Rec Sports

Gymnastics coach’s sexual abuse leaves scars in Missouri

Published

8 months ago

May 7, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Content warning: This story includes references to and descriptions of child sexual abuse.

Kampbell Hemeyer watched a little boy run out of the courtroom, pleading with court officers.

“I don’t want to, I don’t want to, I don’t want to go with Dad,” he cried.

The little boy’s well-worn Ninja Turtles shirt and light-up shoes were nothing like her dress pants and blazer. But when they locked eyes, Hemeyer saw herself in him. She no longer wanted to be in the courthouse. She didn’t want to face her abuser. For the first time, she turned to her mother and cried.

“My brain hadn’t fully grasped the concept of me being there quite yet,” said Hemeyer, who turned 18 not long before the trial. “I was about to face my abuser for the first time since everything happened, since before the investigation really got going. I just felt an immense feeling of how none of this is fair for children, kids who are surviving going through court.”

Hemeyer’s feelings about seeking justice are not unusual. In several cases reviewed by The Midwest Newsroom, offenders might not face legal consequences. Parents grapple with whether to report incidents, and survivors wonder if going to law enforcement with their accusations is worth it.

A middle-aged man with short, dark hair stares at the camera in a mug shot taken by the Washington Police Department in Washington, Missouri. Former volunteer gymnastics coach David Schneider is serving a 50-year prison sentence at the South Central Correctional Facility in Licking, Missouri. — Former volunteer gymnastics coach David Schneider is serving a 50-year prison sentence at the South Central Correctional Facility in Licking, Missouri.

Hemeyer’s abuser, former volunteer gymnastics coach David Schneider, is at the South Central Correctional Facility in Licking, Missouri, where he is serving a 50-year prison sentence for four counts of child molestation and one count of attempted molestation.

The charges stem from his time as a gymnastics coach at the now-closed Kids in Motion gymnastics gym in Washington, Missouri, where he volunteered from 2011 to 2014. The gym was owned by Piper Hoemann.

The gym reopened at a new location and under a different name, Fitness Made Fun, in 2018. Its owner is Nadiana Peck, the previous owner’s daughter. Peck declined to answer questions from The Midwest Newsroom.

Hemeyer and other gymnasts accused Schneider of sexually abusing them during a stretching exercise known as “over splits,” where coaches assist gymnasts by straightening their legs and pushing down on the gymnasts’ hips to create a deeper stretch. Often, at least one leg is elevated during the over splits.

Hemeyer said she was around 10 years old when the sexual abuse began. She started at Kids in Motion when she was 8 years old and continued gymnastics until her freshman year of high school.

Schneider was safety certified by USA Gymnastics, the national governing body for the sport, and attended five clinics on upper-level spotting techniques, according to trial documents.

In this image taken from her YouTube channel, Olympian Shannon Miller works with a young gymnast to demonstrate the over splits, an exercise in which at least one leg is elevated to create a deeper stretch. This gymnast appears to be in her teens and has her hair pulled back in a neat, high bun. She is wearing a black leotard. Her leg is elevated substantially behind her. — In this image taken from her YouTube channel, Olympian Shannon Miller works with a young gymnast to demonstrate the over splits, an exercise in which at least one leg is elevated to create a deeper stretch.

Schneider’s initial interview with the Washington (Missouri) Police Department about sexual abuse allegations was on Feb. 6, 2018. That same month, USA Gymnastics placed Schneider on its list of permanently banned former professional members, which means he is not eligible to coach at USAG member gyms or USAG meets.

The sanctions came a month after Larry Nassar, the disgraced former USA Gymnastics and Michigan State University doctor, was sentenced to 40 to 175 years in prison. Nassar pleaded guilty to seven counts of criminal sexual conduct and admitted to using his trusted position to assault and molest girls, many of them gymnasts and other athletes, under the guise of medical treatment.

When safeguards fail

Kids in Motion was affiliated and competed with USA Gymnastics until its membership ended when the gym closed. Coach or professional membership is required for participation and credentialing at USA Gymnastics-sanctioned events. Although coaches at member clubs are not required to be USA Gymnastics members, USAG member clubs are prohibited from allowing anyone on the banned list to coach in their club.

The federal Safe Sport Act of 2017 says that all adult members interacting with youth athletes are mandatory reporters. Any suspected child abuse, including sexual abuse, must be reported within 24 hours to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

During his trial, Schneider’s victims reported that for years, he repeatedly slid his hand down girls’ legs and into their shorts during these stretches. The abuse ranged from touching the inside of their shorts, over their leotards, to inside their leotards or even touching their genitals. He would say things like, “Sorry, hon,” to the girls, but make no effort to remove his fingers.

Before coaching Hemeyer and her fellow gymnasts, Schneider played a key role in establishing the swim program at the Four Rivers YMCA in Washington, Missouri, where he coached a team for over a decade. Additionally, he coached another swim team in Union, Missouri. In 2009 he served as the girls volleyball and soccer coach at Crosspoint Christian School in Villa Ridge, Missouri.

Delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and legal proceedings pushed the start of his trial to March 29, 2022. Two days later the Franklin County jury convicted Schneider on four counts of child molestation, and one count of attempted molestation.

Hemeyer was among those who testified against Schneider.

“Going on stand was hard,” Hemeyer said. “You’re being asked really, really tough questions and being asked by the defense about things that are supposed to trip you up, and you feel like you’re being victimized all over again.”

Silence or justice?

