The first time 19-year-old Alan Zavala went fishing in Marina Bay, he caught a leopard shark. He was hooked. The next day, he went to buy a fishing license. 

“It’s fun when obviously you’re getting bites and catches,” said Zavala, who’s been fishing for six months. “You also feel adrenaline doing that.”

Zavala wanted to try fishing because of videos he saw on TikTok. 

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, social media influencers have attracted large audiences with content about fishing. Kaitlyn Bui, a Bay Area crabber and angler has around 725,000 followers on TikTok, and her most popular video, in which she excitedly reels in a barbed surf perch at Ocean Beach, has 25 million views.

The number of annual and short-term fishing license holders aged 15-24 in the Bay Area has increased since the pandemic, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. In nine Bay Area counties including Contra Costa, there were 4,596 more young license holders in 2025 than in 2019 — a 16% increase. 

A fishing license for anyone over the age of 16 is required for inland and ocean fishing. A one-year license will cost $64.54 for a California resident in 2026, but a fishing license is not required for public piers, making the sport accessible for new anglers.

Rodeo Bait and Tackle has experienced an uptick in interest from young people since the pandemic, said Erika Moreno, whose family has owned the shop in Rodeo for eight years. 

“I think it’s a really good thing for the youth because it keeps them out of trouble,” Moreno said.

When new anglers come to the shop, Moreno and her family will set them up with gear and give them tips about where to go and what bait to use.

“You don’t know what you’ll catch off anchovies,” Moreno said of the universal bait the shop recommends.

Rico Calloway, 28, has been fishing since he was 12. He learned by watching the regulars at Richmond’s piers and by reading books and watching YouTube videos about fishing. 

“You just type it in on YouTube and there’s probably a thousand videos on what you’re trying to look for,” Calloway said. 

Now Calloway wants to share what he knows through his own YouTube channel. Though he is new to content creation, he intends to tackle the challenge as he did with fishing. 

“I was never a streamer or YouTuber and nothing like that, so now I’m trying to battle this new field of technology,” Calloway said.

On a recent morning at Ferry Point Pier in Richmond, Calloway placed pieces of store-bought shrimp on a hook and cast the line toward the old ferry dock.

A fish bit his line and dragged the bait toward the bottom of the bay. Calloway can often tell which fish is on his line by the way they bite. 

“This one is a halibut,” he said, explaining that they will grab the bait and swim down to the foundation of the old dock where the fish can use the structure to break off the bait.

“That can be the irony of it. Sometimes the fish could be a little smarter than what you are,” Calloway said as he reeled in an empty hook.

After putting on more bait and recasting, Calloway waited until he finally had a bite. He wound up the fishing line, and soon he pulled up a small, shiny blue fish. It was the second walleye surfperch of the day.

Calloway will sometimes eat his catch, depending on the species, but on this day, he was just excited to show his kids what he caught when he got home, so they could name the fish together.

Some anglers, Calloway said, only do catch-and-release and are simply out there for their own enjoyment. One of those anglers is Zavala.

Some people think it’s boring to wait around to catch a fish, Zavala said. But that’s a part of the experience. For him, it brings peace.

When he’s not fishing, Zavala is traveling around the Bay Area painting houses. After all that driving and all that labor, fishing is a welcome respite, he said.

“It just gives me my own space to just relax.” 

Richmond stopped keeping track of its trees, but a grant-funded plan is in place to change that.

Elevating Access and Engagement Across US Sports Camps, SafeSplash Swim School, i9 Sports, and School of Rock

SAN RAFAEL, CA, UNITED STATES, December 11, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — Youth Enrichment Brands, the nation’s leading youth activities platform comprising US Sports Camps, SafeSplash Swim School, i9 Sports, and School of Rock, enters 2026 following a landmark year defined by record-breaking growth, industry-leading innovation, and expanded access to youth activities around the world.

In 2025, Youth Enrichment Brands achieved a 20% year-over-year spike in new franchise agreements, with SafeSplash Swim School, School of Rock, and i9 Sports all showing strong momentum. Their plan to open over 100 new franchise units represents the highest annual number in company history

“2025 was our strongest year of development on record, reflecting the dedication of our teams, franchise partners, and leadership in expanding access to high-quality youth experiences across sports, music, and water safety,” said Elliot Schiffer, Chief Development Officer of Youth Enrichment Brands. “As we enter 2026, we’re excited to build on this momentum, continue innovating, and empower even more young people to learn, play, and thrive.”

