Connect with us
https://yoursportsnation.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/call-to-1.png

Rec Sports

Piedmont Family YMCA Issues Update To Club Parents Regarding Gary Taylor Complaints

Piedmont Family YMCA Chief Operating Officer Chris Carr recently issued an update to Cavalier Aquatics club parents following the news that head coach Gary Taylor was currently serving a two-year probation period was reported earlier this month. As first reported by Chris Graham of the Augusta Free Press, Taylor received the two-year probation from the U.S. Center for […]

Published

on


Piedmont Family YMCA Chief Operating Officer Chris Carr recently issued an update to Cavalier Aquatics club parents following the news that head coach Gary Taylor was currently serving a two-year probation period was reported earlier this month.

As first reported by Chris Graham of the Augusta Free Press, Taylor received the two-year probation from the U.S. Center for SafeSport after an investigation concluded with him admitting to emotional misconduct while coaching swimmers from 2015 until 2022 at NC State, Auburn and Cavalier Aquatics.

In the message to club membership, Carr told parents that after Taylor’s arrival at the club in 2021, three families issued complaints to SafeSport that same year, and the complaints were investigated by both the YMCA and SafeSport, and they found no wrongdoing.

Full Message:

Good Afternoon Cavalier Aquatics Parents,

Our leadership team is aware of the articles and comments regarding Gary Taylor and our Cavalier Aquatics Program. While we have spoken to several of you regarding these comments, we wanted to address our full team to provide additional information.

Gary Taylor arrived at the Piedmont Family YMCA in 2021 as our Head Coach for Cavalier Aquatics. In 2021, SafeSport received three (3) complaints from Cavalier Aquatics Families. These complaints were investigated by the YMCA, and then independent of the YMCA by SafeSport. In each of these cases, we found no wrongdoing, and SafeSport dismissed the complaints. Throughout any SafeSport investigation, SafeSport requires confidentiality from all parties (including the YMCA). To respect this process, the YMCA did not release the full details of the complaints to the team.

The YMCA remains committed to ensuring the safety of all participants in our organization. Incidents that arise out of Cavalier Aquatics, Camp, Afterschool, Youth Sports, or incidents within our facility at the Brooks Family YMCA will be investigated. Members and program participants can speak directly to myself as the Chief Operating Officer of the Piedmont Family YMCA with any concerns regarding our operations and programs.

The YMCA is proud of the accomplishments of our Cavalier Aquatics program. Notably, our club won the overall team championship at the 2022 and 2025 National Meet. We have also received Gold Medal Recognition from USA Swimming’s Club Excellence Program in 2023 and 2025, marking the program as one of the Top 20 clubs in the nation in each of these respective seasons. These successes have allowed our premier swim club to grow to over 235 youth throughout Charlottesville and the surrounding counties. We are incredibly thankful to you, the parents and athletes, who have supported us over the years. It is your dedication and support, along with our talented coaches, that have allowed for this success.

Thanks,
Chris Carr

Although the complaints mentioned all came in 2021, Taylor’s probation came after admitting to emotionally abusing athletes from 2015 until 2022.

Shortly after the news of Taylor’s probation was reported, he was removed from the Cavalier Aquatics website and is currently not listed as a coach with the club. However, he is still listed as an associate head coach at the University of Virginia, a role he took in addition to already being the Cavalier Aquatics head coach in May 2024.

According to The Augusta Free Press, the club’s first acknowledgement of Taylor’s probation came in a different message to club parents, where Carr told them Taylor “has been primarily at UVA for the last year, continuing at the Y to mentor coaches Conor Hassard and Jason Swaim through their transitions to Head Senior Coach and Head Age Group Coach.”

On June 17, The Augusta Free Press reported that Lauren Suggs, the wife of UVA head coach Todd DeSorbo, stepped down as a member of the Board of Directors at Piedmont Family YMCA.

Taylor’s wife, Jessica Taylor, is still listed as the CEO of Piedmont Family YMCA, however.

Read more on the allegations that led to Taylor’s probation here.





