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Guide to pools, splash pads & more for summer 2025

The Sawdust City offers plenty of options for a quick splash this summer. Essential water safety tips Learn essential water safety tips to ensure a fun and safe summer for the whole family. Oshkosh offers a variety of ways to cool off during the summer, including the Pollock Community Water Park with its pool and […]

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The Sawdust City offers plenty of options for a quick splash this summer.

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  • Oshkosh offers a variety of ways to cool off during the summer, including the Pollock Community Water Park with its pool and waterslides.
  • Residents and visitors can also enjoy the South Park Splash Pad, Menominee Park Beach on Lake Winnebago, and two YMCA aquatic centers.
  • Nearby, Jefferson Park in Menasha and the Neenah Pool offer additional swimming options, along with a splash pad in Washington Park, Neenah.

OSHKOSH – Swimming holes, pools, beaches, lakes and splash pads.

If you’re trying to beat the heat, Oshkosh has more than enough options.

There’s no need to leave the city to stay cool this summer, as the Sawdust City has everything from water parks to swimming pools and even Lake Winnebago.

Here’s a list of where you can go for a quick splash this summer.

Pollock Community Water Park

Oshkosh’s main water park, Pollock Community Water Park, features a swimming pool, waterslides and a number of other amenities at 1550 Taft Ave.

The park is open June 7 to Aug. 17 with open swim hours of noon to 7 p.m.

Pollock Community Water Park will also play host to Yoga at the Pool June 27, July 11, July 18, Aug. 8, Aug. 15 and Aug. 22.

For more information, including rates and passes, visit https://www.oshkoshwi.gov/parks/PollockCommunityWaterPark/.

South Park Splash Pad

The Splash Pad at South Park, 1035 W. South Park Ave., is open until Sept. 1 from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The park features a splash pad, fishing opportunities in the lagoons, an inclusive playground, wooded areas, trails, and basketball and tennis courts.

Menominee Park Beach

Located in the southern park of Menominee Park on Pratt Trail, Menominee Park Beach is open for swimming and features numerous benches along with picnic tables.

It is adjacent to Menominee Park Zoo and includes a playground, bathrooms and another amenities.

Lake Winnebago

Oshkosh’s largest inland lake, Lake Winnebago offers countless watersport activities including swimming, boating, kayaking, canoeing and water skiing.

Various launching spots are along the shore and even more opportunities to enjoy the lake.

YMCA aquatic centers

The 3303 W. 20th Ave. and Downtown (324 Washington Ave.) YMCA aquatic centers both offer pools for open swim.

The 20th Avenue YMCA features an eight-lane, 25-yard Kuhn Family Pool and a family fun pool that has a water slide, zero-depth entry, a lazy river current and water-spouting gadgets.

The Downtown YMCAhas a four-lane, 25-yard lap pool as well as a family pool that includes a large lazy river.

Both YMCA locations are equipped with an on-deck sauna, steam room and whirlpool.

Jefferson Park Swimming Pool

Located in Jefferson Park 915 Third Street, Menasha, the outdoor swimming pool is slated to open early June, with daily operating hours of 1-5 p.m. and 6:15 p.m.-7:45 p.m.

Along with the public swimming pool, the park features a waterslide, inflatable toy section, sand volleyball court, sun deck and a heated pool.

Neenah Pool

The Neenah Pool, 600 S. Park Ave., will be open June 7-Aug. 23 this season with open swim hours daily.

The pool is open 1-8 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and 1-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. It features a number of amenities and activities like heated water, a sand volleyball court, tot sand play area, outdoor ping pong table, tetherball, and changing and locker rooms.

Washington Park Splash Pad

The splash pad at 631 W. Winneconne Ave., Neenah, will operate daily 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and remains open until Sept. 1.

It’s free to the public and is activated by running a hand over the top of the fire hydrant. The splash pad runs in four-minute increments and can be reactivated by waving a hand over the sensor.

For more information, visit https://www.ci.neenah.wi.us/departments/parks-recreation/splashpad-washington-park/.

Contact Justin Marville at jmarville@gannett.com and follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @justinmarville.



