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Youth taught to finesse on the small stage | News, Sports, Jobs
Bobbie Scott and Oliver Miller of Footliters explain the rehearsal plans to the Susan Andrew Summer Children’s Theatre Camp participants. This is the third collaboration with the Webster City Community Theatre.
“Another opening, another show.”
It’s more than a show, it’s a camp and it’s at the Webster City Community Theater–WCCT– this week.
The camp is a joint effort between WCCT and the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts’ Footliters Youth Theatre teaching music, dance and stage presence.
Renamed the Susan Andrew Summer Children’s Theatre Camp this past year, this is the third year WCCT has teamed up with Footliters. This camp is for children between the ages of 7 and those entering 8th grade in the fall. The cost of the workshop are reduced in honor of Susan Stocks Andrew, a long-time WCCT member and frequent stage performer who passed away last fall. Donations from a childhood friend, Cindy Anderson, set up this fund to offset the costs for campers.
WCCT provided children’s camps starting in 2013 until Covid shut down all activities. At that time it was the Old Creamery Theatre — OCT –. There was a four year hiatus, until WCCT connected with the Coralville group.
“It was Camp Creamery out of the Old Creamery Theatre in Amana from 2013-2019,” said Loween Getter, one of the organizers from WCCT. “After Covid, OCT closed. We switched to the Footliters Traveling Playhouse in 2023.”
Bobbie Scott, Madison Hovancik and Oliver Miller are the three professional teaching artists who are in Webster City this week.
“There are three teams traveling throughout Iowa,” said Scott, “We are in a different city each week, and will teach over 1,000 kids over the summer.” Scott is in her second year traveling with the Footliters.
The students all auditioned for various roles in the production of “The School for Spies,” by Katie Colletta and Jason Sifford. It is designed for students at all levels of theatre experience, and at the end of the week they will perform a musical along the three teaching artists.
The children involved with the camp this year are from far beyond Webster City. Participants are from Baxter, Blairsburg, Boone, Clarion, Fort Dodge, Jewell, Lawton, Lohrville, Newton, Stanhope and Stratford in addition to Webster City.
Winter Season Starts January 17th!
Every kid deserves a league that believes in them.
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Our coaches focus on sportsmanship, personal growth, and a lifelong love for the game. More than just a league, i9 Sports is a community where kids learn, grow, and build confidence both on and off the field.
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Learn more and register today at https://www.i9sports.com/Franchises/182?season=20261
Date: Winter Season Starts January 17th
Time: Start times vary by program. Saturday-Sunday leagues with weekday Clinics & Training Sessions.
Locations: Multiple locations, including Church at Woodforest, Falconwing Park, Alden Bridge Sports Park, Providence Classical School and more.
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Chris Mazdzer is no stranger to goal setting. The now-retired luge athlete competed in four winter Olympic Games, winning the silver medal in 2018 and becoming the first non-European racer to ever medal in the men’s single luge. Since he retired from the sport two years ago, he’s only become clearer on the best ways to set goals that are actually achievable at any level of sport.
Growing up near Lake Placid in upstate New York gave Mazdzer a firsthand view of the work that went into actually achieving an athletic goal. Home to many Olympians, Lake Placid is a primary training ground for elite winter sports because an Olympic Training Center is located there. “If you walk down Main Street in Lake Placid, you’re probably going to run into an Olympian, and I was very fortunate that I learned at a young age that Olympians aren’t superheroes. There’s nothing super about us: We’re ordinary people, just living and training. What I learned was that Olympians set themselves apart because they set goals, and more importantly, they do the little things every single day in order to bring those goals closer. They just work relentlessly to achieve them.”
He often speaks to young athletes about the example of the Terra Nova Expedition to the South Pole in 1911. There were two teams of explorers, led by Roald Amundsen and Robert Falcon Scott. Amundsen’s team took the approach of hiking 20 miles every day, regardless of weather. Scott’s team based their mileage on the weather conditions, with some days spent hiking much further than 20 miles, some days spent resting. Amundsen’s team won the race by five weeks. Scott’s team made it to the South Pole, but none survived the journey back.
To Mazdzer, this piece of expedition history perfectly encapsulates the idea of doing a little bit, a lot of the time. “Doing something every day is more important than doing a lot, some of the time,” he says. “For example, if you want to get strong, you’re not going to go to the gym for five hours one day a week. It’s obviously better to work out one hour five times a week. And that’s the part of goal setting that is often missed…the commitment to consistency.”
