When the thunderstorm rolled across Orlando’s Lake Fairview on Thursday afternoon Sept. 15, 2022, 11-year-old Langston Rodriguez-Sane was still in his trial period with a local rowing club. It was only his second week out on the water.
Doreen Sane with her children, Reese and Langston, before Langston died on his 12th birthday, in 2022, three days after his boat was struck by lightning in Orlando. (Courtesy of Doreen Sane)
Langston was looking forward to his birthday on Sunday. As soon as they dropped him off to practice his new sport, his mom, Doreen Sane, and his big sister, Reese, headed out to shop for his birthday dinner.
“I will forever go back to that day when we were shopping at Walmart about how terrible the storm sounded,” Doreen Sane said. “My God, it sounded so terrible.”
On their way back to pick up Langston, Reese’s phone buzzed with a text.
“Are you okay? Yeah. Or, like, ‘Is your brother okay’ or something?” Reese Sane remembered. “And then you start to get information that something had happened, but we were told it wasn’t Langston.”
That wasn’t true. Langston’s boat, with five children rowing in open water during the storm, had been struck by lightning. He was rescued from the water and rushed to the boat house and then to a local hospital. He died there three days later, on his 12th birthday. “He had so much coming up for him and so much left to live,” said his sister, who is now 19.
“Langston was an 11-year-old, incredibly loving young man. He was a son. He was a brother. He was a friend. You know, he was an important part of our lives,” Reese said. “And he was taken from us because of negligence, because people aren’t aware of lightning safety.”
Florida, the nation’s lightning capital
Florida, the lightning capital of the United States, leads the nation in both the density of lightning strikes and deaths by lightning. Nearly all 53 victims killed by lightning in the state in the past decade were either recreating or working outdoors. Yet while Florida Statutes protect young athletes from allergy attacks, head injuries, heat illness and cardiac arrest among other threats, state laws do not govern lightning safety.
U.S. Rowing, the national governing body for the sport, offers lightning-safety procedures as a resource for coaches and administrators. The guidelines include constant weather monitoring, clear evacuation points and rules for getting boats off the water quickly when storms approach. They are meant to be adapted to each local rowing venue.
None of that, the family says, was followed by the North Orlando Rowing Club, which has since changed its name to the Orlando City Boat Club, on the day Langston and the other children were caught in the storm. A second child in the boat, 13-year-old Gavin Christman, was also killed; Orange County Sheriff’s Office marine deputies did not find his body until the following evening.
“You assume because you’re in this (organized-sport club) that things are being maintained,” Doreen Sane said. “You’re paying a premium. It’s got to be better.”
The Orlando City Boat Club did not respond to requests to comment or share its lighting-safety protocols.
When it comes to schools, Florida Statutes require Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) member schools to have emergency action plans. Orange County Public Schools passed one of the strongest lightning safety plans in the nation after a 10-year-old girl died after getting off her school bus in a storm in 2004.
However, an informal survey of school plans by WUFT indicated that many of them do not address lightning, or even storms. The FHSAA’s Emergency Action Plan Template includes blizzards but not lightning. The Florida Department of Health’s Emergency Guidelines for Schools addresses frostbite but not lightning or storms in general.
Sister and brother Reese Sane and Langston Rodriguez-Sane. Reese, who was part of the same rowing club, said they hadn’t had lightning-safety training before Langston was caught in a fatal thunderstorm. (Courtesy of Doreen Sane)
The Dallas-based software company Perry Weather, a weather-technology company that provides real-time lightning detection, automated alerts, radar tools, and countdown timers to help schools make safer decisions during storms, helps stress lightning safety policies for Florida schools in its online guide in partnership with the FHSAA. The FHSAA’s own policies focus more on heat stress given Florida lawmakers’ passage of the Zachary Martin Act in 2020 in response to a football player’s death from heatstroke.
Perry Weather posts lightning guidance from the National Federation of State High School Associations. It includes continuous weather monitoring; stopping outdoor activity as soon as thunder or lightning is detected, moving athletes to safe shelter and waiting 30 minutes after the last observed lightning or thunder before resuming activity.
The national guidelines serve as a good common framework. But in Florida, they can be applied inconsistently depending on the school, district or club.
Trouble on the water
Langston’s mom said she assumed the club her children joined—Reese rowed with the same club—followed strict safety standards. What she learned later, she said, left her stunned.
“They had no lightning detectors or anything, so there was a big problem,” Sane said. “There was no one on the water with them either.”
Reese said it wasn’t the first time young rowers were unsafe.
“You learn in elementary school when your hair sticks up, like that’s dangerous,” Reese said. “We would go out in the water and our hair would be sticking up and they would say, this is normal.”
