DYERSVILLE, Iowa — On July 13, the Sugar River Bombers-Nationals (12U) baseball team won the Field of Dreams tournament on the movie set in Dyersville, Iowa. In a season with its ups-and-downs, the boys saved their best for last, the coaches said. 

Each summer, Dyersville runs youth tournaments where families travel to the infamous cornfield-turned baseball diamond which was the movie set for the 1989 film starring Kevin Costner, Ray Liotta, and James Earl-Jones. 

Unfortunately for the Bombers, a severe storm cancelled the skills event, meaning the only way they could play on the movie set was to make the championship of the tournament. Leading up to the tournament semi-finals, the Bombers beat teams from Ohio, Colorado, and Minnesota. They won the semifinal game in the bottom-half of the last inning on a walk-off squeeze bunt. They earned their chance to play on the movie set field, but they weren’t done yet.

In the championship game against the West Dubuque Bobcats, the Bombers took an early 2-0 lead which held until the last inning where the Bobcats tied the game in the top-half 2-2. The Bombers came to the plate with a chance to win the game in their last at-bat. Like the previous game, bases were loaded with one-out. The Bombers executed another successful squeeze bunt to take the lead and win the championship. Players, coaches, and family celebrated on the field under the lights with pictures, smiles, and shiny rings the tournament gives to the winning team. 

The Sugar River Bombers organization has been supporting youth baseball and softball in the Green County area since 2020. They thank the many generous donors who allow experiences like this for youth athletes.

In the film Field of Dreams, the main character Ray Kinsella (played by Costner) hears “voices” which inspire him to tear up his crop and build a baseball diamond. Ghosts emerge from the corn to play baseball, notably the players of the 1919 Chicago Black Sox who were banned from baseball due to allegedly receiving money from gamblers for throwing the World Series that season against the Cincinnati Reds. One of these ghosts, “Shoeless” Joe Jackson (played by Liotta), brings other ghosts to the Field of Dreams to play the game they missed so much. 

The climax of the movie has Costner’s character having a catch with his deceased father, who was one of the ghosts on the field. The father died with the two having a strained relationship. The phrase, “If you build it, he will come,” the notable line of the movie, leaves the viewers teary-eyed as they understand the seemingly crazy notion of building a baseball field in a corn field was all for this emotional ending.

Visiting the field in present day, visitors will see kids and adults alike playing catch in the outfield surrounded by tall corn, pick-up baseball games on the diamond, visitors sitting on the porch of the farmhouse featured in the film, and shoppers buying memorabilia. The allure of the tournament is that all teams get to participate on the movie set in a skills competition on the field featured in the movie. 

ESPN’s ESPY Awards recognize the very best in sports, honoring everything from Best Play to life-changing humanitarian efforts. This year, Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW) received the ESPN Corporate Community Impact Sports Humanitarian Award for its longstanding ALL STARS partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Annually, the BWW Foundation partners with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to provide essential funding for sports equipment and jerseys for the athletes as well as training for the coaches.

“We believe every kid deserves to play, and we’re determined to close the access gap and make sure as many children as possible have the chance to become a champion,” said Inspire Foundation Executive Director Stuart Brown. “This award is an incredible honor, because it celebrates the power of access, opportunity, and sports to change lives.” 

To celebrate, the BWW Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America hosted a special event with Atlanta Dream guard and WNBA standout Rhyne Howard during the WNBA All-Star Weekend in Indianapolis. Rhyne spent an afternoon with local LeGore Boys & Girls Club kids, sharing her journey from community courts to WNBA stardom as motivation for kids to view sports as a pathway to success.

Driven by its mission to fuel champions of the next generation by providing access to youth sports, the BWW Foundation has helped nearly three million Club kids get in the game since 2013 – and it shows. While only 20-28% of America’s youth get an hour of recommended daily physical activity, more than half of Boys & Girls Club members exercise an hour a day, five days a week. The ALL STARS program also provides structured sports programming to encourage community building and grow team sports skills for success on and off the court.  