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Leadership shifts at Marico, PepsiCo, InMobi, JSW Sports and more

New Delhi: As July begins, the Indian marketing, media, and advertising sectors are seeing several leadership changes. From major exits to new appointments, senior professionals are moving across FMCG, digital media, entertainment, and tech. While Marico’s CMO Somasree Bose Awasthi steps down after three years, PepsiCo India has named Saakshi Verma Menon as its new […]

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New Delhi: As July begins, the Indian marketing, media, and advertising sectors are seeing several leadership changes. From major exits to new appointments, senior professionals are moving across FMCG, digital media, entertainment, and tech. While Marico’s CMO Somasree Bose Awasthi steps down after three years, PepsiCo India has named Saakshi Verma Menon as its new CMO for Foods. Changes are also taking place at Wellbeing Nutrition, JSW Sports, Dentsu, VML, and Connect Digital. 

This tracker rounds up the key executive moves shaping brand growth, content, and consumer strategy in the coming months.

Somasree Bose Awasthi quits as CMO at Marico

Somasree-Bose-Awasthi
Somasree Bose Awasthi

Somasree Bose Awasthi has stepped down as Chief Marketing Officer at Marico, bringing her nearly three-year tenure to a close. The company confirmed her exit, citing personal reasons.

During her time at Marico, Awasthi played a key role in strengthening marketing capabilities, driving innovation, and shaping strategic processes. Before joining Marico, she spent over 16 years at Godrej Consumer Products, where she led marketing for categories like insecticides, hair colour, and soaps.

PepsiCo India appoints Saakshi Verma Menon as CMO, Foods

Sakshi
Saakshi Verma Menon

PepsiCo India has named Saakshi Verma Menon as Chief Marketing Officer for its Foods division, which includes brands such as Lay’s, Kurkure, Uncle Chipps, Quaker, Cheetos, and Doritos.Menon was previously Senior Marketing Director for Africa, Middle East & South Asia at PepsiCo. In her new role, she will lead brand strategy, innovation, and consumer engagement across the India Foods portfolio.

Menon brings two decades of marketing experience, having worked at Colgate-Palmolive, Coca-Cola, Uber, and Kimberly-Clark. She joined PepsiCo in January 2024.

Wellbeing Nutrition appoints Varun Kandhari as Chief Marketing and Growth Officer

Well being
Varun Kandhari

Wellbeing Nutrition has named Varun Kandhari as its Chief Marketing and Growth Officer. With over 18 years of experience, Kandhari has held leadership roles at Mars Wrigley, Unilever, and most recently, Davide Campari-Milano N.V.

At Mars Wrigley, he was part of the India Executive Leadership Team and led marketing, category expansion, and profitability initiatives. He has also worked in Unilever’s Home & Personal Care division across South Asia.

JSW Sports appoints Gaurav Kalra as Chief Content and Marketing Officer

jsw SPORTS
Gaurav Kalra

Gaurav Kalra has joined JSW Sports as Chief Content and Marketing Officer. He brings over 25 years of experience in journalism, digital media, and sports content across platforms including JioStar, ESPN, CNN-News18, Network18, and Reliance Foundation.

Kalra began his career at BITV in 1996 and has since worked extensively across broadcast and digital media with a strong focus on editorial and sports storytelling. At JSW Sports, he will lead content and marketing strategy to drive deeper audience engagement and build the organisation’s brand presence across channels.

InMobi CMO Bikash Chowdhury steps down, announces new venture

Bikash-Chowdhury
Bikash Chowdhury

Bikash Chowdhury has stepped down as Chief Marketing Officer at InMobi, ending a 14-year stint with the company.

In a LinkedIn post, Chowdhury reflected on his journey and announced his next chapter, a full-time focus on Zebu, a storytelling and training venture he co-founded with K. Srikrishna.

Over the years, Chowdhury led marketing at both InMobi and Glance, spearheading campaigns with names like Hardik Pandya and Rana Daggubati, and driving brand and digital strategies globally.

Dentsu India appoints Sujeet Behra as President, Carat & CSO, Dentsu Media

Sujeet-Behra
Sujeet Behra

Dentsu India has promoted Sujeet Behra to President of Carat and Chief Strategy Officer, Dentsu Media. He succeeds Sanchayeeta Verma, who has moved on from her role as Carat CEO.