Lightning-safety experts said the risks in Florida are relatively high — and too-often underestimated. John Jensenius, a meteorologist who spent more than 40 years with the National Weather Service and now works with the National Lightning Safety Council, described lightning danger as a combination of “the amount of lightning, and where you are.”
Meteorologist John Jensenius with the National Lightning Safety Council said organized youth events in Florida should have a lightning-safety plan. (Courtesy of John Jensenius)
He said youth sports programs may fail to take the necessary precautions—and emphasized that waiting for obvious signs of danger is too late.
“If you notice something, don’t wait. Keep an eye on the sky. Listen for any thunder,” he said. “If you see any signs of a developing or approaching storm, or if you hear thunder, you really need to get inside right away.”
Florida’s storms can be especially deceptive. According to Jensenius, a bright blue Florida sky could make it difficult for people to recognize they are in danger. Activities on water, such as boating or fishing, complicate matters further because background noise such as boat motors — or water, itself — can mask the sound of approaching thunder.
When lightning struck Langston’s boat, he was the coxswain sitting at one end. He and the boy at the opposite end, 13-year-old Gavin, both fell into the water. The three children sitting in the middle of the shell were rescued and survived without serious injuries.
Jensenius said water-based leisure activities make up the nation’s three highest lightning risks: Fishing, with 9% of deaths; the beach, with 7% of deaths; and boating, with 5%.
“All of those take extra time to get to a safe place,” he said.
Experts also stress that sports organizations must get actively involved in lightning safety education. The National Lightning Safety Council partners with programs like Little League Baseball to teach players and coaches about the risks.
Lessons never taught, now learned
According to Reese, she and Langston were never introduced to any lightning-safety resources.
“I never was taught that safety class,” she said. “Langston was never taught that safety class.”
Langston’s death underscores a gap between awareness, assumptions and action. Liability concerns have helped drive improvements, Jensenius said, but challenges remain.
Doreen Sane filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the rowing club, the property owner and the U.S. Rowing Association, alleging North Orlando Rowing Club did not have weather-alert devices or a working defibrillator on the day of the tragedy. Although the case was settled, she said no money can bring her son back.
For the family, lightning safety is no longer abstract.
“Now I have such respect for lightning warnings,” Sane said. “You just think it could never happen to you. Especially as Floridians — you just see lightning all the time, and it never strikes you.”
Her daughter stressed the importance of telling Langston’s and other victims’ stories.
“You think they’ll be fine because you’ve seen survival stories,” Reese said. “But you don’t hear enough death stories to understand the full gravity of this. Somebody you love can be taken like that by something you can’t control — and you could have controlled it by not being outside.”
Langston Rodriguez-Sane at an earlier birthday. He died on his 12th birthday after being rescued from Orlando’s Lake Fairview after a lightning strike collapsed his boat three days before. (Courtesy of Doreen Sane)
There is a certain magic around youth sports, a feeling that sticks around with those who’ve played far after their time on the team has passed. Whether they are indelible memories of the dirt swirling around a Little League field, mud squishing under cleats on the soccer field or the sharp crack of pads colliding in a Pop Warner game, those moments will live on in the hearts of those who have played. This December, the members of the Sarasota Sun Devils 14U football team made some memories that they will be sure to cherish forever.
From December 8-13, the Sun Devils—a youth football and cheer organization started in 1987—competed in the American Youth Football National Championships in Naples, Florida. The Sun Devils, which had secured a berth to the tournament by winning its regional championship in November, played against teams from New Jersey, Virginia and California in the All-American Division 2 bracket. Led by head coach Bill Weiser and assistant coach Joshua Smithers—the former head coach and a current assistant coach on Riverview High School’s football team—the Sun Devils overcame an initial 18-2 loss to the Toms River Warriors to win two successive games en route to placing third in the national championships.
“We had games on Monday and Wednesday of that week guaranteed, and depending on the outcome, we would play on Friday,” says Smithers, who served as offensive coordinator. “I’m not sure if our kids were just nervous, but we lost to Toms River on Monday 18-2 and I thought to myself, ‘this might be a long day on Wednesday.’”
The Sun Devils rallied, however, defeating Richmond’s RVA United 20-18 in the consolation bracket before squaring with San Francisco’s Bay Area Gators for a shot at third place. Despite the Gators being as physical and well-coached a team as the Sun Devils had faced all season, Sarasota was able to pull out the victory, 32-21. A strong receiving group and the complimentary skill sets of the Sun Devils’ two quarterbacks, Parker Taylor and Beckett Hill, allowed Smithers to scheme up a creative offense. “It was the most that I’ve ever done with a youth football team. We were throwing screens and play action passes, we took advantage of the quick game and were able to run the field as well as push it down the field through the air,” says Smithers. “These kids were able to handle a lot in terms of scheme and play design.”