Danielle Schmidt placed her daughter in gymnastics at Kids in Motion when the child was 5 years old. Schmidt was a coach at the gym and even worked alongside Schneider on occasion. One day after practice, when her daughter was 8 years old, she told her mom she didn’t like it when coach Dave put her in the over splits. Schmidt asked why, and her daughter responded, “He touches me down there.”

The Midwest Newsroom is not using the daughter’s name because she is a sexual abuse survivor who does not want to be identified.

“She was absolutely devastated, mortified and angry with me because she did not understand why I had to tell on her,” Schmidt said. “Her biggest fear was that Dave was going to find out that she told on him. It wasn’t that he touched her, it was that he was going to be mad at her because she told on him.”

Schmidt called the owner of the gym, Hoemann, whose husband worked as a state trooper. She said Hoemann had Schmidt’s daughter show her exactly how Schneider was touching her.

Hoemann told Schmidt that her husband — the state trooper — said it wouldn’t be worth pursuing because the court would rule in favor of the coach, Schmidt said. The Midwest Newsroom could not reach Hoemann for comment.

A 2014 National Institute of Justice study of child sexual abuse investigations found anywhere from 22% to 47% of cases are declined by prosecutors. Further, the researchers found over 90% of cases involving allegations of sexual abuse of a minor did not continue to trial after details were analyzed by the prosecution. Some recent research has shown that while a small proportion of cases result in criminal charges, once charges are lodged, cases are actually much less likely to end in a dismissal.

Schneider has appealed his conviction. Bryan Mathews is the prosecutor currently assigned to the case.

“The difficulty in these cases is they happen behind closed doors or they’re one-on-one crimes, typically,” Mathews said. “It’s very, very seldom that we have a case where there is an eyewitness who can speak to the actual criminal acts that took place outside of these children.”

Like many parents, Schmidt wanted to protect her child from the ordeal of a trial, and from having to face her abuser.

“I had to decide whether I was going to put my 8-year-old on the stand all by herself against Dave,” Schmidt said. “The more I thought about it, the more I realized putting her, at 8 years old, on trial is probably going to be more emotionally devastating than the act itself.”

‘No zones’ and caution

Two weeks after Schmidt discussed her concerns with Hoemann, Hoemann sent a memo to the Kids in Motion staff titled “Molestation Policy.” The memo, reviewed by The Midwest Newsroom, listed positions to avoid, specifically that girls are not to be taken to do the over-splits stretch in a one-on-one setting.

Hoemann wrote in her memo to staff: “This gym has been subject to complaints and concerns with direct violations mandated or suggested in our policy. I admonish everyone to take these new policies very seriously. Accusations, whether true or false, can tear apart families, destroy reputations, and tear apart this program which we have tried so hard to build. The following revisions are put into my own words, so they can be better understood. Please understand these policies are for your own safety.”

The memo goes on to list “No zones” where gymnasts are to not be touched. It continued, “Male coaches be EXTREMELY cautious.”

Under Missouri law, Hoemann should have reported the abuse to police immediately after Schmidt told her what had happened to her daughter. Hoemann pleaded guilty in 2019 for misdemeanor failure to report child abuse.

“Because of your failure to report, (Schneider) was allowed to continue working with little kids,” Franklin County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Michael Hayes asked Hoemann during the trial. “Yes,” Hoemann responded.

‘Not set up for children’

Ella Kroeter was 2 years old when she took her first “mommy and me” gymnastics class. She loved gymnastics. She was around 6 when Schneider became one of her coaches at Kids in Motion in 2012.

She said Schneider repeatedly put his hands up her shorts and touched her crotch area when she was a third-grader. She remembers telling one of the older girls, Hoemann’s daughter Gabrella, about the abuse.

“She (Gabrella) threatened me that if I ever said that again, I would be kicked off the team and out of the gym,” Ella said. “Gymnastics was everything to me, so I didn’t say anything else about it.”

On a December morning in 2017, as a news story aired on the family television about the Marshall Faulk sexual harassment case, Ella walked into the room and said, “It was like when coach Dave got fired for sticking his hands up our shorts doing the splits.”

The Marshall Faulk case involved Jami Cantor, a former NFL employee, filing a wrongful termination lawsuit claiming the former NFL star and other players had sexually harassed her.

This was the first that Jennifer Kroeter, Ella’s mother, had heard about Schneider sexually abusing her daughter.

Ella went to school that day, but her parents stayed home from work to discuss the next steps to take. They called Hoemann and set up a meeting with her to discuss the abuse. Hoemann wouldn’t meet them inside the gym, Kroeter said. Instead, the meeting took place by storage units in the parking lot.

Standing in the cold that day, Ella (by that time, around age 12) told Hoemann her story. According to Jennifer Kroeter, Hoemann asked a few questions and told the family she would get back to them in a week.

“I didn’t have the guts to go to the police that night,” Jennifer Kroeter said. “I was too worried about how it was going to affect her. Once we did, and I saw how it played out, it wasn’t pretty.”

A week passed, and the family heard nothing from Hoemann, Kroeter said.

Christmas of 2018 came and went. Ella returned to school from break, and while her parents were mulling over what to do, she went to the school counselor, Shelly Struckhoff. Ella told Struckhoff everything that happened, and as a mandated reporter, Struckhoff contacted police.

“It was like a huge relief, because we just didn’t know what to do,” Jennifer Kroeter said. “We were just like, ‘Oh my God, why didn’t we just do this two weeks ago?’ We were agonizing, asking ourselves, ‘Do we want to put our daughter through this?’”

Jennifer and her husband, Matt Kroeter, both teachers and mandated reporters, have encountered children sharing confessions they were required to report. Jennifer Kroeter has witnessed firsthand how these experiences often fail to deliver the outcomes the children and their loved ones hoped for.