Link

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

College Sports

Sitz Earns Multiple Medals At World University Games

Story Links RHINE-RUHR, Germany (SMU) – SMU men’s swimmer Kristaps Mikelsons and All-American diver Luke Sitz wrapped up their campaigns at the FISU World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, on Wednesday. Sitz secured two medals for Team UniUSA.  The sophomore earned a bronze medal in the men’s 3-meter springboard, with a score of 429.75 on July 18. […]

Published

on

Sitz Earns Multiple Medals At World University Games

RHINE-RUHR, Germany (SMU) – SMU men’s swimmer Kristaps Mikelsons and All-American diver Luke Sitz wrapped up their campaigns at the FISU World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, on Wednesday. Sitz secured two medals for Team UniUSA. 

The sophomore earned a bronze medal in the men’s 3-meter springboard, with a score of 429.75 on July 18. Breaking a 28-year drought, Sitz’s podium finish was the first medal for Team UniUSA on 3-meter springboard since 1997.  

On Wednesday, Sitz picked up another piece of hardware, claiming a silver medal on the men’s synchronized 3-meter springboard. The U.S. pair of Sitz and Indiana University’s Joshua David Sollenberger earned a 380.34 total.  

In his final event, Sitz fell just short of medaling in the mixed team (3-meter/10-meter), placing fourth with a 393.50. 

Representing Latvia, Mikelsons also competed in Rhine-Ruhr. Mikelsons participated in four individual events: 100m breast, 200m IM, 200m breast and 50m breast.  

In the 100m breast, Mikelsons posted a time of 1:02.16. After advancing to the 200m IM semifinals, he registered a time of 2:02.43 to place 15th overall. 

The junior touched the wall at 2:16.58 in the 200m breast, leading his heat. Finally, in the 50m breast, Mikelsons recorded a 28.73. 

Mikelsons also took part in two relays, finishing in 3:29.62 in the men’s 4x100m free relay and 4:04.29 in the mixed 4x100m medley relay. 

Print Friendly Version

Continue Reading

Rec Sports

Youth test skills at Mandaree rodeo | News, Sports, Jobs

Submitted Photo Ryker King shows the crowd how to turn a horse loose at the MHA Youth Rodeo Association’s Mandaree Youth Rodeo. Ryker’s mother, Bailey King, is also a barrel racer and they are from Standing Rock Reservation. The event was held Saturday during the Mandaree Celebration. Submitted Photo Jordan LongTimeSleeping, left, judges the goat […]

Published

on


Submitted Photo
Ryker King shows the crowd how to turn a horse loose at the MHA Youth Rodeo Association’s Mandaree Youth Rodeo. Ryker’s mother, Bailey King, is also a barrel racer and they are from Standing Rock Reservation. The event was held Saturday during the Mandaree Celebration.

Submitted Photo
Jordan LongTimeSleeping, left, judges the goat tiedown while Legend RealBird shows his skills at the MHA Youth Rodeo Association’s Mandaree Youth Rodeo held Saturday during the Mandaree Celebration. Photo by Karen LoneFight.

Submitted Photo
Ryder Johnson hangs on for a win in bareback competition at the MHA Youth Rodeo Association’s Mandaree Youth Rodeo held during the Mandaree Celebration. Photo by Karen LoneFight.



Link

Continue Reading

Rec Sports

Summer youth baseball back in Blaine

By Nolan Baker For the first time in a long time, nine and ten year olds played summer league competitive baseball with the word “Blaine” emblazoned across their chests, marking the first season of Blaine’s new 10U Cal Ripken team. The group of 13 highly motivated young athletes just finished their first summer season, competing […]

Published

on


By Nolan Baker

For the first time in a long time, nine and ten year olds played summer league competitive baseball with the word “Blaine” emblazoned across their chests, marking the first season of Blaine’s new 10U Cal Ripken team.

The group of 13 highly motivated young athletes just finished their first summer season, competing in a flurry of tournaments over the last two months.