Behra has been with Carat for over three years, previously serving as Chief Growth Officer, Chief Strategy Officer, and Carat North business head. In his expanded role, he will lead Carat’s strategic direction and spearhead insight-driven, cross-functional media solutions across the Dentsu Media network. He will report to Amit Wadhwa, CEO, Dentsu Creative & Media Brands, South Asia.

Anurag Prasad takes charge of Lowe Lintas Gurugram as Naveen Gaur exits

naveen
Naveen Gaur (left) and Anurag Prasad ( right)

Lowe Lintas has elevated Chief Strategy Officer Anurag Prasad to also lead its Gurgaon office, following the departure of Naveen Gaur after a 15-year stint. Gaur is leaving to explore entrepreneurial opportunities.

Prasad, a Lintas veteran of over two decades, has shaped strategies for marquee brands like Maruti Suzuki, Google, and Havells. He has also played a key role in integrating the agency’s cultural insights programme, State of States, into brand planning.

Amit Gupta steps down as Managing Director of VML Commerce India

Amit-Gupta
Amit Gupta

Amit Gupta has stepped down from his role as Managing Director at VML Commerce India, concluding a 22-year journey with the WPP network.

In a LinkedIn post, Gupta reflected on his time building and scaling Eperium India, which later became part of Wunderman Thompson Commerce and ultimately transitioned into VML.

As MD, Gupta oversaw enterprise-level e-commerce projects and helped shape delivery operations for global clients.

Connect Digital appoints Fabian Cowan as Director to lead DOOH business

Fabian-Cowan
Fabian Cowan

Connect Network Inc. has named Fabian Cowan as Director, Connect Digital to spearhead its digital out-of-home (DOOH) operations.

With over 20 years of experience across OOH, DOOH, radio, and print, Cowan is tasked with driving innovation and growth through the company’s AdTech platform, Immersive.

Haresh Nayak, CEO of Connect Network Inc., praised Cowan’s media acumen and commercial clarity, calling him “the ideal choice” to lead this vertical.

Vinay Kumar Guwalani joins Saregama as SVP, Music Monetisation and Marketing

Vinay Kumar Guwalani
Vinay Kumar Guwalani

Saregama has appointed Vinay Kumar Guwalani as Senior Vice-President, Music Monetisation and Marketing, effective July 1, 2025.

With over 17 years of experience in the music and entertainment industry, Guwalani was previously Director, Label & Artist Solutions at Believe, where he led digital monetisation and artist partnerships.

He has also held leadership roles at Zee Music Company, with expertise in licensing, marketing, and content strategy.

Huella Services appoints Pankajj Rai as Vice-President, Ad Sales

Pankajj Rai
Pankajj Rai

Huella Services has named Pankajj Rai as Vice-President, Ad Sales. In his new role, Rai will lead monetisation for Newsroom AI and support the company’s wider strategic initiatives across product and partnerships.

With over 18 years of experience in broadcast and digital media, Rai has held senior roles at Zee Media and Qyou Media, and previously led commercial operations for multiple Zee network channels.





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Prefontaine Classic 2025: The top storylines to watch at historic track and field meet

It’s a big weekend of racing on the sports calendar. There’s the start of the Tour de France, the Formula 1 British Grand Prix in Silverstone, and the 50th edition of the Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Named in memory of the legendary American long-distance runner Steve Prefontaine, the Prefontaine Classic has […]

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It’s a big weekend of racing on the sports calendar. There’s the start of the Tour de France, the Formula 1 British Grand Prix in Silverstone, and the 50th edition of the Prefontaine Classic at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon. Named in memory of the legendary American long-distance runner Steve Prefontaine, the Prefontaine Classic has become one of the premier annual global track and field meets and doubles as the only American stop on the Diamond League circuit.

If you loved track and field at last year’s Olympics, you’re in for a treat. There are over 60 Olympic and Paralympic medalists from the Paris Games, with five full podium rematches on tap. This meet is so loaded that an outstanding women’s 100-meter hurdles isn’t in the two-hour television window. Let’s look at some of the top storylines and athletes to watch this Saturday.


Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone tests herself in the 400 meters

USATF Outdoor Championships

Photo by Melinda Meijer/ISI Photos/Getty Images

McLaughlin-Levrone is unquestionably the GOAT of the women’s 400m hurdles, but her versatility is remarkable. She’s one of the 12 fastest 400m flat runners ever and even beat eventual Olympic champion Gabby Thomas in a 200m race last year. The 25-year-old was scheduled for the 200m/400m double at (the ill-fated?) Grand Slam Track in Los Angeles before the meet was cancelled.

We won’t see Dominican Olympic champion Mareiledy Paulino or Bahrain’s Salwa Eid Naser, the top two 400m runners right now. It’s nevertheless a very good field that includes Americans Alexis Holmes and 2025 NCAA champion Aliyah Butler, plus 2023 NCAA champ Rhasidat Adeleke of Ireland. McLaughlin-Levrone has the fastest personal best and only needs to shave 0.05 seconds off that to eclipse Sanya Richards-Ross’ 19-year-old American record of 48.70.

A Paris podium rematch in the women’s 100 meters

Olympics: Athletics-Evening Session

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

This is the first showdown for this trio since Paris. Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred’s historic gold made her the Caribbean nation’s first ever Olympic medalist. Sha’Carri Richardson took silver before winning gold as the USA anchor leg in the 4x100m relay. Her compatriot Melissa Jefferson-Wooden has been superb, boasting the fastest time in 2025 at 10.73 seconds, making her one of the top 10 fastest women ever.

Sha’Carri might be the biggest star but her only race this year was a fourth-place showing in Tokyo. On current form, the favorites are Alfred and Jefferson-Wooden, but if Richardson brings her best then we’ll have a thriller. Alfred’s training partner Dina Asher-Smith of Great Britain and Jamaican champion Tina Clayton are among the athletes who could pull a surprise.

Kishane Thompson, Jamaica’s Usain Bolt successor?

The powerfully built Thompson just booked his spot in this September’s World Championships in Tokyo by running 9.75 seconds in the Jamaican championships, a time only five others have achieved.

Thompson avenging his narrow Olympic defeat to Noah Lyles will have to wait, but on paper he’s the class of this race, which will have former world champion Christian Coleman, fellow American Trayvon Bromell, plus Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake.

Middle-distance Magic: Faith Kipyegon in the 1500m, Athing Mu-Nikolayev in the 800m, and a stacked Bowerman Mile

Olympics: Athletics-Evening Session

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Kenyan icon Faith Kipyegon unsuccessfully tried becoming the first woman to run a sub-4-minute mile in last week’s special Nike-orchestrated time trial. I guess she’ll have to settle for only having the women’s mile and 1500m world records, plus three Olympic and World Championship 1500m golds. Rescheduled as the meet’s final race, Kipyegon is aiming to lower her 3:49.04 1500m WR against a stacked field that includes American Nikki Hiltz, Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji, as well as Paris medalists Jess Hull of Australia and Britain’s Georgia Hunter-Bell.

In the newly named Mutola 800 meters (in honor of Mozambican 800m great Maria Mutola), Athing Mu-Nikolayev returns to the scene of her heartbreaking fall in last year’s US trials, which cost her a place in Paris. The long-striding Tokyo Olympic champ hasn’t raced an 800 this year, instead competing in 1500 and 5000m races. She told SB Nation on Thursday that she had planned to run in the NYC Grand Prix last month before it was cancelled, so this is a significant test for her. Key contenders here include Kenya’s Mary Moraa, Paris silver medalist Tsige Duguma of Ethiopia, and reigning world indoor champion Prudence Sekgodiso of South Africa.

A Prefontaine Classic tradition is the Bowerman Mile, named after celebrated track coach and Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman. Cole Hocker shocked the world in 2024 by besting Norwegian phenom Jakob Ingebrigtsen and Britain’s Josh Kerr (neither of whom is in this race) for an unexpected American gold in the 1500 meters. The strong American contingent includes Olympic bronze medalist (and former indoor world record miler) Yared Nuguse, 5k/10k double Olympic bronze medalist Grant Fisher, and young star Hobbs Kessler. French national record holder Azeddine Habz, a late bloomer at 31, has 2025’s fastest 1500m time. Hocker, Nuguse, and Habbz are among the top contenders, but this exciting era of middle-distance racing is very unpredictable.

