The crack of the bat and the cheers of young athletes once again fill the air on Lakeland Drive as the North Jackson Youth Baseball and Softball Organization celebrates its 41st season. With more than 850 players taking the field this year, the league is experiencing a renewed sense of energy, fueled by community investment and a commitment to revitalizing the park after years of neglect.

Unlike many municipal leagues, North Jackson Youth Baseball and Softball operates without any financial assistance from the City of Jackson. Instead, it thrives purely on registration fees, sponsorships, and generous donations from the community. This year, local businesses and sponsors have stepped up in a big way, contributing to much-needed upgrades that have transformed the playing fields and facilities.

“These fields have been home to generations of young athletes, and thanks to the dedication of our community, they’re finally getting the care and attention they deserve,” said league president Percy Quinn. “This is about more than baseball and softball—it’s about preserving a place where families can gather, and kids can learn valuable life lessons through sports.”

The investments have already made a visible impact. Batting cages have been refurbished, playing surfaces improved, and fresh coats of paint now brighten the once-worn facilities. While these enhancements mark a significant step forward, league officials emphasize that they are just the beginning of a broader effort to revitalize the area. The improvements at the ballpark align with the larger Lefleur Bluff revitalization project, which aims to breathe new life into one of Jackson’s key recreational areas.

The season officially kicked off with the inaugural Movie in the Park Night on March 21, where the childhood favorite, The Sandlot was shown to an enthusiastic crowd of over 500 attendees. The event featured food trucks, a variety of vendors, and a special recognition of the previous year’s All-Star State Championship team. Families and players gathered under the stars for a memorable night of entertainment and celebration, setting the tone for an exciting season ahead.

While baseball has been played on Lakeland Drive in some form or fashion for over 75 years, North Jackson Youth Baseball and Softball continues to emphasize the importance of recreational baseball and softball in teaching fundamental skills and fostering a love for the game at an early age.

In an era when travel sports have significantly altered the youth sports landscape, the league remains committed to providing young athletes with a strong foundation before they advance to higher levels of play. By focusing on skill development, sportsmanship, and teamwork, North Jackson Youth Baseball and Softball ensures that all players, regardless of their level of experience, have the opportunity to grow and succeed in the sport.

In addition to the normal recreational league, North Jackson Youth Baseball and Softball expanded its offerings in 2024 by introducing a competitive division with the formation of the Jackson Jax. The Jax assembled 10 teams across five divisions and are already seeing success in tournaments across the state of Mississippi. This new initiative provides players with additional opportunities to develop their skills and compete at a higher level while representing North Jackson Youth Baseball and Softball on a broader stage.

The addition of the Jackson Jax bridges the gap between recreational play and elite competition, giving young athletes a chance to push themselves while still being part of the North Jackson community. North Jackson Youth Baseball and Softball is excited to add Jackson Jax Softball in the summer of 2025.

For parents and players alike, the enhancements are a welcome change.

“The fields look better than they have in a long time thanks to the hard work and countless hours of commitment from our treasurer, Nason Williams, and you can really feel the excitement from everyone involved.” said league vice president Hank Waterer.

As opening day festivities commence, the league continues to encourage community involvement to sustain the progress made. Organizers hope that with continued investment and engagement, North Jackson Youth Baseball and Softball can thrive for another 41 years and beyond. Plans for future improvements include additional field upgrades, parking lot improvements, and enhanced facilities for players and spectators alike.

“This is just the start,” added Waterer. “We’re not just restoring a ballpark; we’re building a legacy for future generations.”

With renewed enthusiasm, improved facilities, and a record number of young athletes ready to play, the future of baseball and softball in North Jackson has never looked brighter.

Those looking to help invest in the future of North Jackson Baseball and Softball are encouraged to reach out to manager@njybb.com or any of the members of the board.

Chris Champion is a Northsider and member of the North Jackson Youth Baseball and Softball Board of Directors.

TAMPA — In a few weeks, once the procession of collegiate and high school graduations staged within its walls conclude, the Yuengling Center will segue from commencements to chaos.

Pomp and circumstance will be supplanted by picks and rolls. High-schoolers and high-tops and high screens will converge, as will passing drills and the peal of coaches’ whistles. The joint will brim with tykes and teenagers, hubbub and bustle, maybe even a dash of bedlam.