Blaine High School varsity coach Hunter Anderson helped a group of local coaches to revitalize the program. Like any good coach, Anderson wanted to get a pipeline of youth baseball solidified in Blaine to create a clear pathway of competitive baseball from elementary to high school.

That’s when head coach Preston Bouma came in. The Birch Bay father of five boys – all in or graduated from the Blaine school district – and a class of 1994 Blaine High School graduate himself, wanted to give kids a local option for summer ball. Many of Blaine’s talented young athletes had previously signed up for other select summer league teams outside of Blaine, Bouma said.

Bouma was joined by coaches Brent Greene, Brett Jacobs and Bill Beckett to lead the team.

“The idea came from wanting to keep Blaine kids together in a competitive atmosphere to stop losing so many kids to all the select teams,” Bouma said.

The best high school teams keep local kids together, going up through multiple levels and summer after summer of competitive baseball, Bouma said. It’s a pattern Anderson hopes to instill in the baseball program, and one that head football coach Andy Olson and girls basketball coach Vic Wolffis have been doing for years.

“If these kids have intentions of playing high school sports together, let’s keep them together right now because ultimately the goal is to win at the high school level,” Bouma said.

In the team’s first year, Bouma said they “took their lumps,” but still made huge improvements, and the team is excited to return next summer.

“These kids came a long way over two months. We started scoring runs. We started making outs. Our pitching improved. We figured out positions,” Bouma said. “The kids’ attitude the entire time was great.”

Bouma’s goal for next season is to play more games and tournaments against local teams, instead of, as he said, “driving past 150 baseball fields to travel halfway across the state to go play in a tournament.”

More Cal Ripken league teams are expected to pop up in Nooksack, Ferndale and other cities around Whatcom County, which Bouma hopes will encourage even more Blaine kids to join. The goal for next year is an earlier tryout date, potentially sometime in the spring of 2026, and to expand to more age groups.

The logistics and finances of the team are handled through Blaine Youth Sports (BYS), the local nonprofit organizing K-8 sports since 2018. Bouma said his goal is to keep player fees to a minimum with the help of BYS. Travel baseball is a notoriously expensive sport, and Bouma said BYS helps lower financial barriers.

“We want to build that community bond with all these different families and kids. We’re growing up together, so we might as well stick together and represent Blaine,” Bouma said. “I’ve been a Blaine Borderite since the day I was born. I have a passion for the orange and black.”

For more information on next year’s Cal Ripken summer league baseball, contact blaineyouthsports@gmail.com.





Link

Continue Reading

Rec Sports

Two people expected to be charged after wild brawl at Massachusetts youth baseball game

Two people are expected to face charges for their involvement in an American Legion playoff game earlier this week, according to a report from TMZ Sports.  The fight took place in Milford, Mass. on Monday night when fans ran onto the field and at least one brawled with East Springfield Post 420 players during the […]

Published

on


Two people are expected to face charges for their involvement in an American Legion playoff game earlier this week, according to a report from TMZ Sports. 

The fight took place in Milford, Mass. on Monday night when fans ran onto the field and at least one brawled with East Springfield Post 420 players during the middle of a game against Milford Post 59, causing the contest to be postponed. 

Milford Police had previously told the Boston Globe that they were considering charging three individuals, including at least one player and a Milford High School student. 


Screenshot of a fight breaking out in a football game.
The fan in red shorts is held back. @MyMilfordTV/YouTube

No arrests were made nor were any injuries reported, per the outlet.

“Absolute mayhem taking place over by the third base dugout as members of the Milford crowd have now come onto the warning track on the third base side,” Milford broadcaster Tim Caouette said.

“Never in all of my years covering Legion Baseball have I ever seen this kind of activity from the fans.”

TMZ reported that the game is expected to resume Wednesday night at 6:00 p.m. with “heavy police presence and restrictions” in place.

The game will include a “ban on bags, outside food and drinks … and those attending will be required to leave the game immediately after it’s over,” the outlet reported. 

The fight reportedly broke out in the fourth inning with the bases loaded in a 1-1 game and a batter facing a 2-1 count at Fino Field in Milford, Mass., as captured by the YouTube channel @MyMilfordTV.


