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Building a Dynasty

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11 months ago

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Building a Dynasty

Since conversations about this development began, the project originally referred to as the Ocoee Regional Sports Complex has been a highly-anticipated and welcomed idea by both local residents and community leaders for myriad reasons. “It’s completely inclusive to local residents,” he  said. “There’s no charge for anybody … to come enjoy the complex at any time … to come and feel a part of something. … We’ve (also) made it to where any time there’s not a big event going on, the city of Ocoee is going to have access to the fields and they’re going to have access to the indoor space … we want to make sure the city of Ocoee truly takes advantage of this situation and benefits greatly from it.”According to Montierre’s projections, the impact of the development of this facility is expected to contribute more than 0 million to the local economy and generate roughly 10,000 short-term construction jobs and 5,000 permanent jobs. At the core of The Dynasty’s business model, and the answer to the question about this being a viable business, is this simple pitch to the families that make up the youth sports industry: Families can combine their children’s athletic competitions with a family vacation at The Dynasty’s conveniently located facility near the tourist capital of the world’s top attractions. On paper, The Dynasty | Ocoee is a youth sports complex. In reality, the project’s developer, Montierre Development, is building a 159-acre revolution-in-the-making within the youth sports and sports tourism sectors.

What is The Dynasty | Ocoee?

“Every industry experiences a revolutionary turning point that paves the way for a sustainable future; this is that moment for youth sports,” Jaime Douglas said. “The Dynasty experience will bring convenience, connection and affordability to youth sporting events across the nation, addressing a critical need in the industry. As participation costs and time demands rise, families often face the dilemma of choosing between a family vacation or attending a large-scale sporting event for their child. The Dynasty | Ocoee eliminates this choice by providing an all-in-one experience for the entire family.”“The vision for The Dynasty | Ocoee is to create a haven where every guest is engaged and embraced in an environment that fosters an appreciation for family, sports, science and fun,” Ocoee City Manager Craig Shadrix said. “Not only will this project create meaningful economic impact for Ocoee and the surrounding areas, but it will also offer health, wellness and recreational opportunities for residents and visitors of Central Florida.”Considering the litany of positives The Dynasty promises to bring to Ocoee — from the impact on the local economy to the access the city will have to the facilities and added entertainment, retail and dining options, to name a few — it’s understandable why folks are excited.The Dynasty’s concept of combining sports event-hosting facilities with other revenue-generating businesses like retail, food and lodging isn’t a new one; just look at Patriot Place, L.A. Live and the upcoming Westcourt development in downtown Orlando, next to the home of the Orlando Magic, the Kia Center. The aspect of this project as a business that needs to be understood is that The Dynasty is the sports and entertainment district concept that focuses on the youth sports and sports tourism markets. Along with this massive impact on the local area’s economy, this facility provides locals with a new and incredible recreation option right in their backyard and, according to Jaime Douglas, the city will have access to the athletic facilities when available.The experience The Dynasty offers is a dream for youth sports families who have traveled hundreds of miles from home to week-long tournaments in random cities with limited entertainment options. Instead of settling for spending an off-day wandering the local outlet mall and having dinner at a chain restaurant, families have the opportunity to attend their children’s games in the morning, spend the afternoon enjoying theme parks and end their night at one of Central Florida’s almost endless options of restaurants. The other reason brings us to the experiential portion of capturing what’s actually coming to Ocoee, and that is The Dynasty’s target audience: Youth sports, emphasis on the youth.“I think that the public at large (is) highly anticipating this project,” Ocoee Commissioner George Oliver III said. “The feedback that I’ve been receiving over the past few years is that we’re waiting on this and we are excited … (for) this project.”Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls, Mickey Mantle’s New York Yankees, Vince Lombardi’s Green Bay Packers and the Montreal Canadiens in the 1950s, 60s and 70s all have at least this one thing in common: They are, inarguably, dynasties in their respective sports.“We anticipate The Dynasty | Ocoee will contribute significantly to the … global sports tourism market,” said Jaime Douglas, Founder and CEO of The Dynasty and Montierre Development. “Our goal is to capture a substantial portion of this growth while providing an exceptional experience for athletes and families alike.”

