Rec Sports

Ashwaubenon man inspiring change among youth athletes with ‘4th N Long’ brand

Published

7 months ago

May 24, 2025

ASHWAUBENON (NBC 26) — A well-known football term is becoming a catalyst for change in the lives of many young athletes in the Green Bay area.

Avery Rhenwrick, an Ashwaubenon native, has transformed his passion for football into a mission to help young athletes overcome financial barriers through his clothing brand “4th N Long” and nonprofit “4th N Goal.”

“Being in the city, seeing the fans surround the team of the Packers is kind of what brought me the passion of the game,” Rhenwrick said.

The 28-year-old’s own football journey was cut short by injuries.

After breaking his shoulder during his freshman year of high school and suffering another injury the following year, Rhenwrick decided to leave the sport.

“At the time I was like, I’ll find another way to be around the game someway, somehow,” Rhenwrick said.

In 2020, he established his clothing brand “4th N Long” after recognizing that many families couldn’t afford the costs associated with youth sports.

“And that really hit home to me, coming from a single mother household myself, it was a struggle to play when I was younger,” Rhenwrick said.

Through 4th N Long, Rhenwrick uses 20% of proceeds to fund sports-related costs for young athletes.

The brand name carries special significance.

“I felt like it fit perfectly. Not only to the kids we’re helping but also in life in general,” Rhenwrick said.

In football, “4th and long” refers to a team needing to gain a significant amount of yards to get a first down, requiring belief even when facing a difficult task.

In 2023, Rhenwrick launched 4th N Goal, a nonprofit that serves young athletes like fourth graders Anshawn Skenandore and Kingston Haas, who both dream of playing professionally and giving back to their communities.

“Since I was four, that’s when I started playing football. I got cut but I never stopped,” Skenandore said.

“My goal is to always trust in God and go the route He’s taking me. I want the next generation to be great just like the generation of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Brett Favre,” Haas said.

Rhenwrick’s work extends to football camps hosted by 4th N Goal.

His efforts earned him the title of “2024 Young Entrepreneur of the Year” by the Greater Green Bay Chamber.

“I want them to look at me as somebody, that came from Green Bay — that had a dream, that had a passion for something which is sports, and was able to find a way to make a difference in that avenue,” Rhenwrick said.

The 4th N Goal annual youth football camp will be held on May 31 at East High School starting at 11 a.m.

Kids in attendance will have the opportunity to learn from and meet Packers lineman Elgton Jenkins.
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This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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FSC Athletics Update – December 16

Published

8 minutes ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

FARMINGDALE, N.Y. | The Skyline Conference and New Jersey Athletic Conference released their weekly winter reports Monday, and Farmingdale State College men’s indoor track and field freshman Ethan Zacarolli (Hillsdale, N.Y.) was selected as the NJAC’s Field Athlete of the Week after a school record-setting performance in the heptathlon, while men’s basketball senior guard Sean Conroy (Staten Island, N.Y.) was tabbed on the Skyline’s honorable mention listing.

Indoor Track and Field | NJAC Men’s Report | NJAC Women’s Report

The Rams’ men’s and women’s teams competed Friday and Saturday at the Art Kadish Elm City Challenge in New Haven, Conn., and Zacarolli set a FSC record with his winning total of 4,550 points in the heptathlon. His total surpassed Nicholas Lourenco’s previous record of 4,038 points, which was set in 2023.

Farmingdale State returns to action on January 9, when it travels to the Ocean Breeze complex in Staten Island, N.Y., for the St. Thomas Aquinas Spartan Invitational at noon.

Men’s Basketball (8-2, 1-0 Skyline) | Skyline Report

FSC earned a pair of wins on the week, capturing an 87-72 home victory Wednesday versus regional mainstay Swarthmore (Pa.) College, before opening up Skyline play with an 83-66 decision Saturday at SUNY Old Westbury.

Conroy earned honorable mention praise after averaging 19 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game while shooting 50 percent from the floor and 3-point range over the two-game stretch. Included in his totals was a season-high 24-point showing midweek versus the Garnet.

The Rams are back in action January 3 (Sat.), when they play host to St. Joseph’s-Brooklyn in a 2 p.m. tip-off. Prior to the contest, the team will welcome youth basketball players as part of its annual CYO Day.

Women’s Basketball (5-4, 4-3 Skyline) | Skyline Report

Farmingdale State has now won three-straight Skyline Conference games, as it defeated Mount Saint Vincent on the road Tuesday, 65-53, before downing Old Westbury at home by a 66-48 count on Saturday. Sophomore Emily Tsiforas (Manhasset Hills, N.Y.) scored a career-high 22 points on the weekend against the Panthers, sinking 10 of her 15 field goals – including both of her 3-point attempts.

The Rams’ next two games will be on the road and conclude their regular-season non-conference slate. FSC travels to John Jay for a 6 p.m. tip-off Tuesday night, before returning in the new year for a noontime start on January 3 (Sat.) at Hunter.

