CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) – Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze was host to a youth football camp in Champaign on Saturday.

The camp, put on in partnership with Flex Work Sports, welcomed more than 400 kids to St. Thomas More High School.

Advertisement

There was also a surprise guest appearance from another Bears player: Wide receiver DJ Moore.

Moore, who led the Bears in receiving yards on the 2024 season, showed up unannounced.

“He did not have to do that,” Odunze said. “I didn’t tell him I was doing a camp out here. I didn’t tell anybody to come out just because it was a little bit of a ways from where everybody is at. That’s my guy, that’s my brother. He came out here with his family so it’s always good to see them, they’re doing well. So it means a lot to me that DJ would come out here but that’s the Bears organization and all the guys there are very heartfelt and meaningful in that way. So, DJ’s my guy, appreciate him.”

“I love Rome,” Moore told WCIA. “Rome came to my camps so had to show the same respect and make my way out here with my family.”

Advertisement

It’s one of a handful of camps Odunze is hosting over the 2025 offseason. He’ll be in Rockford, Ill. for another one on Sunday, July 13.

“I have a lot of fun, of course, just giving back to them,” he said. “Them having an opportunity to come out here and work hard, meet somebody in the NFL – That’s what it’s about. So, hopefully it provides them some sort of inspiration because I know they inspire me with all their energy and all their excitement.”

As for the 2025 season, which will be Odunze’s second in the NFL and the Bears’ first under new head coach, he says the excitement is visible.

“Everybody is fired up, as they should be,” he said. “We’re building excitement and anticipation for the season and it’s deservingly so. Exciting times, lots of changes… I think we have the right pieces to put it all together…”

Advertisement

The camp consisted of various drills, 7-on-7 games with Odunze at quarterback and photos/autographs.

Mason Davis attended the camp from Monticello and left with a lasting memory.

“I caught a touchdown pass from Rome,” Davis said. “He’s a lot taller than I expected, but he was amazing today.”

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCIA.com.

The grand prize award was captured by 5-year-old Joey Spayer who landed a whopping 15-1/2-inch smallmouth bass. Prizes provided by Evergreen Outfitters were awarded to the top eight youth participants.
Submitted photo

Late June rainstorms delayed the 37th Annual Lew Mead Youth Fishing Derby at Cassadaga Lake on Saturday, June 28, and committee officials moved the derby to Sunday, June 29. More than 40 kids from three to 16 years of age participated in discovering more about the outdoors through the fun of fishing. Prizes provided by Evergreen Outfitters (Mayville store) were awarded to the top eight youth participants. The grand prize award was captured by 5-year-old Joey Spayer who landed a whopping 15-1/2 inch smallmouth bass. All the kids received a souvenir Lew Mead Memorial hat, and t-shirt.

An annual fishing derby for kids that has continued for nearly 40 years offers a wealth of meaningful lessons for all to share. The continuity of the event reflects a strong, caring community. When the kids of yesterday become the volunteers of today, the shared experiences foster long term bonds and a sense of responsibility to give back. Important lessons learned include traditions like the Lew Mead Memorial Derby by people who care.

Fishing teaches kids to slow down, observe, and appreciate the outdoors, qualities that are rare in our modern screen-driven world. They learn respect for wildlife, water and ecosystems, and they have a chance to observe the rhythms of nature. Kids learn that not everything in life is instant. Sometimes you wait. Sometimes you try and you fail. With fishing, you learn to keep trying. With fishing, kids learn to reinforce their focus, and they learn problem solving. Mentors say kids learn to be resilient thanks to fishing. Fishing contributes to something meaningful that can become part of a living tradition. Hats off to Derby chairman Steve Wickmark who said, “We are lucky to have a great supporting staff each year, thanks to them and the parents, all the kids had a great time.”

LAKE ERIE WALLEYE CONTEST THIS WEEKEND: The highly anticipated “Walleye Duel in Dunkirk” will take place on July 12 – 13, with the Captain’s Meeting to be held on Friday, June 11th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Clarion Hotel pavilion. Tournament Director, Mark Mohr, said,

“This is an event not to be missed. Great prizes and fun for all.” Anyone interested in fishing in this tournament, please Mohr at 716-998-9871.

More than 40 kids from 3 to 16 years of age participated in the 37th Annual Lew Mead Memorial Fishing Derby at Cassadaga Lake. All the kids received a souvenir Lew Mead Memorial hat, and T-shirt.
Submitted photo

Outdoors Calendar

July 12-13: WALLEYE. Walleye Duel in Dunkirk, Dunkirk Pavilion – Clarion Hotel Pavilion, $500 entry; 3-fish bag/ 2-days; Captain’s Mtg on July 11; contact Mark Mohr: 716-998-9871.