The local impact

“The work you (all) have done with the city, the community you guys have built … it brings people here,” Jaime Douglas said. “We love it here, and it’s just such a blessing that we have the opportunity to bring this to you (all).”As part of The Dynasty’s commitment to the Ocoee community, Montierre will dedicate an inclusive playground and the 17th Avenue extension to the city for public use.All together, the construction of this massive, high-end sports, entertainment and lodging complex is estimated to cost billion. After considering the cost and the massive infrastructure undertaking, a natural question arises: Is this going to be a profitable business? That’s why considering The Dynasty as a strategic business decision is vital to understanding it wholly.To achieve this level of dominance, these organizations — from the players to coaches, administrators and even the janitors — had to push themselves beyond what the competition was doing. There needed to be a vision that saw what they were doing day to day was building something special, a legacy that would be remembered decades later. As a collection of physical buildings and spaces, which will be situated on the southeast corner of Ocoee-Apopka and Fullers Cross roads, The Dynasty will first and foremost be the home to a plethora of sports fields and a state-of-the-art indoor facility that aims to predominantly host youth sports tournaments and other athletic events; think ESPN’s Wide World of Sports complex. Stretching alongside the fields of play, running parallel to Ocoee-Apopka Road, will be a comprehensive mixed-use pedestrian riverwalk lined with several restaurant, retail and entertainment spaces, which will be open to the public; think Universal’s CityWalk. On the north end of the property, serving as one of the bookends to the sports fields, there will be the larger of two hotels, while the smaller boutique hotel is set to be on the south end of the pedestrian riverwalk. In total, the two hotels will have more than 1,100 rooms.“This project represents more than just a sports complex,” Montierre President Anne-Marie Douglas said. “It’s a testament to our commitment to innovation, engagement of today’s youth, an enhanced family-driven experience, a focus on health and wellness, (and) Ocoee’s legacy, inclusivity, accessibility and community development. We’re building fields and courts that will craft memories, shape futures and redefine what it means to experience sports as a family. The ultimate goal is to create an environment where young athletes thrive, develop resilience, and cultivate a lifelong love for the game.”There are two reasons this helps define this development. First is the projected growth of the sector. According to Montierre Development, the sports tourism industry is on the rise — citing projections by Grand View Research that say by 2030, the market could see a compound annual growth rate of 17.5% and its global market value reach more than trillion.To fully capture the scope of The Dynasty, you need to consider it in three ways: As a physical facility, as a strategic business decision and — similar to theme parks — as an experience. Combining these three concepts is what makes this development such an exciting proposition for the group behind it, Ocoee officials and residents of West Orange. In November 2021, the building blocks of a new sports dynasty began to come together, but this one wasn’t a sports team; in fact, what this concept is goes beyond how to categorize it traditionally. 

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Aggies Fend Off Vols in Five-Set Epic to Advance in NCAA Tournament

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December 6, 2025

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TEMPE, Arizona – At first, it seemed like Utah State volleyball would waltz into the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 

Then, it seemed like the USU’s dream season might end in heartbreaking fashion.

But in a do-or-die fifth set, the Aggies fought off a furious comeback from seventh-seeded Tennessee to claim a thrilling 3-2 (25-19, 25-15, 20-25, 18-25, 15-11) victory in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament. This is the first NCAA Tournament victory for Utah State volleyball since recording wins in back-to-back seasons in 2000 and 2001.

With the win, Utah State will now face No. 2 Arizona State on Friday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. (MT). 

Sophomore setter Kaylie Kofe engineered the Aggie offense to a .312 hitting percentage, recording 57 assists. Senior middle blocker Tierney Barlow led USU with 16 kills on a team-best .560 hitting percentage while sophomore opposite side hitter Loryn Helgesen added 14 kills. The duo also tied for the team lead with four blocks apiece with each player also registering a solo block. Sophomore outside hitter Andrea Simovski also had 14 kills and sophomore outside hitter Mara Štiglic stuffed the stat sheet with 12 kills, six digs, three blocks and three assists. Junior libero/defensive specialist Kendel Thompson led the Aggie defense with 16 digs, also leading the team with two service aces.

Head coach Rob Neilson

“What a match. Hats off to that Tennessee team. We gave them all they could handle in those first two sets and then they responded. They’re a great team obviously, well coached and talented, physical. Then you get to a fifth set and it’s a coin flip. I thought we made enough plays and battled and came through adversity. I’m really proud of this group and I’m excited that we get to play some more volleyball together.”

