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In 1999, Drew Storen moved to Brownsburg with his family and got involved in Little League. It was there his life took a turn that would spark a career, a passion for a nonprofit, and a new business.

“I’ve always loved the game, but Brownsburg was a special place. It’s always been different. A team a year older than me and a year younger than me went to the World Series. It was a great group of talent and competition but also supportive parents, which is equally as important,” Storen said. “You played competitively against your buddies and then you came together to play against other teams.”

Storen went on to play for Brownsburg High School and was a member of the team that won the state championship in 2005.

“I think we were one of the first high schools with a fan section at baseball games. There was a great support system in the town. It’s really special and something you don’t see as much of anymore,” Storen said.

Right out of high school, the pitcher had opportunities in the Major League Baseball draft but chose to go to Stanford on a baseball scholarship and earn his degree in product design.

“I took the opportunity to get an education. I wanted baseball to be house money and not like my life depended on it, but after graduating, I was drafted to the Washington Nationals in 2009,” Storen said. “I went on to play for the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners and Cincinnati Reds before I retired in 2020.”

As a relief pitcher in MLB, Storen was living his dream — though he said he doesn’t know how he ever made it.

“I was lucky enough to get up there and have a career. I always wanted to do it, but I just kept my head down and kept playing,” he said.

When the MLB chapter was over, he had the chance to explore other passions too — namely, the nonprofit Brownsburg Youth Sports program.

Storen serves as chairman of the Project Campaign Cabinet. They’re working on developing a new youth sports complex that will feature 10 baseball and softball fields on 60 acres of land on the northeast side of Brownsburg.

The plans include a community walking path and playground space and, eventually, fields for other sports in the community.

When a friend asked Storen to get involved, they were in the beginning stages — not sure if it was going to happen.

“I really think this is something Brownsburg needs, and I think we’re coming up short as far as space for youth sports. To me, we were losing what really put Brownsburg on the map,” he said. “But we’re moving forward now.”

Looking back, he’s grateful for the time he spent in Brownsburg and everything Little League and high school baseball did for him — and now, he’s giving back.

“It was always on the radar — figuring out how to replace at least the main diamond in Brownsburg. I remember playing at Arbuckle Park as a kid. The place was always packed and not just with parents but people who came to watch our games,” Storen said. “This isn’t about the big business side of baseball. It’s tradition. You don’t have to be a major leaguer. You can be a kid that wants to go out and play and learn the game and make lifelong friends along with life lessons and growth as a person. This is important.”

He’s quick to point out, the youth sports complex is for everyone. For Storen, it’s also about green space, parks and places for the community to gather.

“This is not just about a baseball diamond. It’s another park in the community. Everyone will benefit. The diamond got the conversation started, but it’s really about having a place to go to play,” he said.

Today, in addition to coaching his two sons and pouring his energy into the development of Brownsburg Youth Sports and the future sports complex, Storen is co-founder of Field of Dreams Whiskey Co.

It’s a combination of Storen’s love for baseball, whiskey — he’s collected rare bourbons throughout his career — and the 1989 movie starring Kevin Costner, “Field of Dreams.”

“I take corn from the ‘Field of Dreams’ movie site in Dyersville, Iowa, and make bourbon. I used my project design degree to create the logo and partnered with my best childhood friend from Brownsburg Little League and another best friend from MLB and started the company,” Storen said.

The area is currently undergoing changes to further entice movie buffs and baseball fans.

“They had an MLB game there in 2021 with the White Sox and the Yankees. Now, it’s been put on pause because they’re building a permanent stadium, so hopefully, we’ll have more games in the next couple of years,” he said. “The field has always been maintained, and we work with the local farmers to harvest what we need for the bourbon. It’s sort of like combining all of my passions into one.”

In the process of it all coming together, he hopes others — particularly youth — find the passion for baseball or youth sports in general that he has had over the years.

“It’s extremely important for kids to be able to play with their friends. I think youth travel ball has turned into a professional sport pretty quickly, and it cuts some of these kids off from a great game and great life lessons,” he said. “We don’t want anyone to be shut out.”

For more information about Brownsburg Youth Sports and the future sports complex, visit brownsburgsports.org. For more about Field of Dreams Whiskey Co., visit drinkfieldofdreams.com.

HOUSTON, Texas – IOU Sports, It’s On Us Sports Academy, a training program in southwest Houston, continues to grow.

It helps dozens of kids get faster and stronger through sports, but it’s also doing great things for kids and families who can’t afford the membership.

The mentorship program helps keep kids out of trouble and on track for success.

“Our mentorship program starts from 4 to 14, and everything we do is based on life skills, and we use basketball as a language as a tool to help them navigate. They can use what they learn here through life and school, peer pressure, passing grades, failing grades, highs and lows. I’ve been playing basketball since the crib, I played every level, middle school, high school, college,” said Dominick Foster, co-founder of IOU Sports Academy.

The program also includes after-school programs and free rides to kids in need within five miles of the facility in southwest Houston.

IOU Sports is always looking for volunteers, sponsorships and partnerships.

If you are interested in learning more, click here: iousportsacademy

The American Baseball Coaches Association released its 2024-25 ABCA Team Academic Excellence Awards recently and for the fourth year in a row, coach Ben Tillman’s Chargers made the list.

For more on this story, read our news edition from Saturday, July 26 weekend edition or click here to subscribe to our e-edition.