And Bryan Hodgson will be snugly embedded in his element, the one that hearkens to the days of his wholly unconventional youth in rural western New York. Nothing that transpires at this four-day camp in late June will faze USF’s new men’s basketball coach. Unruly middle-schooler on Court 1? Please. Brooding 15-year-old in the corner? Hodgson’s got this. That 7-year-old wisp who’s wired for sound? No sweat.

Bryan had learned to pretty much cope with every variation of adolescent — the timid, the talkative, the introverted, the conniving — before getting his learner’s permit. His melting pot? A Victorian-style home in Bolivar, New York, built in the late 19th century, with six bedrooms, 1 ½ baths and the constant clamor of humanity.

Larry and Rebecca Hodgson didn’t stop with their four biological children. They adopted three others while housing foster and foreign-exchange kids, too. Over the years, they even brought in “Fresh Air” kids, working with a New York nonprofit that allows at-risk youngsters to spend a few weeks with families in the country.

“I think the record for the number of people living there at once was 17,” said Bryan’s older brother, Garrett.

Hence the reason no recruit’s living room will seem too cluttered, too cramped or too culturally ambiguous to the 12th men’s basketball coach in Bulls history, a foster child ultimately adopted by a couple with a boundless capacity for caring.

“Think about it. I was around kids from Brazil, Spain, Portugal, New York City, extremely impoverished rural communities — any community you can imagine,” said Bryan, 38. “We all lived at home together. So you learn every walk of life. By the time I was in middle school, there wasn’t anybody you could put me in a room with where I was going to be uncomfortable.”

Neglected, then nurtured

It’s hardly coincidental that Bryan’s stints as an assistant at Buffalo and the University of Alabama — both under Nate Oats — coincided with the national ascension of those programs.

During his and Oats’ Buffalo tenure (2015-19), the Bulls won two Mid-American Conference tournament titles and reached three NCAA tournaments. While at Alabama (2019-23), the Crimson Tide won two SEC regular-season titles and made two Sweet 16 appearances.

He was pivotal in helping Alabama land top-15 recruiting classes each of his four years. In both of his seasons as coach at Arkansas State (2023-25), the Red Wolves had the Sun Belt Conference’s top recruiting class, according to 247Sports.

He also led Arkansas State to consecutive 20-win seasons, despite inheriting a team that had gone 13-20 the year prior to his arrival.

“I think the main message, the thing that kind of keeps coming through, is that he has the kind of highly uncanny ability to meet people wherever they are, really kind of find the connection to relate to them,” Bulls athletic director Michael Kelly said.

“Obviously his unique background allows that he’s experienced so much in his young life as well. I think he has a great way of finding a connection, and then being able to find that way to relate. And I think it makes everyone feel comfortable and want to be a part of his vision.”

But long before evolving into a recruiter or visionary, Bryan first had to be a survivor.

He was born in poverty in western New York to a 14-year-old mother who named him Brandon David Kreamer. They existed in a mobile home with an old-style black stove fueled by firewood. Even at 18 months, Brandon was permitted to accompany his mother to a nearby school where she was attempting to obtain her GED, but one day he was left at home in the care of “the man that we thought was my father.”

When Brandon soiled his diaper, the man placed him atop the stove as punishment, causing third-degree burns on the back of his legs. More than 36 years later, scars the size of 50-cent pieces remain on the back of his thighs.

“To this day, I can feel them,” he said. “They’re there.”

His maternal grandmother took him to the emergency room, which in turn called child protective services. Little Brandon was placed in the care of the Hodgsons, arguably the area’s most well-known foster couple, who already had four biological kids, an adopted child and two foster children beneath their roof.

“Everyone that came to their home, it wasn’t just a foster child, it was their child,” Bryan said from his new second-floor office inside the Muma Basketball Center.

“You can talk to the people where I’m from about my parents, they would almost tell you that social services and the foster-care system — not in a negative way — took advantage of my parents. They just knew my mom and dad wouldn’t say no. If there was a child in need, they wouldn’t say no. And a big part of that was, my mom grew up in an orphanage.”

Rebecca, who still works as a school nurse, was 12 when her mother answered a knock on the door in the middle of the night, thinking it was her nephew coming home from Vietnam for a visit. She opened it to find two apparently drunken strangers who abducted her.

“And as they were leaving, I’m going to say it was a good 6 or 7 miles down the highway, they were involved in an accident with a tractor-trailer, and she was killed,” Rebecca recalled.

Because her father already was physically debilitated due to an accident at work, Rebecca and her four siblings were sent to live in a children’s home. That ordeal spawned an empathy for children in need that, combined with a profound Christian faith, prompted Larry (a drafting and design engineer) and Rebecca to bring 114 foster children into their home over the years.