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Osage Beach Responds To Outcry Over Baseball Field Demolition | Lake Of The Ozarks Politics & Government

Published

7 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

OSAGE BEACH, Mo. — Construction has begun, with plans for a new playground and splash pad at Osage Beach’s Peanick Park on Highway 42. However, the city’s plan to remove the small baseball field at the front of the park to make way for the playground and splash pad caught was an unpleasant surprise for some.

Exciting changes ahead for Peanick Park!

2026 is a busy year for the Parks Department! The new playground is just the first phase of coming improvements to Peanick, with more coming through the year.

This week we say goodbye to a baseball field that’s seen decades of play. So many memories were made here and we’re grateful for every practice, inning, dropped ball and home run.

We’re also very excited for what’s ahead! This space will soon become home to new park amenities that will bring our community even more ways to gather, play, and enjoy Peanick Park.

Here’s to honoring our past while building something brand new and laying the groundwork for what’s to come in Peanick Park!

The best memories are just waiting to be made!

Not everyone seemed to think the changes were exciting, and — from the reaction in the comments to that and subsequent posts — many community members were surprised and disappointed by the decision to tear-out the old ballfield.

In an interview with LakeExpo, Mayor Michael Harmison — an avid baseball fan — agreed the City could have handled communications better, pointing out what the Facebook post did not include was a rendering and explanation of the large playground and splash pad the City would be installing where the ballfield once stood.

The proposal for that playground and splash pad had been met with excitement in the community, with the City putting out a survey to the public, offering three different playground design options and opting for the one that got the most votes. However, it appears many people assumed the design could fit at Peanick Park without impacting the ball field.

Harmison says the City still plans to continue its recreational youth baseball/softball programs next year, utilizing the three fields at City Park as well as the lower field (Field 2) at Peanick Park. He says the City chose to demolish Field 1 at Peanick Park because its 200-foot fence depth made it the least useful for youth baseball, making it suitable mostly as a practice field or only for t-ball/coach pitch games. The t-ball and coach pitch programs will be moved to Field 2 in 2026, he said, with no impact to those programs.

However, some local coaches say they already have a tough time reserving one of the city’s five fields during the busy spring baseball/softball season, and they worry this will only make it worse.

Harmison says the City’s 2023 Parks Master Plan did include the demolition of Peanick. That plan was approved by the City Board of Aldermen and was based on community input.

On March 11, 2024, LakeExpo reported on the City’s plan to develop the new playground where the upper ball field currently stood. However, the community was still clearly caught off-guard.

Three longtime youth baseball coaches — Paul Dulle, Kevin Meglan, and Brock Heerdt — said they were surprised when the City began removing the fencing around Field 1 earlier this month.

“This is honestly the first I heard of this,” Dulle said.

Meglan added that he had heard of a plan to demolish one or both fields at Peanick, but he never heard that anything had been finalized.

“I think it’s an awful decision,” said Heerdt, who manages LOZ Sports Training — a youth sports training facility just a few homeruns away from Peanick Park. “It’s going to hurt a lot. Would I love to see a bigger better park for my kids somewhere? Of course! But not at the expense of a field that is in constant use.”

The work at Peanick Park is part of a three-phase plan.

Phase 1 – New Playground

• Approved & equipment arrives mid-December

• Installation begins soon after

• Park staff prepping the site now

Phase 2 – New Pavilion

• Approved & scheduled to begin in January

• Will provide shaded gathering and event space

Phase 3 – Splash Pad & Parking Expansion (2027)

• Medium-sized splash pad planned

• Additional parking

• Pending Board approval & funding

The City has given significant attention to its park and public recreation facilities this year, having made the following improvements at City Park — the other, larger park owned and operated by Osage Beach:

• Work began on the new Hatchery Ridge Trail in November (completion expected in spring 2026)

• Dragon Hatchery Disc Golf Course completed

• Sand volleyball courts reopened

• Watercraft rental & batting cages were added

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Stempien to seek opening for Branch County Circuit Court Judge | WTVB | 1590 AM · 95.5 FM

Published

7 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Stempien to seek opening for Branch County Circuit Court Judge | WTVB | 1590 AM · 95.5 FM | The Voice of Branch County

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Parks and Recreation Programs for Teens

Published

7 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

<br /> <br /> Parks and Recreation Programs for Teens | Greensboro, NC <br /> <br />

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Bellingham players reignite adult co-ed flag football action with monthly games

Published

7 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Flag football has been one of the fastest-growing youth sports in the country over the last decade. In Whatcom County, it’s played at six high schools, youth flag football leagues and intramural leagues at Western Washington University.

However, the sport has struggled to maintain its popularity with adults around the county. Some players meet through Reddit groups and play at the local fields, but the popularity has dropped since COVID-19.

When Matthew Colston, 32, moved from Oak Harbor to Bellingham in 2022, he hoped to reignite the popularity of flag football for everyone.

“I want to provide an opportunity for people who don’t want to worry about being hurt,” Colston said. “We don’t play that hard but we have a good time, and it is supposed to revolve around people’s lives.”

Matthew Colston, center, points out the field of play boundaries ahead of a flag football game. (Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)

Colston runs the Adult Co-ed Bellingham Flag Football group, which typically plays on the fourth Saturday of each month. Colston made it co-ed so it could be open for all members of the Bellingham community.

