Linebacker Peyton Wing Steps Up As A Player And Leader On Viking Defense
Peyton Wing is carving out his place in the competitive landscape of college football, showcasing not only his talent but also the values instilled in him by his family and his Sumner, WA community. He grew up in a family where sports were a family tradition. His dad, Barry, was a defensive end at Western […]
Peyton Wing is carving out his place in the competitive landscape of college football, showcasing not only his talent but also the values instilled in him by his family and his Sumner, WA community.
He grew up in a family where sports were a family tradition.
His dad, Barry, was a defensive end at Western Washington where his mom, Alex, was an outstanding soccer player. And PSU Head Coach Bruce Barnum, an assistant coach there at the time, remembers both.
He coached Barry (and admits that it’s fun now coaching his son) and remembers Alex as an outstanding athlete.
“His mother was the best athlete in the family. I took Peyton because of her,” Barnum said with a laugh.
From the moment he could walk, Wing was immersed in a world of sports. “I started playing when I was just four years old,” he recalled. “Tee ball, soccer, basketball, and flag football—I tried it all.”
But it was tackle football in seventh grade that sparked a fire within him. “I knew I wanted to play collegiate football from a young age. Football is my passion,” he said, reflecting on the clarity that followed that initial spark.
At Sumner High School, he played defensive end, linebacker and running back. He was named All-League linebacker as a junior and All-League running back his senior year.
But, his first love is linebacker, a choice he traces back to a childhood hero—NFL legend Brian Urlacher.
“I loved the way he played,” Wing said, sharing insights into how athletes inspire the next generation. This deep admiration for the game has shaped not just his playing style but his commitment and leadership qualities on the field.
He also credited Sumner Coach Keith Ross for his love of football. Ross was “my mentor. His goal was to teach us football, but also how to be men outside of football.”
Those qualities were what brought him to the attention of the PSU coaching staff.
“I had someone watching for potential talent in that area and he has recommended two players to me…. Peyton and Davis Alexander (currently quarterback for the Montreal Alouettes in the Canadian Football League).
Wing had drawn interest from throughout the Big Sky but had some knee issues which Barnum believes might have dampened other recruiting opportunities.
So, Barnum sent recruiting coordinator John Ely to take a look. And, Ely liked what he saw.
“We knew that when he got that (knee issue) fixed, he’d be faster and stronger and that’s exactly what’s happened,” said Barnum. He’s become one of the top linebackers in the Big Sky Conference, he said. “With his great speed to the ball and toughness, Peyton will anchor the defense and be a leader in 2025.”
As a sophomore last season, Wing led the Vikings with 93 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss and was named second team All-Big Sky Conference. He had the most tackles by a Viking in 11 seasons.
Wing has become one of the leaders on the field and in the locker room, Barnum noted, praising Wing’s character. As a representation of his strong leadership, he has been chosen to help represent the Vikings at the Big Sky Kickoff, highlighting the trust and expectations placed upon him by his coaches.
“I usually announce that in late June and that goes to show how strong he is,” Barnum said.
Balancing football with academics, Wing also shines in the classroom, holding a GPA above 3.5 while majoring in Business Management. “I haven’t decided exactly what I want to do for a career yet, but I know I want to be involved in business and leadership,” he explained.
This determination reflects his broader aspirations beyond the field. His collegiate experience is punctuated by a sense of brotherhood and camaraderie among his teammates. “The highlight has been playing with and for guys that I can call my brothers,” said Wing.
He’s also active in off-campus community service projects, helping out at several food banks and, during high school, working at youth football and basketball camps.
He developed a sense of giving back to the community at Sumner High School, he said.
“For every sporting event, the whole town is at the game. There are lines outside the entrance hours before football games…lots of season tickets and a whole community showing up. The Sumner community gives so much to the high school. It’s our part to give back for what they do for the kids,” Wing said.
This sense of community also fuels his passion for the game, making every practice and game a collective pursuit rather than an individual one. As he looks to the future, Wing’s expectations remain high—not just for his athletic performance but for the impact he can make as an individual.
“Winning is the goal,” he asserted. “But building friendships and competing at a high level are what I’m enjoying most about my time here.”
With a bright future ahead in both football and academics, Peyton Wing’s journey is a testament to perseverance, passion and the power of family support.
His parents attend all his games, he said. “They have always been fully invested in my sister (Kylie—a high school soccer player, now teaching grade school) and me with our sports and extracurricular activities. This means a lot to me that they go to every game and knowing that I have their support no matter what happens on or off the field.”