For Smithers and the rest of the Sun Devils, the end of the season is bittersweet. 14U is the last stop before high school football and much of the team had been playing together for years. “It was a little sad, but I am excited to watch these kids grow into young men and do great things for our area high schools.”
The D.C. Futsal Cup is one of the district’s premier winter futsal competitions — a 5v5 futsal tournament for competitive teams played under FIFA futsal rules and regulations on hard court surfaces.
Teams from around the area will take to the courts to engage in one of the fastest-growing games in the country on Jan. 31 (U9-12 Boys & Girls) and Feb. 1 (U13-U19 Boys & Girls) at the Athletic Republic.
Register online at $399 per team.
5v5 Tournament
Bethesda Soccer Club Performance Center is hosting a one-day U9-U12 Boys & Girls tournament on MLK Day (Jan. 19) as part of its 5v5 Shootout Series.
Teams from around the area will play on 5v5-specific fields to engage in a bold and distinctive game of soccer that will be entertaining and competitive. This one-day tournament allows the unique opportunity to play and let it rip.
For 2026, Hyundai shifts the spotlight to the dreams, imagination, and artistic talents of the youngest and most spirited football enthusiasts—children. Their artwork will bring a splash of vibrancy and fresh dreams to one of the world’s greatest sporting spectacles.
These captivating drawings will accompany the national players as they travel to stadiums and match venues, sharing youthful energy and creativity with millions of fans around the globe.
Each creative entry symbolizes the passion and enthusiasm of football fans for their national teams, inspiring pride and unity among players and supporters. These works of art don’t just embellish the buses; they embody the spirit of the FIFA World Cup 2026™, spreading messages of hope and celebration wherever they go!
But the experience doesn’t stop with seeing their art on display. Each winning artist will experience the excitement firsthand, with two very special seats reserved for the winner and one lucky guardian. The prize includes two tickets to a FIFA World Cup 2026™ group stage match, round-trip airfare, and hotel accommodations. This ‘once-in-a-lifetime experience’ combines creativity, thrills, and a long list of unforgettable memories.
On Saturday, December 20, Fillmore Youth Basketball filled the Fillmore Middle School gym for a full day of games. Pictured are the games last Saturday for both boys and girls. Photo credit Crystal Gurrola.
By Gazette Staff Writers — Thursday, December 25th, 2025
— Youth for Christ in Alexandria has been around for 15 years, but recently moved into its new home – the YFC Youth Center at 911 Highway 29 North, near the north McDonald’s.
A
grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony
will take place on Monday, Jan. 12, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Snacks and refreshments will be served.
Nick Jorgenson, the Alexandria area site director for YFC, said that actually,
Youth for Christ
moved into the building in March. However, the building wasn’t really usable until about two and half months ago, he said.
“We had to renovate the entire place,” said Jorgenson. “There was no flooring in here; we had to rip down some of the old walls and redo the bathroom and kitchen. It was a big project.”
Previously, the YFC program operated out of the building behind the Alexandria City Hall where Nordic Warriors is located. Jorgenson said they had a small space in the basement.
The new location is a much bigger space and includes several tables for participants to sit and play games, eat or visit with each other, along with a video gaming space and a foosball table. It also includes a handmade table with plug-ins and a removable top that can be used to play electronic games in a group setting.
Standing in the middle in front of the Youth for Christ Youth Center in Alexandria is Nick Jorgenson, Alexandria YFC director and Heidi Christensen, Parent Life director. Joining them were Sean Levesque, left, executive director for the Youth For Christ West Central Minnesota chapter in Willmar, and Josh Ottoson, the chapter’s Development and Ministry director.
Contributed photo / Alexandria Lakes Area Chamber of Commerce
Jorgenson said there are lots of different activities for those who are 11 to 19 years old.
“Our number one goal is to reach students with the Gospel, to present Jesus to them, and offer them a way out of horrible situations and horrible lives in the difficult world we live in,” he explained. “It’s not easy to navigate sometimes and so we’re here to walk alongside them and help them become lifelong followers of Jesus. So that’s our goal. But we do it in a relational way.”
The students who attend Youth for Christ don’t just sit around reading the Bible and singing worship songs, Jorgenson added. He said instead, the team at YFC builds relationships with those who attend so that they can earn the right for the students to listen to them.
YFC offers lots of activities
YFC offers different after-school clubs. On Tuesdays, there is the middle school club and then Thursdays are for the high school club. Jorgenson said it’s a time and space after school for students to hang out, play board games, video games and build relationships with not just the adults, but also the other students.
