Announcing our 2024 Service Members of the Year!
At our 2024 Sneaker Ball, we will be honoring Coach Rory Robinson as our 2024 National Coach of the Year for his exemplary service and commitment to coaching and mentoring students in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Since August 2022, Rory has been making an impact on the youth at Youth Mentoring Partnership by continuously showing up with his passion for coaching, positive energy and love for his community.
We are also pleased to announce our 2024 National VISTA of the Year, Bradley Turcios of Boys and Girls Club of the Foothills in Monrovia, California. In just 8 months of service to date, Bradley has made an incredible impact on the organization’s data management that will allow them to flourish for many years to come.
NATIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR
Coach Rory Robinson is currently in his second term serving with Up2Us Sports as a full-time coach with Youth Mentoring Partnership (YMP) in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Coach Rory is a Coatesville native and teaches in the same neighborhood that he grew up in. Coach Rory also currently leads his cohort of coaches in Coatesville, organizing data collection and site visits, underlining his leadership within YMP. According to his Program Director, Josh Throckmorton, “Rory is our most reliable Up2Us Sports coach in terms of training attendance and participation, communication, and data completion.
For YMP, Coach Rory helps facilitate PE classes for a diverse group of middle-schoolers in Coatesville, and coaches track and field throughout the year after school, going above and beyond his core Up2Us Sports responsibilities as a PE Coach to contribute to his community. Josh also said of Coach Rory, “his impact was apparent during my last site visit to Coatesville, where I observed a student excitedly run into the gym to high five Coach Rory and share news that he set a personal best while lifting earlier in the week and had been waiting all day to tell Coach Rory. During the session, Coach Rory was the one to take the lead in starting chants and cheers, bringing positive energy to what otherwise could have been sleepy, mid-week morning PE classes. I will remember Coach Rory for his positive energy and love for his community. The man is Coatesville through and through and is a model for what and who a second-year Up2Us Coach can become.”
NATIONAL VISTA OF THE YEAR
Bradley Turicos is currently a Data Management VISTA at the Boys and Girls Club of the Foothills, in Monrovia, California. Bradley has helped to make Boys and Girls Club of the Foothills more efficient by improving data systems and analyzing scholarship data and youth service trends. Bradley does everything with a can-do attitude. A native of Los Angeles, he started his Up2Us Sports VISTA term in August 2023.
According to VISTA Program Director Danielle Walker, “his biggest accomplishments have been all things data for Boys and Girls Club of the Foothills. He has cleaned up all of their data,recommended, then implemented and is now training people on a new system for them to collect data in the future. All of this in order to improve the overall data collection and make the organization more efficient. He also has analyzed all of their scholarship trends so they can better aid families.” Overall, Bradley has a positive and motivated attitude and goes above and beyond for the site and for Up2Us Sports. He has grown on a personal level, expanding his own skill set while simultaneously becoming much more confident and outgoing.
We would also like to announce several additional Up2Us Sports Coach and VISTA members who are receiving recognition for their superb commitment to serving their community this year - our Regional Coach and VISTA of the Year winners.
REGIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR - MIAMI
Coach Henerick Charles has been a coach at Dr. Henry W. Mack / West Little River K-8 Center, since the fall of 2023. According to Up2Us Sports Program Director Natasha Nienhuis, Coach Henerick Charles, at first glance, appears to be quiet and reserved. He completes tasks when asked and he communicates both frequently and honestly. As he has grown in his role at his school, he has become an active member of their school staff assisting with P.E. classes, the after-school program and various sports outside of his designated time. Coach Henerick is committed to the kids that he serves, he is committed to knowing that they have someone to look up to, someone to talk to and someone who will give them every chance to play.