The ALL STARS program is supported by fundraising efforts like Team Up for Kids, the BWW Foundation’s annual fundraiser that supports local youth programs. It’s through this yearly campaign that 1,200 BWW sports bars fundraise, volunteer, and advocate on behalf of community programs to make team sports and other resources more accessible to youth in their communities. 

The Inspire Foundation exists to ignite and nourish change for good. In 2024, Inspire’s brand foundations gave more than $23 million to support youth-related organizations, making a difference in the communities we serve. To learn more about the Inspire Foundation, visit foundation.inspirebrands.com.

PORTAGE, Mich. — The Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Center in Portage has launched a new adrenaline-filled exhibit that takes visitors into the heart of extreme sports.

“Extreme Sports: Beyond Human Limits” opened July 1 and runs through Oct. 31. Included with general admission, the interactive exhibit explores the science, psychology and physicality behind some of the world’s most daring athletic feats, from wingsuit flying and ice climbing to parkour and free diving.

Developed by Science North in partnership with the Ontario Science Centre, the exhibit gives guests of all ages a chance to test their limits through multimedia displays, hands-on challenges, as well as mental and physical skill-building activities.

“Extreme Sports is a high-energy, hands-on experience that brings science and adventure together,” Seth Welton, Air Zoo marketing and communications manager, said. “It’s designed to captivate guests of all ages with incredible stories, cutting-edge research, and the perfect blend of education and fun.”

Visitors can hear first-person stories from elite athletes, learn from experts in rescue and sports innovation, and explore how extreme athletes prepare for rapidly changing terrain and unpredictable weather.

The exhibit also highlights the intense training, focus and risk management involved in these disciplines.

“I think everybody’s fascinated with the limits of human ability, people who climb mountains, people who jump from perfectly good planes, and we want people to be able to come and explore the creativity, the innovation, and the endurance required to do all of that,” Welton said.

The Air Zoo is a Smithsonian-affiliated aerospace and science center that features more than 100 aircrafts, 80,000 artifacts, and a wide range of immersive exhibits and rides, making it a unique destination for families and science lovers.

More information about general admission and the exhibit can be found on the Air Zoo’s website.

In small-town Canada, junior hockey is more than just a sport—it’s the heart of the community. It brings people together, fuels local pride, and gives young athletes a place to chase their dreams. But for many rural teams, staying afloat financially is a constant battle, with travel, equipment, and other costs piling up fast.

That’s where farming has stepped in.

Across the Prairies, junior hockey teams have turned to agriculture to help keep their doors open. By partnering with local farmers and businesses to grow and harvest crops, teams have created a unique fundraising model—with all profits going back into hockey operations.

These projects have helped cover everything from travel and gear to billet support and arena upgrades. More than that, they’ve created a sustainable, community-driven funding solution rooted in the values of hard work and teamwork.

As other teams across the country struggle to survive, these farm-based efforts show what’s possible when rural communities get creative. In places where both hockey and farming are a way of life, it makes perfect sense that one would help sustain the other.

A familiar face has returned to Fayette with a new mission to bring fitness, community, and youth athletic development to town.

Elijah Nagbe, a 2010 graduate of Central Methodist University with a degree in recreational sports management, opened a 24-hour fitness facility in Eagle Plaza last November, which has since moved to a larger property on the north side of the courthouse square. The Gym opened in its current location on April 21, which more than doubles the size of Nagbe’s original location.

“I’ve always had a goal of opening a gym,” said Nagbe, who spent 15 years in Kansas City working in the fitness industry, training both youth and adult clients. “Kansas City was oversaturated, and even Columbia was close. But Fayette had potential,” he said. “All it needed was someone passionate about fitness who could bring that out in others.”

The Gym is open 24/7 and features a variety of equipment, including treadmills, a stair climber, a rowing machine, a bike, a machine that mimics the movements of skiing, free weights, machines, and a turf area. Members access the facility through a mobile app and can enter and leave at their convenience. Memberships are competitively priced, flexible, with no contracts and easy cancellation. The cost of a single membership is $30 per month. A couple’s membership is $40 a month, and a family membership for two adults and two children up to age 23 (if enrolled in school) is $50 a month.