Set One

The Aggies came roaring out of the gates, registering kills on nine of their first 13 attacks en route to taking a 10-5 lead to force a Tennessee timeout. Štiglic posted three kills during the early run, part of a 7-0-10 line for the Croatian in the opening set. Out of the timeout, the Vols responded with a 9-2 stretch to take a lead midway through the frame and force an Aggie timeout. USU stemmed the tide with a kill from redshirt freshman middle blocker Lauren Larkin that preceded a block by Barlow and Helgesen. A Helgesen kill and Thompson ace then made it a 4-0 Aggie run to deliver the advantage back to Utah State. The Vols scored back-to-back points to tie it at 16 before the teams alternated the ensuing six rallies. With the set tied at 19, the Aggies closed the frame on a 6-0 burst. Helgesen ignited the run with a kill before teaming with Larkin on a block to firmly give the Aggies control late in the set. Štiglic then delivered back-to-back kills to clinch the 25-19 win to open the match. Utah State hit .382 in the opening frame while holding Tennessee to .188 to take a 1-0 lead.

Set Two

Utah State again came out strong, using a 14-3 onslaught to grab hold of the second set. Simovski powered the on-fire start with five kills while Thompson added her second ace of the match to help build a double-digit cushion. The Aggies went a perfect 8-of-8 on attacks to begin the frame. Tennessee closed the gap with a 6-1 stretch, forcing a USU timeout. A Helgesen kill halted the Vols’ momentum before Utah State went on to close the set on a 5-1 run featuring a pair of kills from Barlow and a Helgesen ace plus a block by Štiglic and Barlow to help seal the 25-15 win. The Aggies improved on both their offensive and defensive marks from the first set, hitting .444 while holding Tennessee to .171 to go up 2-0 for the match.

Set Three

The Aggies again went up early as Barlow recorded three-straight kills and then a solo block as part of a personal 4-0 run to put USU ahead 7-4. The Vols, however, answered back with an 11-4 stretch to take a late four-point lead in the set. The Aggies battled back within two at 21-19 with Simovski supplying a pair of kills but Tennessee went on a 4-1 run to take the set, 25-20, to extend the match to a fourth set.

Set Four

The Vols maintained momentum to begin the fourth set, opening up a 10-5 lead out of the gates. USU scored three-straight points with Larkin and Helgesen both registering kills to trim the deficit to two points. Tennessee answered again, scoring seven of the next 10 rallies to extend their lead to six points. The Aggies were unable to build a comeback attempt as the Vols secured a 25-18 win to send the match to a winner-takes-all fifth set.

Fifth Set

In a pivotal start to the set, Utah State went up 5-2 courtesy of a pair of Simovski kills and three attacking errors from the Vols. The Aggies led by four points at 12-8 following two kills from Helgesen before Tennessee clawed back within one after three-straight points. USU regained the advantage from the defensive side as Barlow and Helgesen combined for a block to make it 13-11. Barlow then killed back-to-back balls off the slide to secure the 15-11 victory and send the Aggies into the second round.

Quick Notes

  • Utah State also extended their overall winning streak to 22 matches, the third-longest streak in program history, trailing only a 23-game streak spanning the team’s 1978 national title season and 1979, and a program-record 26-game streak in 1978. USU’s streak is now tied for the third-longest active streak in the nation.

  • Utah State hit .312 for the match, their 11th-straight match recording a .250 hitting percentage or better. The Aggies are now hitting .274 on the season, a mark which would break the current program record of .238 set in 2016.

  • Larkin added another eight kills on a .500 hitting percentage plus two blocks and a career-high three digs.

  • Sophomore outside hitter Delaney Lawson and freshman defensive specialist Sadie Warren provided key defensive contributions with eight and six digs, respectively. 

  • Utah State is now 3-6 in the NCAA Tournament all-time, recording their first win since defeating BYU in Salt Lake City in 2001. USU also defeated Missouri the year prior in Provo, Utah. 

  • The Aggies are now 19-13-1 all-time against SEC teams and recorded their first win over the conference since beating Alabama in 2003.

  • Utah State improved to a 29-4 record during Kofe’s career when she records at least 10.0 assists per set.

Up Next
The Aggies continue play in the second round of the NCAA Tournament against second-seeded Arizona State on Friday, Dec. 5, at 6 p.m. (MT). The game will be streamed on ESPN+.

Fans can follow the Aggie volleyball program on Twitter, @USUVolleyball, on Facebook at /USUVolleyball or on Instagram, @usuvolleyball. Aggie fans can also follow the Utah State athletic program on Twitter, @USUAthletics, Facebook at /USUAthletics and on Instagram, @USUAthletics.

