Sydney
Van Dreason
Pompano Beach football player tackling obstacles on and off the field
POMPANO BEACH, Fla. (BVM) — High school football has always been one of America’s favorite pastimes, and as cultural connoisseurs of the sport, Americans are familiar with the humor, drama, dangers and achievements associated with it.
University of Florida weightlifter preparing for Nationals, chasing her Olympic dreams
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (BVM) — When Amanda Myers, 23, was a kid, she had no idea that one of her main goals in life would be to compete in women’s weightlifting for Team USA at the Olympics.
Keep calm and play pickleball: Growing sport keeping a married couple young at heart
COCONUT CREEK, Fla. — You know the saying: the couple that plays together stays together, and for married duo Pat and Ron Gestewitz, that sentiment couldn’t be any more true. Over the course of their marriage, Pat and Ron have participated in a variety of sports together, including mountain biking, bodyboarding and tennis. The couple played tennis for 40 years, and their skills in the sport are now being transferred over to their latest athletic endeavor: pickleball.
Lee County scores big with sports development initiative
FORT MYERS, Fla. — In Lee County, one of the proudest initiatives of the Parks and Recreation Department is the sports development campaign. Through this office, Lee County strives to promote the types of sports that Lee County offers, attract and retain sporting events, diversify the tourism industry through sports and work with facilities and partner organizations to provide athletic entertainment and participatory opportunities for residents.
Estero’s Cody Krucker continues journey from go-kart racing to NASCAR
ESTERO, Fla. — For 16-year-old Cody Krucker, the dream of being a racer began when he was a child and stumbled across the NASCAR Cup Series on TV. This racing series inspired Cody to become involved in automobile racing, which he has been participating in for 11 years.
Florida Everblades ice skater Sophia Kruszewksi, 18, is making change with her nonprofit
NAPLES, Fla. — For almost half of her life, Sophia Kruszewski has been involved in athletics, including soccer, gymnastics and swimming. For the past eight years, she has been a member of the Florida Everblades Figure Skating Club and training under Coach Kandis Hawkins.
A passion for skating: Meet mother-daughter Kristy and Mya Russo
NAPLES, Fla. — When Kristy Russo was three-years-old, her parents put her into a pair of roller skates, and Kristy found herself skating into a whole new world. By the age of five, Kristy had become a competitive artistic roller skater. Throughout the years, she earned 15 state titles, 15 regional titles and two national titles.
Gulf Coast Knights youth baseball program proves perseverance at tournament
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Baseball: one of America’s favorite pastime sports. There’s nothing like the smell of the hot dogs and popcorn, the sight of foam fingers and baseball caps, the cheers as a home run is hit. Gulf Coast Knights understand the nostalgia and passion rooted in the game of baseball, and they want to bring the best of baseball to SWFL.
Pat Glaunert has been serving lessons in sports and life for over 30 years
ESTERO, Fla. — When he was a young boy, Pat Glaunert’s dad inspired him to get involved in racquet sports, and this early motivation encouraged Glaunert to play tennis in college at the national level and later become a coach himself. Certified by the United States Professional Tennis Registry (USPTR) and International Pickleball Teaching Professional Association (IPTPA), Glaunert has been coaching for over 30 years and is currently the Racquet Sports Director at The Place at Corkscrew community.
Table Tennis Together is fighting Parkinson’s one paddle at a time
FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Table Tennis Together program, established in 2011, is partnered with Lee County Parks and Recreation to offer individual and group lessons to the SWFL community. Over the last few months, they have partnered with the Hope Parkinson Program to offer table tennis therapy for those fighting neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and dementia.
Naples’ own Tom Wildenhaus wins PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award
NAPLES, Fla. — On December 3, 2021, Tom Wildenhaus had a phone call that changed his life forever. On the phone was Jim Richerson, President of the Professional Golfers’ Association (PGA) of America, who shared with him that Tom had been selected as the recipient of the 2021 PGA Golf Professional of the Year Award.
Meet ice dancer, City of Palms Charter alum Michelle Yau
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Michelle Yau has been involved in ice skating for 15 years. A graduate of City of Palms Charter High School in Ft. Myers, Michelle has been ice dancing with coaches at Hertz Arena and has even participated on an ice skating synchronization team.