“My motivation was, yes, I want to introduce many children — who don’t know what a Bible is — to the Lord and (bring) faith into their lives,” said Rebecca, whose older sister also took in foster kids. “And that was part of my reasoning for wanting to be a foster parent. But that’s wholly my husband’s reasoning. He was an ordained Baptist minister and that was his cause. He wanted to show Christ to children.”

Generally, foster care can be a complicated process. Ideally, the goal is to provide safe, nurturing environments to children until a court determines they can be safely returned to their birth parents, or be connected with adoptive ones. Periodically, overcrowding issues can require some foster children to be placed in multiple homes.

When little Brandon — with the wavy auburn hair, bright blue eyes and perpetual smile — crossed the Hodgsons’ threshhold, he’d never leave.

“He was Mr. Bright Eyes,” Rebecca said. “And he was just a character from the day he arrived in our home, and he’s still a character. And he’s always been a kindhearted person, always.”

Because his situation was so dire, he became eligible for adoption while living with Larry and Rebecca, becoming one of their three adopted kids and being renamed Bryan Andrew Hodgson.

“They didn’t want me to leave their home; I was their son,” Bryan said. “And I think that’s what’s so special about them, they treated everyone that way.”

His new digs featured bedrooms with bunk beds, an elongated dinner table with benches on both sides and traditional seats at the ends for mom and dad. Smaller children sat at an old-style Playskool table in an adjacent room. Kids had to jostle for time in the 1 ½ bathrooms.

In lieu of restaurants, the family made monthly excursions to the nearest Sam’s Club — roughly 100 miles away — to load up on groceries.

“And my mom would cook like she was cooking for a cafeteria,” recalled Garrett, the oldest biological child. “Everything in huge portions, big, catering-size pots and pans. Lots of what she calls the papa-bulk style meals; stews and casseroles and things like that. We never went hungry though.”

The environment forged by Larry and Rebecca was lifted straight off Norman Rockwell’s easel: church every Sunday, Boy Scouts, Little League, cheerleading. Practically everyone in the family sang in a church choir and learned to play an instrument. Bryan, who played the trombone and piano, recalls singing with two girls in a church trio.

School, meantime, became his respite. So did the basketball hoop behind the house.

“I loved school,” he said. “I go to school and I’m away from all the craziness at home. … That’s what ultimately led me to (coaching), the basketball court behind our house and school.”

Bryan finally got his first bedroom to himself as a middle-schooler, when the family moved to Jamestown, New York, and his parents’ foster-care duties tapered off. By then, he had long since become enamored with college hoops through Garrett, who attended nearby St. Bonaventure and took his younger brother to Bonnies games at the 5,480-seat Reilly Center.

“To me, it was Madison Square Garden,” Bryan said.

Fast forward roughly two decades, and Bryan was coaching at that arena, and staring directly at his forlorn past.

Coaching Love

After toiling nearly a decade as an assistant at the Division III and junior-college levels, Bryan was hired as an assistant at Buffalo when Oats was promoted to head coach in 2015. In early December of that year, the Bulls played at St. Bonaventure, fulfilling a dream for Bryan that became tinged with dread.

Across the floor, sitting courtside, was his biological father. The one he initially thought was his father, the one who burned him as an infant, had long since been killed in a domestic altercation.

Bryan had learned his real father’s identity at 18 and had tried to connect with him, only to be spurned multiple times. Days before this game, out of the blue, the father had reached out on Facebook, urging Bryan to look for him during the game. Bryan spotted him, but never spoke to him.

“He’s not my dad,” he said.

Yes, the semantics matter. Everyone has a biological mother and father; not everyone has a mom and dad.

“To me, (Larry and Rebecca) are the greatest people walking this earth,” Bryan said. “I would probably go as far as saying they saved my life.”

To honor them, and to assist children with similar backstories, Hodgson founded Coaching Love, a nonprofit designed to raise awareness — through basketball and other sports — for foster kids and at-risk youth.

“We try to give back,” he said.

In the process, he’s perpetuating the mantra created by his immediate predecessor. In his lone season as Bulls coach, Amir Abdur-Rahim orchestrated a program transformation on the philosophy that “Love Wins.”

In Bryan Andrew Hodgson’s case, it also rescues.

