Summer programs enhance athletics and community – Park Bugle

By Eric Erickson

As the “fall” sports season for Minnesota high school athletes commenced on Aug. 11, one can’t help but wonder where the summer went.

For student athletes, the break between academic years is a chance to improve skills, fitness and strength, and in the case of many Como Park Cougars, to build community and give back to it.

Several programs ran camps and events as usual, while a couple of newer initiatives were implemented successfully with room for growth. From a wrestling camp to volleyball, basketball and beyond; feeder programs to connect with neighborhood youth were evident at Como Park High School and in the Como area.

Como Tennis Club – With the goal of supporting tennis in St. Paul and maximizing Como’s eight fresh, high-quality tennis courts gifted by retired teacher Kathy Dumas, athletic director Koua Yang and Como alum Matt Olson established the Como Tennis Club.

Operating in partnership with the United States Tennis Association (USTA), the club provided coaching, activities and fun for three different age groups, four days a week, for six weeks.

There were 27 participants each morning in the under-10 age group and 12 players in the 10-14 age group. Afternoon sessions were for the high school kids, many of whom coached in the morning. Altogether, there were 30 high schoolers involved in the Como Tennis Club. Boys and girls from the high school group competed in matches on Thursdays against other clubs as part of the USTA Junior Team Tennis program.

The inaugural season of the Como Tennis Club was positive across all levels and is ready to host more players next summer. No youth will be turned away due to finances. Scholarships from the USTA and external sources are available.

Cougar strength and conditioning – The weight room at Como donated by the Thielen Foundation is another outstanding resource for current and future Cougars.

This was the second summer that Como offered a strength and conditioning program, but the first featuring a full two months of access to the new equipment and renovated space.

Administered by Como parent Corey Klinge and coached by former Cougar three-sport athlete Gabe Napierala (now a University of Minnesota physical therapy major), 40 student athletes participated in lifting sessions followed by speed work and agility training on the track. That included several middle schoolers.

Several Cougar teams conducted their own workouts in the weight room, but the summer program aims to serve everybody. Athletic Director Yang explained, “This first-class space is for ALL of our students. So, we’re working on developing this resource and utilizing it with an organized program that serves our community.”

Como Ball – This was also the second summer of Como Ball, a youth baseball and softball association. Klinge spearheads this operation too, along with Cougar head baseball coach Ian Zangs.

There appears to be a resurgence of the national pastime in the neighborhood.

With levels ranging from T-ball and coach pitch for five- and six-year-olds, to a 12u (under 12) traveling softball team, to a 15-year-olds’ baseball team and everything in between, Como Ball had 170 registered participants across all its programming.

Como Ball is focused on nurturing a love for baseball and softball where youth can learn, play and grow. To fulfill that purpose, many community volunteers have stepped up to coach and umpire, including current Como Park High School players and alumni.

“We are grateful for the support and trust of our community partners and sponsors who help provide affordable, local opportunities for our youth,” Zangs said.

Soccer Stars – Coach Jonah Fields has been facilitating four summer evenings of joyful soccer in the neighborhood for over a decade.

Boys and girls from Como’s soccer teams guide young players from the community in fun, developmental and competitive soccer activities through the Soccer Stars program.

One change this year was the location. Soccer Stars partnered with the sparkling new North End Community Center on Rice Street to host sessions for 75 players across two age groups (4-7, 8-12) on the spacious turf fields.

One constant was happy kids — young ones building community and teenagers giving back to it. 

Eric Erickson is a social studies teacher at Como Park High School and a longtime coach of school and youth sports in St. Paul.

The Como Tennis Club was launched this summer on the Dumas Courts at Como Park High School. Photo submitted by Koua Yang.