Over 500 youth athletes from over 30 parishes will compete in the Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Diocesan Track Championship at Bowling Green High School.
Sunday’s event begins at 12:30 p.m. and will include youth from 19 counties.
CYO Athletics offers a unique environment for young athletes, combining sports with faith-based values. Designed to be a character builder for youth, ideals of good sportsmanship and Christianity shall be the overriding influence. CYO Athletics is a part of the faith-building efforts of the Catholic Church.
will host youth swim lessons at various times Feb. 2-April 15, at the Bemidji State University pool in the Gillett Wellness Center, 1801 Birch Lane NE.
Lessons are scheduled for the following times:
Mondays/Wednesdays Feb. 2 – March 2
Level 1 swim classes will run from 6:15 to 6:50 p.m.
Level 2 swim classes will be held from 6:55 to 7:30 p.m.
There will be no class on Feb. 16 due to President’s Day.
Registration opens at 9 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 5.
Tuesdays/Thursdays Feb. 3 – Feb. 26
Level 3 swim classes are set for 6:15 to 6:50 p.m.
Level 4 and 5 swim classes will be held from 6:55 to 7:30 p.m.
Registration opens at 9 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 5.
Mondays/Wednesdays March 23 – April 15
Level 2 swim classes are set for 6:15 to 6:50 p.m.
Level 3 swim classes will be held 6:55 to 7:30 p.m.
Registration opens at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3.
The cost is $72 for the series. Class sizes are small with two instructors. No more than 8-9 participants age 5 and up are allowed in each level.
To register and for additional detailed information regarding each level, visit
www.ci.bemidji.mn.us.
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Tesoro Coach Steve Garrett and his players congratulate St. Anthony after the loss Saturday. (PHOTOS: TIm Burt, OC Sports Zone).
Tesoro’s boys basketball team has had a remarkable season so far with a 14-3 record.
But the Titans, coached by Steve Garrett, weren’t able to finish Saturday, losing to St. Anthony 64-55 in a second round game of the Ringo Bossenmeyer Holiday Classic at Tustin.
Tesoro had a six-game winning streak snapped.
To see additional photos, click on the first picture:
Tesoro players warm up before Saturday’s game.
St. Anthony players head to the sidelines during a timeout after a big run.
St. Anthony (2-0 in Pool A) appears headed to the championship game of the eight team tournament Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. vs. Servite. Tesoro dropped to 1-1 in pool play.
“We weren’t consistent enough to earn a win tonight, that’s the main thing,” said Tesoro Coach Steve Garrett, now in his 25th year as head coach. “There were four or five defensive possessions in a row where we didn’t stick to our principles, four or five possessions where we had good drives to the lane and didn’t take it up strong, we didn’t earn the fouls, didn’t finish.
“We went away from the defense, we got to earn wins and I just didn’t think we were consistent enough.”
Tesoro was led by sophomore Owen Hatch, who had 17 points and his brother Carson Hatch, a senior, who had 12 points.
Jamil House led St. Anthony (6-5) with a game-high 24 points and seven rebounds. House, the only Saint in double figures, had 18 of his points in the first half to help the Saints move out to a 22-16 halftime lead.
St. Anthony led by five points after three quarters. Owen Hatch made a 3-point play with 5:26 remaining before the Saints regained control and finished with a win.
“There was a stretch where we were down two and we have five of our seven possessions at the rim and I just thought they weak takes,” Garrett said. “You got to put pressure on the refs with a strong drive and finish the play and then the couple we missed, we missed our free throws. We were seven of 17 from the line, we should have gotten to the foul line at least 25 times, not because of the refs, but because of us, that’s a big factor.”
Max Draper and Dean Mika added nine points each for Tesoro.
“The kids are great, all these guys have literally played together since fourth grade,” Garrett said. “They all know each other, they’re extremely close, they count on each other for their success. Tonight, I just know we could have been overall a little bit more consistent when we needed to.”
Tesoro plays another pool play game Monday vs Beckman at 1:30 p.m.
VANCOUVER, Wash. – Lawmakers from the 18th Legislative District are taking steps to protect children in youth sports programs with new legislation.
House Bill 2180, sponsored by Rep. John Ley (R-Vancouver) and endorsed by Rep. Stephanie McClintock (R-Vancouver), would require youth sports organizations to conduct background checks via the Washington State Patrol. It also prohibits hiring anyone with convictions for crimes against children.
It also instructs the Department of Children, Youth, and Families to create mandatory training on reporting child abuse specifically for youth sports coaches.
Ley emphasized the importance of these measures, stating that the bill was prompted by a concerning incident.
“This legislation was prompted after concerned parents encountered a convicted sex offender who failed to disclose his conviction while seeking to coach their children,” said Ley. “By requiring background checks — paid for by the individual or organization — we give parents and program administrators better tools to protect kids.”