Leadership Changes Driving Innovation
Youth Enrichment Brands strengthened its foundation for innovation and long-term growth with key leadership transitions in 2025:

Rob Price, now CEO of Youth Enrichment Brands, is leading the company’s next phase of rapid growth, amplifying its societal impact and enriching the lives of families nationwide. Price previously served as CEO of School of Rock and President of Youth Enrichment Brands.

Brett Meyer, named VP of Brand Marketing for US Sports Camps, brings experience from Nike and leading startups to shape brand strategy, creative direction, and digital engagement for athletes and families nationwide.

Madison Gates, appointed VP of Marketing for i9 Sports, leverages over a decade of franchise marketing expertise and her experience as a Division I athlete and soccer coach to drive growth and brand expansion across the nation’s largest youth sports network.

“We are fortunate to have extraordinary leaders on our team who are driving the future of youth enrichment,” said Price. “By empowering our teams to innovate and push boundaries, we are making our programs more accessible to kids everywhere while creating experiences that build confidence and ignite a lifelong passion for learning, growth, and achievement.”

Milestone Achievements Across Youth Enrichment Brands
US Sports Camps (USSC), the licensed provider of Nike Sports Camps, celebrated a year of growth and major partnerships in 2025 while marking its 50th Anniversary, reflecting five decades of inspiring athletes through play. In honor of National Women and Girls in Sports Day, the company launched “Girls Are the Future of Sports” to empower young female athletes through stories and a shared passion for sports. USSC also expanded its offerings through new partnerships, including Players Way, the MLBPA’s youth development initiative, which introduced the Players Way Summer Series. WNBA legend Diana Taurasi presented the inaugural TAURASI Snow Valley Basketball Camp, and the USC Volleyball program partnered with USSC to provide elite volleyball experiences for athletes of all levels.

SafeSplash Swim School, the world’s largest operator and franchisor of swim schools, marks a year of innovation and leadership in water safety. The brand introduced the S.A.F.E.R. Swimmer Promise, a program supported by the National Drowning Prevention Alliance to equip children with essential self-rescue skills and water safety confidence. This groundbreaking initiative sets SafeSplash apart in the water safety industry, bringing a first-of-its-kind promise to parents and swimmers alike. To date, over 6,000 swimmers have completed the S.A.F.E.R. Swimmer Promise

The company recently completed a successful rebrand from its former corporate name, Streamline Brands, achieving a key milestone in unifying its identity and strengthening its position for continued growth and impact. Several previously acquired swim school brands, including AquaKids, The Swim Revolution, and Fish Tails, have now been brought under the SafeSplash name, reinforcing the reach and consistency of a single, unified brand nationwide.

i9 Sports experienced a banner year with significant growth in girls’ sports programming. The nation’s leading multi-sport provider franchisor saw more than a 40 percent increase in registrations year-to-date for flag football and over a 20 percent increase in girls signing up for volleyball programs. i9 Sports also celebrated a partnership with Cirkul as its new Official Hydration Partner and launched the rollout of its new Training Sessions, an innovative addition to its league offerings that gives young athletes enhanced opportunities for sport-specific skill development during the week. The brand also expanded its Nike Kids Camps offerings, providing families with high-quality and flexible programs that combine Nike’s renowned expertise with i9 Sports’ emphasis on sportsmanship, giving young athletes the chance to explore a variety of sports.

School of Rock strengthened its legacy of excellence with remarkable international growth and leadership in the music industry. The brand signed a master franchise agreement in Germany, set to bring at least 35 new School of Rock locations to communities across the country over the next 12 years, and recently opened its first UK location in Twickenham, increasing its international presence to 110 schools.

In 2025, the brand received multiple honors, including top 10 rankings in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 Best of the Best for Children’s and Education categories and recognition as a Top Franchise by the Franchise Business Review, among other notable accolades.