Another world record (and $100,000) for Mondo Duplantis?

The men’s pole vaulting GOAT is always reaching new heights. The American-born Swede surpassed Renaud Lavillenie’s world record in 2020 at 6.17m (20 ft, 2 34 in) and has since set a new top mark 11 more times on his way to 6.28m (20 ft, 7 in) in Stockholm.

Each new world record earns the ex-LSU star a $100,000 bonus from World Athletics, so this approach has netted Duplantis over $1 million. Expect a 6.29m try on Saturday from… Carmy Berzatto?

Daughter of former WWE and UFC superstar goes pro

2024 U.S. Olympic Team Trials - Track & Field - Day 8

Photo by Melinda Meijer/ISI Photos/Getty Images

Mya Lesnar—yes, the daughter of former NCAA wrestling, WWE, and UFC champion Brock Lesnar—is turning pro after closing her decorated Colorado State career with an NCAA shot put title. Her recent personal best 19.60m (64 ft, 3 34 in) throw would’ve won bronze in Paris. Don’t expect a win against elite competition like German Olympic champion Yemisi Ogunleye or America’s two-time world champion Chase Jackson (who just improved her American record to 20.95m last week), but Lesnar is a serious talent who will look to make Team USA’s World Championship roster later this month.

4 other notable events to watch

ATHLETICS-OLY-PARIS-2024

Photo by JEWEL SAMAD/AFP via Getty Images

  • Men’s 200 meters: Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo and USA’s Kenny Bednarek went 1-2 in Paris, over Noah Lyles. ‘Kung Fu’ Kenny swept the 100 and 200 in all three Grand Slam Track meets, whereas Tebogo’s season has been somewhat disrupted due to injury.
  • Men’s 400 meters: Kansas City’s Quincy Hall is must-watch for his improbable comebacks, most notably against Great Britain’s Matt Hudson-Smith in the Olympic final. This is their first meeting since that epic finish, with Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga making it a full podium rematch. (Update: Hall has scratched from the race with an injury)
  • Men’s 400-meter hurdles: Olympic champion and American record holder Rai Benjamin has formed a gripping rivalry with Brazil’s Alison dos Santos and Norwegian world record holder Karsten Warholm. Rai beat both in Stockholm, but Warholm won’t be in this one.
  • Women’s 5000 meters: The Kenya vs. Ethiopia rivalry is renewed between double Olympic champ Beatrice Chebet and two-time world champion Gudaf Tsegay. Chebet set the 10k world record in last year’s Prefontaine Classic, while Tsegay has the 5k record, but the Kenyan is hot on her heels after her No. 2 all-time run in the Rome Diamond League.

What time is the 2025 Prefontaine Classic?

The Prefontaine Classic airs live on NBC and Peacock on Saturday, July 5 at 4 pm ET/1 pm PT, with USATF.tv broadcasting preliminary events at 1 pm ET/10 am PT. SB Nation will be providing on-site coverage from Eugene. Here’s the timetable for all of the competitions.





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Nebraska family working as a team in Cornhusker State Games

LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – A former University of Nebraska-Lincoln athlete, who has competed on American Ninja Warrior, is participating in track and field events at the Cornhusker State Games for the first time in 18 years. Maggi Thorne’s reasoning to come back, is her three children who are teaming up with their mom for the […]

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LINCOLN, Neb. (KOLN) – A former University of Nebraska-Lincoln athlete, who has competed on American Ninja Warrior, is participating in track and field events at the Cornhusker State Games for the first time in 18 years.

Maggi Thorne’s reasoning to come back, is her three children who are teaming up with their mom for the 4×1 relay.

All three of her children have strong interest in the sport, participating in track and field events at their schools. With Maggi’s athletic background, she’s been able to coach her kids which is something her youngest daughter, Ellie is grateful for.

“She is teaching me her ways that way I can get better with it,” Ellie said.

Ellie’s older siblings, Charlie and Fiona are echoing that similar message.

“She’s always there for me anyways, so having her as a coach is just like having a mentor that’s always there for you,” Charlie said.

“When we travel like out of state, we can still do workouts and I don’t have to contact a coach asking for a workout,” Fiona said. “If we are just sitting down having coffee or having dinner, we can go over thoughts and plans about form or what the meet is going to look like.”