McClintock expressed her dedication to child safety, stating her support for the bill.
“Protecting kids will always be a top priority for me,” said McClintock. “As a mom, this legislation closes dangerous loopholes and helps ensure youth sports remain a safe environment for kids and families.”
Ley also extended gratitude to the community member who raised the issue.
“I also want to thank the constituent that brought this matter to our attention,” said Ley.
The 2026 legislative session is set to begin on Monday, Jan. 12.
Registration for spring sports runs from Jan. 1 – Jan. 25. The parks and recreation department offers baseball for ages 5-14, softball for ages 5-16, t-ball for ages 5-6, and spring tennis for ages 8-14. Registration must be completed online and is open from Thursday, Jan. 1, through Sunday, Jan. 25.
Grayson Touchard, a spokesperson for the parks and recreation department said about 1,800 kids sign up for spring sports each year.
“We do not place a cap on registration,” she said. “Everyone who registers will have the opportunity to play if there are enough players in their age group.”
She said parents will have about a week and half after Little League players have been chosen to register for spring ball if their child does not make the team.
The Parks and Recreation Department announced Nov. 25 that the department is now a part of the Little League Official Community and the holder of the new St. Charles Little League charter, bringing a new opportunity for young athletes across St. Charles and St. John parishes.
The newly established Little League program is open to boys and girls ages nine through 12 and will serve eligible athletes who live or attend school in St. Charles or St. John the Baptist Parish.
All tryouts will be held at the West Bank Bridge Park in Luling.
All registrations for spring sports must occur with the individual’s affiliated booster club, except for spring tennis.
The Parks and Recreation Department will provide registration information regarding track and field, First Tee-Greater New Orleans (youth golf), and SuperTots offerings in early 2026.
Editor’s note: Sheng Peng is a regular contributor to NBC Sports California’s Sharks coverage. You can read more of his coverage on San Jose Hockey Now, listen to him on the San Jose Hockey Now Podcast, and follow him on Twitter at @Sheng_Peng.
VANCOUVER — This wasn’t a must-win for the San Jose Sharks, but it certainly felt like a more important regular-season game than usual.
Macklin Celebrini admitted, after the Sharks went into the holiday break bombed by the Vegas Golden Knights 7-2, that the team needed to respond. San Jose did just that, doubling the Vancouver Canucks up 6-3 on Saturday night, in their first post-Christmas tilt.
“It’s awesome, especially with how we ended [before] break. I think we all wanted this one pretty bad,” Celebrini said, about the team’s bounceback and his first win in hometown Vancouver. “It’s cool to win here.”
This victory also put the 18-17-3 Sharks back into the last wild card berth.
I’ve been on record many times saying that I don’t believe San Jose will make the playoffs. Of course, I’m not changing that belief because of one win, though I stress that I hope they prove me wrong.
But three things stood out Saturday that will help the Sharks in their quest to qualify for the postseason.
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The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Former Jackrabbits Wendell “WoWo” Moe, Jr. & Tyson Ruffins.
Long Beach Poly softball star Ki’ele Ho-Ching capped off an impressive 2025 campaign winning a gold medal with the USA Women’s U-18 Softball Team at the WBSC Women’s Softball World Cup in Oklahoma City. In the gold medal game, Ho-Ching drove in a run with a single during Team USA’s 7-2 championship win over world-ranked No.1 Japan.
Team USA’s medal marks its fifth-consecutive world championship after winning in 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and now, 2025. This victory also extended a 48-game winning streak at the World Championship for the stars and stripes squad, remaining undefeated at the World Cup with victories over China, Chinese Taipei, Canada, Mexico and two wins against Japan. Ho-Ching scored three runs during the five-day stretch in the fall tournament, collecting three hits and an RBI.
Ho-Ching is currently ranked as the No. 1 player in the nation, according to Prep Softball, and was one of 16 players from 10 states selected to the USA U-18 team. Her appearance makes her the first Moore League softball player to play on a USA Softball Youth National Team, according to USA Softball archives.
Ho-Ching joins the ranks of local sports icons to put on the “USA” jersey, including Lisa Fernandez, a Long Beach native who attended St. Joseph, and Tiare Jennings, a San Pedro native who attended St. Anthony. Both Fernandez and Jennings have represented the Senior National Team.
The Oklahoma commit is poised for another standout season as a senior with Long Beach Poly, leading a talented Jackrabbit squad looking to dethrone perennial Moore League champions Millikan. The Jackrabbits are coming off a CIF-SS Division 4 championship—the first in program history.
According to MaxPreps, Ho-Ching batted an astounding .500 with a .568 on base percentage last year through 11 games with Long Beach Poly. As a junior, she tallied 19 hits, 18 RBIs and 13 runs scored for the Jackrabbits.