School of Rock also released the results of its Social Impact Study, an independently commissioned report highlighting how its programs positively influence students’ lives beyond music. Based on feedback from more than 1,400 parents of current students, the study underscores the role of music education in supporting kids’ emotional growth, creativity, confidence, and sense of belonging. Survey results, including 96.2% of parents reported noticeable progress in their child’s self confidence and 76.4% of parents said their children felt more encouraged to be themselves, more comfortable discussing feelings and problems, and more valued and supported since they started at School of Rock: performance-based music education can play a meaningful role in helping young people thrive on stage and in life.*

Youth Enrichment Brands enters 2026 poised to build on its record-breaking growth and innovative programs, empowering more children to gain confidence, develop skills, and discover lifelong passions across sports, music, and water safety.

For more information, visit youthenrichmentbrands.com.

*Statistics from survey commissioned by School of Rock and administered by a third-party consultancy from 4/26-5/7/2025. Distributed to parents of currently enrolled students under the age of 18, with 1,443 parents completing the survey out of a total population of 19,302 minor students. This corresponds to a margin of error of ±2.48% at a 95% confidence level. Survey data based on a sample population’s self-reported experience. Results intended for informational purposes only and do not constitute a guarantee of future outcomes.

###‍

About Youth Enrichment Brands
Youth Enrichment Brands is the nation’s leading youth activities platform. Youth Enrichment Brand’s mission is to help every kid discover and develop lifelong passions. It achieves this by connecting and serving a network of companies that deliver best-in-class youth camps, music education, swim classes, and sports leagues. Youth Enrichment Brands comprises US Sports Camps, the official provider of Nike Sports Camps, School of Rock, the leader in performance-based music education, SafeSplash Swim School, the world’s largest operator and franchisor of swim schools, and i9 Sports, the nation’s largest multi-provider of youth sports leagues. Youth Enrichment Brands is headquartered in San Rafael, California.

To learn more, visit youthenrichmentbrands.com.

Jacob Kingrey
Proof PR
yeb@proof-pr.com

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Upper Hand

Investment led by former Mindbody and Hubspot executives to accelerate innovation, growth, and customer value.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN, UNITED STATES, December 11, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — Upper Hand, the leading software provider for youth sports facilities and training centers, today announced its acquisition and growth investment from H3 Partners, an investment firm founded and led by seasoned SaaS executives Brad Wills and Brad Greene. The partnership will enable Upper Hand to expand its technology capabilities, accelerate product innovation, and amplify its impact within the rapidly growing youth sports industry.

As part of the investment, Wills will serve as Chief Executive Officer and Greene as Chief Operating Officer. Together, they bring decades of leadership experience scaling category defining technology companies that serve small businesses within the active lifestyle sector.

Wills held senior leadership roles at Mindbody and Active Network, where he led large-scale growth initiatives across global markets. Greene brings deep experience in commerce and payments from his leadership roles at Hubspot and Mindbody, where he helped launch and grow integrated payments solutions now used by thousands of small businesses worldwide.

“Upper Hand has built an incredible platform that is purpose-built for the youth sports community,” said Wills. “We intend to build on that foundation and accelerate innovation for our customers. We are focused on delivering technology that helps sports facilities, trainers & coaches, and camps & clinics simplify operations, grow their businesses, and create exceptional experiences for young athletes.”

Upper Hand’s platform streamlines scheduling, membership, payments, and facility management for sports facilities, academies, and trainers. With the support of H3 Partners, the company will continue to expand its offerings and enhance the tools that power the next generation of youth sports organizations.

“This acquisition marks a defining moment for Upper Hand,” said Kevin R. MacCauley, Founder of Upper Hand. “By uniting proven leadership with a powerful platform, we’re strengthening our ability to empower sports businesses and elevate the experience for young athletes.”

Under its new leadership, Upper Hand will continue investing in product development, customer success, and long-term growth initiatives that strengthen its position as the technology leader in youth sports management.

About Upper Hand
Upper Hand is the leading provider of full-suite youth sports facility software, enabling businesses & coaches to achieve more while doing less. From easy-to-use scheduling and registration for parents to robust member and resource management capabilities for businesses, Upper Hand’s integrated platform helps sports facilities, academies, and trainers operate efficiently, fuel growth, and provide exceptional client experiences. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Upper Hand serves a diverse range of clients across the sports industry. For more information, visit www.upperhand.com.