Screenshot of a post-game altercation between two football teams.
Those in the area separate the fan in red and No. 19 after punches were thrown. @MyMilfordTV/YouTube

The stream captured a “shut the f–k up” while the Milford catcher looked toward the stands situated near the East Springfield dugout, before one fan seemingly said: “You’re an old ass woman, what the f–k you doing coming in the stands?”

Play stopped while Caouette noted how “the fans are starting to get into it over on the third base side” before it got out of hand with players and those in attendance from both sides going at it.



Link

Continue Reading

Rec Sports

Washington Mystics and 318 Foundation Join Forces To Host Inaugural Champions Academy From August 4-8

WASHINGTON MYSTICS AND 318 FOUNDATION JOIN FORCES TO HOST INAUGURAL CHAMPIONS ACADEMY FROM AUGUST 4-8  WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Mystics and the 318 Foundation have partnered to launch the inaugural Washington Mystics x 318 Foundation SPORTS Champions Academy, a week-long leadership and basketball immersion experience taking place from Aug. 4 to Aug. 8 on […]

Published

on


WASHINGTON MYSTICS AND 318 FOUNDATION JOIN FORCES TO HOST INAUGURAL CHAMPIONS ACADEMY FROM AUGUST 4-8 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Washington Mystics and the 318 Foundation have partnered to launch the inaugural Washington Mystics x 318 Foundation SPORTS Champions Academy, a week-long leadership and basketball immersion experience taking place from Aug. 4 to Aug. 8 on the campus of George Washington University. 

Founded by Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and Washington Mystics Hall of Famer Alana Beard, the 318 Foundation exists to empower girls through sports, mentorship, and leadership development. The Champions Academy combined elite basketball training with its leadership curriculum, VISION: Voice, Identity, Success, Innovation, Opportunity, and Networking. 

In recognition of Beard’s deep roots in both the DMV and her hometown of Shreveport, Louisiana—home to the 318 Foundation—middle and high school participants have been selected from both communities. 

“I am incredibly proud to partner with the Washington Mystics and their Girls Empowerment Program to bring the Champions Academy outside of Shreveport for the first time,” stated Beard. “This partnership is more than a camp—it’s a movement, designed to build bold dreamers, doers, and global leaders through the power of sport. I am grateful to the Mystics for recognizing the value of the work we’ve done in Shreveport and understanding the impact we can bring to D.C.” 

Five girls from Beard’s 318 Foundation SPORTS Champions Academy in Shreveport will travel to Washington to train alongside 15 girls from the D.C. area. Local coaches and educators nominated all 20 participants as high-potential leaders; the D.C. selections intentionally prioritized students from Wards 7 and 8. Participation is provided at no cost to the girls, with all program expenses covered. 

“Alana Beard is one of the greats of the game – WNBA Champion & 4x WNBA All-Star, and a Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Inductee to go along multiple collegiate recognitions,” stated Alycen McAuley, Washington Mystics chief business officer. “She has excelled at every level on the court. She’s also selflessly given herself to her communities – and we could not be more honored to help bring her Champions Academy to her adoptive hometown of D.C. and allow the next generation of female players & leaders learn from this Mystics great.” 

The Champions Academy is a cornerstone activation of the Mystics Girls Empowerment Program, part of Monumental Sports & Entertainment’s District of Play—a multi-year, multi-million-dollar commitment to expanding access to youth sports in Washington, D.C. 

Girls will train under the leadership of former WNBA player April Sykes, while coaches will engage in professional development sessions led by Edniesha Curry, a former WNBA player and NBA assistant coach. 

On Wednesday, August 6, local coaches are invited to participate in a free professional development clinic led by Curry and the Champions Academy coaching staff. Coaches can RSVP here. Space is limited.  