“I’m fortunate, and everybody’s not as fortunate as me,” Hodgson said. “A lot of kids often age out of foster care, and then they’re just thrown to the wolves. They don’t have mom, dad, an aunt or an uncle they can call after that for advice on college. And there are some programs that help bridge that gap, but they’re few and far between.”

“My thing is, if the story gets one family to be like, ‘You know what, let’s look into (adoption),’ That’s a win.”

Contact Joey Knight at jknight@tampabay.com. Follow @TBTimes_Bulls.

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ST. PAUL, Minn. – Katie Kollar has announced that she will not return as the head women’s basketball coach at Macalester College. Kollar spent six seasons as the Scots’ head coach, guiding the team to its best season in 13 years this past winter.

“I’m incredibly grateful to Coach Katie Kollar for her outstanding leadership of our women’s basketball program” Macalester Director of Athletics Donnie Brooks said. “Under her guidance, Macalester emerged as a formidable opponent and fierce competitor in the MIAC. Katie brought stability that allowed us to grow our roster and establish a strong, resilient team culture. Her sharp eye for talent and relentless recruiting efforts have laid a foundation we’re proud of and one that positions us for continued success.”

Kollar steadily built the program into a competitive team in the MIAC. In her third year at Macalester in 2021-22, Kollar led the Scots to their most conference wins since the 2011-12 season. That improvement coincided with the recruitment and arrival of Peyton Starks ’25 and Katherine Norquist ’25, who both would earn All-MIAC accolades in their careers. Starks ended up leading the conference in scoring three straight years, the first MIAC women’s basketball player to accomplish the feat on record, and became the first Scot to be chosen the MIAC Offensive Player of the Year in 2024-25. Macalester went 12-13 overall this past year, compiling the most victories in a season since the 2011-12 team also finished 12-13.

Kollar also contributed to Macalester Athletics as chair of the department’s diversity, equity and inclusion committee. She also was selected to coach at the 2023 NCAA College Basketball Academy.

“I’d like to thank Macalester College, the Athletics Department, and the entire Mac community for the opportunity you all gave me over the last six years,” Kollar said. “I’m incredibly grateful to have worked and served alongside you all and I am proud of everything we have accomplished as a program. It is bittersweet to be leaving, but I know the women’s basketball program is in a great place and I am truly excited to see its continued growth and success. Team 47 and beyond – love y’all and stay relentless!”

A native of Johnstown, N.Y., Kollar graduated from Nazareth College in 2012 with a degree in business administration. She earned her Master of Education degree in athletic administration from Springfield College in 2015. Kollar began her coaching career at Averett University before serving as an assistant at Springfield for two seasons. She then spent four seasons as the head coach at SUNY-Cobleskill before coming to Macalester in 2019.

A national search for Macalester’s next women’s basketball will begin immediately.

Election Day is approaching, and the Gaston School District has two open seats on the school board.

The 2025 special district election is set for May 20. All candidates have filed their paperwork, and ballots were mailed to voters April 30.

In Gaston, two school board seats are up for election — and both are contested. A total of five candidates are in the running this year, with one bringing previous experience in helping lead the local district.

Gary Sarbacher, Position 2

Newcomer Gary Sarbacher is one of two candidates competing to take on the vacated Position 2 seat on the Gaston school board.

An application engineer at Synopsys Inc., Sarbacher previously worked for Intel as a mask designer and physical design engineer. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering from DeVry University.

Sarbacher coaches multiple teams for Gaston Youth Sports while also running two after-school music programs.

“If elected, I’ll be accountable to the public by working closely with the board, teachers and parents to creatively solve complex issues,” Sarbacher said in the Washington County voters’ pamphlet. “I’ll drive effective spending of our tax dollars to support the longevity and quality of our campus, materials and employees.”

Sarbacher faces fellow newcomer Erica Stark for Position 2. The winner will serve a four-year term.

Erica Stark, Position 2

Erica Stark is making a bid to take on Position 2 for the Gaston school board.

Stark, who works as a part-time driver for Mid-Columbia Bus Company and as a winemaking consultant, has previous experience in various roles in the wine industry and market management. She attended Chemeketa Community College and studied viticulture and enology through an online program at UC Davis.

The candidate also has experience coaching softball and baseball for Gaston Youth Sports.

“My hopes are to bring some reality into the equality-focused school environment, putting strength back into the community and moving away from the data-driven confusion,” Stark said in a social media post. “I believe we need to use our assets as a small community and small school to prepare our children for the big bad world.”