“The system is not set up to cater to the victims. It’s set up for the defendants. And there were times when I felt like we were the ones doing something wrong.”

Jennifer Kroeter, parent

The couple grappled with exposing Ella to the extreme stress of a trial, possibly for nothing.

City of Washington detective Lt. Steve Sitzes was a co-investigator on the case. He said children who testify about abuse face a lot of struggles long after their cases are over. They are often labeled as victims, a title that stays with them throughout high school and even college.

Survivors in the Larry Nassar case have spoken about the relationship they have with the word “victim.” This label was used to define them during the case, and sticks with many of them today.

“You never want to tell a parent that they’re wrong for not letting their child testify,” Sitzes said. “In a small town like this, everybody knows everybody else’s business. Parents have to ask themselves, ‘Do you want that known?’”

In cases with no physical evidence, juries rely on victim statements to come to a verdict. In the case against Schneider, each girl gave nearly identical testimony. Court records show girls from different classes and ages, many who didn’t know each other, all described the abuse in the same way.

“After going through the trial, I am thankful that I didn’t do it when (my daughter) was 8,” Danielle Schmidt said. “He would have walked free if she was by herself. He would have gotten away with it. So in the end, it was a blessing that I waited and that the numbers had stacked up once the girls were aware and together.”

A young woman with light brown hair is seen from behind as she sits on a bench. Her face isn’t visible. She’s wearing a yellow T-shirt and jeans. She’s facing a college campus building. She rests her elbow on top of her backpack, which is sitting on the bench next to her. — One young survivor of sexual abuse by a St. Louis gymnastics coach is now a junior in college. She sits on a bench near the campus quad on May 1, 2025. She asked for her face to remain unidentifiable because she’s worried about how it could affect her professional and personal future.

A team, again

Although the trial came years after the abuse, testifying brought up emotions and memories that took the girls right back to when they were in the gym with Schneider.

“I just felt an immense, intense feeling of how none of this is fair for children,” Hemeyer said. “You don’t really know what to expect and you don’t know how hard it’s going to be, going in this room with these officials who are in these robes and look scary, facing really sad situations in your life. And it just felt so unfair to me and to all the girls who were affected by him.”

The trial was a heavy time for all parties involved, but alongside the Schmidt family fighting for justice for their daughter, they were grieving the death of their 12-year-old son. Schmidt and other parents had to take the stand.

“I knew in the back of my mind that they were going to put me on the stand and rip me apart. I was emotionally vulnerable. I was mentally vulnerable. I was grieving and I knew I was going to be the one that they were going to try and mentally manipulate to win the case. I was terrified,” Schmidt said.

Sitzes said that ultimately, it was the girls’ testimony that led to Schneider’s conviction. In addition to telling their stories, the girls had to demonstrate what the abuse looked like on dolls.

“It took a lot of courage to get up there and tell your story in front of a courtroom full of people. It really did.”

Lt. Steve Sitzes, City of Washington detective

Today, the gymnasts who testified still experience psychological effects from the sexual abuse they experienced as children.

“It created trust issues with some of my male coaches, all males, really,” Ella Kroeter said.

An excerpt from Kampbell Hemeyer’s victim statement shows just how deeply Schneider’s abuse affected her.

“I look back at my naive self and I am filled with pity for that little girl. I was roughly 10 years old at the time, and ever since then, my view of physical touch, intimacy, and self-worth is different, wounded if you will, by Dave Schneider’s actions. My view on the world has been altered, and my life has never been the same.”

“It’s like there’s a part of me that’s dead inside despite my efforts in ignoring it and convincing myself that I am stronger than my past. A part of me that Coach Dave killed. The part that should embrace the affection shown by loved ones feels damaged; instead of feeling the love they have for me, I feel nervous and anxious at their initial touch.”

Hemeyer said despite these life-altering events, the survivors want to inspire others to get justice from their own abusers.

“Try not to be scared and be a voice for other victims,” Ella said. “Get your voice out there; speaking about it helped lift a weight off my shoulders.”

Hemeyer brought up a quote to finish her victim statement: “Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save; they just stand there shining.”

If you need help or support:

There are many resources available for survivors of sexual abuse, harassment, assault or domestic violence. Here are two national resources:

The Midwest Newsroom is an investigative and enterprise journalism collaboration that includes Iowa Public Radio, KCUR, Nebraska Public Media, St. Louis Public Radio and NPR.

There are many ways you can contact us with story ideas and leads, and you can find that information here.

The Midwest Newsroom is a partner of The Trust Project. We invite you to review our ethics and practices here.

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METHODS
To tell this story, reporter Gabrielle Lindemann viewed publicly available documents regarding the David Schnieder case including court opinions, police records and trial transcriptions. She interviewed survivors of sexual abuse and parents of survivors for over a dozen hours. She spoke with experts regarding child sexual abuse and youth sports. This story draws on interviews and documents collected for over two years.

REFERENCES
“Former gymnastics coach David Schneider sentenced to 50 years in state prison for child molestation” (The Missourian | June 1, 2022)

“Permanently Ineligible and Ineligible Members and Participants” (USA Gymnastics | continuously updated)

Larry Nassar sentenced to up to 175 years in prison for decades of sexual abuse
(CNN | Jan. 24, 2018)

Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017
(Congress.Gov | March 6, 2017)

National Criminal Justice Reference Survey
(NJRS | March 2019)

Marshall Faulk case
(New York Times | Dec. 12, 2017)

David Schneider Case Header
(Casenet | Updated continuously)

Trial documents: Trial transcription, Schneider appeal opinion, memo from Kids in Motion, official charging documents

TYPE OF ARTICLE
News: Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources

Link

Rec Sports

Youth basketball starts Jan. 10, schedule • SSentinel.com

Published

1 hour ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

The Middlesex County Parks and Recreation Department winter youth league basketball season will start play on Saturday, Jan. 10, with the starter division at the John M. (Buddy) Moore Memorial Gymnasium at Middlesex Elementary School and the junior and senior leagues at the John S. Clements Memorial Gymnasium at Middlesex High School (MHS).