“Anyone can set goals, anyone can write things down, but once you’ve set the goal, what are the ongoing things you need to do to accomplish the big goal?” he adds. “Being able to break a goal down to the daily actions is the key.”
Consistency with daily actions doesn’t always mean doing the same thing every single day, though. Mazdzer gives the example of a skier trying to get prepared for the upcoming season in the summer months. “Step one shouldn’t be ‘wait for snow,'” he says. “If that’s what your goal setting looks like, you’re missing out on a lot of chances to get closer to your goal. Instead of waiting for snow to practice, what else can you do on a daily basis? You can get stronger in the gym. You can dial in your gear and figure out the best setup for your skis for different conditions. If you don’t go into the granular details of goal setting, then those aren’t goals, they’re just dreams.”
Keeping an eye on the big goal—making the team, winning the race—is still key, though. “You do need to have that big goal, that shiny thing that you are always aiming towards, because that helps you stay in alignment,” Mazdzer says. “The monotony of those small daily actions can get really boring, so to stay motivated, you do need that big goal to work towards.”
There’s also a side benefit of defining the smaller goals and daily actions you can take to achieve your big goal, Mazdzer adds. Not every goal is going to be achieved: Sport is ultimately defined by failure, even the greatest athletes of all time didn’t win every race or make every team. But the reason they were able to keep pushing towards their next goal was because they saw enough small successes and daily wins along the way to feel motivated even when the big goal didn’t work out.
Mazdzer himself has a great example of this: In his Olympic career, his goal was always to finish in a medal position. But he only medaled in one of the four Olympic Games he competed in. Did his goal or his approach look different in the year he finished in the silver medal position? No. And that’s the point.
“Even if you give 100%—doing those daily actions and accomplishing all of the things you need to in order to theoretically hit that goal—you don’t always get 100% back,” he says. “There were many years when I was giving 100% but getting 10% back, and I’d wonder if I was doing something wrong. But a lot of the time, nothing is actually wrong. There are circumstances out of your control, whether it’s equipment or weather conditions or other teams. Success in sport often depends on things that you can’t control, and it’s easy to give up in those moments. But through consistency, through dedication, you can keep trying. You just have to understand that your results don’t always reflect the input.”
Being able to come back from missing your goal and get back to the daily commitments is what Mazdzer defines as a strong, resilient athlete.
Takeaway
Get clear on your big goal, write it down, and then work backwards. Once you know what goal you are trying to accomplish, break it down into actionable, measurable pieces. Mazdzer suggests doing something every single day to achieve your goals, even after failure.
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Steven A. Lent of Duluth, MN, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, December 15th, 2025 at the age of 75. He was born at St. Luke’s Hospital on August 11th,1950 to Sherman and Alice (Greseth) Lent. He grew up and raised his family in Kenwood. He was a member of First Lutheran Church. He graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1968. He attended the University of Minnesota-Duluth from 1969-1971, then transferred to the University of Minnesota to finish his degree, and graduated in 1973 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. In the summer of 1973 he started working at Minnesota Power. During his time employed at Minnesota Power he worked in many departments, and obtained his Masters Degree in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota-Duluth. He worked there his whole career until his retirement in April 2014, after 43 years.
On September 28th, 1974, he married his beloved wife, Joyce (Handy). Together they raised their two children, Bryan and Becky in Kenwood. He was passionate about and actively involved in youth sports, both as a player and coach. He participated in football and track & field in high school. He participated in track & field at the University of Minnesota-Duluth, and held the shot put record there for many years. He was well known in Duluth and the surrounding area as being “The Home Run Hitter” through his many years of slow pitch softball. He coached many youth sports, making significant impacts on hundreds of children in Duluth. He continued to support youth sports through his adored grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and brother Thomas. He is survived by his loving wife Joyce; Children: Bryan (Ashley) Lent, and Becky Lent (Ty Lounsberry); Grandchildren: Callie Kleiman, Berklee Lent, Trent Lounsberry, and Georgia Lent; Brother-in-law Don Handy and many relatives, and dear friends.
A visitation to celebrate the life of Steve will be held on Friday, January 2nd at Ridgeview Country Club, 700 West Redwing Street, Duluth, MN, 55803; visitation from 1-4pm, light refreshments will be provided.