You see it before the final whistle blows. A boy—ten, or maybe nine—walks off the mat like he’s carrying bricks on his back. His face is red, his eyes damp. Waiting for him is his father, arms folded like a verdict. “You lost to that kid? You were up by two.” The boy opens his mouth, but nothing he says will be enough. The response is swift: a shake of the head, a clenched jaw, maybe a public scolding. It isn’t a lesson. It isn’t encouragement. Just shame.

The culture of cutting

Wrestling has a long history of weight cutting. For decades, athletes—some as young as eight or nine—have been taught that discipline means dehydrating, fasting, and sweating their way down to the lowest possible weight class. It’s framed as a test of toughness. A rite of passage.

But the science tells a different story.

Research shows that 25–94 percent of youth combat athletes engage in rapid weight loss methods like dehydration, severe caloric restriction, and excessive exercise in sweatsuits. These practices are dangerous at any age, but for kids—whose bodies are still growing—they can be devastating. One study found that adolescents who routinely cut weight during puberty experienced stunted growth compared to their peers. Others have documented increased risks of cardiac arrhythmias, electrolyte imbalances, heat stroke, renal strain, and long-term bone health issues. There is no proven performance benefit to extreme weight cutting—and in fact, a 5 percent drop in body weight can impair strength, endurance, and cognitive function.

More than just physical harm

It’s not just the biology that is concerning. It’s the emotional landscape these kids are navigating—one that too often values winning over wellness. There’s a message being delivered—sometimes subtly, sometimes loudly: your worth is tied to the outcome. Not the effort. Not the progress. Just the result. This mindset doesn’t just burn kids out—it warps their sense of self. It fosters disordered eating habits, anxiety, and a belief that deprivation equals value.

What if we did it differently?

What if we reframed our role as adults in youth sports? What if coaches prioritized development over domination—and parents celebrated perseverance over podiums? What if, instead of fixating on numbers on a scale, we taught kids how to fuel their bodies, respect their growth, and build emotional resilience? And what if we gave just as much attention to the bonds between teammates as we do to the brackets? Some of the most powerful lessons in youth sports don’t happen on the mat—they happen at post-tournament dinners, on team hikes, or in hotel hallways during overnight trips. Connection builds resilience. When kids feel like they belong—to each other, not just to the scoreboard—they’re more likely to stick with the sport, to support one another, and to develop a healthier relationship with competition itself.

It’s worth asking: how many “bad matches” are really just the visible symptoms of an invisible strain? I’ve seen kids blamed for poor performance when the real issue was weakness from an aggressive weight cut.

Dehydration impairs reaction time, stamina, and strength. Even mild fluid loss can reduce performance by as much as 10 percent, and yet we ask children—many under 100 pounds—to wrestle after spitting in cups and skipping meals. Then we criticize them for being sluggish. That’s not toughness. That’s a setup.

Medical organizations have already called for change. Many recommend hydration testing, minimum body fat percentages, and limits on how much weight can be lost and regained. These measures exist to protect kids, but they’re only as effective as the adults enforcing them.

The role of clinicians—and communities

As a clinician, parent, and someone who’s watched this play out up close, I believe we can do better. We can educate families on the long-term consequences of weight cutting—physically and psychologically. We can screen for red flags in adolescent athletes: fatigue, hormonal issues, delayed growth, anxiety, disordered eating patterns. We can advocate for policy enforcement—not just at the elite level, but in local clubs and rec programs where these habits often begin. And most importantly, we can help reorient the conversation toward health and personal progress—not just titles. Because no child should have to sacrifice their well-being for a medal that is more important to the adults around them than it is to them. Especially not for applause that fades before the weekend is over.

Sarah White is a nurse practitioner, small business owner, and premedical student based in Virginia. With a background in clinical practice and caregiving, she brings a unique perspective to the intersection of medicine, family life, and community service. She volunteers with the Medical Reserve Corps and is preparing to apply to medical school in 2026.

Sarah is also the founder of two growing ventures: Wrinkle Relaxer, where she specializes in aesthetic treatments, and Bardot Boutique Aesthetics, a space for curated beauty and wellness services.

BALTIMORE — Young participants at the Choo Smith Youth Empowerment camp have spent the last five weeks learning more than just basketball fundamentals.

The program, founded by Baltimore native and former Harlem Globetrotter Choo Smith, combines athletic training with lessons in civic engagement, financial literacy, fine arts, and mentorship.

“Using basketball as a tool to bring them in and then utilizing all the different life resources and helping them elevate to them,” said Smith.

The camp’s mission extends beyond sports, aiming to shape the futures of Baltimore youth.

“Other basketball camps, I would say it’s strictly basketball; we do a lot of learning here about, like, being a community and how we can help Baltimore be a better place, so I really enjoy it for those reasons,” said Briar Rose Moore, a camp participant.

Smith created the camp 20 years ago with the goal of uplifting young people from his hometown.

“I was able to achieve some things to come back to give it so these kids can do better than me,” said Smith.

He notes that the program’s growth has allowed him to achieve his original vision and more, with the five-week experience transforming young players’ lives.

“Young people talking about stocks. They talk about bonds. They talking about shares and things of that and to see them from week one bored, not wanting to listen now they up and they’re vibrant, and they’re thriving like on a whole another level,” said Smith.

Fifteen-year-old Briar Rose Moore is attending the camp for her second year. She reports improvements in her basketball skills and a clearer vision for her future both on and off the court.

“I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. But being here, I know that I could pursue more things, like in relation to finance or accounting or anything I wanna do, while still enjoying what I do and playing basketball,” said Moore.

The camp concludes Friday with its first-ever trip to Hershey Park. Looking ahead, Smith is developing a community center that will continue supporting Baltimore’s youth for years to come.

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.