The Jan. 10 games at MES will start at 9 a.m. with Team Elite United versus MCPR sponsored team. At 10 a.m. Something Different will square off against Virginia Street Cafe.

At MHS, Iron Horse Xpress will take on Middlesex Farm Bureau at 2:45 p.m.; I Love Urb vs. Empowered Electric at 3:55 p.m.; Chandler’s Automotive vs. LCC at 5:05 p.m.; and Claus Corp. vs. Ward’s at 6:15 p.m.

Beginner Ball games will be at MES but the schedule is not complete, said Reed.

Starter Division Games

(all played at John M. [Buddy] Moore Memorial Gym):

9 a.m. Jan. 10 — Team Elite United vs. MCPR
10 a.m. Jan. 10 — Something Different vs. Virginia Street Cafe
9 a.m. Jan. 17 — MCPR vs. Something Different
10 a.m. Jan. 17 — Virginia Street Cafe vs. Team Elite United
9 a.m. Jan. 24 — Virginia Street Cafe vs. MCPR
10 a.m. Jan. 24 — Something Different vs. Team Elite United
9 a.m. Jan. 31 — Virginia Street Cafe vs. Something Different
10 a.m. Jan. 31 — MCPR vs. Team Elite United
9 a.m. Feb. 7 — Team Elite United vs. Virginia Street Cafe
10 a.m. Feb. 7 — Something Different vs. MCPR
9 a.m. Feb. 14 — Team Elite United vs. Something Different
10 a.m. Feb. 14 Virginia Street Cafe vs. MCPR

Coed Junior and Senior Division Games

(all played at John S. Clements Memorial Gym):

2:45 p.m. Jan. 10 — Iron Horse Xpress vs. Middlesex Farm Bureau
3:55 p.m. Jan. 10 — I Love Urb vs. Empowered Electric
5:05 p.m. Jan. 10 — Chandler’s Automotive vs. LCC
6:15 p.m. Jan. 10 — Clas Corp. vs. Ward’s
Senior Division: J&M — Bye
8:45 a.m. Jan. 17 — Ward’s vs. J&M
9:55 a.m. Jan. 17 — Chandler’s Automotive vs. Iron Horse Xpress
11:05 a.m. Jan. 17 — LCC vs. Empowered Electric
12:15 p.m. Jan. 17 — Middlesex Farm Bureau vs. I Love Urb
Senior Division: Clas Corp. — Bye
8:45 a.m. Jan. 24 — I Love Urb vs. LCC
9:55 a.m. Jan. 24 — Middlesex Farm Bureau vs. Chandler’s Automotive
11:05 a.m. Jan. 24 — Iron Horse Xpress vs. Empowered Electric
12:15 p.m. Jan. 24 — J&M vs. Clas Corp
Senior Division: Ward’s — Bye
8:45 a.m. Jan. 31 — Ward’s vs. Clas Corp
9:55 a.m. Jan. 31 — Iron Horse Xpress vs. I Love Urb
11:05 a.m. Jan. 31 — Chandler’s Automotive vs. Empowered Electric
12:15 p.m. Jan. 31 — LCC vs. Middlesex Farm Bureau
Senior Division: J&M — Bye

2:45 p.m. Feb. 7 — I Love Urb vs. Chandler’s Automotive
3:55 p.m. Feb. 7 — Middlesex Farm Bureau vs. Empowered Electric
5:05 p.m. Feb. 7 — Iron Horse Xpress vs. LCC
6:15 p.m. Feb. 7 — J&M vs. Ward’s
Senior Division: Clas Corp. — Bye
8:45 a.m. Feb. 14 — Clas Corp. vs. J&M
9:55 a.m. Feb. 14 — Junior Division Seed #3 vs. Junior Division Seed #6
11:05 a.m. Feb. 14 — Junior Division Seed #4 vs. Junior Division Seed #5
Senior Division: Ward’s — Bye
Junior Division: Seeds #1 and #2 — Bye
2:45 p.m. Feb. 21 — Junior Division Seed #1 vs. Lowest Junior Seed Left
3:55 p.m. Feb. 21 — Junior Division Seed #2 vs. 2nd Lowest Junior Seed Left
5:05 p.m. Feb. 21 — Senior Division Seed #2 vs. Senior Division Seed #3
Senior Division: Seed #1 — Bye
2:45 p.m. Feb. 28 — Junior Division Championship
3:55 p.m. Feb. 28 — Senior Division Championship
5:05 p.m. Feb. 28 — Coaches vs. Junior Division All-Stars
6:15 p.m. Feb. 28 — Coaches vs. Senior Division All-Stars

Link

Rec Sports

USCA Announced As NCAA Award Of Excellence Finalist

Published

2 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

AIKEN, S.C. – USCA is one of 26 schools and one conference announced as a finalist for the 2026 Award of Excellence. This award highlights initiatives that exemplify the Division II philosophy of community engagement and student-athlete leadership.

