Rec Sports

Windermere-based NXT GEN flag football team qualifies for Junior Olympics in Houston

At its core, sports always should be a meritocracy. Those who dedicate the time, put in the work and reach the pinnacle of their respective craft should be the ones who earn the opportunities to compete at the highest levels. This baseline truth — that if you work hard and develop your talents, you will […]

Published

3 weeks ago

May 21, 2025

Your Sports Nation

This baseline truth — that if you work hard and develop your talents, you will earn the opportunity to be successful — is one of the biggest lessons that can be learned by youth athletes and one of the biggest motivations for parents to place children in youth sports.

It also is one of the reasons why the parents and coaches of NXT GEN, a youth travel flag football team based in Windermere, are rallying together to help fundraise and send this team of fifth- and sixth-graders to Houston this July after they qualified to play in the first flag football competition at the 2025 AAU Junior Olympics.

“For us as parents and coaches, this opportunity is really special to see,” NXT GEN parent and assistant coach Michael Woodall said. “These kids have worked so hard for about half their life at this point to grow as athletes and to have the chance to play in the Junior Olympics — which is something we didn’t even know was ever going to be an opportunity until a couple of years ago — and go there and win a medal, it’s pretty special. I don’t know if they’re really going to be able to appreciate it until they get there, but once they do get there, I think they’ll understand it.”

This collection of 10 and 11 year olds, who have been playing competitive sports together since they were 5, are no strangers to winning. In fact, beyond qualifying for the first flag football Junior Olympic competition, NXT GEN actually claimed the AFFL Youth World Championship and the 2024 Under Armor National Championship.

Led by the Woodalls — Michael and his wife, Kelli — it’s easy to see why the parents and coaches of NXT GEN quickly got to work on brainstorming different ideas to raise the money needed to help fund the expenses of sending the team to Texas for the competition. With the help and generosity of various donors from local businesses, the group gathered enough items to raffle off a YETI cooler full of more than $2,500 worth of goodies — such as gift cards, YETI products, a round of golf for four and much more.

RAISING THEM RIGHT
It makes complete sense for parents to rally together and do their part to help give their children a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. But when it comes to this group of young athletes and the amount of time dedicated to developing their skills, chemistry and the discipline they have in their approach during each competition they’ve participated in, the amount of effort put in by the NXT GEN community becomes even more reasonable.

The idea of reinforcing these types of characteristics in this group of fifth- and sixth-graders by rewarding their hard work and achievement with this opportunity is a no-brainer for any parent. That no-brainer takes an even bigger step forward when the players start talking about the opportunity to play in this historic event.

“I feel so blessed that we have this opportunity to play in the Junior Olympics,” NXT GEN player Tyler DeBakey said. “It’s even cooler since it’s the first time Junior Olympics is hosting a flag football tournament. We’re just blessed.”

That type of humble and grateful mindset is prevalent in this collection of athletes, and it is at the heart of everything the NXT GEN coaches want to teach these athletes.

“At the end of the day, when they leave here and go on to middle and high school athletics, and life in general, they’re going with understanding of the concept of discipline, the understanding of what it takes to be a good teammate, to be coachable,” Michael Woodall said. “These are good group of kids, and they’ve allowed us as coaches and parents to lay the groundwork for the future. As they get older and grow up, it’ll be up to them to take that as far they want to take it.”

Because these core tenants are so woven into the fabric that makes up the NXT GEN community, it often is what makes the team stand out among its competitors.

“The biggest compliment I ever get about our team is how disciplined they are and how humble they are,” NXT GEN parent and coach Thomas Ochoa said. “They really respect their opponents, and in this era — where everybody is focused on being flashy and they’re dancing and throwing stuff in the opponent’s faces — this group is the most humble and disciplined bunch you’ll see out there.”

GOING FOR GOLD
Developing this humble and disciplined culture isn’t just making mom and dad happy, it’s also one of the main reasons why NXT GEN has been so successful on the flag football field.

“When we show up at a lot of these tournaments, we’re never the biggest team,” Michael Woodall said. “Still, despite certainly not the betting favorite going in, more times than not, we leave those tournaments with the trophy. From my perspective that comes from the effort these kids put forth on the field, in practice and just their dedication to making sure they understand the things we’ve been working on for so long.”

This culture of humility and discipline — along with monumental-sized support from the NXT GEN parents and the winning that naturally comes with it — has allowed this group of players to do something that isn’t very common in any level of sports now-a-days: Develop chemistry. And not the microwaved version of chemistry, no, this is that spend half-of-your-life-as-teammates type chemistry. The type of chemistry that might just carry a team to a gold medal at AAU Junior Olympics.

“Our team has the potential to win it all,” NXT GEN quarterback Jax Ochoa said. “Because we’ve been together for such a long time, we have so much chemistry with each other that it helps us play better.”

That type of confidence isn’t just coming from the quarterback, because of the level of chemistry this group has developed and the amount of work they’ve put in, this level of confidence is exuding from the entire team.

“I know this team works really hard,” NXT GEN receiver Wade Woodall said. “We’ve been around (one another) for a really long time — some of us for like half our lives — and I just think that’s going to help us. I think we’ll be one of the best teams out there.”

The confidence doesn’t stop with the players. The coaches know this group of athletes have what it takes to make some noise this summer in Houston.

“They’ve always performed well under pressure, so I don’t think the stage will be too big for them,” Michael Woodall said. “Hopefully, they can put it all together and bring home the gold.”

If NXT GEN does end up bringing home that inaugural gold medal, it’ll be a special moment for the trail-blazing team.

