wednesday. Email stories and photos (in .jpg format) to [email protected].

Information: 208-664-8176, Ext. 1205

Courtesy photo Avant Coeur Gymnastics Boys Level 7-10s placed third as a team at the Cold Turkey meet in Kent, Wash. In the front row from left are Yakym Teteria, Preston Pool, Dylan Coulson and Koda Wolfe; and back row from left, Dylan Abrahamson-Fernandez, Lance Mosher, Ethan Laughery and Conan Tapia.

Courtesy photo Avant Coeur Gymnastics Level 5 Jakob Clinton, right, with coach Jon Malstrom at the Cold Turkey Meet in Kent, Wash.

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December 10, 2025

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Philadelphia youth football coach speaks out after teens arrested – NBC10 Philadelphia

Published

7 hours ago

December 10, 2025

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Eight Philly teens are back home after being charged with felonies in Florida for stealing more than $2,000 worth of merchandise from a Dick’s Sporting Goods over the weekend.

The teens were in Polk County, Florida, for a youth football championship game, when they allegedly walked into the store in Davenport and tried to get away with stealing dozens of items.

One of their coaches, Raekwon Bynes, spoke exclusively with NBC10 Investigators on Tuesday and explained what happened.

Bynes has been the offensive coordinator for the Olney-based United Thoroughbreds for six years, said the teens have to face the consequences for their actions.

“We strive on discipline, prayer and schoolwork too,” Bynes said.

Bynes said he went to go wake the boys up for prayer when he found that eight of them were not in their beds.

A group of eight Philly teenagers who were in Polk County, Florida, to play a youth football championship game were arrested for stealing more than $2,000 worth of merchandise from a Dick’s Sporting Goods, law enforcement said on Monday.

“I got a phone call simultaneously saying that, ‘Hey coach, can you come get us from from Dick Sporting Goods?’ And when I got there, that’s when I found out everything that was going on,” Bynes recalled.

Polk County Sheriff deputies had taken the teens into custody and were accusing them of stealing more than $2,000 in sports merchandise from the local store.

The Polk County Sheriff, Grady Judd, released surveillance video that allegedly shows the teens stealing from the store.

“They stole, and they stole, and they stole, and they stole, and they stole,” Judd said at a press conference. “Yeah. How do you like that? This is everything that they stole.”

Bynes said he was disappointed with the teens’ actions and asked the deputies and store owner not to press charges, but the teens now face felony retail theft charges.

“I just hope that they take this as a lesson learned, you know, and realize that like actions have consequences and actions also affect not just you but those around you,” Bynes said.

The teens arrested were not able to play in the championship set for that Saturday night, which the Thoroughbreds ended up losing.

After the game, Bynes and the other coaches drove their players back to Philly.

“They didn’t really share much with me. Just because, like again, when a kid is knows that he did wrong, they’re disappointing themselves and they can’t, you can’t, even really look at me in my face, really,” Bynes said.

It’s unclear when the teens will have a court date next in Florida. NBC10 reached out to the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice, but have not heard back.

Bynes said the teens arrested are no longer on the team because they both aged out and also as a consequence of their actions.

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Columbus Youth Sports Wins the Superbowl

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8 hours ago

December 10, 2025

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The Columbus Youth Sports Cardinals football team has captured its first championship in the post-merger era.

They defeated the Rice Youth Sports Raiders by a score of 30-26 in a very exciting Superbowl game.

“It was a championship game that was played like a championship game should be played,” CYS Cardinals Head Coach Royce Caldwell said.

The game went back and forth with each team finding the endzone early and often. Caldwell said his defense was finally able to make a couple of stops to help them extend their lead.

Caldwell continued to say that Rice was a familiar foe but they were hands down their toughest games this year.

“We played them once already this year and beat them 44-20 and we knew they were going to come back to the Superbowl ready to play, and they gave us a really good game,” CYS Cardinals Head Coach Royce Caldwell said. “Hats off to them too because they had about 16 players and they gave us our toughest games all season and that shows how dedicated their kids and coaches are.”

In addition to winning the Superbowl, the CYS Cardinals also posted a perfect 13-0 record on their way to the championship. They were able to win so many games because their offense was unstoppable as they outscored opponents this season by a combined score of 524-146 across 13 games.

That is also a testament to their defense as they continued to suffocate teams even though they had a large lead. Caldwell said despite their strong defense and offense the only time they trailed this season was against Rice.

Caldwell said that this friendly but competitive rivalry between Rice and Columbus is the same at the youth level. With bragging rights on the line, everyone brings their best game.

With the Superbowl Championship in their hands after the game, Caldwell made sure his team stayed focused because their football journey was just beginning.

“I told my 6th graders that things only get harder from here and they got a taste of learning football now they have to go and apply in a more structured system,” Caldwell said. “My 5th graders already stepped up and played key roles for us this season, so I told them that I expect them to step up again next season and lead this team because I know they can.”

The CYS Cardinals won the Superbowl, but this was a major win for every child, coach and parent involved this season, and everyone turned in amazing reviews about the first season in the post-merger era.

Columbus Youth Sports Cardinals Head Coach Royce Caldwell gets the water jug dumped on him after winning the Championship. Courtesy photo

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8 Philadelphia youth football team players charged with stealing from Dick’s Sporting Goods in Florida

Published

8 hours ago

December 10, 2025

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Eight members of a Philadelphia youth football team were charged with felonies after allegedly stealing more than $2,000 worth of merchandise from a Dick’s Sporting Goods in Florida last weekend.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office announced the eight teenagers were charged with retail theft over $750 and conspiracy to commit retail theft in connection with the alleged incident that happened Saturday. The teens’ ages ranged from 13 to 15 years old.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the theft was caught on surveillance video.

The teens split up into two groups during the theft at Dick’s Sporting Goods — one of the groups made a purchase and then met the other in the middle of the store. That’s when the teens began to place stolen merchandise inside a Dick’s Sporting Goods bag, according to the sheriff’s office.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said three of the teens exited Dick’s Sporting Goods with the stolen merchandise and were detained by law enforcement. The sheriff’s office said they found stolen merchandise inside a black backpack and a Dick’s Sporting Goods bag. The five other teenagers were arrested inside the store.

According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the eight teens were in Davenport, Florida, which is south of Orlando, to play in the Prolifix Nationals tournament with the United Thoroughbreds, a Philly youth football team. They were unable to play in the championship game of the tournament scheduled for later that day, according to the sheriff’s office.

The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said the eight teens didn’t have any prior criminal history, according to the Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center.

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