As he continues to push the boundaries of his potential, one thing is certain: the gridiron at Portland State has found a leader among its ranks, and the best is yet to come.
And, Barnum is glad his coaching staff was able to see beyond Peyton’s high school knee issues.
“Between the weight room, on the field and his grades, he’s made his family proud and has developed into an excellent player. He’s exceeded my expectations,” he said.
SportsEngine co-founder Carson Kipfer and Refr co-founder Huck Sorock Huck Sorock was a hockey player who worked as a referee during high school to make some money. But it didn’t take long for the entrepreneurial juices to get get going when he saw the inefficiencies of the system hockey leagues used to assign referees to […]
SportsEngine co-founder Carson Kipfer and Refr co-founder Huck Sorock
Huck Sorock was a hockey player who worked as a referee during high school to make some money. But it didn’t take long for the entrepreneurial juices to get get going when he saw the inefficiencies of the system hockey leagues used to assign referees to games—no way to swap games online; a lot of the organizing done on paper—and this was just a few years ago, Sorock is only 24.
His experience led to the idea for insight led to Refr Sports, a management tool used by leagues around the country for assigning officials, payments, invoicing, team websites and more. Refr raised a $535,000 pre-seed round in 2024, led by Groove Capital. Sorock and his co-founder Wyatt Gustafson also participated in a Techstars accelerator sponsored by the Minnesota Twins; they also won the student division of the MN Cup statewide startup competition in 2022.
Like many entrepreneurs in the sports tech space, Sorock and Gustafson held up SportsEngine as their inspiration. Also started by college athletes turned founders back in 2008, SportsEngine grew into a major player for youth sports with 35 million monthly subscribers and eventually sold to NBC Sports. (You can hear the sports engine story with Justin Kaufenberg on episode 75 of By All Means.)
A serial entrepreneur, Kipfer latest startup is Monoline, a personal umbrella quoting platform for insurance professionals that he launched with co-founders in 2022. He’s also a mentor and investor in Refr sports and shares the advice he imparts to other first-time founders.
In Office Hours, we talk about the similar mindset of athletes and entrepreneurs with Kelly Anderson Diercks, director of athletics for College of Saint Benedict.
Kids are setting sail and learning the sport in Charlotte Harbor | Sports
Jessica Smith, a 14-year-old with a developed passion for sailing, is spending her summer out on the water. “My dad always wanted me to try like everything so he saw sailing and he put me in it,” said Smith. “I love the water. I love the ocean. I love boats. So I just got into […]
Jessica Smith, a 14-year-old with a developed passion for sailing, is spending her summer out on the water.
“My dad always wanted me to try like everything so he saw sailing and he put me in it,” said Smith. “I love the water. I love the ocean. I love boats. So I just got into it real quick.”
For the last six years, Smith returns to the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club, honing her sailing skills through the Charlotte Harbor Youth Sailing Program.
“I usually have a terrible memory so I usually forget everything and when I come back, it comes back to me,” said Smith.
The program aims to teach kids about sailing while fostering respect for themselves, the environment, and others, according to Martin Holland, Commodore of the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club and president of the Charlotte Harbor Youth Sailing.
“For some people, it unlocks a genuine love of this sport,” said Benjamin Rothstein, an assistant sailing instructor.
WINK News joined the kids on the water with Michael Bouhebent, a student-turned-sailing instructor, who shared his insights on the program.
“The most satisfying thing to me as someone who came in knowing absolutely nothing and you know eventually competing or doing something great with the skills they’ve learned out there,” said Bouhebent.
Bouhebent emphasized the importance of learning sailing skills, noting that for many young participants, it’s their first taste of independence.
“Most of the people here aren’t going to be able to drive a car for a long time so this is kind of the closest thing they’ll do. I want them to takeaway some confidence and freedom from this,” he said.
The program also teaches valuable safety skills, such as handling emergencies when someone is overboard or when a boat capsizes. For Smith, the experience has offered personal growth.
Police: Teen-driven stolen SUV crashes at Cheektowaga park
Police say 3 teens were behind the wheel and have been charged but were later released to their parents under state law. CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — A summer evening of youth sports at Cheektowaga Town Park turned chaotic Monday when a stolen SUV driven by teenagers barreled through the park, narrowly missing hundreds of children before […]
Police say 3 teens were behind the wheel and have been charged but were later released to their parents under state law.
CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — A summer evening of youth sports at Cheektowaga Town Park turned chaotic Monday when a stolen SUV driven by teenagers barreled through the park, narrowly missing hundreds of children before crashing into a parked vehicle.
The incident happened around 7:30 p.m., when Cheektowaga Police say detectives spotted a stolen 2008 Nissan Xterra at the Valero gas station across from the park. Officers approached the SUV and ordered the teens inside to exit. But instead, the driver threw the vehicle in reverse and sped away.
As officers pursued the vehicle, it veered into the crowded park — driving along sidewalks and grass areas where multiple youth football practices and softball games were underway. Officials estimate a few hundred people were present. For safety reasons, police called off the chase once the SUV entered the park.
Coaches and parents on the scene described terrifying moments as they scrambled to get kids out of the way.
“You heard people screaming, coaches, adults yelling, ‘Get out of the way, come over here,’” said Vidal Dinkins, who was coaching a football practice at the time. “All we could do is run for cover. We didn’t know whether to run left, run right.”
No pedestrians in the park were hit.
After exiting the park on Greenleaf Lane, the driver lost control and crashed into a parked vehicle. Angela Scholl says her husband was sitting inside that car, watching their 10-year-old son’s soccer practice.
Her husband was taken to ECMC and treated for injuries, including air around his heart and chemical burns from the deployed airbags. He was released early Tuesday morning.
“There was just some question about possible heart damage,” she said. “They had to do a CT scan just to clear him. He had a neck collar on for at least four to five hours before they could clear any back injury.”
“He feels like he saved the children from getting hit because if he wasn’t there, they literally would have went right into the soccer field.”
Police say three teenagers — two 14-year-olds and one 16-year-old — fled the crash on foot but were quickly caught after officers set up a perimeter. All three face multiple charges, including criminal possession of stolen property, unlawfully fleeing a police officer, reckless endangerment, criminal mischief, and assault.
Despite the charges, all three were released to their parents Monday night, as required under New York State law for juveniles.
“I don’t care if you’re 14,” Scholl said. “I understand you’re not an adult, but there still needs to be some accountability… This park should be for children to play, to meet new children, new friends. They should be able to come and feel safe. It should be a place for safety.”
Cheektowaga Police say they are reviewing body camera footage and continuing to investigate how the vehicle was stolen.
Bryan City Council approves new baseball agreement with Ventura Sports
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) -The City of Bryan approved a new rental agreement Tuesday with Ventura Sports Group to bring a Mid-America League Baseball franchise to Travis Major Field beginning in 2026. The move comes as the Brazos Valley Bombers prepare to leave the stadium after nearly two decades. The three-year agreement includes an annual rental […]
BRYAN, Texas (KBTX) -The City of Bryan approved a new rental agreement Tuesday with Ventura Sports Group to bring a Mid-America League Baseball franchise to Travis Major Field beginning in 2026. The move comes as the Brazos Valley Bombers prepare to leave the stadium after nearly two decades.
The three-year agreement includes an annual rental fee of $32,000 and revenue sharing from advertising, sponsorships, concessions and broadcast rights. It also includes a league exclusivity clause for independent baseball but does not restrict amateur or youth events.
Under the previous agreement with the Bombers’ parent company, Infinity Sports Entertainment, the City of Bryan covered the cost of rent and utilities for nearly two decades. Bryan city leaders say the new agreement provides more value to taxpayers while securing a long-term tenant at Midtown Park.
“For nearly two decades, the City of Bryan has proudly supported the Brazos Valley Bombers,” Mayor Bobby Gutierrez said. “We respect their decision to leave Bryan and wish them continued success in their new home in College Station.”
City staff will assume full management of Travis Major Field in January 2026, including scheduling and operations. Ventura Sports Group will be responsible for delivering a 32-game home schedule plus four practice dates each season. No public funds will be used for upgrades or improvements to the field under the agreement.
During Tuesday’s meeting, council members expressed frustration over how the Bombers’ departure was announced.
“We all got the wool pulled over our eyes when we heard the announcement they were moving to College Station,” Gutierrez said.
During public comment, some Bryan residents urged city leaders to slow down and reconsider the decision. Michael Phillips said he supports more baseball in the community, but raised concerns about the Mid-America League’s track record.
“I feel like we have rushed this decision,” Phillips said. “If we did a little more research, we would know that this league has a ton of issues behind them and some really unmet expectations.”