A private family service and burial will be held at a later date at Park Hill Cemetery in Duluth. Arrangements by Affordable Cremation and Burial.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Steve’s honor to The Dick Forbort Fund, Duluth Superior Community Foundation, 324 W Superior St, #700, Duluth, MN, 55802; or https://theranchteammatesforlife.org/donate/
EAU CLAIRE, Wis. (VISIT EAU CLAIRE PRESS RELEASE) – Visit Eau Claire, in partnership with the Sonnentag Center, has secured a major national sporting event for 2026, bringing the Pylon 7on7 Flag Football Tournament to the Sonnentag Field House on March 14–15, 2026.
Pylon 7on7 is a premier traveling flag football tournament that attracts elite high school athletes from across the country. The Eau Claire stop is expected to welcome more than 30 teams and over 1,000 athletes, coaches, families, and spectators, generating direct economic impact for the community.
While Pylon 7on7 features high-level flag football competition, the event is widely recognized as a critical exposure platform for student-athletes pursuing collegiate opportunities. Over the past two decades, Pylon has helped produce over three thousand Division I college commits and over 300 NFL alumni, establishing itself as a proven pathway for athletic development, competition, and visibility.
“We’re extremely excited to welcome Pylon 7on7 to Eau Claire,” said Lucas Connolly, Sports Relationship Manager for Visit Eau Claire. “This event brings elite competition to our community and provides young athletes with a platform to compete, be seen, and develop, while highlighting the Sonnentag Center as a top-tier venue for national sporting events.”
Scheduled between Pylon 7on7 events in Philadelphia and Los Angeles, Eau Claire’s inclusion reflects the growing reputation of the region as an attractive host for large-scale sporting events.
“This tournament is another example of how Eau Claire continues to grow as a destination for youth sports, and we are excited to partner with Visit Eau Claire to welcome Pylon 7on7 Football and the many athletes, families, and visitors who will experience our community,” said Steve Kirk, Interim General Manager of the Sonnentag Center.
The event was secured through a collaborative effort between Visit Eau Claire’s sales team and the Sonnentag Center. This partnership reinforces a shared commitment to attracting impactful sporting events that drive visitation, showcase local facilities, and elevate Eau Claire’s profile on a national stage.
Copyright 2025 WEAU. All rights reserved.
With Matthew Knight Arena packed with school kids for a midweek matinee, the viral “6-7” trend created a moment of joyous jubilation late in the third quarter when Jacobs completed a three-point play for the Ducks’ 67th point, on the way to an 85-59 win over Portland. After making the free throw, Jacobs backpedaled down the court making the ubiquitous hand gesture associated with “6-7,” as did hundreds of kids in the arena.
“I don’t know why it’s a thing but it is, and the kids love it,” said Jacobs, who passed up a three-pointer that would have gotten the Ducks to 67 points, instead driving to the hoop and scoring while absorbing contact. “I didn’t know that it was the point to get six-seven. And then they fouled me and I realized, you have to make a free throw. So it was kind of funny.”
Jacobs finished the game with 21 points and 10 rebounds for her second straight double-double, and Katie Fiso finished one rebound shy of a triple-double, tallying 10 points, 11 assists and nine boards. Amina Muhammad added 12 points, while Avary Cain and Sarah Rambus added 11 each.
And the Ducks teamed up to create a core memory for the kids in attendance, peaking with the free throw by Jacobs for the 67th point of the game. UO coach Kelly Graves immediately called timeout, allowing for an extended celebration by the young fans in the stands.
“I just think it’s important to have a game like this for the kids,” Graves said. “That’s a memory that they had today. It was a fun, fun atmosphere. They got to be around their friends, and they were exposed to our basketball team. And you never know what kind of impact it makes.”
The UO women mostly executed with aplomb in the atmosphere, shooting 44.9 percent for the game and committing just 14 turnovers while forcing 24.
“I feel like when we’re having fun, we’re playing the best type of basketball,” Fiso said. “I keep mentioning it — like, we compete in practice, and that’s where we get our sense of joy. We know there’s a fine line, when to be serious and then when to be goofy. I feel like that’s gonna take us far, because we know when to switch that.”
How It Happened: The Ducks took control early by scoring the first seven points of the game, though the start seemed a bit uneven given that the UO women only had three field goals over the first seven minutes of the day. Then Fiso hit a three-pointer and Cain followed with another, and Oregon took a 19-7 lead into the second quarter.
It was 22-9 in the second when the Ducks put together a 9-0 run, with all nine points scored by Muhammad and Cain. Muhammad ended up with 10 points in the period, helping the Ducks take a 44-19 lead into halftime.