The overall finalists were chosen by a committee of athletics administrators and the Division II Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, with the SAAC members ultimately selecting the top three finalists. Those honorees, including the winner, will be announced at the Division II business session this month at the 2026 NCAA Convention in the Washington, D.C., area.

Each finalist will receive $750. The winner will receive $3,000, with the second-place finisher getting $1,750 and the third-place finisher awarded $1,500. All prize money is intended to be used for future SAAC programming or community engagement events.

Learn more about the 2026 finalists and their initiatives:

University of South Carolina Aiken, Peach Belt Conference

A Night in Wonderland: USC Aiken SAAC celebrated students with intellectual disabilities from the USCA LIFE program and the local community with a semi-formal prom night. Around 130 student-athletes and community volunteers transformed the campus gym into a ballroom, pairing each guest with a student-athlete buddy for an evening of dancing, games and inclusion.

A NIGHT IN WONDERLAND PHOTO GALLERY

Auburn Montgomery, Gulf South Conference

TOPSoccer and Dream Court: Auburn Montgomery partnered with YMCA TOPSoccer and Dream Court to support adaptive sports programs for youths with physical and intellectual disabilities. Over 45 student-athletes volunteered more than 500 hours, assisting with soccer and tennis activities that promoted inclusion and confidence. The collaboration included seasonal events and ongoing engagement with families in Montgomery.

Augustana (South Dakota) and Minnesota State Mankato, Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference

Wish Family Fun Day, Make-A-Wish: Augustana and Minnesota State Mankato partnered to support Make-A-Wish. The programming featured a Week of Wishes with campus events, donation drives and a joint social media campaign. Sodexo donated food for the pregame tailgate and Make-A-Wish staff helped coordinate family participation. Activities included games, face painting and a football game experience for Wish kids, with over 60 families.

Bentley, Northeast 10 Conference

Flight Plan: Bentley launched a four-year leadership and development program for student-athletes built around five pillars: leadership, wellness, career readiness, community engagement and financial literacy. The program includes annual phases — Ignite, Ascend, Cultivate and Soar — with workshops, service projects and mentorship opportunities. Campus partners support this initiative through wellness training, career development and financial education to prepare athletes for life beyond college.

Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (at large)

Painting HER Story: The CIAA’s 50th Anniversary Women’s Basketball Tournament in Baltimore combined athletic excellence with community engagement. Programming featured youth basketball and cheer clinics for more than 200 students with support from Under Armour, outreach through the Mental Health Forum, Money Moves Financial Summit, Tech Summit House and the Shoes of Hope initiative with Samaritan’s Feet, providing new shoes to 500 children. Education and career access were prioritized through High School Education Day, which welcomed 3,000 students for on-the-spot college acceptances and scholarships, and a Career Expo connecting families to employment opportunities. Free Fan Fest and Super Saturday removed economic barriers, while partners like Visit Baltimore, Nationwide and Food Lion amplified the event’s impact. Intergenerational programs such as the EmpowerHER Town Hall and the Hall of Fame Breakfast featured icons like Sheryl Swoopes.

Central Washington, Great Northwest Athletic Conference

Retirement Homes Reverse Trick or Treat: Central Washington’s SAAC led a “reverse trick or treat” at two senior living homes in Ellensburg, visiting 160 residents. Student-athletes delivered handwritten cards, candy and flowers while engaging in meaningful conversations, lifting spirits and building lasting relationships.

Coker, South Atlantic Conference

Halloween in Hartsville: Coker hosted Hartsville’s annual Treats on the Street celebration and its own campus trick-or-treat event, welcoming thousands of families, with over 468 student-athletes participating. Activities included soccer goal challenges, lacrosse shots and track sprints, creating interactive experiences for children. The second event welcomed over 200 families to the DeLoach Center for candy, costumes and a volleyball match.

Colorado Mesa, Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference

Where We Become Mavericks: Colorado Mesa connected student-athletes with Mesa County elementary schools to promote values and college readiness. Over 100 student-athletes from nine teams visited schools for assemblies and interactive lessons, including a Resiliency Pledge at Clifton Elementary. Colorado Mesa’s SAAC also launched a Reading and Recess Buddies program, reinforcing mentorship and engagement throughout the school year.

Concordia University Irvine, Pacific West Conference

Concordia Cares, L.A. Fire Relief: Concordia’s SAAC and women’s water polo student-athletes launched Concordia Cares in response to the January Los Angeles wildfires. Over six days, the campus collected hundreds of boxes of essentials and assembled over 200 care packages, raising additional funds for recovery efforts. Donations were delivered to pop-up sites, including Livingway Community Church and the Red Cross, with support from partners like U-Haul for storage.

D’Youville (at large)

Saints in Service Building Community Through Action: D’Youville student-athletes contributed over 250 hours to build a playground on Buffalo’s west side in partnership with the Ralph Wilson Park Conservancy. Their efforts addressed critical needs in an underserved neighborhood, creating a safe, inclusive space for families and children.

Embry-Riddle (Florida), Sunshine State Conference

Food Brings Hope: Embry-Riddle partnered with Food Brings Hope and the NASCAR Foundation to support children from Volusia County. Student-athletes hosted kids at a men’s basketball game with meals, mascot photos and on-court activities, and later volunteered at the Daytona International Speedway to distribute more than 100 bikes and helmets.

Fairmont State, Mountain East Conference

Making a Wish Come True, Make-A-Wish: The SAAC at Fairmont State set a goal to raise $10,000 for Make-A-Wish and exceeded it by raising over $20,000, granting two wishes. The student-athletes put on fundraising events that included a Swim-A-Thon, a free youth softball camp and a community volleyball tournament, supported by campus dining partner Elior.