July 17-20: WALLEYE. Sunset Bay Walleye Shoot-Out 2025, $500 entry, $750K prizes; 6-fish bag/day – 1-day major contest; Don Ruppert; 716-435-4137, visit: www.walleyeshootout.com/.

July 20: BASS. Chautauqua Lake Bassmasters 2025 Summer Open, Bass for Cash, 6 a.m. – 2 p.m., Prendergast Boat Launch, $200 Entry includes Big Bass Payout. Info: 716-708-0330.

July 26-27: ARCHERY. NYS Archery Shooters Association (ASA) Federation Championship, Bear Lake Rod & Gun. Info: Rudy Abersold, 716-397-9717.

Cody Kane smashed a 232-262-279-773 for TJ’s Pro Shop in the Tuesday Raw Have a Ball League to show the way at …

DULUTH — For C.J. Ham, it’s the

sixth summer

that a trip home has involved teaching tips and techniques to potential future National Football League stars.

The Minnesota Vikings fullback and Denfeld graduate held his annual camp at Walt Hunting Stadium-Marv Heikkinen Field with children grades 1-9 participating. Besides Ham, volunteers assisted with the skills and drills, including Denfeld head coach Erik Lofald. More important to Ham than seeing highlight-worthy plays is just seeing smiles.

Dan Williamson / Duluth Media Group

“This game has taught me so much in my life, and I think it’s the greatest game ever invented, I love it,” said Ham. “Just to come out here, have fun, enjoy being a kid and the competition. I think football does a really good job of showing us how to deal with adversity. Sometimes things go your way, sometimes things don’t. But the one thing you can control is your effort and your attitude, so just focusing on what you can control, that’s what leads to success.”

The goal of Ham’s camp, according to a news release, is to provide area kids one-on-one football instruction that focuses on character development, leadership and sportsmanship. Proceeds from the camp go to the Ham Family Scholarship Fund, presented by Essentia Health. The Scholarship Fund, founded in 2022, provides financial support for students of color in the Duluth area in pursuit of higher-level education. Each camp continues to grow the fund to increase the impact and support level for more local students.

Dan Williamson / Duluth Media Group

“I’ve been blessed to have a bigger platform, so I’m gonna do what I can to use my platform to shine that light and to bring positivity,” said Ham.

Grades 1-5 kicked off the camp, going from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., followed by grades 6-9 taking the field from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Organizers said approximately 350 kids participated, among them Ham’s three kids as well as some other family members. Sprinkled amongst the few hundred were campers wearing Ham #30 jerseys.

Dan Williamson / Duluth Media Group

“It means the world to me,” said Ham. “I’ve said it over and over again in the years past, this community has done so much for me, so it’s the least that I can do. To come back and just pour into the same community because somebody, somebody once did it for me.”

From the fans in the stands to his teammates and coaches in the locker room, Ham has long been a popular member of the purple. In 2024, he was nominated for the

Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.

The award is the most prestigious honor bestowed by the league, annually recognizing one player’s impact on his community. Ham is quick to credit family for instilling his core values.

“I really go back to my parents obviously and how they raised me and my faith growing up, growing up with the faith that we have, my parents instilled in me at an early age. We are all blessed to be a blessing, you know, no matter who you are, no matter what you have going on, no matter the situation that you that you’re in, you have something to give to somebody else in a positive way.”

Dan Williamson / Duluth Media Group

Last month, Ham returned home to help celebrate

Juneteenth and participate in the first Twin Ports Charity Basketball Game

at Denfeld High School, which raised more than $2,000 to support youth basketball.

Ham is preparing for his ninth season on the main roster with the Vikings and tenth with the organization, having spent most of 2016 on the practice squad. Known for his blocking ability, the two-time NFL Pro Bowl selection also has four career rushing touchdowns, two career receiving touchdowns and plays on the special teams unit.

Training Camp begins on Saturday, July 26 at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center in Eagan and wraps up Thursday, Aug. 14. The Vikings went 14-3 during the regular season and made the playoffs as a wild card selection.

Dan Williamson / Duluth Media Group

“I’m just excited, man. Every year is different. You never know exactly what every year is going to hold, right? But you go out there, put your best foot forward, control what you can control, and you know, obviously on paper we did a lot of the right things, so now we just got to go out there and prove it.”