About H3 Partners
H3 Partners is a software-focused search fund backed by a consortium of family office investors. H3 seeks to leverage its industry and software operating experience to help transform software businesses into category leaders.

Michelle Akhtar
Upper Hand
+1 240-499-5546
email us here
Visit us on social media:
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Transgender West Virginia Teen Challenges Athletic Ban at Supreme Court

WASHINGTON – Attorneys representing a 15-year-old West Virginia transgender girl, Becky Pepper-Jackson, and her mother Heather Jackson today filed their response brief to the Supreme Court of the United States in their challenge to a 2021 West Virginia law barring Pepper-Jackson from participating on girl’s athletic teams. Becky and her mother are represented in West Virginia v. B.P.J by the American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of West Virginia, Lambda Legal, and Cooley LLP.
“I play for my school for the same reason other kids on my track team do–to make friends, have fun, and challenge myself through practice and teamwork,” said Becky Pepper-Jackson, 15, of West Virginia. “And all I’ve ever wanted was the same opportunities as my peers. Instead, I’ve had my rights and my life debated by politicians who’ve never even met me but want to stop me from playing sports with my friends. I know this case isn’t just about me, or even just about sports. It’s just one part of a plan to push transgender people like me out of public life entirely. I’m proud to stand up alongside my mom for what I believe and who I am and I want other transgender kids to know they aren’t alone.”
“I’ve always raised my children to stay true to themselves, no matter what anyone else tells them,” says Heather Jackson, mother of Becky Pepper-Jackson. “”I’m so proud of Becky and the young woman she’s becoming, one who is hardworking, kind, and a team player. My daughter and every transgender kid like her deserves the freedom to be themselves and a future where no one is discriminated against just because of who they are.”
“This case is fundamentally about the ability of transgender youth like Becky to participate in our schools and communities,” said Joshua Block, Senior Counsel for the ACLU’s LGBTQ & HIV Project. “School athletics are fundamentally educational programs, but West Virginia’s law completely excluded Becky from her school’s entire athletic program even when there is no connection to alleged concerns about fairness or safety. As the lower court recognized, forcing Becky to either give up sports or play on the boy’s team–in contradiction of who she is at school, at home, and across her life–is really no choice at all. We look forward to defending her rights, and the rights of every young person, to be included as a member of their school community, at the Supreme Court.”
“Becky simply wants to be with her teammates on the track and field team, to experience the camaraderie and many documented benefits of participating in team sports,” said Lambda Legal Counsel, Nonbinary & Trans Rights Project Director, Sasha Buchert. “It has been amply proven that participating in team sports equips youth with a myriad of skills – in leadership, teamwork, confidence, and health. On the other hand, denying a student the ability to participate is not only discriminatory, but harmful to a student’s self-esteem, sending a message that they are not good enough and deserve to be excluded. In the end, can we not just let the kids play?”
The Supreme Court has also agreed to hear Little v. Hecox, a challenge brought by a transgender student against Idaho’s 2020 ban on transgender athletes and requirements for sex testing. The American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Idaho, Legal Voice, and Cooley LLP represent the plaintiffs in this case.
The two cases charge the bans with violating the rights of transgender and cisgender female students under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. In addition, West Virginia v. B.P.J. argues that the bans violate Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in educational programs. Federal courts have blocked enforcement of these bans in both lawsuits.
Since 2020, 27 states have banned transgender youth from playing school sports. Many of these bans allow for invasive forms of sex testing that put all female student-athletes at risk and embolden intrusive challenges to student athletes’ sex.
In Florida, a 15-year-old junior varsity volleyball player was the subject of a police investigation after an anonymous accusation, prompting local officials to draft a 500-page report investigating her medical history, body weight, and anatomy. In Utah, a teenage basketball player was accused of being transgender by a member of the state board of education, leading to threats of violence against her and her family, and a teenager in Maine faced a similar attack from a state senator. In May, President Donald Trump similarly targeted a 16-year-old transgender girl for participating in a high school track meet. Under an Arizona ban, a cisgender male student was prohibited from participating on the boy’s team at his high school because of a clerical error that listed him as female on his original birth certificate.
Many women athletes have spoken out against bullying and discrimination against transgender student-athletes, including Billie Jean King, Megan Rapinoe, Dawn Staley, Sue Bird, and Brianna Turner, as well as leading organizations fighting for gender equality in athletics including the Women’s Sports Foundation, the Women’s National Basketball Player’s Association, and the National Women’s Law Center.
Today’s brief in West Virginia v. B.P.J. can be found here.
Today’s brief in Little v. Hecox can be found here.
These cases are part of the ACLU’s Joan and Irwin Jacobs Supreme Court Docket.