His supervisor, Ms. Walker shared that Coach Henerick has shaped their program and their ability to offer a variety of sports to the kids at their school, which is something that they could not do before him. Ms. Walker continued on about Coach Henerick: “He speaks three languages, and he effortlessly communicates with all of our students, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere for our diverse group of students. He goes beyond coaching – he's a mentor who genuinely cares for each student, understanding their unique needs and aspirations of our athletes. As an assistant coach in our sports department, his versatility shines as he seamlessly taps into his knowledge of all sports, ensuring a well-rounded and enriching experience for all of our athletes.”
REGIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR - BALTIMORE/DC
Coach Ronald Granados is currently in his second year as an Up2Us Sports coach serving at DC SCORES in Washington, DC. As a member of the DC community, Ronald has had a positive impact on his community and his athletes. Born in California, but raised in Washington, DC, Ronald grew up in the same community he now coaches in and has become an advocate, a mentor, and a guiding force in his athletes lives. Ronald also serves as a coach for the Capital City Public Charter School DC SCORES elementary team.
When asked about the impact Coach Ronald has had on his program this year, his Up2Us Sports Program Manager Kyndell Overton shared: “I was able to observe Coach Ronald make an impact with the youth he coached. He did this by helping the girls soccer team at the school where he serves to make it to the playoffs in their first year. When I went to his site visit I saw how much he emphasized the girls working together and many of the girls had never played on a team before.” He continued: “I will remember that Coach Ronald truly cares and is willing to go above and beyond for all of his kids. He also is a great mentor and has helped many other latino children who grew up in similar situations that he did navigate life. The work he has done is bigger than soccer, he has made an impact on every kid he has coached.”
REGIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR - NEW YORK CITY
Coach Taleek Norman is currently a Programming and Technical Support Advisor at Equity Design, in his second year of serving as an Up2Us Sports service member. Taleek was an Up2Us Sports coach from September 2022 to September 2023, then joined for another year of service as a VISTA member in October 2023. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York City, Taleek has 15 years of experience as an athlete, personal trainer and Physical Education teacher, making him an invaluable asset to both the community and his athletes. In his role at Equity Design, Taleek focuses on strategies that will increase physical activity during the school day for both second grade students and their teachers. According to Equity Design’s Founder & CEO Maurelhena Walles, “over the course of one school year, Coach T helped increase physical activity engagement during the school day by 30 minutes per week.”
Teachers appreciated Coach T’s coaching, support and 1:1 sessions on how to integrate physical activity with academics. His lessons included working with IEP students who need individualized 1:1 attention in the classroom and sometimes unfortunately are labeled "academically and behaviorally challenging" and "difficult to work with". Coach T didn't experience any of these characteristics. Instead, the students and teacher appreciated Coach T for being flexible and meeting the students where they were; always catering his physical activity engagement to how they feel and using this time to energize students.” After working with the students, movement became their second language, eliminating any communication gap. Maurelhena has also said of Coach Taleek: “While there is plenty of work to do to change the trajectory of the health of The Bronx, creating community through movement was accomplished by Coach T at PS 32. This could not have been achieved without his infectious and genuine uplifting spirit.”
REGIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR - CHICAGO
Coach Saharah Webb has served two terms as an Up2Us Sports coach at MetroSquash in Chicago, starting in the fall of 2022. Saharah is currently a sophomore at Harold Washington College in Chicago, and has been actively involved with MetroSquash since 2013, when she was in the 4th grade. In the words of Coach Saharah, “Since joining Metrosquash in the 4th grade, it has been an integral part of my life, opening countless doors and opportunities. This program not only connected me with a supportive community but also provided lifelong connections. Transitioning from a student to a coach and a beacon of support for my community represents a remarkable full-circle journey that I cherish deeply.”
Saharah has a passion for change and giving back and she shared what she gets most out of coaching is having the opportunity to serve in the same community she was brought up in. She continues to help bring positivity and commitment to the organization through her service as an Up2Us Sports coach. Saharah understands the impact that sports-based youth development coaching has on the youth and works to ensure that every young person knows they are important.