Stark faces fellow newcomer Gary Sarbacher for Position 2. The winner will serve a four-year term.

Faye L. Claire, Position 3

Newcomer Faye L. Claire is in the running to take on the Position 3 seat on the Gaston school board.

Claire, who works as a technical program manager at Intel, has experience as a teaching assistant and tutor. She holds an associate degree in natural sciences from San Joaquin Delta College, as well as a bachelor’s in chemistry and a doctorate in inorganic physical chemistry from UC Davis.

“I am committed to working as a team to address areas of concern made visible from parents and teachers, making post-pandemic adjustments to help students and educators reach their goals,” Claire said in the Washington County voters’ pamphlet. “By prioritizing high-quality instruction and collaboration, we can strengthen our school and prepare students for success.”

Claire faces fellow newcomer Kathe Welch and incumbent TJ Johnson for Position 3 on the school board. The winner will serve a four-year term.

TJ Johnson, Position 3

Incumbent TJ Johnson aims to once again serve the Gaston School District on board Position 3.

Johnson, an architect, has an occupational background in advanced research and development as well as in the high-tech education and nonprofit sectors. He holds a bachelor’s degree in information technology from the University of Phoenix.

The incumbent has experience in contract negotiations and curriculum adoption with Position 3, and he previously served in Position 5, working on the policy subcommittee and educational program review. He also has experience on the Oregon School Boards Association Legislative Policy Committee.

“With roots in Gaston from generations before and after me in this district and community, as well as dear friends like family, I want to serve the district which prepared me for life in many ways,” Johnson said in the Washington County voters’ pamphlet. “Parents and community members have brought a number of concerns to my attention, and I would be honored to ensure such concerns have a voice in the larger board body.”

Johnson is challenged by newcomers Faye L. Claire and Kathe Welch for Position 3. The winner will serve a four-year term.

Kathe Welch, Position 3

Kathe Welch has her sights set on Position 3 on the Gaston school board.

A retired educator who taught middle school and high school art, Welch has an associate degree in communication from the Art Institute of Seattle and a bachelor’s degree in studio art from California State University, Stanislaus.

“I am a retired middle and high school art teacher and spent my career advocating for students. I think time spent in the classroom provides a good background for a school board member,” Welch said in the Washington County voters’ pamphlet. “It taught me that public education is essential and must be equally accessible to all students and that their learning environment must be safe and conducive to student growth.”

Welch is up against fellow newcomer Faye L. Claire and incumbent TJ Johnson for Position 3. The winner will serve a four-year term.

By Jeff Helfrich, Managing Editor

ROCHELLE — On Thursday, the Rochelle Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Dinner at the the City of Rochelle and Rochelle Municipal Utilities’ southside campus. 

The event saw remarks by Chamber Executive Director Tricia Herrera and Rochelle Mayor John Bearrows. 11 awards were presented to local businesses and organizations. 

“I am proud of the community I grew up in and now serve,” Herrera said. “Rochelle is an amazing community and the residents are a shining example of hardworking, midwestern values. Cheers to another great year at the Rochelle Chamber.”

A surprise award kicked off the night, with Ralfie’s BBQ and Catering and The 302 receiving the Community Impact Award. The businesses are owned by Ralf and Tricia Herrera.

“What makes them so special is the many ways they give back,” Chamber Board President Kari Andrist said. “They’re always willing to step up and support the youth of this community by sponsoring a team, being part of a fundraiser, or donating a dinner before a big game.”

The Retailer of the Year Award was presented to Rochelle Ace Hardware.

“They set themselves apart from the big box stores by providing excellent customer service,” Chamber Board Vice President Haley Brill said. “You’re always welcomed by a friendly smile. They support youth sports in town by carrying a full line of Hubs apparel and participate in Chamber programs.”

Chamber Board Member Matt Gerard presented the Family Business of the Year Award to Audyn Boutique, which is located downtown and run by the Hulthen family.

“Their beautiful clothing selection lines the window of their downtown storefront,” Gerard said. “They use their beautiful photography and expertise in social media to promote their sophisticated styles. They’ve made themselves a part of the community, while not being afraid to reach out to other communities to bring shoppers to Rochelle and their storefront.”

Chamber Board Member Ben Dougherty presented the Entrepreneur of the Year Award to Erin Bacon of Destiny Studios.

“She uses her creative thinking to uplift others, spark collaboration and create a lasting impact, beyond just the bottom line,” Dougherty said. “She’s behind the scenes at countless community events donating her time, heart and talents to make them shine.”