The Vikings start their three-game preseason schedule on Saturday, Aug. 9 at home against Houston. They’ll kick off the regular season on Monday, Sept. 8 on the road against Chicago. The 2025 season will include back-to-back international games, as the Vikings will face the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin, Ireland on Sunday Sept. 28 and Cleveland in London, England on Sunday, Oct. 5. When asked if his passport is ready, Ham said it’s been ready.

Dan Williamson / Duluth Media Group

“This is my fourth and fifth time playing overseas,” said Ham. “It’s nice to go to a different place. It’ll be my fourth time in London, so going to Dublin will be pretty cool.”

Visit

www.vikings.com/schedule/

to see the Vikings full schedule for the upcoming season.

Dan Williamson / Duluth Media Group

Dan Williamson / Duluth Media Group

Dan Williamson / Duluth Media Group

Dan Williamson / Duluth Media Group

Dan Williamson / Duluth Media Group

Dan Williamson joined the Duluth News Tribune in June 2021 where he’s involved in digital content such as video, photos and podcasts as well as covering breaking news. Previously, he worked in television broadcasting as a Sports Director/Anchor at WDIO-TV in Duluth, Sports Director/Anchor in Bismarck, N.D., News and Sports Anchor at KSAX-TV in Alexandria, and Reporter/Photographer/Editor with the syndicated show “Life to the Max” in Eden Prairie. He was also the Development Director for the Duluth Salvation Army. Williamson grew up in Alexandria, graduated from St. Cloud State University and has lived in Duluth since 2012.

VAUGHNSVILLE, OH (WLIO) — The Vaughnsville 3-on-3 Tournament is back for its third year.

The two-day basketball tournament features both youth and adult divisions. It’s organized by Will Vorhees, a Columbus Grove graduate who now plays professional basketball in Argentina. He’s spent his last three off-seasons back home to help keep the tradition alive in his community.

“When I was a kid, I played in three-on-three tournaments all the time. I found them very enjoyable and fun, and it doesn’t seem like there’s a whole lot of them around this area anymore. So that’s kind of the idea, bring three-on-three basketball back. And, you know, let the youth enjoy it,” says Will Vorhees, organizer of the Vaughnsville 3 V 3 Tournament.

Vorhees says he hopes the event continues to grow in the years to come. Everyone is invited to attend — whether to play, cheer from the sidelines, or enjoy the food and raffle prizes.

Copyright 2025 by Lima Communications Corporation. All rights reserved.

(LEX 18) — Former NFL running back Damien Harris is giving back to his Kentucky roots through the newly launched Heart of Harris Foundation, hosting his second annual football camp for local children.

The free camp took place at Madison Central High School in Richmond, welcoming kids from the area and surrounding communities.

Harris said the foundation’s mission extends beyond athletics, aiming to equip youth across the country with tools for both physical and mental wellness.

“I wanna use football, obviously as a game we all know and love, to teach these kids use it as a vehicle. Obviously you can achieve a lot of great things with this game, but at some point it ends. It ended for me, it ends for everybody. But you can use this vehicle to drive you to heights you never thought you’d get to,” Harris said.

The camp was divided into two sessions, with the second session for ages 13 to 16 running from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Harris emphasized that starting in the community where he began his football journey was the perfect way to give back.

LAS VEGAS (KSNV) — The Off the Field NFL Wives Association and the National Basketball Wives Association joined forces on Saturday to host a free youth girls basketball clinic at the James Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada.

The event aimed to teach more than just basketball skills, focusing on building confidence, leadership, and sisterhood through sports.

In collaboration with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada, the clinic was designed to promote teamwork, mentorship, and fun for young girls of all skill levels.

Yolanda Mationg is the Chief Development Officer at the James Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada, and she says there were other non-profits that the girls had a chance to speak with.

The North Las Vegas Fire Department was at the event, and the girls had a chance to get a hands-on look inside one of the fire trucks.

The National Basketball Wives Association President, Sabrina Galloway, says she was excited to launch the basketball initiative, and that “Both organizations are rooted in service.”

The initiative was supported by partners, including Southwest Airlines, the Department of Family Services, and Vegas Elite, all contributing to an empowering and inclusive experience.

Tenisha Patterson-Brown is the President of the Off the Field NFL Wives Association, explained what it means to support the young girls.

“The girls are learning life skills. Our initiatives focus on health and wellness and education.”

The clinic welcomed girls entering 2nd through 8th grade, with registration already closed.

Organizers emphasized the importance of community impact and youth development, aiming to uplift the next generation and show young girls that they have potential both on the court and in life.