Despite Maggi having an experienced background with athletics, Maggi said her kids teach her just as much.

“We are at the point where they equally train me, coach me,” Maggi said. For them to say ‘ mom you need to do this and mom you said’ and I go ‘Okay you are right, okay guys, okay coach’.”

Maggi, Charlie and Fiona have all participated in the Cornhusker State Games before, but this year, it will be Ellie’s debut and she’s doing it with the people she knows best.

“I think it is exciting because we are going to race other families too and it’s nice to just be competitive after our track season ended, it’s good to get the energy back up,” Ellie said.

While Fiona and Charlie are siblings, they will have to work closer than ever on the track at Lincoln High School on July 12.

“I’m actually really excited because I get to hand off to him,” Fiona said. “I’ve seen all the hype of him running and I love the adrenaline I get during track, I feel like it is going to be super fun to pass it along to my brother.”

Charlie told 10/11 News he has received Division one offers from schools like UNL and Oklahoma State for track and field and is looking to commit soon. However he’s looking forward to working with his sisters and mom, and cherish the moments, win or lose.

“At the end of the day, it’s about going out there and having fun with my family and just doing what we love,” Charlie said.

The day of the track and field events for the Cornhusker State Games, will be a day that sticks with Maggi forever, because after suffering from a brain injury she thought she would be done with athletics for good.

“I feel like I’m dreaming and even going up to just about a week from now, when I get in those starting blocks and I have the baton in my hand there’s a small chance I am going to weep,” Maggi said. “Because it’s really emotional for me that I get to do this with my children, this is who we are.”

The track and field events will take place at Lincoln High School starting at 7:30 a.m.

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Position Previews

Football 7/4/2025 2:30:00 PM Chatting with Brandon Bailey about his position group Story Links 2025 Football Season, Presented by Morris Bank As the dog days of summer roll on, GSEagles.com is sitting down with each of the 11 position coaches to discuss their room. Up next is defensive coordinator and safeties coach Brandon Bailey. Q: […]

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Position Previews

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Chatting with Brandon Bailey about his position group

As the dog days of summer roll on, GSEagles.com is sitting down with each of the 11 position coaches to discuss their room. Up next is defensive coordinator and safeties coach Brandon Bailey.

Q: Coach, what were your general takeaways from spring ball when it came to your safeties group?
BB: I was pleased overall. We had some new additions from the Portal and a few guys who had to step into bigger roles after we lost TJ Smith and Tyrell Davis, and with Mark Stampley II and Deontre Morris transferring. That meant a lot more reps for some guys, and they really embraced the challenge. They played fast and hard, and they showed up with the right mindset.

What I was most proud of, though, was how they attacked that bigger role. Whether it was getting in extra work with a position coach or just spending more time together as a group, they put in the effort. That kind of buy-in is what you need, and I think we’re in a good spot heading into fall camp.

Q: Which veterans really stood out this spring?
BB: I loved the way Justin Meyers practiced — consistent, high effort, locked in every day. Prince Green III, going into his third year here, made big strides. Devin Collier also took some nice steps forward. But the biggest surprise was Chris Crouch. He had a huge spring — flying around, making plays, and really carved out a role for himself on defense that hadn’t been there before. I’m excited to see what’s next for him.

Q: What about the newcomers? Who caught your eye?
BB: Jayden Davis, the transfer from Georgia Tech, is a big-time addition. He’s long, he can run, and he’s shown he can tackle in space. He came into a scheme that’s pretty similar to what he ran at Tech, so that helped his transition. He had a great spring, and we’re really excited about his potential.

Q: Who are your leaders?
BB: I think the needle immediately turns to Justin Meyers, no doubt. He’s earned his stripes — multi-year starter, battled through injuries, and just brings his hard hat and lunch pail every day. He’s not a loud guy, not one to scream or yell. But when he talks, people listen. He leads by example, and that goes a long way in our room.