Ferris State, Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Golden Girls: The Ferris State stunt program organized monthly “Pamper Days” at The Brook of Big Rapids assisted living facility, creating joyful experiences for the residents. The student-athletes partnered with the “Golden Girls” group for a halftime performance at a football game, strengthening intergenerational connections. In their inaugural season, the 39-member team completed over 765 community engagement hours.

Gannon, Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference

Make-A-Wish Initiative: Gannon raised $14,339 for Make-A-Wish during the 2024–25 academic year, ranking second nationally and contributing to the conference’s fundraising total. Student-athlete fundraising efforts included themed games, raffles, bake sales and events like the women’s lacrosse Wish Stars Campaign and acrobatics and tumbling’s Make-A-Wish meet. The year culminated in a wish reveal granting a child’s trip to LEGOLAND.

Georgian Court, Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference

The Lakewood United Initiative: Georgian Court launched a departmentwide effort to mentor youth in Lakewood through academic, athletic and life-skills programming. Student-athletes led school visits, reading sessions, sport clinics and community events like Trunk or Treat and a Color Run, impacting hundreds of students in a district where fewer than 42% pursue college.

Johnson C. Smith, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association

The Smitty Project — Literacy as a Bridge to Opportunity: Johnson C. Smith engaged K-8 students through campus-based programs like AVID Day, Literacy Boot Camp and a Scholastic Book Fair. Student-athletes contributed over 2,000 community engagement hours with initiatives combining reading, mentorship and college exposure. This programming served hundreds of students in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area through tutoring, story sessions, technology workshops and raising thousands for book access.

University of Mary (at large)

Day of Service: Mary united nearly 500 student-athletes and over 1,500 volunteers for a record-breaking day of community engagement across 76 sites. Teams landscaped parks, restored historic sites, assisted nonprofits and supported vulnerable populations, contributing more than 6,000 engagement hours. Rooted in the school’s Benedictine tradition and “Greatness through Virtue” philosophy, the day showcased character, leadership and hope.

Missouri S&T, Great Lakes Valley Conference

Tornado Cleanup: After an EF-2 tornado struck Rolla, Missouri, S&T student-athletes and staff mobilized for cleanup efforts, volunteering alongside FEMA and the Red Cross. Football and soccer student-athletes cleared debris, removed fallen trees and assisted affected families, contributing significant labor to restore the community. The soccer teams also hosted a free clinic for children impacted by the disaster.

Missouri Western, Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association

Griffs Giving Gifts: Missouri Western adopted 11 families through a partnership with the St. Joseph AFL-CIO Community Services Department. Student-athletes raised over $7,000, provided gifts, nonperishable food and household essentials, and delivered items personally — complete with a student-athlete dressed as Santa. The initiative also included Thanksgiving meals for four families, touching 36 children and 16 adults.

Roberts Wesleyan, East Coast Conference

Redhawks Reachout, Mental Health: Roberts Wesleyan prioritized mental health through partnerships with Morgan’s Message, The Hidden Opponent and the University Wellness Center. Programs included mental health screenings, goat yoga and advocacy campaigns like Smash the Stigma, alongside awareness games hosted by the volleyball and field hockey teams. Over 300 engagement hours from student-athletes supported these efforts, complemented by fundraising and volunteer work for the Pirate Toy Fund, saving over $10,000 in labor costs and collecting thousands of toys for local children.

San Francisco State, California Collegiate Athletic Association

Act of Love: San Francisco State launched a campuswide effort to save its programs after facing a system budget crisis and the potential elimination of athletics. Student-athletes, SAAC leaders, administrators and the Associated Students organization collaborated to advocate for a student fee increase, leveraging social media campaigns, meetings and campus engagement. Increased game attendance and a formal statement of support from Associated Students helped secure funding and preserve athletics at the school.

Southern Arkansas, Great American Conference

Rachael’s Wish, Make-A-Wish: Southern Arkansas student-athletes partnered with Make-

A-Wish to grant “Rachael’s Wish,” raising over $10,000 through initiatives like Restaurant Week, a football game fundraiser and private donations. SAAC members dedicated 174 volunteer hours to help fulfill Rachael’s wish to visit Disney World through a personalized reveal event, including a campus tour, art department visit and volleyball-themed celebration.

Tuskegee, Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Macon County Helping Hands Food Drive: Tuskegee athletics partnered with the Macon County Helping Hands Food Ministry to organize one of the largest food distributions in Tuskegee. Student-athletes collected, organized and distributed meals and grocery items to hundreds of families, promoting leadership and service learning. The initiative reinforced campus-community relationships and provided essential resources to local residents.

UNC Pembroke, Conference Carolinas

Education Appreciation Day: UNC Pembroke hosted an Education Appreciation Day during a men’s and women’s basketball doubleheader to honor faculty, staff and local educators. The event featured free admission, giveaways, halftime games and T-shirt tosses, while local elementary school students were invited to connect with student-athletes through the Braves Buddies program. Over 1,800 attendees enjoyed a festive atmosphere celebrating education as a pathway for youth.

The University of Texas at Tyler, Lone Star Conference

Sports Camp Supporting Kerr County Flood Relief: UT Tyler hosted Patriots for a Cause, a two-day sports camp benefiting the Kerr County flood relief fund. In partnership with UT Health East Texas, coaches and student-athletes provided multisport instruction for 136 campers, while local businesses like Hawaiian Bros and Raising Cane’s donated meals. The event raised $8,385.50 for the Community Foundation of the Texas Hill Country’s relief fund.