Link

Continue Reading

Rec Sports

Harlem Jets shape decades of brotherhood, growth, and opportunity

If you walk by Harlem River Park on any given weekend in the fall, you’ll probably hear the sharp clap of shoulder pads, coaches barking out instructions, and unified chants as young boys run laps together. The heartbeat of the field — the youth football program Harlem Jets — has served as a life raft for hundreds […]

Published

on


If you walk by Harlem River Park on any given weekend in the fall, you’ll probably hear the sharp clap of shoulder pads, coaches barking out instructions, and unified chants as young boys run laps together. The heartbeat of the field — the youth football program Harlem Jets — has served as a life raft for hundreds of Harlem’s young people.

Jamel “Coach Mel” Wright and a group of committed fathers launched the Harlem Jets in August 2005, fielding just four teams and fewer than 100 youth. Since then, the Jets have blossomed into what their website describes as “a transformative two-generation sports and development organization” that is grounded in the belief that sports can be a powerful catalyst for personal growth and academic achievement.

Over the last 20 years, more than 5,000 children ages 5–13 have passed through the program, earning spots at prestigious high schools such as Cardinal Hayes, Stepinac, Iona Prep, Bergen Catholic, and Don Bosco Prep before competing at the collegiate level. A record 19 alumni are committed to college football for the 2025 season at Georgetown, Penn State, Duke, and Rutgers, to name a few.

Notable players include Ajani Cornelius, a standout offensive lineman at the University of Oregon, who is now a rookie with the Dallas Cowboys; Justin Joly, a senior tight end for North Carolina State, who was named preseason All Atlantic Coast Conference by “USAToday” this week; cornerback Elijah Jones, Arizona Cardinals; and Sanoussi Kane, now a safety with the Baltimore Ravens.

Kane still remembers the exact feeling of putting on a Harlem Jets jersey. “The camaraderie we had as a team — that bond is unforgettable,” he told the AmNews. “Those guys are still my brothers to this day.”

Kane’s story embodies what the Harlem Jets are about: belief, effort, and perseverance. “I wasn’t the best guy when I was younger,” he admitted, “but hard work and dedication pushed me over the top. I had a great support system, and that started with the Jets.”

He credits Wright with changing his life. “Coach Mel’s belief in me meant everything. That’s like my uncle — we went through a lot together. I can’t thank him enough. Some of us went to the NFL. Others became producers, news anchors — you name it. I’m just one testimony [to] his impact.”

Sanoussi has paid it forward by mentoring Jets players, not because he has to, but because he wants today’s youth  to believe they can follow in his footsteps. “When I was growing up, we didn’t have NFL players come back. If these kids see me, someone from their program who lived around the corner, they’ll believe they can do it, too.”

That belief is also what fuels Coach Bob Mazer, a retired attorney who joined the Harlem Jets in 2008 after searching for a youth sports program to support. “Football rewards effort,” Mazer said. “Some kids who might not thrive in other sports can become essential players here. That’s something I love.”

He checks report cards personally, holds players accountable in the classroom, and teaches life lessons one huddle at a time. “Even when it’s tough, they stick with it. That’s growth. That’s what we’re here for.”

Former Harlem Jets quarterback and current coach Sofian Massoud echoes Wright’s philosophy. “The Harlem Jets changed my life — and the lives of so many people I grew up with,” he told the AmNews. “It gave us a productive outlet, but more importantly, strong men to look up to.

Massoud added that “coaching is twofold. You teach the technical side, but you also share your story, your mistakes, your lessons. You give them a blueprint.”

Every Harlem Jets coach, from Massoud to Mazer to Wright himself, carries that same torch. “Football teaches you to get knocked down and get back up. That mirrors life,” Wright said.

Today, the Harlem Jets run eight teams from ages 6 through 13, in addition to cheerleading, wrestling, lacrosse, a summer camp, and a youth employment program. The organization remains proudly rooted in Harlem River Park, the field where it all began — which is now renovated and buzzing with activity, thanks to the program’s community advocacy and growth.

In an era where youth sports can feel transactional, the Harlem Jets remain transformational. “Ten years ago, nobody thought we’d have three NFL players come out of this program,” Kane said. “Now we do — and more are coming. The sky’s the limit.”



Link

Continue Reading

Most Viewed Posts

Trending