Q: Any position battles you’re excited to watch unfold during preseason camp?
BB: Honestly, all of them. I think we’ve got five or six guys who can help us win football games, and that’s a great problem to have. The big challenge — and the fun part — will be figuring out how to get the best 11 on the field. We usually play two safeties, a nickel, and two corners, but if you’ve got three or four safeties playing at a high level, you’ve got to find creative ways to get them involved. There’s real depth in that room now, and the competition is going to be fierce. I’m excited to watch it play out.

Q: So from the safeties, what’s the top thing that you’ll be preaching that your group needs to do to help this team win
BB: Down the ball in open space. The number one quality of a great safety, I don’t care where you play or what scheme you play in, if you’re a third level defender then you have to be able to down the ball in open space. They call the position safety for a reason. You’ve got to do a lot of other things, but when everything goes wrong and maybe something spits out of there, if you’re playing a single high safety defense that just got to get the ball on the ground so you live to fight another day. So tackling in open space consistently is always the challenge.

Q: Final thoughts — when you look at the defense overall, with some veteran returners and new faces, how are you feeling heading into camp?
BB: We’re in a much better place than we’ve been before — year three in the system helps a lot. We did have some staff turnover with new coaches on the D-line and at linebacker, but we brought in guys who already knew the system. That made the transition smoother.

On the player side, we’ve got a good group of returners and some strong additions from both the Portal and high school recruiting. I think this might be the most athletic group we’ve had since I’ve been here, across the board — up front, at linebacker, and in the secondary.

What’s been most encouraging is how quickly the new guys have embraced our culture. When your head coach sets the tone the right way, new players come in and want to be part of it. If your culture’s broken, they’ll make it worse. But if it’s strong, and you recruit the right people, they’ll make it better. And that’s what we’re seeing with this group.

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Linton Freedom Festival announces parade ambassadors | News

The Linton Freedom Festival is proud to announce this year’s ambassadors: Becca Robbins and the Linton-Stockton High School (LSHS) Miner Football Team. These ambassadors embody the spirit and values of our community, and we are thrilled to have them represent us during this year’s festivities. Becca Robbins, dedicated community student athlete and a recent LSHS […]

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The Linton Freedom Festival is proud to announce this year’s ambassadors: Becca Robbins and the Linton-Stockton High School (LSHS) Miner Football Team. These ambassadors embody the spirit and values of our community, and we are thrilled to have them represent us during this year’s festivities.

Becca Robbins, dedicated community student athlete and a recent LSHS graduate, has been an active participant in numerous high school sports. Her commitment to her high school track career has made her a beloved figure in Linton. Becca has been a state qualifier in shot put and discus for four years, representing Linton-Stockton High School. Becca will continue her track and field excellence at Eastern Illinois College in Charleston, Ill.



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Woodville promotes Paddock to head volleyball coach | Sports

The Woodville volleyball program did not have look far to find its new head coach. Woodville has promoted assistant Meg Paddock to the head volleyball coaching position. Paddock takes over following the retirement of Woody Beard, who coached the Woodville volleyball and girls basketball teams for the past four seasons. “Being entrusted to lead the […]

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The Woodville volleyball program did not have look far to find its new head coach.

Woodville has promoted assistant Meg Paddock to the head volleyball coaching position.

Paddock takes over following the retirement of Woody Beard, who coached the Woodville volleyball and girls basketball teams for the past four seasons.

“Being entrusted to lead the volleyball program means a lot,” Paddock said. “It’s a dream come true. It’s about guiding the team, fostering growth and achieving our goals together.”

Paddock was Woodville’s junior high volleyball coach and served as a varsity/junior varsity assistant last season. 

Paddock is a 2016 Scottsboro High School alum and played both volleyball and basketball for the Wildcats. 

She teaches seventh- and eighth-grade math at Woodville.

Paddock believes the familiarity between her and the players will be beneficial during the coaching transition.

“Knowing the players well makes the coaching transition smoother because we already have trust and good communication,” Paddock said. “It helps us understand each other’s strengths and how to work best together.”

The Woodville volleyball program has posted four consecutive winning seasons and made three consecutive Class 1A North Super Regional appearances, and Paddock said her goal is to continue to the Panthers’ upward trajectory in the sport.

“I just want to see the program continue to build and see these girls grow in a sport they love,” Paddock said. “I want my volleyball teams to be known for their relentless hustle, smart plays and unbreakable bond, always pushing each other to be better.”



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