Walsh, Great Midwest Athletic Conference

Cav Salute: Walsh honored veterans, active duty service members and local first responders in celebration of America’s 250th birthday. The initiative included patches on student-athlete uniforms, a Veterans Day celebration and a Salute to Service football game. Over 750 student-athletes engaged in community engagement projects like a Home Run Derby fundraiser, a Veteran Suicide Awareness Push-Up Challenge and volunteering at the Serving Area Military Center. The initiative raised $1,619 for local veteran organizations, along with donated goods.

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#UnitedBy building bridges – Lindsey Kittredge

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2 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

The programme has grown exponentially since its launch, and Kittredge has no plans to let it slow down. In fact, she and her husband have big ideas and goals that they’re aiming to set into motion within the next 12 months.“As for what’s next, right now we’re working on a huge, strategic five-year plan,” she says. “We really feel that in a year, our programme in Rwanda will be completely sustainable with local talent. Our entire coaching staff is Rwandan, and we’re in the process of hiring our first Rwandan in-country programme director. So we’re not only empowering women and men, but we’re also providing a pathway to employment. We are proud to use the power of sport to significantly affect their lives with not only health education, but also a job that helps them support their family. We’re looking to get a lot more institutional funding so we can continue to grow domestically here, in Boston, and take our international model throughout Rwanda, or maybe even to another country.”

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UW-La Crosse aims to break attendance record Saturday during Bubba’s Youth Day honoring coach Moran Lonning’s son

Published

2 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

UW-La Crosse is inviting the community to Mitchell Hall on Saturday for a day of play and remembrance, dedicated to the legacy of Charlie “Bubba” Lonning Weber.

The festivities kick off at from noon-2:45 p.m. with the Charlie’s Kids fest, and lead into the UW-L women’s basketball game after that, where attendance is free and they hope to break the WIAC single-game attendance record of 2,112 fans.

The game will also feature a deeply personal tribute, as the Eagles take the court in special jerseys. Each jersey will be inscribed with the names of 19 infants who have passed away, serving as a visual memorial to raise awareness for pregnancy and infant loss.

Know before you go: Bubba’s Youth Day & Charlie’s Kids fest

If you are planning to help “Fill Mitchell Hall” Saturday, here is the schedule and what you need to know:

Charlie’s Kids fest (Noon–2:45 p.m.): The pre-game party takes place in the Mitchell Hall Fieldhouse. It features inflatables, obstacle courses, and activity stations for kids (preschool through 8th grade).
The Big Game (3 p.m.): Stick around as UW-La Crosse Women’s Basketball takes on UW-Platteville. This is the official push to break the WIAC attendance record of 2,112 fans.
Admission is FREE: Both the fest and the basketball game are free for fans of all ages.
Registration & Waivers: While the event is free, children participating in the fest must be accompanied by an adult. You can save time by signing the required waiver online before you arrive.
The Cause: The event is hosted by Bubba’s Fund, which supports the Charlie’s Kids Foundation. Their mission is to provide SIDS education and “sleep safe” resources to new parents, a mission that has already significantly impacted childcare safety in the La Crosse area.

While the record is a target, organizers say the primary goal is to “Fill Mitchell Hall” with support for a cause that has already transformed local childcare safety.

Alex Weber (left), Moran Lonning and Charlie “Bubba” Lonning Weber (PHOTO: bubbasfund.org)

The event supports Bubba’s Fund, established by UW-L women’s basketball coach Moran Lonning and her husband, Alex Weber, after their son Charlie passed away in 2024 at just three months old.

Since then, the fund has reached a major milestone in successfully providing automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to every state-licensed childcare facility in La Crosse.

Saturday’s events will help sustain that momentum and support “Rising Athletes,” a nonprofit that removes financial barriers for local youth sports.

Charlie’s Kids Fest at Mitchell Hall Fieldhouse is free for children (preschool through 8th grade) and features inflatables, obstacle courses, plus a chance to play alongside UW-L student-athletes.

Parents are encouraged to sign a participation waiver in advance at bubbasfund.org.

Moran was a guest on La Crosse Talk on Thursday morning with Sean Dwyer.

La Crosse Talk airs weekdays at 6-8 a.m. Listen on the WIZM app, online here, or on 92.3 FM / 1410 AM / 106.7 FM (north of Onalaska). Find the show on Apple Podcast, Spotify or here.

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Long Beach Poly Holds Off Millikan For Scoreless Draw – The562.org

Published

2 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

The562’s high school soccer coverage for the 2025-26 season is sponsored by Long Beach Poly soccer alum Kennedy Justin.

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.

The562’s coverage of Millikan Athletics for the 2025-26 school year is sponsored by Brian Ramsey and TLD Law.

It was an odd feeling for both Millikan and Long Beach Poly as they walked off the field after their Moore League boys’ soccer matchup Wednesday night.

For Millikan, the Rams were left disappointed in their inability to take advantage of opportunities at the goal, a familiar feeling after a season-opening draw against Wilson last week. On the other end, a night of injuries plagued what was otherwise a huge defensive effort for Long Beach Poly at home.

Ultimately, the Jackrabbits were able to walk away at ease, minimizing any damage from a potent Millikan offense by holding off the Rams to earn a scoreless draw.

“We always want the win, but at the end of the day this is the Moore League, and every game is going to be like this,” said Poly coach Carlos Casillas. “We know what to expect in these league matchups. As much as we wanted the win, we’ll take the 0-0 draw, move on, and try to build on it.”

The visitors heavily outshot the Jackrabbits for the match and had four corner kicks to just one for Poly. Millikan was by far the more physical team, doubling the Jackrabbits in fouls, but none of those advantages turned into goals for the Rams.