 – USU –



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Women’s Track and Field Look to Continue Success as a Squad this Winter

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December 6, 2025

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WEST HARTFORD, Conn. –  The Hartford Women’s Track and Field team look to build off of a strong season in the spring as the team moves into the indoor portion of the schedule. Last year, the team found success both indoors and outdoors with strong placements in marquee meets such as 2nd in the Conference of New England (CNE) Championships, 12th and tied for 14th in the NCAA DIII Championships, and 17th and 25th in the NEICAAA All-New England Championships.

New Year, Similar Squad

With Head Coach Connor Green returning for his third year and the team only graduating two seniors a year ago, Hartford will be running out a whole host of familiar faces this season. 31 out of the 48 Hawks will be back for Coach Green with eight entering into their senior season. Amongst the group of notable returners is Lauren Duffy (Southington, Conn.) who is coming off of a standout freshman campaign last season. Duffy finished with seven top ten finishes last season with two top three finishes at The Reggie Open. 

“Our team expectations are to just stay consistent, disciplined, and work on the little things a lot. Like being in the weight room, getting consistent miles in, and also hurdle mobility, injury prevention stuff, just to stay healthy throughout the season.” Duffy said.

 

Another key returner for the Hawks is junior Leslie Samuel (Montauk, N.Y.) who is coming off a season in which she was named to the USTFCCCA All-Region Team.

“I am mostly excited to get back into it. I didn’t compete last year, so I am excited to get back to where I am, and make it to nationals hopefully.” Samuel said.

 

A third key returner for the Hawks is Tommie Barker (Canton, Conn.). Barker last season was nominated to the CNE All-Conference Third Team for her/their performance in both hammer throw and shotput.

“I have high expectations for this year, given it’s my senior year. I’m hoping to keep improving and PR consistently at almost every meet. My main goal is to make it to all New Englands this year, and I think it’s very doable! I’m super excited for indoor and even more so for outdoor! Between lifting and practicing consistently for the past few months, I think we’re all at our best going into this season. Practice makes progress, and we’ve had a lot of time to make some amazing progress!” Barker said. 

Season Outlook:

The Hawks will begin their season at the Yale invitational on Dec. 6th. Following that event they will take on the Wesleyan University Invitational on Jan. 24th. They will also compete in the John Thomas Terrier Classic at Boston University on Jan. 31st. The Hawks will close out the indoor track and field season at the NCAA Division III New England Championships in Boston at the New England at the Track of New Balance

For the latest information on Hartford Athletics follow the Hawks on Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube.

 





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Nebraska volleyball vs. Long Island live updates, stats and highlights

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December 6, 2025

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Updated Dec. 5, 2025, 7:40 p.m. CT

Nebraska volleyball (30-0) begins the road to Kansas City Friday with the No. 1 overall seed in the 2025 NCAA tournament. The Huskers play host for the Regional and take on the Long Island Sharks (20-8) for the opening round.

The match commences after San Diego takes Kansas State at 4:30 p.m. CT. The winner of each match advances to the second, which is set for Saturday at 7 p.m. CT.

Nebraska comes in with its first perfect regular season in 25 years along with its third consecutive Big Ten title. The Huskers also enter the tournament with the top offense and defense in the nation, standing with a .352 hitting percentage and holding opponents to a .125. 





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Commodore Track & Field Schedule Revealed – Vanderbilt University Athletics – Official Athletics Website

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December 6, 2025

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Director of Vanderbilt cross country and track and field Althea Thomas released the program’s 2025–26 schedule, which features four home and 11 away meets.

The Commodores kick off the new season at home with the Commodore Winter Challenge on Saturday at the David Williams II Recreation and Wellness Center. Two more indoor home meets, the Vanderbilt Invitational and Music City Challenge, will be Jan. 16–17 and Feb. 13–14, respectively.

The SEC Indoor Championships will be Feb. 26–28 in College Station, Texas. The top 16 qualifiers in each event will compete at the NCAA Indoor Championships on March 13–14 in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Vandy will travel to several away events during the indoor and outdoor seasons, including several repeat events like Florida Relays, Mt. SAC Relays and others and new additions, such as the Hampton Inn River City Relays and 44 Farms Team Invitational.

The Dores will close out their outdoor regular season in Nashville with the Music City Challenge on May 1–2 at the Vanderbilt Outdoor Track.

Vanderbilt will head south to Auburn, Alabama, for the SEC Outdoor Championships on May 14–16. The NCAA East First Round will be May 27–30 in Lexington, Kentucky, and the NCAA Outdoor Championships will be June 10–13 in Eugene, Oregon.