“Considering the fact that this is the inaugural flag football event at the Junior Olympics, it makes it that much more special for this group,” Thomas Ochoa said. “We’ve won the inaugural world championships before, so to be the first to do it again and to lead the way at this level, it’s really special as well.”

NXT GEN receiver Wade Woodall cut across the field during a practice.

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Rec Sports

‘Sanford Sports Night’ Ft. Kalen DeBoer in Sioux Falls July 10

Last month, Sanford Sports announced that while the free youth sports camps would remain, the Legends for Kids Banquet would be coming to a close after 25 amazing years. On Monday, Sanford Sports announced ‘Sanford Sports Night,’ a new event that will be taking place in early July. The event will pay tribute to the […]

Published

19 minutes ago

June 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Last month, Sanford Sports announced that while the free youth sports camps would remain, the Legends for Kids Banquet would be coming to a close after 25 amazing years.

On Monday, Sanford Sports announced ‘Sanford Sports Night,’ a new event that will be taking place in early July.

The event will pay tribute to the great 25 years of the Legends for Kids Banquet and also bring one of South Dakota’s favorite sons home for a special night here in Sioux Falls at the Sanford Pentagon.

Per Sanford Sports:

South Dakota native and University of Alabama football head coach Kalen DeBoer returns to the Rushmore State for Sanford Sports Night with Kalen DeBoer on Thursday, July 10 at the Sanford Pentagon in Sioux Falls. The event will take place from 6:30-8:00 p.m. with doors opening at 5:30 p.m.

Coach DeBoer’s former teammate at the University of Sioux Falls, Kurtiss Riggs, will moderate a discussion with Kalen discussing the insights, challenges and future of youth sports. The evening will conclude with a special message from Coach DeBoer as well as a tribute to the Legends for Kids program, which is retiring after 25 amazing years.

DeBoer was named head coach at the University of Alabama in January 2024 after the retirement of the legendary Nick Saban. DeBoer led the Crimson Tide to three top 25 victories and a 9-4 record in his first season at the helm, tying the record for most wins by a first-year coach in Alabama history. DeBoer has an unprecedented 113-16 overall record as a head coach, which includes stops at Fresno State and Washington, where he led the Huskies to the 2023 College Football Playoff national championship game.

Born and raised in Milbank, South Dakota, DeBoer’s football journey began at the University of Sioux Falls, where he set school records for receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. He returned to his alma mater as offensive coordinator in 2000 before his promotion to head coach in 2005. In his five years at the helm of USF, DeBoer had a record of 67-3 and led the Cougars to three NAIA national championships in 2006, 2008, and 2009.

READ MORE: Sioux Falls Cougar Athletics Unveils New Rebranded Logo

“It’s always great when I get the chance to come back to South Dakota, especially for such a special event like this one,” DeBoer said. “Sanford Health is a staple of this community and it’s an honor to partner with an organization that has impacted this region so much. Returning home always reminds me of all the great people and places that made me who I am and helped me to get where I am today. My roots are in Sioux Falls, and coming back here as the head coach at the University of Alabama is truly a full-circle moment for me.”

“We are honored to have Kalen DeBoer return to Sioux Falls for this special night,” said Steve Young, president of Sanford Sports. “Coach DeBoer’s passion and philosophy have proven themselves time and time again over the course of his illustrious career. Fans, parents and student-athletes will learn a lot from his vision of the current landscape of youth sports and we couldn’t be more excited to have him back in his home state!”

General admission tickets are now on sale for $5, while groups of 8 can reserve a table on the floor at Heritage Court. Suites are also available. To purchase general admission tickets, visit the link here or call the ticket office at (605) 312-7917. To purchase a table or suite, you can call the ticket office or email Sanford Sports Complex director Brock Reynoldson at brock.reynoldson@sanfordhealth.org.

Online purchases subject to additional fees. Tickets can be purchased online through July 9, 2025. Day-of tickets will also be available for purchase at the door.

Source: Sanford Sports

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Liberia: Sweat Equity Wraps Up Youth Basketball Camp in Monrovia, Plans Expansion

Monrovia — A two-day basketball training camp aimed at developing Liberia’s next generation of athletes concluded Saturday, June 7, 2025, at the YMCA gymnasium in Monrovia, drawing more than 100 boys and girls eager to hone their skills. The camp was spearheaded by former Liberian basketball standout Pitman Kennedy, founder and head of Sweat Equity […]

Published

42 minutes ago

June 9, 2025

Your Sports Nation

The camp was spearheaded by former Liberian basketball standout Pitman Kennedy, founder and head of Sweat Equity Athletic and Leadership Development–a Liberia-U.S.-based nonprofit focused on youth empowerment through sports and education.

Targeting participants ages 14 to 18, the camp emphasized basketball fundamentals including shooting, dribbling, and defensive techniques. Kennedy said structured training is critical to helping young players realize their full potential.

“We have raw talent, but we lack the programs to teach players the basics from a young age,” Kennedy told The Liberian Investigator. “That’s why we’re back–to help these kids improve.”

Kennedy expressed enthusiasm about the turnout and praised the level of engagement among the youth. He encouraged participants to keep practicing and applying the lessons learned during the camp.

He also revealed plans to expand the program to Nimba and Bong counties during his next visit and confirmed that he would return to Liberia in December to host additional training sessions.

Kennedy, who played for the now-defunct Sinper BK in Monrovia from 1987 to 1988, said his mission goes beyond basketball. He emphasized Sweat Equity’s broader goal of youth development through education, including scholarship opportunities.