The Olympic trials for whitewater canoe and kayak include four runs down a whitewater course, spread out over two days of competition. The setting in 2024 was perfect – we had beautiful weather in sunny Oklahoma City, cooled by a little wind and some morning rain. The Olympic and American…
In recent years, a pressing question has emerged in the world of youth sports: Are today's young athletes becoming emotionally softer, or are coaches becoming more demanding? Or, can we all agree to just blame the parents? (Joking… sort of) The reality likely lies somewhere in between, highlighting a crucial…
– Brittany Romano and Jim Davis Some seasons are just… different. For New Trier Field Hockey, the 2025 season fits in that category. It began with ambition, grew through adversity, and ended with a finish that will be retold in the history of New Trier Field Hockey. Momentum from the…
Because I learned something most athletes never fully grasp: it’s not about how much you play; it’s about how much you impact the team - regardless of court time. Everyone contributes.
Pat Williams, the legendary co-founder of the Orlando Magic, left an indelible mark on professional basketball and the city of Orlando. Over a remarkable 51-year career in the NBA, Williams exemplified what it means to be a leader—not only in title but in vision, courage, and service. Williams began his…
By Reilly Dampeer, Head Coach and High Performance Program Manager at OKC National High Performance Center This letter shares the messages that I needed as a young athlete. No words are able to replace experience so I cannot honestly say that I would have heeded the lessons of each story…
By Dr. Zachary Shutler Have you heard of North Carolina State Men’s Basketball Coach, Jim Valvano? His story is the epitome of faith, belief, purpose, and optimism. When Jimmy Valvano was a child, he believed he was going to be a head coach. He had faith he would one day…
Butler’s work ethic and competitiveness has helped him to become one of the top players in the NBA. Those individual traits combined with his ability to inspire his teammates to be confident both in their own capabilities and in their own perceptions of the team’s collective ability to achieve success…
On November 28 2020, Sarah Fuller became the first woman to play in a Power 5 football game. Two weeks later, she kicked a field goal for the Commodores, becoming the first woman to score in a Power 5 football game. In the course of two weeks, Sarah Fuller had…
with Nicole Brinker, by Chris Dertz Nine months after first emerging in the United States, it is clear that the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic are both unprecedented and wide-ranging. The raw data is grim. Currently, 22,000,000 Americans have been infected with the virus and the Centers for Disease Control…