REGIONAL COACH OF THE YEAR - LOS ANGELES
Coach Dukes served as an Up2Us Sports coach with the LA Dodgers Foundation - also known as a Dreamteam Field Champion - at Jesse Owens Park in Los Angeles from February 2020 through August 2023. He had many accomplishments as an Up2Us Sports coach, including being elected as a coach for the 2023 Dodgers Dreamteam Nike RBI Junior Division regional team, spearheaded by the MLB Youth Academy. He worked to build the chemistry and bonds between the team in the weeks leading up to their regional tournament in Seattle during the 2023 MLB All-Star Week. Through preparation and hard work, the team successfully returned home with the Western Region Championship and punched their ticket to the Jr. Baseball World Series in Vero Beach, Florida, which they competed at in the fall of 2023.
He says his coaching plans are not coming to an end anytime soon. In Coach Duke’s own words, “The moment we landed on LA soil two things happened: I was a better person and I was a better coach. I’m working to get certified as a physical trainer to help these kids even more now.” Coach Dukes saw the level of fitness and competition from around the World when his team played at the tournaments and saw the disparity between accessibility to proper physical training and instruction stating, “I saw some of the kids out there are in shape and they have the training so I feel it’s my responsibility to go back to my community and get my kids in shape and get them well prepared to play at the highest level they can.” Coach Dukes’ mission is clear, he wants to make people fall in love with baseball and wants to give kids in his community opportunities to matter. Some might say he has already accomplished his mission this year, but for Coach Dukes, his journey is just getting started.
REGIONAL VISTA OF THE YEAR - EAST
Muriel Lee Mena joined Soccer Without Borders Massachusetts as an Up2Us Sports VISTA in the summer of 2022 and is in her second year serving as a Development Associate. Muriel is a graduate of Bridgewater State University, and was the first in her family to attend college and to get a degree. Muriel's dedication to education and cross-cultural experiences led her to teach English in Honduras before beginning her service term with Up2Us Sports as a VISTA at Soccer Without Borders Massachusetts.
Muriel has been an invaluable asset to Soccer Without Borders Massachusetts. Her impact as a grant writer has been immense. Since her first year as a VISTA, Muriel has applied for 18 grants and won 10. Her efforts have resulted in an estimated $200,000 in funding that Soccer Without Borders Massachusetts is using to reach new participants in Chelsea, Everett, and Somerville. Her supervisor, Bruno Contreras, said this about Muriel: “She has been making a big difference in our community for two years. Her passion for breaking barriers for migrants and especially girls of color is something that connects with her personal story and we are lucky to see her impact everyday in our program.”
REGIONAL VISTA OF THE YEAR - WEST
Kayley Raasch has served as an Up2Us Sports VISTA since August 2023 at the Bay Area Women’s Sports Initiative (BAWSI). The year prior, she also served as an AmeriCorps service member through Up2Us Sports, but as part of the Up2Us Coach program, coaching youth at BAWSI. Throughout her life, sports have continued to be one of Kayley’s main interests. She played tennis and basketball in high school, and Kayley graduated with two degrees from the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities- one in Psychology and the other Art History. While in college, she also gained experience working with multiple Minnesota-based nonprofit organizations.
As a VISTA at BAWSI, Kayley has truly embodied what it means to an AmeriCorps VISTA member through Up2Us Sports. She has gone through great lengths to make BAWSI better and more sustainable so that they are able to reach more youth. She has worked to create lasting impact by managing development and fundraising practices and growing their donor database, while working on all levels of operations to help ensure the business runs smoothly. She managed their 2023 End of Year Campaign, which involved tracking more than $25,000 in donations. Her work thus far enables BAWSI to continue to produce quality sports programming in elementary schools and work on expanding into other areas, such as middle schools and high schools.
Please join us in congratulating each of our honorees for their incredible year(s) of service and commitment to their communities.
If you’d like to purchase tickets or make a donation to for the Sneaker Ball, please visit www.Up2UsSportsGala.com.