He said they usually will have snacks and beverages and then he will also do what he calls a “life talk,” which usually takes between 10 and 15 minutes.
Nick Jorgenson
“We talk about things going on in their world today and I apply biblical principles without just quoting biblical scriptures to them,” said Jorgenson. “And obviously, it’s in our name – Youth for Christ – so they’re not surprised when I tell them about God or Jesus.”
There are also groups, like the gaming group, which meets every other Thursday night. A volunteer will come in and the group plays games together. Another activity is the Girls Art Night where just the girls come in and do some kind of arts and crafts project, hang out with one another and build relationships with their peers. This group is led by YFC female volunteers.
And now that they have the space, Jorgenson said they have started Friday Night Life, where one Friday a month they do an activity, like Bingo or recently, they had a Christmas party.
Students can come and go as they please these during all the activities at the youth center. They are not made to stay until a program is done.
Students have snacks at a table inside the new Alexandria Area Youth for Christ Youth Center.
Contributed photo / Nick Jorgensen
Jorgenson said the students, as well as the parents, are informed that the students can come and go as they please and that there is not a membership to join. He added that he does collect contact information for both the students and their parents and/or guardians, providing the students give him their parent information. He said it doesn’t always happen, especially with the high school students.
The contact info is for mass messaging that is sent out regularly to students, parents, counselors, etc. to let them know about upcoming activities.
For instance, Jorgenson will let everyone know about an upcoming event called Winter Ignite 2026, which will take place Feb. 27 through March 1 at the Lake Geneva Christian Center in Alexandria. It will feature guest speaker, Brandon Farris, and also Christian hip-hop artist 808 Beezy. For more information, send an email to josh@yfcminnesota.com.
Besides a new location, a new program offering at YFC will be starting in January 2026. Alexandria Parent Life, a ministry for pregnant and parenting teens, will be led by Parent Life Director Heidi Christensen.
This program was originally started in Willmar, which is where the main office for Youth For Christ West Central Minnesota is located. This is the chapter that the Alexandria YFC belongs to. Parent Life is also offered at the Hutchinson YFC.
Heidi Christensen
“This is a new launch for us here in Alexandria,” Christensen said. “We’ll start meeting with pregnant and parenting teens in January on Tuesday nights from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.”
Parent Life is also offered to those ages 11 to 19, but Christensen said the program is a little bit different than the program Jorgensen runs.
She said there will be mentors and that they will be walking alongside the students in a kind-of pivotal point in their life. But, those who are attending are either pregnant or are already a parent.
“We are not a pregnancy center,” said Christensen. “When they come to us, they will have already either made the choice themselves to raise a child or carry the pregnancy to term but have an adoption plan in place. We do not do counseling of any kind. We’re here to walk alongside them and to have mentors.”
She added that parenting or being pregnant while still a teen is challenging and girls often find themselves ostracized from others. Parent Life will be a place where they can all get together and support one another.
Inside the new Alexandria Area Youth for Christ Youth Center there is an open space with tables and chairs for students to play games, hang with their friends or enjoy a snack.
Celeste Edenloff / Alexandria Echo Press
“They may be from different schools or come from different walks of life, but together they have something in common,” said Christensen.
The mentors in the Parent Life program are able to go with the teen moms to appointments and help them to get back on the path if they’ve dropped out of school, which Christensen said happens often.
Mentors will help them graduate from school, go to college if that was originally planned or go into the workforce.
“Oftentimes, girls who find themselves pregnant think that it is the end of their story and that is just not the case,” Christensen said. “We’re here to provide hope and get them back on track and provide them with parenting tips or even educational tips.”
Like in Jorgenson’s program, Christensen said there will be faith-based discussions, but really, the whole goal is to walk alongside the teens and that if it ends up they make a decision on their own to follow Jesus, that is great. But she stated it is not the sole purpose of the program.
The nursery, which isn’t quite finished, inside the new Alexandria Area Youth for Christ Youth Center.
Celeste Edenloff / Alexandria Echo Press
In the new YFC Youth Center, there is also a nursery that will be staffed for those attending the Parent Life program who have children. Christensen also noted that there will be free diapers and wipes available to those attending the program.
For more information on the program send an email to heidi@yfcminnesota.com.
Information about the Alexandria Area Youth for Christ program can be found on Facebook at
facebook.com/AlexandriaYFC
or
yfcminnesota.com/ministries.
The video gaming station inside the new Alexandria Area Youth for Christ Youth Center.
Celeste Edenloff / Alexandria Echo Press
A cozy corner for students to hang out at in the new Alexandria Area Youth for Christ Youth Center.