“They’re great and they’re amazing,” Fiso said of Muhammad and Cain’s play off the bench. “They came out with a lot of energy, a lot of sense of urgency, too. Just creating the right plays, making the right shots.”
The opening minutes of the second half went back and forth. Portland cut Oregon’s 25-point halftime lead down to 19 a couple of times, the last at 56-37.
“We’re still a pretty young team, all things considered,” Graves said. “We’ve got to learn to come out in that second half and play with the same kind of intensity, and not just trade basket for basket.”
Jacobs, one of Oregon’s most veteran players, led the way out of that span. From the point Portland got within 56-37, Jacobs scored Oregon’s next 11 points, the capper the three-point play for a 67-39 lead.
By the fourth quarter, about the only remaining drama pertained to Fiso’s triple-double chase. She came up just short, but it seems only a matter of time before she notches one.
“I’m happy I can be that person for my team,” Fiso said. “And I know that in order to be great, yes, the assists are cool, but if I want to get to that next level, I gotta start filling up all the other stats. My coaches are on me in film, like, if you want to be great, you got to fill up all the other stuff as well. So that was kind of my initiative.”
Up Next: The Ducks face Stanford at the Women’s Bay Area Classic in San Francisco on Sunday (3 p.m., ESPN).
Rec Sports
More Than 550 Boys Volleyball Teams Gather in Los Angeles for SoCal Cup ‘Winter Formal’ Event and College Combine
More Than 550 Boys Volleyball Teams Gather in Los Angeles for SoCal Cup ‘Winter Formal’ Event and College Combine
AIM Sports Group Further Demonstrates its Commitment to Boys Volleyball with Three Days of Unparalleled Competition, Plus a High School College Combine and Junior College Tournament
One of the nation’s leading tournament series for boys volleyball, SoCal Cup, hosted its latest ‘Winter Formal’ tournament at the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) this past weekend.
Despite construction at LACC, the three-day event, owned and operated by AIM Sports Group, drew more than 550 club volleyball teams of various age groups (12U through 18U) from across the nation. The three-day Winter Formal event packed the Los Angeles Convention Center floor with volleyball courts and a unique fan experience, while drawing a crowd of more than 19,000 daily attendees including athletes, coaches, families, and spectators.
This year’s event also featured a high profile College Combine the day prior, drawing coaches and scouts from more than 25 universities from across the country. With more than 350 young athletes and about 50 coaches participating in the College Combine, the day leading up to the Winter Formal became a unique opportunity for players to get noticed and take their talents to the next level.
In addition, the Winter Formal event provided a venue for a Junior College tournament for 16 Jr. College programs. Many of the recruiting scouts and athletes from that tournament also participated in the Combine.
“The College Combine we had at this year’s SoCal Cup Winter Formal event was an added bonus to what was already an amazing event,” said AIM Sports Group Founder John Gallegos. “The Combine exceeded expectations and further demonstrated our commitment to the development of the sport at all levels. It all ties in with our overarching mission to advance sports performance and enjoyment for youth athletes. AIM Sports Group is all-in on the growth of boys volleyball for generations to come.”
Founded by AIM Sports Group to provide elite competition, developmental playing opportunities, and training for young athletes, the SoCal Cup has grown exponentially over the last five years and is now one of the largest and best-attended youth volleyball event series in the country. The next event, the SoCal Cup Open Championship, will take place January 17-19 in Salt Lake City.
Balboa Bay was the overall tournament-winning club this year, capturing titles in three divisions. The full list of boys volleyball clubs that achieved bragging rights this year by winning their divisions at the Winter Formal event included:
Open:
18 Open: MB Surf 18’s Asics
17 Open: Coast 17-1 Victor/Berkley
16 Open: Balboa Bay 16 Blue
15 Open: Indoor
14 Open: MB Surf 14’s Asics
13 Open: Bay to Bay 13-1
12 Open: Aspire 12 Thanos
Club:
18 Club: Bravo 18-X
17 Club: Balboa Bay 17 White
16 Club: Balboa Bay 16 White
15 Club: Liv 15’s Royal
14 Club: Bay to Bay 14-Club
AIM Sports Group is a premier youth sports enterprise that owns and operates a state-of-the-art facility, premier youth boys volleyball league, regional and national events, and tech & media platforms. AIM is focused on enhancing the journey of youth athletes through innovation and elite competition in sports. Learn more at aimsportsgroup.com.
Learn more about upcoming SoCal Cup events at SoCalCupVolleyball.com.
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