The program’s full schedule is available at vucommodores.com. Fans can follow Vanderbilt track and field on Facebook, Instagram and X at @VandyXCTrack.

2025-26 Vanderbilt Track & Field Schedule
Dec. 6 Winter Commodore Challenge in Nashville
Jan. 9–10 Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational in Louisville, Ky.
Jan. 16-17 Vanderbilt Invitational in Nashville
Jan. 30–31 Bob Pollock Invitational in Clemson, S.C.
Jan. 31 John Thomas Terrier Classic in Boston
Feb. 13–14 Music City Challenge in Nashville
Feb. 26-28 SEC Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas
March 13–14 NCAA Indoor Championships in Fayetteville, Ark.
March 19–20 Hampton Inn River City Relays in Jacksonville, Fla.
March 26–27 Raleigh Relays in Raleigh, N.C.
April 3–4 Florida Relays in Gainesville, Fla.
April 9–11 44 Farms Team Invitational in College Station, Texas
April 10 Crimson Tide Invitational in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
April 15–18 Mt. SAC Relays in Walnut, Calif.
April 16–18 Bryan Clay Invitational in Azusa, Calif.
April 25–26 LSU Alumni Invitational in Baton Rouge, La.
May 1–2 Music City Challenge in Nashville
May 14–16 SEC Outdoor Championships in Auburn, Ala.
May 27–30 NCAA East First Round in Lexington, Ky.
June 10–13 NCAA Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore.
June 18–21 USATF U20 Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore.
July TBD USATF Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Ore.
Aug. 5–9 World Athletics U20 Championships in Eugene, Ore.





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December 6, 2025

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Track & Field Beings Indoor Season at Vanderbilt’s Winter Commodore Challenge

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December 6, 2025

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CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. – Austin Peay State University’s track and field team begins its 2025-26 season at Vanderbilt’s Commodore Winter Challenge, Saturday, at the David Williams II Recreation & Wellness Center in Nashville.

The meet is Austin Peay’s first of five in the indoor campaign’s regular season and also the first of three times the Govs will travel to the Music City ahead of the spring’s outdoor season.

Led by third-year head coach Asha Gibson-Smith, the Governors return 21 athletes including Taylin Segree who was a four-time ASUN Freshman of the Week and qualified for the USATF U20 Championships last season.

Gibson-Smith also welcomed six veteran newcomers in transfers Holly Harding (Lindenwood), Mallory Hodge (Eastern Kentucky), Laure Marie Kidakula (Georgia State), Mariah Mitchem (Coker University), Raven Payne (Bellarmine), and Zoe Spann-McDonald (West Virginia State). The Govs’ newcomer class features a quartet of freshmen, with Emily Bey, Molly Brown, China Giaimo, and Te’Onja Hinds set to begin their collegiate careers at Vanderbilt’s meet.

Saturday’s events begin in the field at 8:30 a.m. with Marcia Dejesus, Giaimo, and Emma Tucker competing in the weight throw. At the same time, Ja’Kyah Montgomery will be competing in the high jump. APSU concludes the day at 3:55 p.m. with Taylah Upshaw competing in the 1,000-meter.

Saturday’s meet will be streamed live on SEC Network+ with Jake Lyman on the call. Live results are available at the link atop this article.

Up Next

Austin Peay returns to action in mid-January when it returns to Nashville to the Vanderbilt Invitational, Jan. 16-17, at the David Williams II Recreation & Wellness Center

Austin Peay Competition List

Weight Throw (8:30 a.m.) – Marcia Dejesus, China Giaimo, Emma Tucker

High Jump (8:30 a.m.) – Ja’Kyah Montgomery

Pole Vault (10 a.m.) – Myra Eriksson

Long Jump (11:30 a.m.) – Denim Goddard, Madelyn Kocik

60m Hurdles Prelims (12 p.m.) – Molly Brown, Nevaeh Schmeling, Zoe Spann-McDonald

Shot Put (12:30 p.m.) – Marcia Dejesus, China Giaimo, Emma Tucker

Triple Jump (2:30 p.m.) – Denim Goddard, Madelyn Kocik, Ja’Kyah Montgomery

300m (2:35 p.m.) – Isis Banks, Alijanae Cole, Seven Pettus

600m (3:15 p.m.) – Alexis Arnett, Mia McGee, Taylin Segree

1000m (3:55 p.m.) – Taylah Upshaw

Follow the Govs on Socials

For news and updates throughout the 2025-26 track & field season, follow the Governors on X and Instagram (@GovsXCTF) or check back at LetsGoPeay.com



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