“I thought we had significantly more opportunities, but that’s the way it goes,” said Millikan head coach Jeff Schofield. “It’s the second straight game where we’ve had more chances and haven’t been able to put them away. That part is a little bit frustrating, but it’s also a positive that we’ve been able to create chances—so you can look at it one of two ways.”

Credit can go to Poly goalkeeper Mekiah Twal, who was kept busy all night against Millikan’s attack. The junior kept a clean sheet while racking up a half dozen saves and swallowed up a handful of shots and corner kicks in the final 20 minutes to help secure the draw for his team.

“First off, I just have to give some praise to my defense,” Twal said. “It’s just confidence as a team to come out and be ready for anything that is coming our way. Millikan wasn’t playing for a tie and neither were we, so I just had to stay on my toes.”

Millikan found its opportunities early and often, including a pair of first-half shots from both Vonnae Ocegueda and Ivan Cervantes Vega. Vega had a quality look down the middle in the 17th minute, followed by another close opportunity off Millikan’s only corner kick of the half. The Rams then had a shot split wide off the head of Grant Johnson in the 31st minute.

The Rams had two of their three second-half corner kicks in the final minutes of the game, including one from Pablo Lica that sailed off the head of a Poly defender. Lica had another corner kick just moments later, which ricocheted to the feet of Jesse Torres for a shot from 10 yards out, but Poly was able to get a foot on it to avoid any damage.

Regarding those scoring opportunities, Schofield said it’s up to his team to work through the frustration that comes with a lack of production, noting that he’s seen enough on the field to know they’re more than capable of finding a rhythm on offense.

“If you’re not creating chances then you have to do something different, but our two guys up front scored a bunch of goals earlier in the year,” he said. “We know they have the ability to do that, and we just have to keep training it and building confidence. It’s one of those things where once the first one goes in, we’ll get some momentum going.”

Poly’s handful of chances at breaking the scoreboard came around the midway point of the game, but the Jackrabbits were forced to play shorthanded after having a pair of players carted off the field with injury.

“Unfortunately, those injuries took a couple of our players off the field that bring a little extra to the team, so we had to play it a little more defensively,” Casillas said. “We got a little bit healthier towards the end, which helped a little bit, but honestly we just need to get healthy. It’s been big injuries that we’ve been dealing with, and it’s made a difference.”

In the meantime, guys like Twal have assured the team that it’ll be a collective effort on both sides of the ball.

“We’re a team and we’re a family, and if our offense isn’t producing then that means our defense will step up until they can,” Twal said. “We’re one unit and we play together.”

The Jackrabbits will be back in action at Wilson on Friday, while Millikan will be hosting Jordan.

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Women’s Basketball: Macalester Battles Saint Benedict in 72-57 Loss

Published

2 hours ago

January 8, 2026

Your Sports Nation

ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Macalester College women’s basketball team gave Saint Benedict all it could handle for three quarters before falling, 72-57 in a MIAC game Wednesday evening in the Leonard Center. The Scots are now 1-10 overall and 0-5 in the conference, while the Bennies improve to 9-3, 4-1 MIAC.

Five different players scored Macalester’s first five baskets in building a 10-3 lead. After Saint Benedict responded with five straight points, a three-pointer by junior guard Sydnee Smith (Gainesville, Va./Patriot) started a 6-0 run that put the Scots on top, 16-8 with 3:31 left in the first quarter. A Bennies’ basket in the final seconds of the quarter made the score 16-10 heading into the second quarter. Macalester shot 58.3 percent from the field in the quarter while holding Saint Benedict to 3-of-21 (14.3 percent) shooting.

After Saint Benedict reduced Macalester’s lead to one early in the quarter, a layup by sophomore guard Emma Karlin (Rockville, Md./Richard Montgomery), a free throw from first year guard Faith Accardo (Thousand Oaks, Calif./Oaks Christian) and a conventional three-point play by junior guard Mary Daley (Cumberland, R.I./Bishop Feehan) put the Scots on top, 22-15 with 4:50 remaining in the half. But a 12-2 run gave the Bennies their first lead of the game, 27-24 before taking a 32-29 edge at the half.

In the third quarter Saint Benedict pushed the lead up to eight, 44-36 with 3:32 on the clock before Macalester responded with four points from Daley and a three by junior guard Kendall Bernbaum (Dallad, Texas/Shelton School) to make it a one-point game, 44-43. Four points by Kira Young to close out the quarter gave the Bennies a 48-43 advantage heading into the final quarter.

Saint Ben’s broke open the close game by scoring eight points in the first 50 seconds of the fourth quarter to lead, 56-43. Again the Scots answered with one last push, getting seven straight points from Smith to bring Macalester to within six, 56-50 with 6:40 remaining. But the Bennies tallied the next nine points, and the Scots never came closer than 11 points the rest of the way. Saint Benedict shot 60 percent in the fourth quarter to finish the game with a 30.7 shooting percentage compared to 46.0 percent for Macalester.

Ten Scots scored at least two points in the game. Smith and Daley each tallied 12 points to lead Macalester, with Daley grabbing 10 rebounds for her first double-double of the season. Daley also dished out four assists, while Smith recorded three blocks. Karlin had seven rebounds to go with four points, and senior forward Ellie Corbett (Austin, Texas/James Bowie) blocked two shots. Megan Morgan led the Bennies with 19 points.

Macalester plays another conference game on Saturday, Jan. 10 at Augsburg University. The game begins at 1:00 p.m. in Minneapolis, Minn.

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