Already about 110 members have subscribed, and Nagbe says he sees consistent early morning and evening crowds. The busiest time of day is between 5 and 7 p.m., while a loyal group of early risers arrives daily between 5 and 7 a.m.

A professional bodybuilder, Nagbe also offers one-on-one personal training, with rates ranging from $45 to $55 per person based on session frequency. Personal training includes warm-ups, guided workouts with proper form and safety instruction, cool-downs, and ongoing guidance. While not a registered dietitian, Nagbe offers nutritional recommendations and helps clients track their habits.

“Fitness has done a lot for me,” Nagbe said. “I want people to give me a chance to show them what it can do for them.”

The Gym’s current space was originally built as a Dollar General store. After sitting empty since the store moved to a larger location on South Church Street, it was purchased by Central Methodist, housing the Eagles’ e-sports and golf teams. The original location on the west side of the square in the new Eagle Plaza proved to be too small. Later, when a new restaurant, LaFayette on the Square, decided to become the building’s anchor on the southwest corner, it quickly became apparent it needed more space. The university was quick to offer The Gym a larger space in its former e-sports location, which allowed Nagbe to expand his long-term goals to include youth sports performance training.

With a turf area already in place, Nagbe envisions small group training sessions focusing on strength, conditioning, and agility for student-athletes. His prior experience training kids ages 6-18 through in Kansas City is a key part of his vision for expanding youth programs in Fayette.

“I look at places like Harrisburg where youth athletics are thriving,” he said. “Fayette has the kids to do the same. They just need someone to help guide them.”

Nagbe emphasizes communication with members, regularly seeking feedback on what equipment or services to add next. Plans are in motion to add a leg press and possibly more cardio machines soon.

The Gym also features two private bathrooms with showers and offers a $15 guest pass, though first-timers can often try the facility for free by contacting Nagbe directly through The Gym’s website at thegymfayette.com.

In addition to running The Gym, Nagbe also works at Commercial Trust Company and keeps busy with both responsibilities. “I’m here by 4:45 every morning,” he said. “Then I work a full day at the bank and return to the gym in the evening. It’s long hours, but I love it.”

Last week, Nagbe held his first-ever Ladies Night, introducing around a dozen area women to The Gym.

“We’re a place where everyone feels welcome, encouraged, and uplifted, no matter where they are in their fitness journey,” Nagbe said about the special event.

“We’re more than just weights and workouts, we’re building a community.”

The Gym can be found online at thegymfayette.com, on Instagram (@_thegymfayette), and Facebook (The Gym – Fayette). Nagbe also posts motivational content and encourages followers to take part in his personal challenge of spending 30 minutes a day in nature, a streak he intends to personally maintain every day in 2025.

“This isn’t just about weights,” he said. “It’s about showing people that movement, health, and community can change your life.”

The 2026 U.S. Youth Futsal National Championships, the largest youth futsal tournament in the country, will be held in Richmond, Virginia, at the Henrico Sports & Events Center.

The Henrico Sports & Events Center has hosted events such as the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Championships, Atlantic 10 Women’s Basketball Championship and the upcoming 2027 NCAA Division III Volleyball Championship. Richmond’s futsal community, led by FutsalRVA, has elevated the sport throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

“We’re honored that the Henrico Sports & Events Center has been selected to host the 2026 U.S. Futsal National Championships,” said Dennis Bickmeier, executive director of the Henrico Sports & Entertainment Authority. “This prestigious event brings top-level athletes and fans from across the country, creating significant economic impact for our community while highlighting Henrico and the region as a top-tier destination for national championship events.”

It will be the first time in the tournament’s two-decade history that the event will take place outside of Kansas City. The decision to move the National Championships follows years of record participation and growing demand.

“This is an exciting milestone for U.S. Youth Futsal,” said Jon Parry, president of U.S. Youth Futsal. “As futsal continues to grow rapidly across the country, this move reflects our commitment to expanding the game’s reach and providing a national stage for elite competition. Richmond and Henrico County offer world-class facilities and a passionate soccer and futsal community — the perfect combination to host our most prestigious event.”