The Jim and Sue Schultz Foundation donated $5,870 to the East Bladen and West Bladen High School athletic departments Tuesday night. Pictured, from left, West Bladen principal Chris Orrock, Bladen County Schools Superintendent Jason Atkinson, assistant superintendent Ann Brown, Beth Schultz, West Bladen boys’ basketball coach Travis Pait, Joey Schultz, Jimmy Schultz, Kim Schultz, East Bladen principal Chris Carroll and East Bladen athletic director Patty Evers.
Kenneth Armstrong / kenarmphoto.com

ELIZABETHTOWN – Any time there was a youth sports event in Bladen County it was likely Jim and Sue Schultz were there.

Whether it was at East Bladen High School, West Bladen High School, Elizabethtown Dixie Youth Baseball games or Bladen County Recreation Department contests, the couple could be found supporting the teams and players.

The Elizabethtown couple died May 24, 2022 in a vehicle accident near Bristol, Virginia, two days after their 57th wedding anniversary. However, their support for Bladen County sports continues.

Tuesday, the Jim and Sue Schultz Foundation made separate contributions of $5,870 to the athletic departments of East Bladen High School and West Bladen High School and Elizabethtown Dixie Youth Baseball.

“My mom and dad loved sports,” said Jimmy Schultz, who, along with brothers Joey and John, created the foundation to honor their parents. “They loved to go to any sports event for us or any child. They gave a lot of time and they were very heavily involved in Dixie Youth and also high school sports.

“We just wanted to give back and do what they would see fit for us to do,” Jimmy Schultz said.

The foundation has raised more than $50,000 in three years that has been donated evenly between the schools and Elizabethtown DYB. The Schultz’s children and grandchildren played at both high schools and in youth leagues. Jim coached at various levels, including in the Elizabethtown DYB program.

Funds for the Jim and Sue Schultz Foundation are raised during the annual “Whack Smack It” Memorial Golf Tournament at Vineyard Golf at White Lake and a benefit dinner. The fourth annual Prime Rib dinner is set for Thursday, June 11 with the golf tournament to be played the next day.

Mark Gillespie played in the Elizabethtown DYB program in the late 1970s and early 1980s when Jim Schultz was coaching and Sue was leading the cheers. He later coached and now is the league president.

“The donation means a lot because I grew up with them,” Gillespie said. “From when I was 8 and 9 years old, I’ve been around them all my life. It was a lot of fun having them in the stands and Mr. Schultz coaching. Mrs. Schultz was just a bundle of joy in the stands.”

The donation “contributes a lot to us because with expenses going up, we can’t keep going up on registration, we can’t keep raising our sponsorships on our teams, so this money offsets all that,” Gillespie said.

Likewise, for the high schools, the donation helps growing expenses in athletic departments.

“It means a great deal to our athletic department,” West Bladen principal Chris Orrock said. “It goes to benefit our students and directly impacts the services that we can provide from the school to provide them support on an everyday foundation for our athletics.

“It is certainly helpful in getting the things that our players need to be successful on and off the court (or field) and to provide that support so they are successful. We are very grateful for the contribution from the Schultz Family Foundation,” Orrock said.

East Bladen athletic director Patty Evers also was appreciative of the Schultz Foundation donation.

“With all the prices going up, it helps us keep our head above water,” Evers said. “And the Schultz’s meant so much to us. You just see them everywhere, every school, all the games, all the time. They were just special people and it’s very gracious that the family continues to support the schools and the student athletes.”

Jacobs Entertainment is changing its plans for the Bonanza Inn, opting to demolish the West Fourth Street property instead of renovating it due to higher than expected costs.

The demolition will allow for the development of a new and larger project at the site, according to the Reno Neon Line developer and J Resort owner. Jacobs Entertainment confirmed the demolition plans for the troubled property with the Reno Gazette Journal on Thursday.