“People who are typically not represented in sports are women in men’s sports and people in the LGBTQ community,” Colston said. “Building a group that is friendly to them is a top priority to me so they can feel safe playing sports.”

Colston’s flag football members play at one of the Bellingham high schools or Civic Stadium. On Saturday, Oct. 25, 10 people gathered at Civic Stadium to play a lighthearted match — and about half of the players were women.

Two of those women were Liz O’Rourke and her daughter-in-law, Xisela O’Rourke-Guerrero.

Liz O’Rourke carries the ball as Matthew Colston tries to pull a flag. (Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)

“I’m new to the community and want to get into some activities,” O’Rouke said. “The easiest way as a newcomer is to get out of the house and meet new people.”

O’Rourke, 50, was one of the oldest members competing. Although she was outmatched at times, she still played a pivotal role during a few offensive drives.

“Everybody gave us chances to make plays,” O’Rourke said. “They didn’t make any assumptions that we couldn’t do anything. To be included feels great and everyone was extremely nice and here to have fun.”

The co-ed flag football group is a drop-in event where community members can show up and play without registering or paying anything. The group plays for about two hours when they meet up.

Players are split up evenly, the field is shortened to 40 yards long, about half of the width of a normal football field. Games consist of two 20-minute halves.

There are a few differences compared to tackle football. Instead of trying to get first downs, each team has four attempts to reach the 20-yard line and then four attempts to score. If a ball is fumbled, the play is dead, but an interception can be returned for a touchdown.

Keenan Wilkinson laughs after getting his flag pulled. (Finn Wendt/Cascadia Daily News)

Contact or blocks from offensive players is not allowed. Instead of kicking extra points, teams can go for one point from the 3-yard line or two points from the 5-yard line.

“It was very fun, open and free flowing,” O’Rourke-Guerrero said. “Nobody is too serious about it but there is still some competition. Football is historically a male sport so I am grateful to feel welcomed here.”

As the game finished, Colston and others reflected on their time playing and the memorable moments they created with each other.

“Most people have boring days,” Colston said. “We are giving them a Saturday where they are the superstar they always wanted to be and make somebody confident in their abilities.”

The co-ed flag football group currently draws around six to 20 players each month. As the group becomes settled in the community, Colston’s next goal is to make a league of a few teams.

“It doesn’t have to be a big league, but we play a few games in a month,” Colston said. “I would like to find someone to officiate, too, so we don’t put that pressure on the players or captains.”

Until Colston gets that opportunity, he will continue to bring flags, footballs and smiles to the community each month.

“It was very cool to not have any restrictions,” O’Rourke said. “You just run around, have fun and try to get the ball. I’ll definitely be back because it was fun.”

Anyone interested in learning more or joining the Adult Coed Bellingham Flag Football group can contact Colston via text at 360-499-6140, or by email at mfcolston2224@gmail.com.

Nick Zeller-Singh is CDN’s sports editor; reach him at nickzellersingh@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 104.

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First responders help kids with Christmas shopping | News, Sports, Jobs

Published

7 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Photo by Deb Gau
Lyon County Sheriff Eric Wallen and Ka’Mari Deuel browse bookshelves as Deuel searched for the perfect holiday gifts for her family.

MARSHALL — Emergency responders helped make the holidays merry for area families this weekend.

On Sunday, young people teamed up with law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical responders to go shopping for gifts for their families.

“Every year, we’re excited,” Ryan Anthony said., He is one of the organizers of this year’s “Holidays with Heroes” event.

Anthony said it was good to see the response to the event each year, especially the number of emergency responders volunteering.

“They’re putting their time aside for this,” he said.

Organizers said the goal for this year’s Holidays with Heroes was to help provide gifts for about 11 to 13 families. Youth and emergency responders were given a budget, and went shopping for holiday gifts for each of their family members. Afterward, responders also lent a hand wrapping the presents.

Holidays with Heroes has been going on for about five years in Marshall. Downtown Sound Entertainment, the Marshall Walmart, and agencies like the State Patrol, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Marshall Police, Marshall Fire Department and North Memorial Ambulance all worked together to help organize the event. Support from the community is also key to making Holidays with Heroes happen, said Leah Anthony, one of the event organizers.

“The support is amazing. I think it spreads a little more each year,” she said.

The teams of kids and emergency responders each had different shopping strategies as they headed out through the aisles at Walmart. Some knew just what they were looking for, while others had to think a bit. The fun part was “figuring out what to buy,” said Kash Novelli.

Tatem Fennell said he knew what he wanted to get for each of his family members.

“I just took it off their Christmas lists,” he said.

“I knew the big presents I wanted to get for my mom and sister,” Ka’mari Deuel said.

She said she was looking forward to seeing her family unwrapping the presents.

“I just feel I’m happy to give it to them on Christmas,” she said.

In addition to spreading holiday cheer, one of the other good things about Holidays with Heroes is that it gives kids a chance to meet emergency responders in a fun and positive situation, Leah Anthony said.

“To be able to have those interactions be positive … I think it’s amazing, because it shows another side of it,” she said.