Diane Carmichael echoed those concerns, calling the process “reactionary.” She questioned whether the city had fully vetted Ventura Sports Group and said public resources should be focused on supporting existing projects and youth sports.
“I don’t think we should worry about getting the shiny new thing just because our neighbors do,” Carmichael said. “We should be focusing on the families here now.”
Other councilmembers emphasized the new deal was vetted thoroughly and in the city’s best interest.
“I think this agreement is much more fair and equitable to all of our taxpayers who all deserve to be able to use it and who, at the end of the day, were the ones subsidizing the deal with our former team,” Councilwoman Marca Ewers-Shurtleff said.
Deputy City Manager Joey Dunn said city staff conducted background checks on Ventura and received positive references from other cities with teams in the league.
“This was not a quick decision. We did our homework,” Dunn said. “I checked personally with city managers in two other Texas cities. They had nothing but glowing reports on Mr. Schuster, his company, and the leagues operating there.”
Ventura Sports Group CEO Mark Schuster also addressed the public scrutiny.
“If anybody has been in business for 40 years, I don’t care if you are in the sports business or selling hamburgers, you are going to have disputes,” Schuster said. “It is part of business. It is part of life.”
KBTX News at Six Weekday EXTENDED(Recurring)
Schuster said the organization will launch a community-driven “Name the Team” contest in the coming weeks.
“We are all about inexpensive family entertainment,” Schuster said. “Our job is to give people an opportunity to escape for three hours, smile, and have fun, regardless of what the scoreboard says.”
Several councilmembers and city officials publicly criticized the Bombers’ ownership, accusing them of negotiating in bad faith and misleading the city about their future plans. Councilman Jared Salvato said city staff had held multiple meetings with the Bombers in an effort to craft a new deal, but were never provided formal financial documents.
“We received numbers on the back of a napkin,” Salvato said.
Council members said Bombers management warned of reputational consequences if their agreement was not renewed.
“We were ultimately posed with the threat that if we don’t continue the agreement that we’ve enjoyed for the last 18 years exactly how they wanted it, we could expect a PR nightmare,” said Marca-Ewers Shurtleff. Dunn confirmed the remark, adding that during a recent phone call, a Bombers representative told him, “This is war.”
Some councilmembers criticized recent local media coverage of the deal, suggesting it lacked balance.
“Sometimes a lot of our local media stories can seem extremely one-sided, and they don’t do the due diligence,” Salvato said during the discussion.
Schuster confirmed he had been contacted for comment and provided an interview, but declined to say whether he felt his statements were accurately included.
“I don’t read the media, so I have no idea,” he said.
The Bombers also responded to the public criticism following the meeting.
“Recently, my character and business practices were publicly criticized in a meeting I wasn’t present to attend or respond to. Some of the claims about how events unfolded were not only false, but deeply disappointing – especially coming from individuals I’ve worked alongside for years, who know the truth yet chose to protect their own interests instead,” Geva said.
Geva said the team remains committed to the Brazos Valley community.
“For nearly 20 years, I’ve invested in this community – not just through businesses, but through service. I’ve served on hospital boards, the Chamber of Commerce Executive Board, and remained committed to my faith and giving back. That’s who I am, he added.
Geva said the Bombers will continue offering affordable family entertainment and plan to play in College Station beginning in 2027.
“Alongside my business partner Chris, we’ve built a team rooted in integrity that has been proud to serve the City of Bryan and the entire Brazos Valley community. We’ve chosen the high road, even when others haven’t. That won’t change,” Geva said. “We remain committed to serving this community with honesty, respect, and affordable family entertainment. You don’t last nearly two decades without doing things the right way. We will continue doing that for our fans and community for the next twenty years.”
The new Bryan-based team will become the seventh franchise in the Mid-America League. Other teams are located in Abilene, Sherman and White Oak, Texas, Fort Smith, Arkansas, Joplin, Missouri and Texarkana.
Youth lacrosse tournament returns | News, Sports, Jobs
A Swamp Rabbits player shields the ball away from a Rush 2032 Rhinos player during a game on Tuesday in Lake Placid. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)
LAKE PLACID — The annual Lake Placid Summit Youth Classic kicked off on Monday at the North Elba Show Grounds and will wrap up […]
A Swamp Rabbits player shields the ball away from a Rush 2032 Rhinos player during a game on Tuesday in Lake Placid.
(Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)
LAKE PLACID — The annual Lake Placid Summit Youth Classic kicked off on Monday at the North Elba Show Grounds and will wrap up today.