City Council Member Rosaelia Arteaga presented the Restaurant of the Year Award to Los 3 Molcajetes.

“This family is very giving and humble,” Arteaga said. “They’re always willing to help with something, even if it’s last minute. They always contribute and they’re always willing to participate in anything. This is the true meaning of the American dream to come here as a dishwasher and become a restaurant owner.

Chamber Board Member Kris Wexell presented Roiel Scoop Ice Cream with the Small Business of the Year Award.

“They’ve taken a quaint little downtown space and made it a place for families in our community and visitors,” Wexell said. “They support Rochelle Township High School athletic programs and rescue animals where possible and have made themselves a part of our community.”

Chamber Board Treasurer Brandon Svela presented the Welcome to Rochelle Award to  Rochelle Book Hub, the city’s newest bookstore located inside Cypress House.

“Her love for reading was a catalyst to starting her own business,” Svela said. “She has retail sales and has started book clubs, reaching out to those that share her passion for literature. She covers all genres of books and reaches out to the youth of the community to engage with them.”

Chamber Board Member Ashley Bick presented the Community Partner of the Year award to the Rochelle Area Community Foundation, which recently marked 20 years and $1.3 million in philanthropic work in the community.

“The community has embraced RACF’s philanthropic mission and employers and families make contributions and honor loved ones,” Bick said. “They’re a group that’s fueled by giving back to the local community that results in a wide impact and support staying local.”

Andrist presented O’Rorke Construction with the Legacy Award, as its owners recently retired at marked the end of the business’s long and storied run in the community.

“We’re fortunate to celebrate a business that has maintained a high standing over the years,” Andrist said. “What started in 1987 as a family business stayed true to its principles of hard work, dedication, attention to detail, and craftsmanship.”

City of Rochelle GIS Coordinator Casey Heuer was presented with the Chamber Delegate of the Year Award by Christa McGrath.

“We like to say that chamber delegates serve as the face of the chamber, but sometimes, we serve as the heart of it too,” McGrath said. “Casey is no exception to that. I am continually impressed with her dedication and willingness to always help with whatever is needed.”

Herrera presented her Director’s Award to the City of Rochelle Street Department. 

“They work tirelessly behind the scenes of our community without proper thanks or praise,” Herrera said. “They work in extreme temperatures and are assigned crazy tasks as part of their daily routine. We’re proud to recognize them for the work they put in for our residents.”

Bearrows made closing remarks at the end of the event and thanked Rochelle’s business community for its work over the past year.

“The Rochelle Chamber of Commerce serves as a cornerstone for local businesses,” Bearrows said. “It fosters economic growth and strengthens our community spirit. It has unwavering support for entrepreneurs large and small. When our businesses prosper, the entire community reaps the rewards.”

Lucie Devier, a French-born tennis professional and former Division 1 standout at the University of Mississippi, is launching an ambitious youth tennis program called Rising Rackets aimed at cultivating professional-level athletes.

Leveraging her experience as a D1 athlete and her leadership of youth programs at the Goose Creek Tennis Club, Devier, alongside the General Manager and Director of Raquet Sports Alexa Bortles, is poised to transform the local tennis landscape and nurture the next generation of Mississippi tennis talent.

“I strive to make tennis fun for young children while equipping them with fundamental

skills,” Devier said. “I believe we have an unprecedented opportunity to invest in young Mississippi players.”

Born in Étréchy, France, she was a member of the Ole Miss tennis team and graduated in May of 2024. She has since been working as a tennis pro at the Goose Creek Tennis Club. She is experienced in teaching all ages and levels and holds an 18U French coaching certification. She is a French National Champion in doubles and reached the quarterfinals in the national singles tournament.

Earlier this year, Devier launched the Rising Rackets program. It’s available for youth ages 3 to 12 and inspired by European developmental principles. This progression system incorporates the individualism of tennis in a fun environment where players have the chance to level up and celebrate their achievements at a graduation ceremony every 6-12 weeks.

The larger vision for Goose Creek Tennis is for the Rising Rackets program to feed into an elite-level Junior Tennis Academy currently led by Alexa Bortles who wants to make Mississippi a nationally recognized contender.

This will include a multifaceted player development and training program that will cover sports psychology, nutrition, fitness, visual film study, and preventative and restorative body care.

Registration for the summer program is now open. You do not have to be a member to participate.

Find out more by visiting https://www.goosecreekclub.com/risingrackets or call 662-380-5505.