The event, which originally began in 2016, featured boys lacrosse teams, aged 8 and under up to 16 and under, competing in five different divisions. There are about 46 teams this year, which is a bit higher than normal, according to event director Kevin Leveille.
“Usually we get up to around 46 and then we lose like four or so, but they’ve held it on, so it’s a good amount,” he said. “(There are) a couple of teams bigger than normal, but it fits right in here nicely, and we’ve got a good mix of teams.”
Leveille noted that some of the teams traveled from Canada, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland and even New Jersey.
“Then a lot of upstate teams and some from Long Island,” he said. There are also a couple of North Country-based teams — The NoCo Ripperz and Tru North.
For Leveille, who has been in charge of this tournament since its inception, said its great to be in Lake Placid for lacrosse.
“You get north of, you know, Saratoga or Watertown, and you can just smell the difference in the Adirondack air,” he said. “And it’s kind of like your whole mentality changes, and I think that’s kind of how everybody feels coming up here.”
Leveille said that about half of these squads are new to this tournament, so a lot of people are getting to experience Lake Placid for the first time. He said, so far, the reception has been super positive, and people were excited to enjoy the town.
“I know people were at the beach yesterday, and that was really a good thing all around. I’ve heard of people going to Experience Outdoors, over to the Olympic sites and I think people were going to the flum today. So, people are hitting the spots. I’ve heard a lot about good food, the local restaurants and it’s nice to know half the people and then have new people here, essentially introduce to the area.”
Following the LPSYC, Summit Lacrosse will host the 36th Lake Placid Summit Classic from July 28 to Aug. 3.
The Summit Classic showcases two tournaments over the course of a week starting with the scholastic tournament — consisting of youth, high school and college-age players — followed by the adult tournament, which includes a 65 and older age group.
The Summit Lacrosse Society hosted tournaments in Albany, Saratoga, Denver and in California earlier in the year.
For Leveille, whose father, George, founded the Summit Classic here in 1990, the tournaments here are special to him.
“It’s a different vibe; generally, tournaments are like over two days and you go sit in a field at a high school and there’s not much to do,” he said. “But because we’re over three days and people are on vacation, it’s not chewing up a weekend, people are just in a better mood. They’re making the most of like the time outside of the fields and kind of setting up and just having little hangouts with snacks during the day.”
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Jamel Dewayne Wynn, 35, of Fort Wayne, IN, gained his wings on June 29th, 2025. Jamel was born on November 25th, 1989, in Frankfurt, Germany to parents Lee and Pamela Wynn. During his childhood, he was an avid basketball and football player. He played on several travel youth Basketball teams while in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He […]
Jamel Dewayne Wynn, 35, of Fort Wayne, IN, gained his wings on June 29th, 2025.
Jamel was born on November 25th, 1989, in Frankfurt, Germany to parents Lee and Pamela Wynn.
During his childhood, he was an avid basketball and football player. He played on several travel youth Basketball teams while in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He also played basketball and football at Woodside Middle School, located in Fort Wayne, IN.
While in high school, Jamel developed a love for art, photography, and film. He took several photography and art classes at Paul Harding High School.
In 2008, Jamel graduated from Paul Harding High School. Upon graduation, he then transitioned to The Art Institute of Madison. In 2011, he earned his associates degree in media, film, and design.
Jamel worked as a manager for Little Caesars for several years. He was also a part of the film and video production crew for the TinCaps.
Jamel was passionate about cinematography, photography, and creating content for social media. He loved to watch movies and sports. He was also interested in investing, sales, and marketing.
Remaining to cherish Jamel’s memory are parents, Lee (Yolonda) Wynn and Pamela (Christopher Palomo) Wynn; grandmother, Annie Yancey; sister, Jameshia (Cameron) Shackelford; niece and nephew, Summer Shackelford and nephew, to be born December 2025; aunts, Betty Poinus and Chuckie Smith; uncles, Tracy Wynn, Tyrence Williams and Ivan Williams; special friend, McKaila McBride; and a host of loving cousins, friends, and co-workers.
Preceding Jamel in death are grandmother, June Mitchell; grandfather, Curtis Mitchell Sr.; and uncles, Curtis Mitchell Jr. and Kevin Mitchell Sr.
Visitation will be held at 10:00 A.M. on July 10th, 2025, at Ellis Funeral home. Funeral service will be held directly afterward, beginning at 11:00 A.M.
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